Electronic Warfare

TORNADO-ER

Also known as
  • Tornado-ER
  • Tornado ER
  • TORNADO-ER/400

TORNADO-ER is Controp Precision Technologies' passive panoramic infrared scanner for coastal and maritime wide-area surveillance. Public reporting describes a dual-MWIR camera system that automatically detects and tracks moving maritime targets, updates a 360-degree panoramic picture in seconds, and can cue SPEED-family observation systems for closer identification.

TORNADO-ER, Panoramic IR maritime surveillance and automatic target-detection system, Electronic Warfare
Image source: CONTROP Introduces the TORNADO-ER
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Type
Panoramic IR maritime surveillance and automatic target-detection system
Service note
2010s coastal and maritime surveillance system
Designer
Controp Precision Technologies
Designed
2010s

Specifications

System class
Passive panoramic IR scanner and automatic maritime target detector
Sensor fit
Two mid-wave infrared cameras for near and long-range panoramic coverage
Scan update
360-degree panoramic image refreshed every 1 to 3 seconds in public launch reporting
Detection band
Public launch reporting describes target detection from about 400 m to beyond 12 km
Detection role
Automatic detection and multi-target tracking of swimmers, small boats, vessels, and floating objects
Passive operation
Passive EO/IR operation described as insensitive to radio-frequency jamming
Integration
Standalone operation or integration with radar, AIS, sonar, C2 systems, and SPEED-family observation sensors
Applications
Coastal surveillance, port security, vessel-traffic monitoring, waterways, seashores, ports, and harbors
Observation Sensors

Public maritime-surveillance reporting describes TORNADO-ER as the wide-area scanner and SPEED-ER as the long-range observation sensor used to investigate targets after cueing.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
SPEED-ER, Stationary multispectral EO/IR long-range observation system, Electronic WarfareSPEED-ERLong-range EO/IR observation sensor

EDR Magazine reported that TORNADO-ER detects moving maritime targets and cues SPEED-ER so operators can examine targets and obtain more precise location details.

Sources: CONTROP Presents TORNADO-ER and SPEED-ER Maritime Suite

Maritime Surveillance Role

Public sources describe TORNADO-ER as a coastal-surveillance sensor rather than a conflict-documented weapon. The sourced role is wide-area passive detection, tracking, and cueing for maritime security operators.

Wide-area task

The system builds a panoramic IR picture and automatically tracks moving maritime contacts across crowded coastal or port environments.

Cueing task

EDR Magazine describes SPEED-ER as the sensor used to investigate targets first detected by TORNADO-ER.

Integration options

Ocean News & Technology reported standalone operation and integration with radar, AIS, sonar, or command-and-control systems.

VICTOR package

The 2024 DHS market survey listed VICTOR as a Controp USA maritime-surveillance package combining Speed ER and Tornado ER.

Timeline

TORNADO-ER Key Events

  1. Tornado-ER launch reported

    Shephard reported Controp USA's launch of Tornado-ER as an electro-optical panoramic scanning and automatic maritime target-detection system.

    Sources: Controp Launches Tornado-ER Infrared System

  2. TORNADO-ER introduced for maritime surveillance

    Ocean News & Technology reported Controp's IMDEX 2019 presentation of TORNADO-ER as a panoramic IR scanner and automatic maritime target-detection system.

    Sources: CONTROP Introduces the TORNADO-ER

  3. TORNADO-ER and SPEED-ER shown as a coastal-surveillance suite

    EDR Magazine reported the TORNADO-ER and SPEED-ER combination as a coastal and maritime surveillance suite in which TORNADO-ER detects targets and SPEED-ER supports closer observation.

    Sources: CONTROP Presents TORNADO-ER and SPEED-ER Maritime Suite

  4. VICTOR package listed in DHS market survey

    A U.S. Department of Homeland Security market survey listed Controp USA's VICTOR maritime-surveillance package as a Speed ER plus Tornado ER system.

    Sources: Maritime Surveillance Technologies Market Survey Report

Related Weapon Systems
SPEED-ER, Stationary multispectral EO/IR long-range observation system, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareSPEED-ERStationary multispectral EO/IR long-range observation systemSPEED-ER is Controp Precision Technologies' Israeli extended-range multispectral EO/IR surveillance system for stationary, mast, tower, and fixed/mobile land installations. Public Controp, defense-reporting, and U.S. market-survey sources describe a gyro-stabilized visible, MWIR thermal, and SWIR sensor package used for long-range coastal, border, vessel-traffic, force-protection, targeting, and C-UAS observation; no direct conflict-use record is attached here.
EO/IR Pod, Electro-optical/infrared airborne sensor pod, Support EquipmentSupport EquipmentEO/IR PodElectro-optical/infrared airborne sensor podEO/IR Pod is a support-equipment entry for airborne electro-optical and infrared sensor pods used to find, track, and designate targets from aircraft and UAVs. The page centers on source-backed examples: Canadian WESCAM sensors assessed on Turkish UAVs in Nagorno-Karabakh, Libya, and Syria; Aero's L-39 Skyfox mission fit showing an EO/IR pod; and the U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J's nose-mounted EO/IR pod. Because carrier publications often name the function rather than a specific model, the relationship notes separate identified WESCAM MX-series evidence from generic EO/IR-pod references.
TD-STAMP, Lightweight tri-sensor EO/IR payload with laser designator, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsTD-STAMPLightweight tri-sensor EO/IR payload with laser designatorTD-STAMP is Controp Precision Technologies' Israeli lightweight tri-sensor EO/IR payload for small UAS and VTOL aircraft. Public 2011 launch coverage described a gyro-stabilized payload of about 5 kg with a CCD/day channel, cooled FLIR, and laser designator for compact surveillance and target-designation missions; later reporting places it within Controp's broader STAMP miniature-payload family rather than proving independent conflict use.
Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System, Long-range electro-optical scout surveillance and target-location system, Support EquipmentSupport EquipmentLong Range Advanced Scout Surveillance SystemLong-range electro-optical scout surveillance and target-location systemThe Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System, commonly LRAS3, is a U.S. Army scout and observer sensor suite for long-range reconnaissance, surveillance, target detection, identification, geolocation, and target handoff. Army and Raytheon sources describe FLIR, day-camera, GPS, laser-rangefinder, tripod, vehicle, mast, tower, remote-operation, and networked sensor-to-shooter roles, with direct public records for LRAS3 use in Iraq and Afghanistan.
F-35 Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS), Internally mounted electro-optical targeting sensor subsystem, Support EquipmentSupport EquipmentF-35 Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS)Internally mounted electro-optical targeting sensor subsystemThe F-35 Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS) is the AN/AAQ-40 sensor installation built into the F-35 Lightning II for precision air-to-air and air-to-surface targeting. Lockheed Martin describes it as a low-observable, internally mounted system that combines forward-looking infrared and infrared-search-and-track functions, and Janes reported F-35I EOTS footage from an Israeli cruise-missile interception during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

Sources

CONTROP Introduces the TORNADO-ERPublisher: Ocean News & Technology | Note: Supports TORNADO-ER identity, launch context, dual-IR-camera architecture, 1-to-3-second panoramic updates, target-detection roles, integration options, and the primary image URL. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Controp Launches Tornado-ER Infrared SystemPublisher: Shephard Media | Note: Supports the 2018 launch report, passive operation, 400 m to more than 12 km detection band, all-weather gyro-stabilized gimbal context, standalone or externally integrated operation, and coastal/port/maritime traffic-control applications. | Accessed: 2026-07-13CONTROP Presents TORNADO-ER and SPEED-ER Maritime SuitePublisher: EDR Magazine | Note: Supports the TORNADO-ER and SPEED-ER coastal-surveillance suite relationship, 360-degree scan context, and SPEED-ER cueing relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Maritime Surveillance Technologies Market Survey ReportPublisher: U.S. Department of Homeland Security | Note: Supports Controp USA's VICTOR market-survey entry as a Speed ER plus Tornado ER maritime-surveillance package. | Accessed: 2026-07-13