To improve MANPADS, 495 thermal imaging devices were transferred to Air Defense Forces
24 February, 2024 Igla MANPADS with Guide thermal imager. Photo credits: Serhiy Prytula Foundation Ukrainian volunteers have delivered a batch of 495 thermal imaging devices to the Air Defense Forces to improve air defense systems.
The Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation said that the thermal imaging equipment donated was intended to improve the performance of low-altitude air defense systems at night. Within the framework of the "Igla+thermal imager" project, Guide TK631 sights and Guide TK431 monoculars are being delivered to the military. Mobile AA fire teams use Soviet-era Igla MANPADS, Polish Piorun man-portable air-defense systems, and large-caliber machine guns to engage targets.
These weapons are effective during daylight hours, when missiles and drones are clearly visible in the sky.
A batch of Guide thermal imaging devices for the Ukrainian military. February 2024.
Ukraine. Frame from Serhiy Prytula's video
However Russians launch missiles and drones mainly at night. Therefore, the Odesa-based Technary Design Bureau found a way to modernize the MANPADS to improve the performance of low-altitude air defense at night by equipping the man-portable air defense system with special mounts for thermal imagers.
"The Igla+ thermal imager project is working, the Air Force regularly reports on the downing of Shahed UAVs and missiles by mobile AA fire teams," Prytula said. Since the beginning of 2024, the Foundation has imported 900 new thermal imagers to Ukraine and has already started their transfer to the units: 400 Guide TK631 sights and 500 Guide TK431 monoculars.
A batch of Guide thermal imaging devices for the Ukrainian military. February 2024.
Ukraine. Frame from Serhiy Prytula's video
The total cost of the purchased thermal imaging scopes is £1 million 213 thousand. "As soon as the first missile was shot down, the project paid off at this stage.
After all, the cost of one missile and the saved infrastructure, which this missile did not hit, is much more than we spent on thermal imaging optics," Serhiy Prytula said.
A batch of Guide thermal imaging devices for the Ukrainian military. February 2024. Ukraine.
Frame from Serhiy Prytula's video
This significantly expands the activities of mobile AA fire teams that counteract the constant nighttime attacks by Russian drones and cruise missiles.