Safran optronic masts for stealthy, high-performance submarines
Seeing without being seen: that's quite a challenge for submarines on a mission! Thanks to optronic masts, which are lighter and more stealthy than traditional periscopes, they can observe their environment with formidable precision, while remaining invisible.
Submarines are feared, particularly because of their invisibility. However, they cannot fully accomplish their missions without reaching the surface from time to time. This maneuver allows them to see, transmit and receive information. To avoid detection, a submarine never goes straight to the surface. In advance of this, it deploys targeting instruments to ensure that the environment is secure. Providing a clear image in all situations is therefore necessary: this is the essential mission of a periscope, or an optronic mast equipped with optics.
But what is an optronic mast?
An optronic mast is a modern type of periscope used on submarines. Unlike a traditional periscope, an optronic mast does not penetrate the main hull of the submarine. It is lighter, smaller and more efficient. This mast uses electronic sensors and cameras to capture and transmit images to the command center inside the submarine.
More than 100 years of technological innovation
For more than a century, Safran Electronics & Defense has forged a solid partnership with the French Navy, providing solutions that have evolved from optics to optronics. It all began with the development and supply of conventional periscopes, including the Daveluy-Violette periscope from the 1906, a historic and emblematic model of its time.
With the advancement of technologies, particularly in the fields of electronics and imaging, Safran has gradually evolved towards increasingly sophisticated systems. Today, optronic masts use electronic sensors, high-definition cameras and other cutting-edge technologies, guaranteeing efficiency, discretion and performance for underwater missions. From the historic Daveluy-Violette periscope to today's state-of-the-art optronic attack mast, Safran has remained on board all French submarines without exception. The solutions guarantee precise imaging while preserving the submarine's stealth and agility.
Excellence in submarine technology
Flagship products - such as the Series 30 AOM and the Series 30 SOM - embody Safran's expertise in submarine technology. Designed to be interchangeable, thanks to a common interface, these systems adapt perfectly to different missions. Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors (TV, MWIR, SWIR) and a multitude of advanced features, the masts are compact, robust, stealthy and combat-proven.
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