DRS Technologies Inc. successfully conducted the first flight test demonstration of its GS205-XRZ laser designated gimbal, the company said on Wednesday.
The GS205 gimbal is under six inches in diameter and under nine pounds, making it one of the smallest stabilized, light-weight qualified targeting systems on the market, DRS said.
It provides targeting capability for all laser-guided weapons and is currently available off-the-shelf for size, weight, and power-constrained platforms.
The XRZ variant is an extended-range version of the targeting system that includes a cooled infrared camera with a zoom optic, an electro optical camera, laser pointer, and eye-safe range finder. It also has a full pulse interval modulation/pulse repetition frequency compliant laser designator.
“The size and performance of this gimbal is a testament to DRS engineers who understand that as customer needs evolve, no solution is too small,” Sally Wallace, president of the DRS Technologies C4ISR business group, said in a statement.
“We are proud of the capabilities of this unique system which should provide a distinct advantage to U.S. troops on the battlefield.”
The first flight was at the Avon Park Air Force Range in Florida. The gimbal completed multiple laser designation exercises from a U.S. Special Operations Commands platform.
DRS Technologies is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica.