Jane’s has reported that the joint Kazakh and Turkish defense company Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering has begun export of the Python thermal weapons sight to Turkey. The company is jointed owned by both Turkish and Kazakh partners, with a manufacturing base in Kazakhstan. The factory was opened up in 2014 and also focuses on heavier armament such as tanks and helicopters. The deal is worth $5.8 million and will allow Turkish snipers and machine gunners to have a thermal capability. The entire deal and cooperation is indicative of a very solidified and concrete relationship between the two countries in the defense industry.

Based on the previous Boa thermal sight and although larger than most currently fielded U.S. or European thermal optics, the Python has the ability to clip to a nonintrusive heads up display that can be attached to a soldier’s helmet. This could possibly allow for a sniper to shoot his rifle accurately, without even raising his head above cover. It also appears that the system is using a number of digital features, something that we are probably going to be seeing more of in the coming years when it comes to thermal/IR or even regular scopes being adopted for military application.