SaabTech AB has contracted Thales Optronics BV in the Netherlands for the supply of ALBATROSS thermal imagers for their electro-optical radar tracker. The ALBATROSS camera is a dual field of view day/night tracking and observation camera for medium and long ranges. The camera can be integrated into fire control systems and sensor platforms used for search and rescue, security and surveillance tasks.

ALBATROSS is a new, third generation thermal imager based on a cooled IR-CCD focal plane detector, which is working in the 3-5 µm mid-wave band. ALBATROSS is designed to give a very high performance in naval applications during both day and night and is operational with several navies around the world.

SaabTech AB has also selected a derivative of the Albatross camera for the thermal camera in its advanced UTAAS fire-control system for the Dutch Infantry Fighting Vehicle project. The ALBATROSS camera is currently in production at Thales Optronics' new facilities in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Thales is a world leader and front-runner in professional electronics in three key markets: Aerospace, Defence and Information Technology . The Group employs 65,000 people in about 50 countries around the globe, and generated revenues of over 11 billion euro in 2002.
Thales Nederland, employing 2700 people, is a member of the Thales Naval Business Group, specializing in radar and optronic surveillance and tracking sensors, combat management systems, fire control systems and combat system integration in a naval environment.