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“Infra-Armor Vision System” for Turkish tanks

Thanks to the “Infra-Armor Vision System”, which will enter the inventory next year, the personnel wearing augmented reality glasses will be able to see the environment of the vehicle and possible threats, as if they were in a “glass armor” in whichever direction they turn their head.

The FIRAT-M60T modernization product tanks in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces will be given the ability to see beyond armor.

BITES Defense, Aerospace Technologies company has developed an “Infra-Armor Vision System” that increases the situational awareness of all types of armored vehicle crews.

The system, which will be used in military vehicles with limited close vision, such as main battle tanks and armored combat vehicles, increases the situational awareness of the personnel in the tactical field. The Armored Vision System can also receive Command and Control System data and uses this data to enrich the camera images. While using the system, the personnel wearing augmented reality glasses can directly monitor the vehicle’s surroundings without seeing the armor in whichever direction they turn their head.

Erinc Albayrak, Deputy General Manager of BITES, said that the company has given strategic importance to the integration of innovative technologies into the battlefield since its establishment.

In this context, Albayrak stated that they have developed innovative solutions such as enriching the situational awareness of the infantry on the battlefield and developing digital twins of original and national platforms, adding that they have recently started the Beyond Armor Vision Project to add new generation capabilities to armored vehicles and tanks.

Albayrak stated that they made various technology demonstrations in this regard and that they exhibited their progress for the first time at the IDEF International Defense Industry Fair in 2015, He stated that they integrated their solutions into ASELSAN’s Close Range Surveillance System (Yamgöz), after which they signed various contracts and further matured the system.

Erinc Albayrak noted that they recently started a new project with the Presidency of Defense Industries in 2021 to meet the needs of the Land Forces Command.

To be used in 2023

Noting that the project has reached the critical design review stage, Albayrak said:

“If our work continues without slowing down, acceptance will be made in 2023. Armored combat vehicles and tanks are equipped with armor due to their functions during combat. Therefore, their relations with the outside world are weak visually. Situational awareness of the crew and the tank commander is created with the images taken over the battlements or telescopic vision systems on the vehicles, and the near-field surveillance systems, however, as of the point we have reached, when we apply augmented reality technology with the right blending of these cameras, we obtain a supportive system in terms of raising awareness on the battlefield of what is happening outside the tank. This system creates a 360-degree view by combining images from existing cameras placed around the tank. The view of the outside world is brought to the augmented reality glasses that he uses from the commander’s point of view. In this way, the commander provides a vision opportunity by going beyond the armor that blocks the line of sight, as if he were in a glass armor. This increases situational awareness on the battlefield.”

Albayrak stated that thanks to the system, it will be possible to notice the threats in the close area and the risks in the environment during the hot conflict, especially in operations without infantry support.

“We are in a better position than many technology giants”

Erinc Albayrak said that they also have good relations with domestic armored vehicle manufacturers and that they have delivered certain products in this area so far.

Emphasizing that the system, which is planned to be applied to M60 tanks, is used in the battlefield, preparations are also made for their integration into armored combat vehicles. “I proudly express that our country is at a very important point when we take the major manufacturers and technology giants in the world as a reference for the integration of augmented reality technology to the battlefield. BITES is also very happy to contribute to this. In fact, we are in a much better position in terms of integrating augmented reality technology into the battlefield from the country we know as many technology giants.”

Source: Trthaber / Translated by Irem Yildiz

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