Our Cameras Keep the Warfighter Safe

On the battlefield, the warfighters are being protected behind increasing amounts of armor, and hence loses the ability to use their eyes and ears as sensors. That is why high-tech cameras become even more important, and in that growing market Copenhagen Sensor Technology (CST) has found its place, CEO Carsten Høiberg makes it clear:

 “When it comes to long range applications, I dare to say, that we have the most precise technology on the market – and precision is key, when you are looking at a potential threat 40 kilometers away!”

The Danish manufacturer of electro-optical systems was founded by Carsten Høiberg’s father, Søren Høiberg, in 2001. Originally as an advisor in the optical industry, he was asked to design a camera for a foreign defense contractor. The contractor was VERY pleased with the design, but had no intention of manufacturing optical systems themselves, and therefore asked Mr. Høiberg if he would take on this task.

20 years Life Circle Support
Today Copenhagen Sensor Technology is the workplace for 60 people, the majority in Herlev just outside Denmark’s capital, and the rest in the optic development and production facility in Japan. Mr. Høiberg elaborates:

“Except for the aluminum cases, we make everything in-house. We design the software including advanced image filters, develop the cutting-edge lenses, and crucially; We offer our customers 20 years life circle support! In order to extend such a service, we need to have complete control of the parts and processes of every product”.

Although CST manufactures both off-the-shelf and white label camera systems, the vast majority of the business is custom designs, and the Danish company reacts rapidly to the customers wishes:

“We had a costumer with an urgent need for a stabilized optical zoom camera system for an airborne application. CST had never made such a product before, but within 12 months, we were able to design, test, and bring the system to the customer – and it is now a part of our large portfolio of sensors.” - the CEO says.

Crows are food on the table
Since the founding of the company, one system has been the absolute most important to Copenhagen Sensor Technology, according to CEO, Carsten Høiberg:

“There is no doubt that the backbone of our company, both financially and technologically, is the optical system for the Crows program in the United States. We have been a part of this fantastic platform from the beginning, and we have manufactured more than 35.000 camera systems to support deployed operators all over the world. That camera has been bread & butter to our company since 2001 and CST is now looking into the next generation for these kinds of applications”.

CST is going digital
The company management is expecting future growth in the land systems business area – this is well illustrated by a strategic partnership with Thales Nederland for development of an upgrade of the MIRADOR electro-optical sensor system:

“MIRADOR incorporates our latest technological features such as a direct-drive servo system, and the system is capable of combining optical surveillance and tracking capabilities. The new and improved electro-optical sensor system from CST will secure an even more precise boresight and optimize the ability to track objects. This product in many ways defines the company’s way forward.” - Mr. Høiberg elaborates.

The CEO adds that digitalization is the rationale in the optical sensor business area, and the market leading Danish company is bringing a complete HD sensor platform for remote controlled weapon stations to market before long. The new sensors will also be a part of the Danish Army’s next-gen systems, and it will be backward compatible with the existing weapon station sensors.

Copenhagen Sensor Technology is exporting to just about everywhere. Europe counts for half of the sales and with a 25% share, the USA is CST’s biggest single market.