Sanders to Develop Lightweight Thermal Weapon Sight

NASHUA, N.H., May 12 -- Sanders has undertaken construction of a Lightweight Thermal Weapon Sight (LTWS) for the US Army. The contract, worth $4 million, comes from the Army's Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM) division. Sanders is a Lockheed Martin company.
The project, which is in its second phase, will provide heat-sensitive targeting capabilities for portable weapons such as the Army's M-16 rifle. Sanders' Infrared Imaging Systems, based in Lexington, completed the first phase of the project in conjunction with Pilkington Optronics in January of 2000.
The project will attempt to incorporate the LTWS with Sanders' MicroIR imaging engine. The engine's uncooled microbolometer is capable detecting radiant energy while the focal plane array technology will enable the device to focus on its target.
Production of the LTWS is one of several projects procured by CECOM's Thermal Omnibus program. Thermal Omnibus is the name of a multi-year operation to produce light, medium and heavy thermal-weapon sights. More than 100,000 devices, including thermal drivers' aids, and thermal helmet sights are expected to be produced under Omnibus.