Edition of the Milipol exhibition in Paris saw Thales unveiling a new ruggedised 10×20 HD D/N zoom lens developed specifically for the security and surveillance market. The high- definition lens is the only product of its kind available today, capturing very high-quality imagery in all operational conditions during the day and at night. With State security increasingly under threat, protection and surveillance missions require highly capable optronics solutions offering the same levels of performance as military systems. As the European leader in optronic equipment, Thales draws on its extensive experience in the defence sector to propose a range of products tailored to the requirements of internal security services. Thales’s ruggedised 10×20 HD D/N zoom lens is a valuable asset in the fight to control borders, protect sensitive sites such as airports and nuclear power plants, and provide security during major sporting or political events. 
The new HD zoom lens features a variable focal length from 20 to 200 mm, F/6 for a 2/3 inch camera. While most of the optical systems available on the market today only offer adequate performance for facial recognition or license plate recognition at short range, the new Thales product makes it possible to detect an individual at 6 km, with recognition possible at 2 km and identification at a distance of up to 1 km. The zoom lens captures exceptionally sharp images at visible wavelengths and in the near infrared band. The new product is primarily designed as a replacement for zoom lenses equipping current and new-generation gyrostabilised gimbal- mounted cameras on helicopters and UAVs. It is also suitable for ruggedised cameras deployed by units on the ground. With its unique performance characteristics, this new product is expected to become a key component of protection and surveillance systems incorporating optical sensors.