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QUICK POINTING DEVICE - QPD

An essential element of Self-Defence:

Visual detection remains an essential element of self-defence as a complement to automatic radar and infrared targeting systems.

The Quick Pointing Device (Q.P.D.) provides weapon systems with the angular co-ordinates of incoming threats in few seconds.

Q.P.D. is a Commercial Off The Shelf equipment. Q.P.D. is in many major navies.

Key features:

Easy to use: reflex action,
Light weight,
High connectivity to the ship weapon systems.

System overview:

Equipment capable of sending angular designation data processed by three gyrometers mounted inside a handled sighting unit (SOFRESUD's patent). The Q.P.D. is able to provide any tracking or weapon systems with these data.

The Q.P.D. can also control a gun through a Fire Control System computer.

Line of sight data delivered by the FOGs are processed in real time to calculate and deliver accurate coordinates (absolute or relative Bearing and Elevation).

SOFRESUD's main references:

French Navy have evaluated and selected the Q.P.D. for the optimization of the self-defense system of major naval units,
Saudi Navy have selected the Q.P.D. for the Sawari II Frigates,
Italian and French Navies have selected the Q.P.D. for the Horizon Frigates,
Royal Navy have selected the Q.P.D. for the T45 Destroyer programme,
Norwegian Navy have selected the Q.P.D. for the new Surface Effect Ship class,
French Navy have selected the Q.P.D. for the FREMM Frigates,
Italian Navy have chosen the Q.P.D. for the FREMM Frigates.

Q.P.D. Objective:

QPD's definition and design were aimed at reacting as quickly as possible to a visually detected approaching threat. The purpose was to provide any close-defence system with objective designation data allowing it to manage a situation where the reaction time was evaluated as less than 20 seconds.

The Quick Pointing Device (QPD) is a subsystem whose purpose is to provide, in just a few seconds, an Objective Designation (OD). The corresponding data are basically a sight or an elevation, added to an azimuth or a bearing.

The main purpose is to benefit from a watchman's capacity to react quickly in order to improve the time of acquisition of a close-defence system through an STI or directly. The choice depends on the carrier ship's mission and the architecture of the combat system.

A QPD comprises two main parts:

A sighting set, made of a sighting unit and a re-timing unit,
And a treatment unit.

Sighting unit

Treatment unit

History

Three versions were developed since the QPD project started:

A prototype aimed at validating the initial concept.
A set of equipment installed on board the French Navy's ships. This set is the first generation.
A second set was developed to be fitted on the frigates of Saudi Arabia's Navy. This set is the second generation.

The difference between these two generations lies in the design of the sighting unit, which was modified so that it can now be fitted with an infrared sighting unit, and equipped with new optic fiber gyro-meters.

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QPD