YPG technology could be used close to home

Yuma Proving Ground - Surveillance technology developed for use by Jordan to secure its borders could end up being of use in defending U.S. borders as well.

"The problems of securing and surveilling the borders of any country with its vastness and diverse geography can be brutal," said Richard Danforth, president of DRS' Command, Control and Communications Division.

The company was awarded a contract by Jordan to develop a surveillance system. In recent weeks, it has been demonstrating it at YPG to the U.S. Border Patrol and Department of Defense prior to shipping it off to Jordan.

DRS, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., since 1968 has been a leading supplier of defense industry technology. It has developed, manufactured, installed and repaired border security systems for the previous 15 years.

Its products have been deployed to Israel and Egypt. In February DRS contracted with Jordan for the first phase of a multiphase program to secure its 1,700 miles of border.

In its surveillance system, a series of sensors are mounted on fixed and mobile towers and include radar, electro-optic cameras, infrared cameras and unattended ground sensors. Any border intrusions are monitored from laptop computers, Danforth explained.

"Jordan is surrounded by Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, a very unstable part of the world. It can include refugees, smugglers and terrorists.

"It's pretty volatile. And in Jordan the borders are secured by guard posts and manpower. You can't expect people alone to do security under all these conditions. So technology allows us to detect, classify and sufficiently deploy interceptors if necessary."

The sensors, while sophisticated, are an off-the-shelf technology but it provides an enhanced capability. Networking in an integrated system, it will produce a lot more advance warning and discrimination.

The radar mounted on the towers conducts a sweep of the area under surveillance. If a contact is made and the object is in range, then cameras can focus on the point of interest.

However, not all images intercepted will be of interest. Wildlife and farmers are of no concern. But a group of undocumented aliens crossing a border would warrant the attention of the Border Patrol. And the desert environment in Yuma is a close facsimile to Jordan and Egypt, Danforth noted.

"The knowledge and experience we gain in Yuma enhances our systems architecture and performance in the Middle East," Danforth said.

The technology's primary purpose is to provide a more efficient means to secure the borders and to more effectively deploy troops to intercept intruders. But it also has obvious humanitarian applications, detecting and helping to rescue those who may find themselves stranded in desolate environments, Danforth pointed out.

In September 2006 the U.S. Congress passed the Secure Border Initiative and appropriated funds to secure the nation's borders. It is a rapidly emerging and growing worldwide market and DRS has outstanding proposals to Canada, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, said Danforth.

"We're pleased to help Jordan and Egypt, important allies, in aiding to secure their borders. The U.S. has decided by policy it's in the U.S. interests to secure those borders. Any direct foreign sale is subject to compliance with the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense."


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William Roller can be reached at
wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.