Hensoldt to provide SERO 250S submarine periscopes to a Latin American navy.

In Latin America, the navies of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela operate submarines, and the SERO 250 has been purchased by the Colombian Navy and the Peruvian Navy for the 209/1200 class submarines, Sarah Lesedi reports.
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The SERO 250 is available in an attack and search version, SERO 250 A and SERO 250 S. (Picture source: Hensoldt)

HENSOLDT has secured a follow-up contract from an unnamed Latin American Navy to replace the previously used submarine periscope with the SERO 250S periscope as part of a refit program and provide a capability upgrade with night vision capability. In a contract worth more than five million euros and is the second order from the customer. In Latin America, the navies of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela operate submarines, and the SERO 250 has been purchased by the Colombian Navy and the Peruvian Navy for the 209/1200 class submarines.

The periscope system enables the user to monitor surface and air activity, in order to collect navigational data and to detect and identify targets. The system also provides video signals for parallel observation either on Bulkhead mounted display, CMS or with a stand-alone console. The SERO 250 design philosophy has been conditioned by the requirement to enable a simple, rapid and cost-effective retrofit into any submarine platform.

To achieve this, Hensoldt has engineered a straightforward ‘drop-in’ installation through the existing hull penetration, in order to avoid the need for hull modifications and thereby retain the existing bearings, seals and hydraulic hoist mechanisms. All SERO 250 Human Machine Interface (HMI) functionality resides on a compact ocular box display unit, which is mounted directly below the Direct View binocular eyepiece. This self-contained unit includes system settings, camera displays, target information, system status, and communication. As an option, a remote HMI console display can be fitted to a bulkhead mount. The SERO 250 can also be integrated into a submarine Combat Management System for remote control capability

The SERO 250 is available in an attack and search version, SERO 250 A and SERO 250 S.

This allows submarines to easily adjust to changing operational conditions and to fulfil complex requirements for reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence gathering. One of our key targets was to reduce the need for major structural modifications on the boat, for instance using existing hoisting mechanisms, bearings, seals, etc.

To ease integration the SERO 250 can be operationed as a stand-alone system or be integrated into existing or renewed Combat Management Systems.The periscope system enables the user to monitor surface and air activity, to collect navigational data and to detect and identify targets. It also provides video signals for parallel observation either on CMS or with a stand-alone console.

The SERO 250 can be enhanced with improved night vision capability through the addition of an IR camera as an add-on module.

As part of a modernisation programme, HENSOLDT will supply a SERO250S submarine periscope directly to the navy of a customer in Latin America. The order volume is more than 5 million euros. This is already the second order from this customer. Up to now, the two submarines of the 209 series were equipped with periscopes of the SERO 40 Stab type, also from the company. The SERO250 is equipped with improved optics that include high-definition and low-level light cameras as standard. Night vision capability is provided by an additional infrared (IR) camera. The modernisation gives the equipped boats night vision capability for the first time and contributes significantly to digitalisation and extended service life.

“As a retrofit solution for the periscope previously used by the customer, the SERO250S is ideal. The variant of the periscope, which we will deliver in spring 2024, allows submarines to adapt more flexibly to changing operating conditions in all weather and light conditions,” explains Andre Stascheit, Head of the Marine Business Unit at HENSOLDT Optronics.

The periscope system enables the user to monitor surface and air activity, in order to collect navigational data and detect and identify targets. The system also provides video signals for parallel observation either on Bulkhead mounted display, CMS or with a stand-alone console.

The SERO250 is equipped with improved optics that include high-definition and low-level light cameras as standard. Night vision capability is provided by an additional infrared (IR) camera. The SERO250S is additionally equipped with active laser and passive stadiametric range finding. To facilitate integration, all SERO250 variants can be operated as a stand-alone system or integrated into existing (or renewed) combat management systems.

The SERO 250 is available in an attack and search version, SERO 250 A and SERO 250 S. The SERO250S is additionally equipped with active laser and passive stadiametric range finding. This allows submarines to easily adjust to changing operational conditions and to fulfil complex requirements for reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence gathering. To facilitate integration, all SERO250 variants can be operated as a stand-alone system or integrated into existing (or renewed) combat management systems. The periscope system enables the user to monitor surface and air activity, to collect navigational data and to detect and identify targets.

Based in Taufkirchen near Munich, with a subsidiary in South Africa, Hensoldt develops complete sensor solutions for defence and security applications for the international market.