DRS Technologies successfully completes flight test of new GS205-XRZ laser designating gimbal

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Aviation defence equipment technology - DRS Technologies
 
 
 
DRS Technologies successfully completes flight test of new GS205-XRZ laser designating gimbal
 
DRS Technologies Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced on January 21 that it successfully performed the first airborne demonstration of its GS205-XRZ laser designating gimbal. At less than six inches in diameter and weighing less than nine pounds, the GS205 is one of the smallest stabilized, light-weight and fully qualified targeting systems on the market.
     
US Air Force's EC-130E Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC)
     
During its maiden flight at the Avon Park Air Force Range in Florida, the GS205-XRZ variant executed multiple laser designation exercises from a U.S. Special Operations Command platform – demonstrating the ability to bring targeting capability to airborne and ground platforms.

The size and performance of this gimbal is a testament to DRS engineers who understand that as customer needs evolve, no solution is too small,” said Sally Wallace, president of the DRS Technologies C4ISR business group. “We are proud of the capabilities of this unique system which should provide a distinct advantage to U.S. troops on the battlefield,” she said.

Designed and manufactured by DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems in Cypress, Calif., the flight-proven GS205 offers targeting capability for all laser-guided weapons. It is now available off-the-shelf for size, weight, and power-constrained platforms.

Integrating an advanced sensor suite in a less than 8 lb package, the GS205 multi-sensor targeting system delivers optimal surveillance and targeting capabilities by combining a thermal imager, color daylight camera, optional laser designator, laser pointer and laser rangefinder. The GS205 system provides operators with true day/night reconnaissance and targeting capability in a single unit measuring less than 6 inches in diameter. The GS205’s thermal camera is a cooled mid-wave infrared sensor with a zoom optic. The system also includes a color zoom TV, a laser pointer, an optional dual-mode laser rangefinder/ designator or an eye-safe laser rangefinder and a multi-mode automatic target tracker. The entire package is a single line-replaceable unit, which simplifies both installation and maintenance.