PIRATE (Passive InfraRed Airborne Track Equipment) is the FLIR/IRST for Eurofighter Typhoon. Developed by the Airborne and Space Systems Division-led consortium, Eurofirst, PIRATE is a complex system that operates radar-like modes in a wide field of regard. PIRATE is capable of operating against several heavily cluttered scenarios in each one of the following IRST modes: Multiple Target Tracking, Single Target Tracking and Slaved Acquisition.
EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON INFRARED
SEARCH AND TRACK (IRST)
The PIRATE (Passive InfraRed Airborne Track Equipment) is the FLIR /IRST for the Eurofighter Typhoon. It is developed by Eurofirst, an international consortium led by the company, with Thales Optronics (UK) and Tecnobit (Spain) as major partners.
MODES
PIRATE is capable of operating against several heavily cluttered scenarios in each one of the following IRST modes.
Multiple target tracking
Where engagement (detection, tracking and prioritisation) of multiple targets in A/A, look up/ down operations over the whole field of regard or in a selectable volume are executable. Passive ranging data is also available.
Single target tracking
Where angle tracking of a single acquired target can be commanded. Automatic re-acquisition capability is available.
Slaved acquisition
Where line-of-sight is slaved to externally defined pointing angles and automatic acquisition of a single target is activated.
PIRATE is also providing IR TV imaging to cockpit displays in accordance with the following FLIR modes:
▪ Flying/landing aid
▪ Steerable IR picture on helmet
▪ Identification.