Thales Canada announced on 9 October 2024 that the Canadian government has awarded it a contract for the acquisition of its Sophie Ultima Handheld Thermal Imager (HHTI) as part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Night Vision Systems Modernization (NVSM) project. It is the first contract to be awarded under the NVSM project.
The Sophie Ultima is a lightweight, handheld thermal imager engineered to “deliver extraordinary performance in the field”, according to Thales. With a high-performance infrared channel, it offers NATO tank recognition range performance of up to 6 km. Its continuous optical zoom and wide 20° field of view enable operators to maintain visual contact with targets during detection, recognition and identification phases, ensuring rapid and precise engagement, Thales noted in its press release.
Thales will manufacture and maintain the Sophie Ultima systems at its existing Canadian Electro-Optics Center of Excellence, further strengthening Canada’s defence-industrial base.
“This initiative will create new jobs and spur economic growth, expanding Thales’s current supply chain within Canada,” Thales stated.
In addition, the Thales Optronics facility in Montreal will provide comprehensive in-service support, ensuring that the Canadian Armed Forces benefit from a dedicated repair facility with rapid turnaround, reducing equipment downtime.
