SOMAG AG Jena

SOMAG AG Jena is an industry-leading developer of high-precision gyro stabilization mounts for mission-critical military and defense applications. Offering options for platforms operating in all domains, our product portfolio caters to a wide range of requirements, providing automatic real-time compensation for roll, pitch and yaw and ensuring the utmost in data quality.

SOMAG’s multi-purpose stabilization platforms are ideal solutions for OEMs, defense forces and engineers alike. Our customers include:

• Manufacturers of cameras, LiDARs, radars and other sensor systems
• System integrators designing vehicle platforms for aerial, land, and marine operations
• Project and systems engineers evaluating and implementing stabilization technologies
• Defense procurement agencies looking to adopt mission-ready and field-proven solutions

Airborne Gyro Stabilization Mounts

Our airborne mounts are highly suited to manned and unmanned fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, and are hardware-agnostic for maximum flexibility, allowing you to seamlessly integrate any camera, LiDAR scanner or sensor.

The mounts provide unparalleled sensor stabilization on all three axes, drastically reducing unwanted movement and ensuring blur-free surveillance imagery and the highest quality data capture.

Airborne Applications

SOMAG AG Jena develops high-performance gyro stabilization mounts that ensure precise and stable data and image capture from airborne platforms — regardless of flight conditions or sensor configurations. Our systems are in use worldwide across a broad spectrum of civilian and military operations, wherever motion-free, high-quality data acquisition from the air is essential.

Typical application areas include:

• Photogrammetry – Stabilization of aerial cameras for mapping, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure documentation.
• Remote Sensing – Support for airborne sensors such as radar, infrared, hyperspectral, and LiDAR to enable accurate analysis of terrain, vegetation, and structures.
• LiDAR Mapping – Creation of high-resolution 3D terrain models for both civil engineering and defense intelligence applications.
• Multisensor Platforms – Stabilization of complex sensor payloads (e.g., camera and LiDAR combinations) for advanced 3D mapping and geospatial data acquisition.
• Security and Surveillance – Deployed in airborne reconnaissance, tactical awareness, and arms control monitoring missions.

A standout project in our airborne portfolio is the GSM 4000 OS — a custom-engineered gyro stabilization mount developed for the Airbus A319, one of the world’s most advanced reconnaissance aircraft, operated under the Open Skies Treaty. Commissioned by the German Federal Armed Forces and developed in partnership with IGI and ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, the system was specifically adapted to meet rigorous aviation and mission-specific requirements. Based on our proven GSM 4000 model, the Open Skies version integrates multiple structural and functional enhancements — demonstrating SOMAG AG Jena’s expertise in delivering tailored stabilization solutions for demanding operational environments.

More information: Airborne Gyro Stabilization Mounts

Marine Gyro Stabilization Mounts

Our rugged stabilization mounts for naval and marine applications are IP67-rated for robust protection against water/salt spray and dust, and can be fitted into a range of crewed vessels, USVs, and buoys. They are designed to compensate for dynamic roll and pitch movements in challenging waters, ensuring precision stabilization in challenging environments.

All marine mounts are hardware-agnostic for maximum versatility, with a round shape that accommodates a wide range of cameras, scanners and other payloads.

Marine Applications

The RNMB Harrier is an Autonomous Mine Counter Measures vessel that can be operated manually, remotely, or in fully autonomous mode. It is capable of deploying both towed side-scan sonars and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), enabling precise seabed mapping and the identification of naval mines and other underwater threats.

In another application, the RSM 50 demonstrated its capabilities during a search and rescue (SAR) mission test conducted by a Dutch sea rescue organization. Installed on a SAR vessel, the gyro stabilizer ensured a steady image feed from two thermal imaging cameras during high-speed maneuvers in rough sea conditions. The test confirmed that the RSM 50 not only improves overall image stability and situational awareness but also extends operational capabilities — such as reliably detecting objects at distances of up to 250 meters, even under night-time conditions.

More information: Marine Gyro Stabilization Mounts

Land-Based Gyro Stabilization Mounts

Our rugged land-based stabilization mounts are ideal for onroad and offroad applications, including AFVs (armored fighting vehicles), transport vehicles, and UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles). Designed to IP67 standards, they can withstand harsh environmental conditions such as dust and mud.

All mounts are hardware-agnostic for maximum versatility, with a round shape that accommodates a wide range of payloads including visible and thermal cameras, hyperspectral sensors, and antennas.

Land Applications

Mobile Counter-UAS
The NSM 400 has been selected as an integral part of Elettronica’s Snow Leopard counter-drone system, which has been successfully proven during the NATO White Fox exercise in Italy. The Italian Army installed the system on a BV S7 tracked vehicle, where our mount compensated for roll and pitch movements and precisely leveled the sensors, allowing the identification and classification of drones at a distance.

More information: Land-Based Gyro Stabilization Mounts

Vibration Damping Systems

SOMAG’s Passive Vibration Isolation Rings reduce high-frequency vibrations in vehicles and aircraft by up to six times across all three axes, dramatically reducing the risk of damage to sensitive and costly sensor systems while increasing data and image quality.

We provide a range of off-the-shelf interchangeable rings for our stabilization mounts, and can also design custom damper cuboids for payloads such as the Riegl LMS Q680i LiDAR scanner.