MOSCOW, January 24. /TASS/. The Rostov Optical-Mechanical Plant (part of the RATM Holding Company) has developed a next-generation thermal imager for armor enabling a tank commander to ferret out targets at a distance of over 1 km at any time of the day or night, the plant’s press office told TASS on Tuesday.

Presently, the armor outfitted with night vision devices has give-away signs and can be spotted by the enemy. The enterprise made a decision to develop the TKN-3TP thermal imaging device and launch it into production, the press office said.

"The TKN-3TP helps considerably enhance the performance of armaments and special military hardware and substantially expand the range of its employment," the press office quoted Company First Deputy CEO and Chief Designer Alexander Medvedev as saying.

"The device outshines its rivals as it can operate in passive mode across the entire 0-100,000 lx illuminance range with an increased capacity of ferreting out armor and hardware at a maximum distance of 3,000 meters and an improved vision capability amid the reduced meteorological vision range," he explained.

Until now, a tank commander could observe targets at a distance of 400-500 meters, depending on illuminance whereas now the device can identify targets at a range of over 1 km at any time of the day or night in various weather conditions. As the press office highlighted, the next-generation device was engineered using a domestic components base.

The Rostov Plant’s output is widely used in naval, border guard, land and armored hardware. The enterprise has also assimilated civilian output, in particular, short-, medium-and long-range thermal imaging sights, daytime, night and daytime-night vision devices and thermal imagers.