OTIS                                            1992 July 02

Since at least a year, Saab has been developing and testing an
electro-optical targeting system, called OTIS, on a fighter
Viggen. The trial installation is a ball similar to those on
Su-27:s and MiG-29:s just in front of the canopy, slightly offset
to port and about 20 cm in diameter.

In function, however, it is not similar. The Russian systems are
non-imaging (like we've had on some of our Drakens since the
1960's) and have a laser range-finder. The OTIS is totally
passive, and gives images useful for identification of the
targets. The display will be a "HLI" Head Level Indicator (I take
this to be mounted rather high, and collimated on infinity (*)
like a French system).

The OTIS will be pointable by a helmet system (as well as the
radar), or external sources like ground control or other
aircraft. It will also have an autonomous search program and
tracking function.
The information will be storable for evaluation and comparation
with radar information, and also as video for later use.

This is a trial installation only, things like suitable zoom
optics have not been decided upon yet, and there is no commitment
to equip or retrofit any aircraft as of yet.

From the Swedish Air Force magazine "Flygvapennytt" 2/92

(*) Or _practical_ infinity, as I gather the curved windshield
tends to bring objects optically closer than infinity.