Beacons, Tags, IFF

NOVA - Multi-Spectral Combat ID Beacon

The Nove is a multi-spectral combat ID beacon for covertly marking blue force personnel and vehicles. It includes broadband thermal, NIR and white LED emitters. When operated in thermal mode, it emits no visible signature and is undetectable by conventional night vision equipment. The Nova has an optical output of approximately 480 mW in the mid-wave IR band (3 to 5 micron), 104 mW in the long-wave IR band (8 to 12 micron), 450 mW in the NIR band (850 nm), and 80 lumens in the visible spectrum. The beacon's wide divergence and high power ensures high visibility to air or ground mounted thermal imaging systems and night vision devices. The self-contained unit can be easily configured for use on a helmet, MOLLE vest, pack, or vehicle. 

 Operational Capabilities:

• Positive ID of blue force personnel and vehicles from ground based and airborne thermal imagers, targeting systems, and NVGs
• Covert - When operated in thermal mode the Nova is undetectable by all visible and NIR cameras and image intensified night vision devices
• Six emitter locations can be populated with any combination of emitters
• Multiple Nova beacons can be synchronized to flash in unison

 

 

Star Thermal IFF Beacon

The Star Beacon is a thermal combat ID beacon for covertly marking blue force personnel and vehicles. It emits no visible signature and is undetectable by conventional night vision equipment. The Star Beacon has an output of approximately 2300 mW in the mid-wave IR band (3 to 5 micron) and/or 400 mW in the long-wave IR band (8 to 12 microns). The beacon emits in a full hemispherical pattern for high visibility to air or ground mounted thermal imaging systems. The emitter head, battery pack, and mount system can be easily configured for use on a helmet, vehicle, MOLLE vest, or pack. 

 Operational Capabilities:

• Positive ID of blue force assets from both ground and airborne thermal imaging systems
• 1 km visibility to cooled LWIR imagers - 10 km visibility in MWIR with common imagers
• Invisible to Gen III image intensifiers
• Small and low profile - available with mounts for helmets, MOLLE vests, and vehicles
• Multiple star beacons can be synchronized to flash in unison
• Full hemispherical divergence from the horizon to zenith

 

Specifications:

• 18 high efficiency thermal emitters
• Battery pack with (6) 123 batteries provides 5 hours of continuous run time
• Also runs on external power, 12 to 32 VDC

 

North Star Combat ID / IFF

The North Star is a miniature laser beacon powered with a single 123 battery. Use it to covertly mark personnal, vehicles, or hard targets for either combat ID / IFF or tagging and tracking purposes. Multiple North Stars can be synchronized to flash in unison. NIR and SWIR versions are visible directly for more than 30 km and indirectly (reflected off the ground) for over 3 km.

Operational Capabilities:

• IFF & DZ/LZ - Covertly mark blue force personnel, vehicles, drop zones, landing zones, etc.
• TTL - Tag and track red force personnel, vehicles, etc. in rural and urban environments
• High optical output and synchronous flashing ensure excellent long range visibility, day & night
• Available in single and multiple wavelengths including 850, 1064, 1550 nm, and thermal
• Miniature package with a spring clip, tie down tans, and neodymium magnets
• On-board microprocessor allows for programming of custom flash patterns

 

Specifications:

• Available in UV, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR, and multiple band
• Beacons can be wirelessly synchronized to flash in unison
• On-board microprocessor enables data storage and transmission
• Customized form factors
• Upcoming versions will be available with onboard GPS receivers, microphones, and/or miniature cameras for the covert transmission of battlefield sensor data

 

Octopus TTL Beacon

The Octopus beacons are externally powdered miniature NIR, SWIR, Thermal or dual band beacons. They are specifically designed to outfit a vehicle or fixed asset with 360 degree coverage for covert blue and red force tracking, The output in the SWIR is 200 mW for the dual band beacons and 400 mW for the SWIR only beacons making them visible directly for 30 km and indirectly reflected off the ground for over 5 km. The thermal beacons use high efficiency emitters and microprocessor controlled drive circuits to produce the highest available in-band MWIR and LWIR optical output for their size.  

Operational Capabilities: 

• IFF & DZ/LZ - Covertly mark blue force personnel, vehicles, drop zones, landing zones, etc.
• TTL - Tag and track red force personnel, vehicles, etc. in rural and urban environments
• High optical output and synchronous flashing ensure excellent long range visibility, day & night
• Invisible to the naked eye and GEN III night vision imagers
• Miniature package with tie down tabs and rare earth magnets are easily concealed
• On-board microprocessor allows for programming of custom flash patterns and enables the transmission of optically encided data such as ID and status codes & GPS coordinates

 

 

Specifications:

• Battery pack with (4) 123 batteries
• Also runs on external power, 12 to 32 VDC

  

Beacons for ISR and Combat ID / IFF

Operational Capabilities:

• IFF - Covertly mark blue force personnel, vehicles etc.
• ISR - Tag and track red force personnel, vehicles, etc.
• DZ/LZ - Covertly mark drop zones, landing zones, pickup zones
• Excellent day/night long range visibility / omni-directional
• Invisible to GEN III VAS systems

 

Specifications:

• Available in UV, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR, and multiple band
• Beacons can be wirelessly synchronized to flash in unison
• On-board microprocessor enables data storage and transmission
• Customized form factors
• Upcoming versions will be available with onboard GPS receivers, microphones, and/or miniature cameras for the covert transmission of battlefield sensor data