https://youtube/watch?v=Ud_yrwmikQ8 Eye on the Ground A variety of UGS systems offer the perfect solution to guard India’s porous borders During his visit to Israel in November 2014, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, accompanied by Israel’s national security advisor Joseph Cohen, was taken on a tour of their border outposts (BOPs). Seemingly impressed by the technology adapted at the border with Palestine on the Gaza strip, Singh said that India plans to implement some of that surveillance equipment on the border with Pakistan. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement shortly thereafter that he is ‘ready and willing’ to share the border protection technology with India. Various surveillance devices are adapted at the Israel-Palestine border like high quality long-range day cameras along with night observation systems (NOS). The night vision devices (NVDs) use the latest thermal imaging techniques to detect movement/ intrusion across the border for several kilometres. Various radars are also used for surveillance of land borders. Israeli fences are fitted with electronic touch and motion sensors as well as underground sensors which use seismic systems to detect any tunnelling attempts. All this high-end technology, along with the troop patrolling, could provide perfect solution for border protection. In border areas, which are mostly riverine and mountainous, surveillance becomes an important challenge. These pockets can be utilised for infiltration, which is a serious concern. For India, where the border guarding forces face a significant number of challenges manning open and the porous borders, the Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) could provide a perfect solution. The UGS systems could largely enhance situational awareness. It can also localise suspected activity and provide early warning for the security forces. It is no surprise that Indian forces are now in the process of procuring these advanced sensors. Elbit Systems has introduced a new system of UGS — named Treasures — in February 2014. Treasures UGS was exhibited at the DefExpo 2014 in New Delhi the same month it was launched. The company also displayed this system at the Singapore Air Show shortly thereafter. Elbit’s UGS system is designed for intelligence gathering operations which make it an ideal choice for border guarding roles. It also has an application in various other roles such as force protection and augmenting border surveillance. Using advanced algorithms and unique communication protocols, Treasure UGS system claims to offer a high probability of detection (PD) and low false alarm rates (FAR). Other UGS for border control and perimeter protection from Elbit include SAND, which is designed for real-time target tracking using an array of seismic UGS, and TALOS™ unattended ground radar, which is designed for continuous operation using solar energy. The biggest advantage with the UGS systems is that they can easily integrate with existing UGS and are compatible with any C4I system. But in the forefront of India’s UGS market is Textron with its already established partnership with the defence public sector unit, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Textron signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BEL at DefExpo 2014 to provide its MicroObserver UGS system to the Indian security forces. “Textron Systems’ MicroObserver® UGS system is under active consideration by several security agencies in India. We are engaged with the Border Security Force (BSF) and several other security agencies for MicroObserver UGS and are optimistic that the system will be deployed in active service soon,” Textron’s Director, sensor systems, Dean Frost told FORCE. According to the company, MicroObserver UGS has applications for several security agencies including the Indian Army. The system apparently has applications ranging from border management to protection of key installations, and includes applications such as pipeline security. “It is fair to infer that MicroObserver has multiple applications and will be of interest to many security agencies in India,” added Frost. Textron’s MicroObserver Unattended Ground System is under trial with border guarding forces
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 09:54:44 +0000