U.S., UK firms combine security products

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CAMBRIDGE, England, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. and British companies have combined their thermal imaging and ground surveillance radar products for the VIP protection and military markets.

Plextek Ltd said the marketing move with Liteye Systems of Colorado marries its B202 Mk 2 portable electronic scanning ground surveillance radar with Liteye's Aquila PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) thermal imaging surveillance system for a portable, battery powered surveillance solution that can provide security coverage over a large area -- up to hundreds of square miles.

"We are delighted to be joining forces with Liteye to target the VIP protection market, which has traditionally been a labor-intensive operation with agents, security staff and bodyguards, etc.," said Mark Radford, director of Plaxtek's Blighter Group. "However, the advent of affordable and portable ground movement radar and thermal imaging systems is set to provide a reliable and cost-effective alternative.

"To protect VIPs, whether royalty, politicians, dignitaries or celebrities, we need to have 'eyes everywhere' -- on the ground, over water or even in the sky. Our solution delivers just that by using the Blighter portable radar system for early rapid target detection ... and the Liteye high-performance cameras and thermal imagers on agile pan/tilt mechanisms to rapidly intercept and confirm the identity of the intruder."

Blighter radars use passive electronic scanning array technology and feature a wide elevation beam. Liteye's multi-sensor system is designed to military standards and is comprised of a thermal imager micro-bolometer, a visible camera with zoom lens, and a situational awareness WFoV low-light camera, which provides 360 degree continuous rotation at 100 degrees per second.