Thales is working on next-gen electro-optic countermeasure concepts that could help military vehicles survive increasingly complex battlefield threats by making them harder to detect, track, and target.
Selected by the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the company will partner with British firm QinetiQ under the Next Generation Soft Kill (NGSK) program to explore advanced protection technologies for future land platforms.
Multiple candidate concepts will be assessed throughout the project, with one design set to be chosen for more extensive development and testing.
The chosen concept will be developed in line with the UK’s Modular Integrated Protection System architecture, which supports scalable protection technologies for current and future land platforms.
Preparing for Future Battles
Thales will draw on its expertise in threat warning sensors, defensive aids systems, and electro-optic technologies throughout the project.
QinetiQ, meanwhile, will support technology evaluation and assessment to help ensure the capability is suitable for operational use.
Through the NGSK program, the companies aim to demonstrate how integrated sensors and electro-optic countermeasures can improve vehicle protection while supporting the UK’s sovereign defense industrial base.
