BHUBANESWAR: Surveillance along the border, which has been a concern for the security forces, can now be intensified with a new system developed by India’s premier Research and Development agency - Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The border surveillance system designed and developed by Dehradun- based Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE) has many unique features for monitoring border areas at high altitude.
The system facilitates monitoring and surveillance of border areas by automatically detecting intrusion. It helps ease patrolling in harsh zero temperature areas and providing the armed forces the much-needed relief.
A defence official said after successful trials, the system was deployed along the border in Leh and Ladakh region on a pilot basis. It has now been upgraded and made robust to deliver desired results. It will be deployed at high altitudes for day and night all-weather surveillance, he said.
The system consists of electro-optic payload along with a radar powered by hybrid energy source and a control station for remote surveillance. It can cover unmanned installation with 20 km remote operation capability. Powered through hybrid power source and equipped with advanced image processing feature for hassle-free surveillance, the system is open for networking.
It meets all parameters of armed forces during all weather conditions. “All weather surveillance units have been developed first time for unmanned posts with 20 km remote operation capability. It provides electronic surveillance solution for high altitude border areas exposed to sub-zero temperature,” the official informed.
The tracking system can be stored at 55 degree Celsius to minus 40 degree and can operate at 55 degree Celsius to minus 30 degree. It can relay the real-time video and data at a distance of 20 km to control station through wireless and fibre optic link. It consists of battlefield surveillance radar and electro-optics payload mounted on the pan-tilt unit kept at the observation tower.
The payload has thermal and day camera, eye-safe laser rangefinder and medium wave infrared thermal imagers, global positioning system and digital magnetic compass. “Integrated with de-icing and de-fogging module and security camera, it can record activities for 14 days on site. The best feature is it can change detection. A successful border surveillance mechanism can deter and control illegal immigration, smuggling and trafficking besides intrusion,” the official added.