Soldier Systems
Fielded, proven and highly reliable shutters
Thermal Weapon Sights with shutters from Brandstrom Instruments.
Brandstrom Instruments offers a full line of qualified highly reliable shutters for thermal imaging applications. The Thermal Weapon Sight (TWS) II and TWS II bridge programs have exceeded performance requirements and fielding schedules through the use of Brandstrom Instruments rotary drive shutters in Light, Medium and Heavy Thermal Weapon Sight designs. Our shutters have demonstrated superior performance on the full temperature range -46° C to +70° C and live fire weapon shock profiles for the M4, M16, M240, M249, M2, M34 and Mark19 weapons systems without any reported failures.
Brandstrom Instruments understands the rigorous Soldier Systems battlefield environment
In early 2005 the Army was experiencing a high failure rate of shutters and the first unit equipped fielding date in the first quarter of 2006 was in jeopardy. Because of our unmatched reputation for reliability, Brandstrom Instruments was selected to review and resolve the shutter performance problem.
Delivering Critical Solutions
Our engineering team understood the root cause, and created an innovative design which addressed the issues. The new design was approved and implemented into representative weapon sights. The Army then subjected the upgraded weapon sights to MIL STD 810 G temperature and live fire weapon shock profiles. The result was a highly reliable weapon sight with no shutter failures.
With high confidence restored, the Army proceeded with Qualification Reliability Growth Testing and achieved first unit equipped fielding in time for the units to deploy. As of today, Brandstrom Instruments has delivered rotary drive shutter products supporting the TWS II, TWS II Bridge, Driver’s Vision Enhancer (DVE), Check 6, Laser Target Locator Module (LTLM) and TWS III. Since mid 2005 we have fielded shutters in battlefield environments, providing the soldier with highly reliable thermal imaging and laser products.
Future Soldier Systems Programs
Brandstrom Instruments has ongoing advanced engineering efforts to address the shutter requirements for next generation technologies such as 17µ Thermal Imaging Modules (TIM) and image fusion of Image Intensification (I2), Long Wave IR (LWIR) and Short Wave IR (SWIR).
Additionally, our company has taken the key design elements used in the TWS Program and configured them into a scaleable product line for use by prime contractors pursuing Soldier Systems Programs such as:
- Advanced Weapon Sight Technology
- Enhanced Night Vision Goggle
- Digital Enhanced Night Vision Goggle
Brandstrom Instruments can provide innovative solutions for your products as well. Please contact us to discuss your specific application.
Contact an Engineer
Infrared IR Shutters & Thermal Imaging Shutters
We design custom NUC (non-uniformity correction) shutters for uncooled and cooled IR (Infrared imaging) camera systems for FPA (focal plane array), Bolometer arrays, and Infrared image sensor calibration.
Brandstrom Instruments’ NUC (nonuniformity correction) shutters are found in many high performance thermal imaging cameras, cooled and uncooled, providing internal focal uniformity references. We are currently designing products for next generation technologies, such as:
- 17µ 640 x 480 Thermal Imaging Modules (TIM)
- Image fusion of Image Intensification (I2), Long Wave IR (LWIR) and Short Wave IR (SWIR).
- A1024 shutter
- Bi-stable
- Blade: ø .4″
- Rotation:50°
- Solenoid: ø 7/16″
- Download Drawing
- Download 3D PDF
- Request Pricing
- A1052-1 shutter
- Bi-stable
- Blade: .346″ x .441″
- Rotation:50°
- Solenoid: ø 7/16″
- Download Drawing
- Download 3D PDF
- Request Pricing
- A1012 Shutter
- Self-restoring
- Blade: ø .6″
- Rotation: 45° CCW
- Solenoid: ø 3/8″
- Download Drawing
- Download 3D PDF
- Request Pricing
- A1262 Shutter
- Bi-stable
- Blade: .448″ x .585″
- Rotation: 48° CW
- Solenoid: ø 5/16″
- Download Drawing
- Download 3D PDF
- Request Pricing
Infrared Actuator Specifications
Our thermal imaging / NUC shutters block apertures from 1mm to several inches in diameter. We can customize power, travel, mountings, blade dimensions, hall effect magnets and many other features to your exact specifications
Blade Type
- Flat
- Cylindrical
- Pocket Machined
- Profiled
Blade Material
- Carbon Fiber
- Aluminum
- Stainless Steel
- Filter Materials
Blade Finish
- Black Anodized
- Electroless Nickel
- Diffuse Gold Plate
- Painted
Coatings
- Thermal Absorptive
- Low Emissivity
- Specialty coatings