As militaries in the Middle East seek ways to stay a step ahead of terrorist groups in the region that have of late become more dangerous through the use of sophisticated equipment such as surveillance drones and night vision technology, high-tech sensor manufacturers sense a big market opportunity.
Many customers in the region are planning to upgrade old systems, which served them well until not so long ago, and want the latest surveillance technology that will help protect borders better in the changed situation. Among the companies that has seen surging interest for next generation sensors is Teledyne FLIR, which believes that its Ranger HDC 1200 MultiSensor system is an ideal fit for the region. Previous versions of the surveillance camera have proved popular among militaries in the region and beyond.
According to the company, the Ranger HDC assesses threats, and is capable of distinguishing between nuisance alarms and those requiring interdiction for border, coastal surveillance, and force protection surveillance. An improvement over previous versions, it uses its forward-looking infrared sensor to detect a heavy vehicle as far out as 25 to 50 kilometers, light vehicles from 18 to 20 kilometers and human targets 12 to 13 kilometers.
The surveillance camera increases mission effectiveness, crucially extending surveillance through darkness and distance. This multi-sensor system integrates long-range, mid-wave thermal imaging with a variety of powerful daylight sensors, and optionally a laser range finder, GPS, digital magnetic compass, and automatic video tracker. The system has integrated fog and heat turbulence filters that eliminates image distortion caused by atmospheric conditions. In addition to improving the effectiveness of missions, the Ranger HDC also cuts response times of forces and reduce cyber risks.
Another company confident of making further inroads into the Middle Eastern market is L3Harris, which has a range of capabilities to suit virtually every surveillance need. According to company officials, the use of fused technology gives amplified situation awareness, this giving the company’s sensors an edge over the competition. The company’s Binocular Night Vision Devise-Fused (BNVD), which is equipped with third generation image intensifying tubes, provides advanced situational awareness 24/7.
Touted as the most advanced Situational Awareness goggle in the market, the BNVD uses the benefits of fused white phosphor and thermal technologies to give warfighters the ability to quickly target, engage and neutralize threats. The dual-wave, helmet-mounted solution features a large Field-Of-View and thermal range, a major improvement over its predecessors. Operators can bring weapon sight images into the goggle and shoot around corners, reducing risk of exposure. There are two versions of the goggle, one used by the U.S. Army and the other for export.
Another L3Harris product that has evoked plenty of interest is the Small Precision Enhanced Aiming Rangefinder (SPEAR), for snipers. SPEAR, which delivers extended-range performance, features an integrated ballistic calculator for improved first-round hit probability. Built on the L3Harris STORM 2 system currently deployed with the U.S. Army, SPEAR employs emerging Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) technologies, giving operators options for use as a marker or illuminator for covert cueing.
The laser rangefinder, which has a High-performance Erbium glass laser resonator as one of its key features, maintains the familiar capabilities of L3Harris-fielded military rangefinders in a smaller, lighter package that includes Near Infrared (NIR) and visible aim lasers, an NIR illumination laser, a high-accuracy digital magnetic compass and external GPS interface.
According to defense analysts, the need for next-generation surveillance technology is likely to grow in the region as border protection becomes progressively more challenging. The technology gap between state agencies and rogue actors, which was substantial until recently, has narrowed over time, they add.
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