AN/PAS-29A COTI (Clip On Thermal Imager)

DESCRIPTION

The AN/PAS-29A COTI is available to the civilian market, but requires a signed End User Agreement.  This document will be emailed to you after the purchase and must be signed/returned before we ship the device.

The Clip-on Thermal Imager (COTI) enhances situational awareness and increases Warfighter effectiveness at night. Night Vision Devices (NVD’s) work well for target identification, but their detection capabilities are limited. They require ambient light, have trouble seeing into the shadows, and “bloom” in bright lights. COTI increases the effectiveness of legacy and recently fielded NVD’s by overlaying a thermal image onto a night vision scene. The COTI’s thermal image helps Warfighters find threats and targets of interest and gives them a detection capability not found with standalone NVD’s. A COTI and NVD combination provides Warfighter’s superior identification and detection performance, making them safer and more effective at night.

The COTI provides increased situation awareness capability due to the improved threat detection of the thermal overlay technology. It allows the operator to see through more battlefield obscurants than standalone NVD’s. On their own, standard NVD’s produce high quality images with superb resolution, providing excellent recognition capability. However, even these latest tubes are still dependent on available ambient lighting conditions. The more available light, the better the image will be (more detail and further distance resolution). But, battlefield conditions do not always allow for optimal ambient light. Cloudy nights with less moonlight, dense foliage, or internal/underground structure rooms can cancel out enough light that standard I² is defeated. Also, heavy rain, fog, snow, smoke, etc, will limit I² capabilities. This is where Thermal Imagers shine. Thermal identifies infrared energy (heat) and is not dependent on light at all. Thermal will see through most obscurants that would otherwise defeat I² and can create images in complete darkness. However, thermal imagers do not produce the same level of detail as I² tubes, limiting recognition capabilities.

The COTI is quickly attached and detached from a host NVD without the use of tools.  It extends the capability of currently fielded devices without having to buy an expensive fusion system.  It features three modes:

FULL Thermal will provide the most sensitive image with heat-producing subjects represented in a traditional full thermal glow.  However, this will also add more thermal clutter to the scene.  So, it is best used when stationary.

PATROL Thermal will cause high-contrast thermal to glow while still leaving the image mostly uncluttered.  This mode is best used while moving.

OUTLINE Thermal will outline heat-producing subjects and cause allow the operator to use the NVD for identification as well as targeting with IR Lasers.

Export of Thermal Imaging Equipment or related accessories (such as manuals) is strictly regulated by the US Department of State in accordance with the guidelines of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  It is a major crime to ship or carry US manufactured thermal imaging devices outside the borders of the United States, punishable by fines and prison sentences.  Ignorance of these regulations will not hold up in court.  By purchasing thermal imaging equipment from TNVC, you attest that you will not attempt to export or carry this thermal imaging equipment outside the borders of the United States.  Also, it illegal to allow a non-US Citizen to look through US Thermal Imaging Equipment, even on US soil.  Again, this is a crime punishable by fines and prison sentences.