Thales to supply handheld thermal imagers to the Canadian Army

• The Thales Sophie Ultima long-range handheld thermal imagers have been selected by the Canadian Armed Forces, the first contract awarded under Canada’s Night Vision Systems Modernization (NVSM) project.
• Manufactured and maintained in Canada, the Sophie Ultima will enhance operational capabilities for the Canadian Army with advanced technology and resilient navigation.
• This contract award further affirms Thales’ commitment to Canada with significant local industrialization, skills development and training in Quebec.

Thales Canada is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to Thales Canada for the acquisition of its Sophie Ultima Handheld Thermal Imager (HHTI) as part of the Night Vision Systems Modernization (NVSM) project. This award marks an important advancement in Canada’s defence capabilities, ensuring that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are equipped with cutting-edge technology designed to excel in complex and challenging operational environments.

The Sophie Ultima, a lightweight, handheld thermal imager, is engineered to deliver extraordinary performance in the field. With a high performance infrared channel, it offers NATO tank recognition range performance of up to 6 kilometres. The continuous optical zoom and wide 20° field of view enable operators to maintain visual contact with targets during detection, recognition, and identification phases, ensuring rapid and precise engagement.

Thales will manufacture and maintain the Sophie Ultima at its existing Canadian Electro-Optics Center of Excellence, further strengthening Canada’s defence industrial base. This initiative will create new jobs and spur economic growth, expanding Thales’s current supply chain within Canada. In addition, the Thales Optronics facility in Montreal will provide comprehensive in-service support, ensuring that the Canadian Armed Forces benefit from a dedicated repair facility with rapid turnaround, reducing equipment downtime.

“Thales is committed to delivering advanced, reliable, and locally supported solutions like the Sophie Ultima,” said Benoit Plantier, Vice President, Optronics, Missile Electronics and Unmanned Air Systems, Thales.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cybersecurity & Digital identity.

It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion.

About Thales Canada

A Canadian leader in research and technology, Thales Canada combines over 50 years of experience with the talent of over 1,300 skilled people from coast-to-coast. Thales Canada offers leading capabilities in the defence, civil aviation, digital identity and security sectors – meeting the most complex needs and requirements of its customers across all operating environments.