OpenWorks Selects Echodyne Radar to Launch Kinetic Threat Targeting Capability

During DSEI 2025, OpenWorks unveiled Vision Pace, a breakthrough autonomous optics technology enabling precision defense targeting while on-the-move across both land and naval domains. Vision Pace enables incredible accuracy in detecting, tracking, and targeting and is powered by OpenWorks’ proven AI classifiers and trackers which allows the system to deliver ultra-high performance against diverse aerial and surface threats.

OpenWorks emphasizes the modularity and adaptability of Vision Pace, which can be configured to meet mission-specific requirements through integration with third-party detectors, sensors, and effectors.  OpenWorks collaborated with Thales’s and Echodyne to integrate its sensors into Vision Pace to create a robust, multi-sensor, and multi-layered defense solution capable of rapid, reliable threat detection and engagement in complex environments.

Read the full OpenWorks Press Release below.

OpenWorks Engineering launches kinetic threat targeting capability at DSEI 2025 for on-the-move deployment

• OpenWorks has launched Vision Pace, the latest in its range of ‘Vision Autonomous Optics’.
• Vision Pace is designed for on-the-move precision targeting of multiple dynamic threats.
• Direct-drive design and stabilisation technology underpins ultra-high accuracy.
• Land and naval applications include expeditionary force protection, GBAD, SHORAD, M-SHORAD.
• Vision Pace is powered by OpenWorks’ advanced AI classifiers and trackers to detect, track and identify multiple targets.
• OpenWorks has collaborated with Thales to integrate their compact optical sensor suite, combined with an advanced 4D EchoShield MESA® radar from Echodyne.

OpenWorks Engineering has announced the launch of its latest autonomous optics product, Vision Pace.

Designed to enhance dynamic multi-threat engagement, Vision Pace offers microradian precision targeting to kinetic defeat chains, marking a step-change for layered air defence. The development is intended to provide capability to expeditionary force protection, GBAD, SHORAD, M-SHORAD across land and naval domains.

Vision Pace achieves ultra-high performance through its low friction direct-drive positioner and AI-powered stabilisation technology, leveraging OpenWorks’ proven and advanced AI classifiers and trackers.

Building upon the widely deployed and highly modular approach to OpenWorks’ Vision Flex product family, Vision Pace is also configurable to meet customer requirements with the support of OpenWorks’ global technical support team. The approach to system architecture allows the integration of wide ranging third-party primary detectors, sensors, classifiers and effectors along with OpenWorks' proven EO and IR imagers.

One such configuration on display at DSEI includes the integration of Thales’ TrueHunter Gimbal Sight sensor head which excels in long range multi-spectral observation, acquisition and target engagement through the most challenging environments, day and night. TrueHunter Gimbal Sight’s state-of-the-art sensors include high-resolution daylight colour cameras, a cooled thermal imager (both with continuous zoom), SWIR sensor, laser rangefinder, laser pointer and a laser target designator.

The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier in the year to support a partnership that will see OpenWorks fuse inputs from Thales’ suite of sensors with an advanced MESA radar from Echodyne to provide a comprehensive multi-target detect, recognise, track and target capability at speed and at distance. This is one of many possible variants Vision Pace.

Graham Beall, Chief Business Development Officer at OpenWorks said "Combining Vision Pace and the TrueHunter Gimbal Sight sensor head will extend the application of both products, creating an optimal capability for ground- and mobile-based air defence (GBAD and M-SHORAD), expeditionary force protection and naval applications. We've come together with Thales to offer a unique capability that integrates their world-leading sensor technology with the next-generation of ultra-high-performance tracking and targeting capability."

Stephen McCann, Managing Director of Thales in the UK’s optronics business, said: “We are proud to partner with OpenWorks to bring our advanced TrueHunter sensor technology to the Vision Pace system. This collaboration reflects our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower customers with superior situational awareness and enhanced mission effectiveness in the most challenging operational environments.”

Adding to the highly modular and mission specific nature of configurations available for Vision Pace, OpenWorks is also displaying a variant with its own sensor suite fitted to a ‘Rapid Deployment Kit’.

About OpenWorks:

OpenWorks provides a range of modular autonomous vision systems that deliver ultra-high performance real-time detection, identification and tracking of highly dynamic threats at long range. Our specialist capability lies in our dynamic positioners, EO/IR imagers, approach to sensor fusion and common interface that enables the integration of third-party detectors, classifiers, interceptors and effectors.

SkyWall and Vision Flex are OpenWorks’ most established products, with global end-users.

On display at DSEI (N6-160):

• Vision Pace with a Rapid Deployment Kit.
• Vision Pace with OpenWorks’ EO/IR imagers.
• Vision Pace with Thales TrueHunter Sensor Head and Echodyne 4D EchoShield MESA Radar.
• Vision Flex – A highly modular vision system for static, mobile and un-crewed systems.
• Vision Guard – A rapidly deployable forward observation and C-UAS surveillance capability.

About Thales:

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

About Echodyne:

Echodyne, the radar platform company, is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of advanced commercial radar systems for defense, government, and commercial market applications. The company combines patented metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA®) architecture with powerful software and machine learning to deliver high fidelity situational awareness data pinpointing activity in air and surface domains with unrivalled speed, accuracy, and precision. Proven and trusted by militaries, agencies, integrators, and critical infrastructure across the globe, Echodyne’s products set a new standard for radar excellence. Privately held, the company is headquartered in Kirkland, WA, USA and backed by Bill Gates, NEA, Madrona Venture Group, Baillie Gifford, Northrop Grumman, and Supernal, among others. See radar in action at Echodyne.com.