RAPTOR Long Range Ground Radar and EO/IR Surveillance System

IEC's Raptor system is a long-range, radar-guided camera system that lets friendly forces monitor very large areas for intruders or enemy forces. The long-range radar gives wide area detection of people or vehicles over a 360 degree area at ranges of up to 12 km for people, and up to 20 km for vehicles.

When a target is found, a long-range thermal/visual camera can be precisely guided to the target, allowing the operator to look at the target in day or night conditions, to determine if the target is a threat. The system provides an accurate location of the target, and can detect many targets at the same time. The Raptor system can be mounted on a trailer-mounted tower so it can be easily moved, or it can be mounted on a permanent location. The system is easy to use, and uses software that can ommunicate with other DoD systems if needed. Raptor is ready for use right now and needs no development, but other sensors or systems can be added to it if needed.

System Overview

The Raptor Long-Range Surveillance System (Figures 1) uses long-range ground-surveillance to detect targets such as people or vehicles at ranges of up to 12 km for human targets, and up to 20 km for vehicle targets. Once a detection is made, the system can assess the target with a long-range thermal/visual camera system, to determine if the target is a threat. The system provides accurate geolocation of the target, and can share that data with other connected systems using its fully integrated middleware. The same middleware also allows the system to accept detection cues from other sensors and systems that can be added to the system. Further, the system can be tailored with different radars and optics to create specific configurations that are optimised for scenarios where extreme range is not needed. This system is proven and in use in large numbers in multiple areas, with many in use with classified US Government users, as well as multiple implementations along foreign borders through FMS sales.

Target Detection: Detection of ground targets is done with long range, KBand or X-Band ground surveillance radar (choice of radar is driven by mission specifics and desired range). The system can detect human targets at ranges up to 12km, and vehicles at up to 20 km. Unattended groundssensors (UGS) can be added to the system to provide local detection in areas where terrain variations cause blind spots to radar detection. The system has user-selectable heuristics to prioritize targets, to help the operator determine which targets are the most important to examine.

Target Assessment: The long-range optics package utilizes a medium wavelength infrared (MWIR) cooled thermal camera with a 40-825 mm continuous zoom lens and a 15-500 mm visual camera (Figure 2). The camera has optical tracking for hands-free-target tracking. The radar generates a target position allowing the camera to slew to cue to the target. The operator can then engage optical tracking using the long-range MWIR thermal camera. Other thermal imaging options are also available for both shorter and longer range applications.

Ease of integration: Raptor comes with its own C2 system (Figure 3), which can be integrated with other C2 systems as well as additional sensors and effectors as required to meet changing threats and leverage new technologies that can further enhance the overall system. The C2 middleware also incorporates each specific sensor General User Interface (GUI) eliminating the need to open multiple GUIs to configure, calibrate and operate the sensors. All system platform control and configuration is managed by one interface on one work station by a single operator.

Scalability: Multiple Raptor systems can be emplaced and operated standalone in a given location or networked together to provide broad-area surveillance across vast areas. The system can be integrated with other DoD systems through Cursor-On-Target or TAC.

Ability to Evolve: Raptor already provides integration for multiple sensor options (such as unattended ground sensors, fence sensors, CBRNE sensors) to meet users’ specific, unique needs. As threats change and new sensor technologies emerge, Raptor’s modular architecture enables replacement of system components as well as for the addition of entirely new capabilities. For example, Raptor systems have been integrated with IEC’s "Banshee" product, which is a non-lethal active deterrence system.

Corporate Expertise

IEC Infrared Systems provides Engineering and Technical Support to DoD, Department of State and several Federal Agencies, and provided hardware design, manufacturing, software development, and onsite installation to these and other U.S. Government and commercial customers.

Since 1999, IEC has designed and developed a range of turn-key, high-performance thermal/visual imaging solutions, including a new generation of advanced, state-of-the-art image processing systems and algorithms for a variety of missions, including vehicle-mounted operations. IEC integrates its imaging systems with a variety of imaging and non-imaging sensor systems (including radar, unattended ground and panoramic imaging systems, and remote weapons stations) to form comprehensive, integrated technical security solutions.

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