The Telescopic Sighting System (TESS) was a sight used on the
FV4201 Chieftain tank and
RAF F-4 Phantom aircraft.
Usage
The TESS was trialed and introduced in the early 1980s originally as a tank sight for the FV4201 Chieftain. Surplus stocks were used on F-4 Phantom aircraft operated by the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
as a cost-saving measure for a long range daytime
target identification device, whereas the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
used the
TISEO on their F-4 Phantoms. The TESS was installed in the rear cockpit in the centre window section for the Radar Intercept Officer to use. It was
boresighted to the aircraft weapons system and when locked on target, the target was magnified six times.
See also
*
Aircraft periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation over, around or through an object, obstacle or condition that prevents direct line-of-sight observation from an observer's current position.
In its simplest form, it consists of an outer case with ...
References
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British Army equipment
Military equipment introduced in the 1980s
Armoured fighting vehicle vision and sighting equipment