During UDT 2023, Naval News sat down with Matteo Nespoli, Sales Manager Maritime Systems for Hensoldt, to discuss the different systems the company had on display during the show.
The OMS150, the largest optronic mast on the booth, features a full suite of sensors for complete situational awareness. This includes a daylight camera, Infra Red camera (IR), an eye-safe laser rangefinder, a low light level camera, an MWIR and a SWIR.
The OMS200 is Hensoldt low profile optronics mast, developed initially as an analogue version of a periscope. “Its Radar Cross Section [RSC] is very similar to that of a periscope and therefore increases stealth while still retaining a very powerful payload,” Nespoli pointed out. The payload includes a daylight camera, a SWIR, and a laser rangefinder. Customers can also choose to add the MWIR to the OMS200, which then becomes the OMS IR.
The OMS300 is the latest product of the OMS family developed by Hensoldt, and is an ultra low profile mast. “The OMS300 is very mission specific, and it is usually selected by customers who deploy it in environments that require a compromise between payload and stealth,” Nespoli commented. In practice, the OMS300 features night vision (MWIR) and daylight capability, but customers can also choose to add the SWIR, low level light camera and the laser rangefinder.
All Hensoldt OMS can be supplemented with the integration of a 3rd party antenna for positioning and radar early warning, such as ELTA’s ICS.
Typically, a customer will have two optronic masts on its submarines, one for extended capabilities and one for stealth replacing the periscope. “It is this twin-optronic solution, the combination of OMS150 and OMS300,” Nespoli added.
Finally, Nespoli also commented on the OctoEye 360, a non-rotating panoramic observation system that features eight night vision and eight daylight cameras.
“This new capability complements the long-range observation capability of typical optronics, providing close range awareness, especially during the snorkelling phase of navigation, and reducing the need for an operator to constantly monitor the systems.”
Matteo Nespoli, Sales Manager Maritime Systems
The OctoEye 360 is ideal for detecting close range objects and targets, therefore providing both situational awareness and safety of navigation.
Hensoldt would not comment on the systems that will be fitted on the German Navy’s future Type 212CD submarines. However, based on several conversations during UDT with various industry sources, Naval News understands that the 212CD is very likely to feature the twin-optronics solution (OMS 150 and 300) as well as ELTA’s ICS. Finally, Naval News understands that the German Navy will very likely select the OctoEye 360 to complement its optronic systems for the 212CD.