Thales UK, together with EuroFirst partners Galileo Avionica of Italy and Technobit of Spain, has been awarded a contract to supply 200 Pirate infrared search and track (IRST) and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) units for Tranche 2 of Eurofighter Typhoon production aircraft for the UK, Spain and Italy.

Thales is not only the technical and design authority, but will also provide the complex optical and data processing subsystems for this electro-optical sensor from its optronics facilities in Glasgow and Staines.

The Pirate will provide a passive IRST capability to the Typhoon and will permit it to detect and track air and surface targets and will also provide FLIR imagery for low level flight and navigation during all-weather, day or night operations. The Pirate’s hardware is housed in a compact, single line-replaceable unit that contains the optical system and signal processing assemblies. This-state-of-the-art system gives Eurofighter IRST capabilities above that of most fighter aircraft in service today. It complements the aircraft’s active sensors and datalink systems and significantly enhances vital battlespace situational awareness for the Typhoon crew and its missions.