The Damocles is a 3rd generation targeting pod for military aircraft made by Thales Group

Thales Group

The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...

 produced in Elancourt France. It is a modular, eye-safe laser, high performance pod selected by the French Air Force for its attack fighter aircraft fleet. It features a long-range laser designator, an integrated navigation FLIR and high resolution imagery. Damocles is fully compatible with Paveway and BGL

Bombe Guidée Laser

Bombe Guidée Laser laser-guided bombs were developed by MATRA starting in 1978. The guidance system had to work using the same principles as the US Paveway guided bombs. The guidance kits were intended as modifications to existing free fall bombs that were in service with the French Air Force...

 laser guided bombs, imagery guided weapons, and AASM GPS/INS/LASER guided weapons. It also features a reconnaissance capability with instant transmission of imagery to ground stations. Overall robustness and ease of maintenance have been improved. It is capable of guiding laser weapons to their extreme range (16km) and identifying armoured vehicle targets at 27km also conducting post-strike analysis at the same range.

Exports

Export sales of the Damocles targeting pod comprise Malaysia, which operates Sukhoi Su-30 fighters; the United Arab Emirates, which flies the Mirage 2000-9 from Dassault Aviation; and Saudi Arabia, which has a mixed fleet of British and American planes. The Saudi Air Force is flying the Damocles on its Tornado aircraft. Russia will license-produce the Thales Damocles reconnaissance and target designation pod for its air force strike aircraft, following successful tests of the system with Malaysia's Sukhoi Su-30MKM multirole fighter. Comparative trials involving Damocles and the Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant (UOMZ)-produced Sapsan and Solux targeting pods went in favour of the French design.

Operators

- Rafale/SEM - Su-30MKM - M2000-9 - Tornado GR4 - Su series fighters (Su-34, Su-24M2, Su-27SM2 and Su-27SM)

External links

• Thales Damocles page
• Engage! Mirage 2000-9 special issue