PHOTONIS: Latest Night Vision Technologies for India

SP’s ShowNews (SP’s): What has been the experience of PHOTONIS in India? Since when has your company engaged the defence and security sector here and what are your objectives in India?

Emmanuel Nabet (Emmanuel): Since 2001, PHOTONIS France delivers to India the most used and robust XD-4 Image Intensifier Tubes. The main customers are Ordnance Factory (OFD) and Opto-Electronics Factory (OLF), located in Dehradun. The I² tubes are integrated in night vision devices manufactured by OFD and OLF to be provided to the Ministry of Home Affairs, to the Border Surveillance Forces or integrated in night driving scopes.

SP’s: Is PHOTONIS looking at marketing its products individually in India or in collaboration with Indian private companies and PSUs? Has PHOTONIS signed any MoU in this regard?

Emmanuel: The public sector Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) procured 30,634 image intensifier-based Passive Night Vision Devices (PNVDs) on a transfer of technology (ToT) basis for supplying to the armed forces. The state-of-the-art PNVDs include passive Night Vision Sight for 5.56mm INSAS Rifle and Light Machine Gun, Passive Night Vision Rocket Launcher and Passive Night Vision Binoculars. BEL Optronic Devices Limited (BELOP), a subsidiary of BEL has absorbed the critical Image Intensifier Tube technology of state-of-the-art XD4 specification from PHOTONIS France as part of this procurement.

BELOP was the obvious choice for this strategic ToT as BELOP is the only I2 Tube manufacturer in India having been established in 1990 on the behest of the Ministry of Defence with the aim to achieve a self-reliance in night vision.

SP’s: Image Intensifier Tubes are an area in which PHOTONIS has been focusing. How do you rate your products on the global market? What are the “unique features” compared to its global competitions?

Emmanuel: In the highly demanding conditions of field operations, PHOTONIS tubes are the most resistant and less susceptible to burn-in due to their specific photocathode structure, ensuring the continued reliability of the output image. In case of illumination by a laser, and at the contrary of other tubes which would be totally destroyed, PHOTONIS tubes would only show a marked black spot at the impact of the laser beam, with no subsequent evolution of the mark. Consequently always offers “eyes on the target”.

PHOTONIS recently introduced one of the most revolutionary advancements in night vision in the XR5 auto-gated filmless tube. In addition to improvements in image resolution and clarity as well as low-light level performance, the XR5 offers Auto-Gating, which allows for continuous operation in dynamic light conditions. XR5 is one of the most recent image intensifiers in service in NATO.

In addition to the advances made with XR5 Auto-Gating, ONYX natural black and white Night Vision Image Intensifiers are proving to be a plus in terms of image contrast and detection. ONYX is the optional black & white (B&W) vision of PHOTONIS.

PHOTONIS has been improving direct view technology solutions (based on Image Intensifier Tubes) over the years along the main axis dealing with human perception: Physiological performance (Auto-Gating and ONYX technologies), reduced size and weight (16mm-diameter intensifier tubes) and increased optronics performances (introduction of XD-4 and XR5 high performance tubes).

SP’s: To which all countries has PHOTONIS marketed its Night Vision Devices?

Emmanuel: PHOTONIS Night Vision is the world leader in night vision sensor innovation for space and military applications. Directly exporting more than 80 per cent of the products to the Indian Army, French Army, UK MoD, German BAAINBw, US Army CECOM, US Navy, AREVA, NASA, EDF (French Power Generation Utility), CEA (French Nuclear Energy Commission), CNRS (French Research Center), ESA (European Space Agency) and many more, PHOTONIS is the preferred supplier of the most recent image intensifiers in service in NATO. Moreover, the ITAR free Image Intensifier Tubes from PHOTONIS are worldwide renowned.

SP’s: What are the types of image intensifiers products that PHOTONIS offers? What are their characteristics in terms of clarity and speed, latter considering fleeting targets with small detection time?

Emmanuel: Helicopter crew: The benefit of PHOTONIS latest Image Intensifier Tubes to Helicopter crew is the ability to fly in much safer conditions at faster speed and lower altitude by night. Pilots experience much less halo and can even land with Night Vision Devices on, while it is near to impossible with many other available Image Intensifier Tubes. The Auto-Gating feature is especially engineered for light-polluted areas and has become an indispensable feature for helicopter crews. As experienced by the French Special Forces, PHOTONIS provides them with the highest performance available.

Ground Forces: Due to the extended bandwidth of PHOTONIS Image Intensifier Tubes, Ground Forces can operate in all field conditions (desert to forest, mountain to sea) and experience the best image at night. Therefore Ground Forces are ensured of sustained battlefield superiority. PHOTONIS makes the difference by demonstrating the highest performance available.

SP’s: In marketing your products in India, is PHOTONIS prepared to offer transfer of technology?

Emmanuel: PHOTONIS is already cooperating closely with Indian PSU. BELOP is well poised with the manufacturing capability of I2 tubes. BELOP showed its full capability in successful absorption of know-how and skill development in an era where the technology life cycle is getting shorter than its functional life. Higher specification tubes are generally developed through incremental improvements and produced with upgradation and augmentation of existing facilities. PHOTONIS have therefore favoured indigenous manufacture of XD 4. The year 2014 will also see through upgrades, the commencement of indigenous manufacturing of Auto-Gated XD 4 and XR5 II Tubes.

In this context, it is pertinent for the users and decision-makers in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to determine the “best fit” as per operational requirements without unnecessarily burdening the financial resources in wake of procuring the latest products.

For example, the devices procured by the Mumbai police after the 26/11 attacks have a detection range of approx 150 metres and recognition span of approx. 100 metres. In such a scenario, the feature of Auto-Gating will be significantly advantageous for such NVDs as the operational requirement may involve a 26/11 like scenario wherein the National Security Guards (NSG) may need to engage in an anti-terror conflict in urban environment like a hotel where light levels can vary rapidly.

The absorption of image intensification technology has been a milestone in the context of Indian Night Vision, making the PSU of India amongst the five most advanced OEMs in the world of this strategic product. Successful upgrades and assimilation of technology for manufacture of higher specification I2 Tubes will not only boost the motive of self-reliance but also set benchmarks for building advance technology infrastructure and R&D capability in other strategic defence related technologies.

SP’s: As part of complete night vision products, can PHOTONIS offer a monocular night vision device that can be worn on the helmet or with a headband by a foot soldier, leaving his both hands free?

Emmanuel: As the technology leader in Image Intensifier Tube, PHOTONIS does not manufacture or offer monocular night vision device. However, thanks to its highest quality, lightest weight and most compact products, PHOTONIS empowers OEMs in manufacturing and delivering the highest performing monocular night vision devices as described in the example below.

Small halo to match high quality goggles: To take full advantage of the highest performing technologies in Night Vision in full sovereignty, Indian industry has invested in optics, moulding and set-up an ambitious business plan to produce advanced night vision equipment and provide them to Indian troops and Special Forces.

Using these high quality goggles, it became then obvious that they needed to be matched with Image Intensifier technology generating the smallest halo possible. Indeed when operating in dynamic light conditions, night vision images have a tendency to show ‘halos’ around the brightest spots in the scene. For example: street lights or car headlights are typically surrounded by round bright areas, disturbing the overall image quality and ‘whiting out’ part or the entire image. Because the smaller the halo (<1mm), the better the image quality, Indian forces can now be equipped with the most advanced Image Intensifier technology from PHOTONIS matching the high quality goggles available from the local industry.

SP’s: The LYNX CMOS sensor is advertised based on full solid-state technology that besides operating by day, functions in low-light equivalent to quarter moon, and supports applications like fusing digital images by night and IR. Can you elaborate this product? Does its function get affected in conditions of low light going below quarter moon and pitch darkness? What is the platform on which the LYNX CMOS sensor is mounted?

Emmanuel: Digital View based on full solid state sensor: Although Image Intensifier tubes represent the unrivalled solution for low light level and night vision applications thanks to its low power consumption, high detection and identification capabilities, ease of deployment, small size, low life cycle and maintenance costs, Digital Technologies applied to visible light (solid state low noise CMOS, CMOS coupled to intensifier tubes) tremendously increase the range of applications, such as portable and remote applications, day/night surveillance (surveillance cameras in urban environment), perimeter protection, border control, infrastructure surveillance, and manned and unmanned vehicle protection.

Unattended sensors for remote surveillance: Taking advantage of its experience in Night Vision demanding requirements, PHOTONIS designed digital sensors operating in both day and night lighting conditions down to extreme lowlight levels. These newest digital sensors are also able to achieve much lower power consumption and lower costs than usual EMCCD-based imaging systems. The unattended sensors for remote surveillance can be fitted with automatic movement detection, “wake-up” feature. They are fully passive and/or undetectable and are transmission ready.

Furthermore PHOTONIS Sensors are independent from weather conditions and can operate despite rain, wind, temperature differences, direct sun exposure or glass window protection.

Border Security Surveillance, UAV: To provide extreme low-light solutions able to deliver high-quality imaging by both Day & Night, PHOTONIS recently completed its digital imaging portfolio by developing a dedicated camera electronics around its high-performing sensors: the NOCTURN camera. Most suitable for UAV surveillance and Border Security applications, this advanced camera has an extended bandwidth advantage compared to infrared cameras and makes it possible not only to detect and recognise, but also to identify at night for a much reduced cost than the usual association of day camera and night camera used so far to provide similar imaging range.

SP’s: The MCP-PMT Photon Detector reportedly brings together two fast photonic timing devices technologies in a single sensor. What are the advantages of this fusion? What Night Vision Devices are this detector being utilised?

Emmanuel: The MCP-PMT Photon Detector is ideal for high speed and single photon detection, fluorescence, nuclear physics and other high-energy applications. MCP-PMT Photon Detectors are not offered or used in defence, security or homeland applications.

SP’s: The PLANACON Photo Detector has been advertised for use in specialised medical imaging applications as well as for homeland security. Can you elaborate how and where the PLANACON Photo Detector can be optimised in homeland security?

Emmanuel: PLANACON Photo Detectors are used in homeland security and counter-terrorism applications for radiation monitoring through portable radiation meters incorporating a photomultiplier and scintillator measuring the radioactive dose received by workers or detect radioactive contamination on their gloves or clothes protecting them from exceeding a safe level. The same equipment can be used to protect the environment by monitoring levels of fallout from nuclear accidents or leaks.