Military thermal imaging cameras to be used in Australian sport

Cameras currently used by UK armed forces to spot the enemy in Afghanistan will be utilised at major cricket grounds around the world to help umpires decide if batsmen are in or out.

SELEX Galileo has signed an exclusive contract with cricket ‘Hot Spot’ provider BBG Sports to supply their SLX-Hawk InfraRed (thermal imaging) cameras.

The SLX Hawk has already been tested in play in Australia where commentators and fans have been stunned by the clear thermal images of critical match moments.

They have most recently kept a watchful eye over England’s test matches against the West Indies and could soon make a return to all international cricket.

The ‘Hot Spot’ system uses thermal imaging cameras to detect contact between the cricket ball, bat and batsman during the game.

However while the sometimes unclear pictures from the previous generation cameras have been criticised, new supplier SELEX Galileo’s military-spec cameras have been heralded by BBG sports as being astonishingly accurate.