Blighter Surveillance Systems Formed to Target Systems Integrators in Global Defence and Security Markets (6 February 2013)

  • New operation will build on success of Blighter electronic-scanning radars but now focus on providing a more integrated sensor toolkit – radars, cameras, trackers and software solutions
  • Blighter Surveillance Systems to focus on defence, land and water border surveillance, perimeter security and critical infrastructure protection with initial emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa

CAMBRIDGE, UK, February 6, 2013 – Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com) has been set up to target systems integrators delivering sophisticated surveillance solutions into the global defence and commercial security markets. Formed earlier this year due to the growth of the Blighter radar group within Plextek Limited, Blighter Surveillance Systems intends to build on the sales success of the Blighter electronic-scanning radar system.

Central to its plans for growth are to develop and provide an integrated multi-sensor toolkit for systems integrators comprising not just the Blighter radars, but cameras, thermal imagers, trackers, and radar display and software solutions. A new multi-language version of the BlighterView software will provide a wealth of new features aimed at the system integrator, including the capability to support large scale deployments of radars, cameras, thermal imagers and other sensors.

Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “We have recognised for some time that our system integrator customers would prefer a single supplier to provide a more tightly coupled multi-sensor solution – particularly for large scale, complex border and site security projects. This approach offers obvious cost efficiencies, de-risks sensor compatibility issues and saves the customer having to integrate advanced radar, cameras and thermal imaging technology into their command and control applications.

“We have been developing this additional capability in the last 12 months to enable the provision of a multi-sensor solution and the software to control and operate all the elements efficiently and cost-effectively. The launch of Blighter Surveillance Systems marks the beginning of a new phase in the growth for the Blighter business as we seek to forge relationships with key systems integrators and strategic partners but also to build on the long term relationships with our existing customers.”

According to Blighter Surveillance Systems, the Blighter advanced ground surveillance radar will remain at the heart of its surveillance offering. Conceived in 2003 and now in operational use in over a dozen countries, Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust persistent-surveillance capability. Blighter radars provide an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership.

“The newly-formed business will continue to focus on defence, land and water border surveillance, perimeter security and critical infrastructure protection with initial geographic emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa,” added Mark Radford. “We see a lot of potential for us in these regions as our multi-sensor solution is effective in all kinds of surveillance applications – and is highly efficient in all terrains and weather conditions. For example, our radars are maintenance free and keep working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, monitoring humans, vehicles or even low flying aircraft.”

Blighter Surveillance Systems will now operate as a separate business within the Plextek Group. Its dedicated team of highly experienced hardware and software engineers, operations management and support staff will be based at Plextek’s Great Chesterford headquarters on the outskirts of Cambridge, England. Blighter products are designed in-house and manufactured in the United Kingdom by several different contract manufacturers.

Dr Colin Smithers, chairman of the Plextek Group, commented: “Plextek has a proven track record of incubating entrepreneurial ideas into successful businesses. Blighter has benefited from our financial backing, advice and resources over some years – and this will continue – but we now believe this capable team is ready to move forward as an independent business and to have the freedom to develop the Blighter brand in the global surveillance market. With a successful track record and major contracts with the British Army, Heathrow Airport and many others, we believe that Blighter Surveillance Systems’ management team has the potential to build a strong, sustainable business.”

For more information about Blighter Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

Blighter Surveillance Systems will be exhibiting at The International Defence Exhibition and Conference, IDEX, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 17-21 February 2013 (Stand Number: 05-C11 – located in the UK Pavilion in Hall 5).

Photography to accompany this press release is available via the link below:

Blighter Surveillance Systems Team Photo

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About Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com)

Blighter Surveillance Systems is an electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider delivering an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter electronic-scanning radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. Blighter Surveillance Systems is a Plextek Group company, a leading British design house and technology innovator and is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.

Media contacts:

Martin Brooke
Martin Brooke Associates
Tel: +44 1223 882174
Tel: +44 7776 135402
Email: Martin Brooke

Nick Booth
Blighter Surveillance Systems
Tel: +44 1223 491122
Email: Nick Booth