© Thales The French defence procurement agency DGA has awarded Thales with the contract to develop the New Generation Laser Designati...
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| © Thales |
The French defence procurement agency DGA has awarded Thales with the contract to develop the New Generation Laser Designation Pod (PDL NG). The series production is expected to begin in 2018.
Thales will develop the PDL NG that will provide the French air forces with new day/night imaging and engagement capabilities in complex theatres of operations. The PDL NG will be designed to integrate with both the Rafale and Mirage 2000D fighter aircraft.
The risk-reduction phase, the first step in the development of any programme, confirmed the system’s architecture, its high level of functional integration, reliability and the development schedule.
PDL NG pod will the equip the tranche 4 Dassault Rafale F3R Standard fighters, enhancing Rafale's precision air to ground strike capabilities. France signed the F3R Standard development contract with Dassault recently. Currently the Thales built Damocles multifunction laser designation targeting pod is used by Rafale for full day and night laser-guided weapon delivery.
