Thermal – Silah Report

Photographs coming out of IPAS 2017 (Telegram source) and a recent demonstration put on by Isfahan Law Enforcement have revealed what appears to be a battery powered thermal optic that attaches to a user’s helmet and has a single ocular lens attachment that covers the left eye. The optic “detects” through an objective lens on the helmet, which appears to project an image into the ocular lens. The fact that this optic is in use by what appears to be special Law Enforcement teams in Isfahan would make it seem that it has been in development for a while, and has perhaps even been available to Iranian defense forces for some time as well, due to Law Enforcement worldwide routinely lagging behind in equipment procurement.

From Farsi-“The heated (Thermal) binocular resting on a head/hat”

The optic is powered by what is most likely an AA battery inserted from the right side of the device. The two objective lens’ stay in the upper position throughout use, and are covered with a lens cap during daylight hours. The eyepiece swivels down on a ball mount for maximum flexibility.

Kurdistan Insider posted this video of a Syrian Army advance in Aleppo in 2016. Most of the PKM variants being used in the Syrian conflict have been seen without any sort of optics platforms mounted to them, this is mostly because of the lack of equipment that many of these rebel groups can capture.

However in this case, it appears to be a thermal or at least an IR capable optic platform due to the bulbous appearance, in addition to the numerous knobs which might be battery caps for power. In addition the eye piece appears to be fitted or contoured to the shooter’s eye, indicating a bright screen that needs to be shielded during times of low light. Because this is a Syrian Army position, it is most likely that the optic is Russian supplied.

In the same video clip, what appears to be an AK century series rifle being used by frontline soldiers, possibly in 5.45x39mm due to the straighter magazine in use.