• Liteye Systems’ role as integration and support partner grows to include local manufacturing as well as development and customisation of the AUDS counter-UAS platform; AUDS mobile trailer platform developed by Liteye for rapid deployment purposes to support national security applications

London, UK, and Centennial, CO, USA, 14 June, 2016 – The British team that created AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System), the world’s first production-ready and fully integrated counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) has extended its exclusive partnership in North America with Liteye Systems, Inc, in Centennial, Colorado.

Liteye has been leading the AUDS sales drive in the USA and Canada since the beginning of 2015 as the exclusive integration and support partner for the region. However, as interest in the AUDS system has grown, and following multiple government-sponsored trials, the partnership agreement has now been extended to include local manufacturing as well as local development and customisation of the AUDS platform.

Mark Radford, speaking for the AUDS team, said: “We have worked with Liteye for a number of years now and it has become an invaluable part of the AUDS group. We are delighted to now extend our strategic partnership with the company. We believe there is huge potential for our system in the North American market and Liteye’s selection by the FAA for US airport trials (see link to Liteye’s FAA release below) is testament to both the system’s capabilities and their hard work. Liteye has the knowledge and skills to manufacture, support and develop the AUDS platform for the US and Canadian markets and to provide full customisation where needed.”

Liteye will be responsible for manufacturing and supporting major components of AUDS including the radar, turret, thermal camera system, inhibitor and command and control (C2) system. Liteye will also be involved in designing and manufacturing the various platforms necessary to support a diverse range of end-users within the North American market. This will include the military, critical infrastructure providers such as airport operators, and other government agencies.

“Liteye is already providing development effort for US-specific C-UAS programs allowing us to integrate AUDS into and alongside other military and government assets,” added Mark Radford. “We have also worked with their engineers to enhance our system’s detect-track-disrupt-defeat capabilities by integrating a new ‘friendly asset’ into the platform. This allows us to use a drone as part of the AUDS remote observation and enforcement capabilities providing the ability to search out enemy UAS operators.”

Thomas Scott, president of Liteye Systems, said: “We are proud to be spearheading the AUDS North American operation to establish this highly effective counter-UAS system in the US and Canadian markets. Over the last 18 months, Liteye with AUDS has been at the cutting edge of counter-UAS development in this region, witnessing the proliferation of UAS use, both the bad and the good, from the front row. We are excited to expand our relationship with our UK partner companies in developing capabilities to meet this growing challenge.”

“The AUDS production-ready system is field proven in multiple trials to detect, track, identify, disrupt and defeat a wide range of unmanned systems – day and night whatever the weather,” added Thomas Scott. “And our new AUDS mobile trailer platform – an example of our integration capabilities – was developed and built at our Colorado site for rapid deployment purposes in national security applications and is already receiving much interest.”

Liteye’s ‘AUDS 360 Trailer’ system features a fully integrated AUDS system comprising Blighter Surveillance Systems’ 360° fully electronically-scanned A400 radar system, Chess Dynamics’ precision turret with thermal camera system, and Enterprise Control Systems’ directional multiband RF inhibitor system. This is a robust, go-anywhere rapid deployment system typically of the type used by the military. Other configurations of AUDS include a portable, quad-pod mounted rapid-deployment package and a fixed system that is compact enough to be installed on rooftop locations, remote masts or even on the ground.

The AUDS counter-UAS system was developed by a trio of British companies including Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems. AUDS can detect a drone six miles (10km) away using electronic scanning radar, track it using precision infrared and daylight cameras and specialist video tracking software before disrupting the flight using an inhibitor to block the radio signals that control it. This detect, track, disrupt, defeat process is very quick and typically takes 8-15 secs. Using AUDS, the operator can effectively take control of a drone and force a safe landing or send it back home.

For more information about AUDS, please contact any of the partner companies:

For North America, contact Liteye Systems: visit liteye.com, telephone Kenneth Geyer at +1 720-974-1766 ext. 155 or email [email protected].

For the rest of the world contact any of the following:

Blighter Surveillance Systems: visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email [email protected].

Chess Dynamics: visit www.chess-dynamics.com, telephone +44 1403 249888 or email [email protected].

Enterprise Control Systems: visit www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk, telephone +44 1327 860050 or email [email protected].

Photography and videos to accompany this press release are available via the links below:

AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System) with Drone Photo
AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System) on Tower Photo
AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System) Video on YouTube

About Liteye Systems (liteye.com)

Liteye Systems, Inc. is a leader in surveillance systems for protection of critical infrastructure. Products include radars, covert thermal cameras, tactical displays, and the new AUDS counter-UAS system. All of its cutting edge solutions feature revolutionary designs that enable a broad range of military and commercial applications. Headquartered in Centennial Colorado, the company has a 24,000 sq.ft. manufacturing/assembly facility with on-site engineering and test services, as well as state-of-the-art production and prototype manufacturing capability. Liteye has been designing and manufacturing defence and surveillance products since 2000.

About Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com)

Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd. is an independent electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider. It delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter e-scan radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology – utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive – with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd. is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.

About Chess Dynamics (www.chess-dynamics.com)

Chess Dynamics is an entirely UK owned British company providing end to end electro-optic and video tracking solutions. Its platforms and cameras are in service with military forces around the world. From the range of Hawkeye electro-optic surveillance systems, the Hawkeye Deployable System (DS) is at the heart of AUDS, combining the proven Viper dynamic positioner (VDP), cooled IR camera, Chess Piranha 46 high resolution daylight camera and video tracking and Graphical User Interface (GUI). All of the elements of the Hawkeye DS are already in service with the Royal Navy and British Army and have been used and supported on operations in Afghanistan. Chess Dynamics’ products and EO systems are manufactured on site to BS ES ISO 9001, Mil-Std-461 and 810C. Chess Dynamics is based in Horsham, West Sussex in the UK.

About Enterprise Control Systems (www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk)

For over 25 years Enterprise Control Systems Ltd (ECS) has been supplying mission critical RF inhibition systems and surveillance data links in support of security services around the world. ECS is a proven and trusted British supplier to the UK MoD, the UK Police and to specialist military and government users in over 40 other countries. ECS designs and produces a range of programmable jammers (RF Inhibitors) to counter a variety of threats. ECS understands the complex integration necessary between equipment performance, training, tactics, techniques and threat assessment needed to achieve optimum user capability in demanding and dynamic situations. ECS also designs and produces specialist COFDM data links optimised for use in high level military and security domains. ECS data links are fully secured (encrypted), optimised for long range performance and are designed to be robust in complex RF environments. ECS brings together their expertise in data link technology and RF Inhibition to provide a highly effective RF Disruptor for AUDS. ECS is based in Wappenham, Northamptonshire in the UK.

Media contact:

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

• AUDS to be tested by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the agency’s Pathfinder Programme to detect and identify unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) flying too close to US airports
• AUDS to be showcased at Eurosatory, the world’s largest international land and air/land defence and security exhibition, Paris, France from 13 to 17 June

London, UK, 31 May, 2016 – The world’s first fully integrated detect-track-disrupt-defeat Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) – developed by a trio of British companies including Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems, and integrated/supported in North America by Liteye Systems Inc. – has been selected by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for evaluation at US airports as part of its Pathfinder Programme.

This FAA research programme is designed to evaluate technologies that can be used to detect and identify unauthorised unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drone flights near airports. To this end, the FAA has signed a Co-operative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with Liteye Systems, the AUDS team’s manufacturing and integration partner in North America, to test AUDS at US airports selected by the FAA. (See FAA release – https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=85532)

According to the FAA, each month it receives more than 100 reports from pilots and others who spot what appear to be unmanned aircraft flying too close to an airport or manned airplane. It has become a serious safety concern for the agency and a potential security issue for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Mark Radford, speaking for the AUDS team, said, “We are delighted to have been selected for this strategic counter-UAS programme through Liteye. The FAA contacted our team following the success of AUDS at US Government sponsored counter UAV trials at the end of 2015. These trials confirmed that our production system was able to detect, track, disrupt and defeat a wide range of micro, mini and larger unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones – even on unscripted sorties.”

AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System) on TowerThe AUDS counter-UAV system can detect a drone six miles (10km) away using electronic scanning radar, track it using precision infrared and daylight cameras and specialist video tracking software before disrupting the flight using an inhibitor to block the radio signals that control it. This detect, track, disrupt, defeat process is very quick and typically takes 8-15 secs. The AUDS team has now carried out over 400 hours of ‘live’ testing in government related trials against more than 400 flown sorties of group 1 UAVs.

“AUDS is able to operate effectively in complex airport environments night and day whatever the weather and without disrupting other airport equipment,” added Mark Radford. “Using AUDS, the operator can effectively take control of a drone and force a safe landing inside or outside the airport perimeter.

“The system can also assist airport authorities to track down the UAV pilots for prosecution by providing evidence (video footage or radar tracks) to the relevant authorities. We can also integrate ‘friendly assets’ into the AUDS platform – for example a ‘friendly’ drone – to extend the threat detection and situational awareness capabilities of the system and to help capture rogue drone pilots.”

The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) integrates the Blighter Surveillance Systems’ A400 Series Ku band electronic scanning air security radar, Chess Dynamics’ stabilised electro-optic director, infrared and daylight cameras and target tracking software, and a directional radio frequency (RF) inhibitor from Enterprise Control Systems to detect, track, classify, disrupt and defeat UAVs at ranges of up to 10km. The AUDS system is even effective against so-called Group 1 micro UAVs at ranges of up to 2km and Group 1 mini UAVs at ranges of several kms.

The AUDS system is designed for countering drones or remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in remote border areas, at key infrastructure sites such as airports, air fields, nuclear power stations, oil refineries or for protecting political or sporting events in urban areas. It can be operated from fixed locations and from mobile platforms.

For more information about AUDS, please contact any of the partner companies: Blighter Surveillance Systems: visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email [email protected]. Chess Dynamics: visit www.chess-dynamics.com, telephone +44 1403 249888 or email [email protected]. Enterprise Control Systems: visit www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk, telephone +44 1327 860050 or email [email protected]. The AUDS team is represented by Liteye Systems (liteye.com) as its exclusive channel partner for the USA and Canada.

AUDS will be showcased at Eurosatory, the world’s largest international land and air/land defence and security exhibition, taking place from 13-17 June in Paris, France – come and meet the AUDS team on stand KJ657 in the UK Pavilion.

Photography and videos to accompany this press release are available via the links below:

AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System) with Drone Photo
AUDS (Anti-UAV Defence System) on Tower Photo

AUDS – Anti-UAV Defence System Video on YouTube

About Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com)

Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd. is an independent electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider. It delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter e-scan radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology – utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive – with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd. is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.

About Chess Dynamics (www.chess-dynamics.com)

Chess Dynamics is an entirely UK owned British company providing end to end electro-optic and video tracking solutions. Its platforms and cameras are in service with military forces around the world. From the range of Hawkeye electro-optic surveillance systems, the Hawkeye Deployable System (DS) is at the heart of AUDS, combining the proven Viper dynamic positioner (VDP), cooled IR camera, Chess Piranha 46 high resolution daylight camera and video tracking and Graphical User Interface (GUI). All of the elements of the Hawkeye DS are already in service with the Royal Navy and British Army and have been used and supported on operations in Afghanistan. Chess Dynamics’ products and EO systems are manufactured on site to BS ES ISO 9001, Mil-Std-461 and 810C. Chess Dynamics is based in Horsham, West Sussex in the UK.

About Enterprise Control Systems (www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk)

For over 25 years Enterprise Control Systems Ltd (ECS) has been supplying mission critical RF inhibition systems and surveillance data links in support of security services around the world. ECS is a proven and trusted British supplier to the UK MoD, the UK Police and to specialist military and government users in over 40 other countries. ECS designs and produces a range of programmable jammers (RF Inhibitors) to counter a variety of threats. ECS understands the complex integration necessary between equipment performance, training, tactics, techniques and threat assessment needed to achieve optimum user capability in demanding and dynamic situations. ECS also designs and produces specialist COFDM data links optimised for use in high level military and security domains. ECS data links are fully secured (encrypted), optimised for long range performance and are designed to be robust in complex RF environments. ECS brings together their expertise in data link technology and RF Inhibition to provide a highly effective RF Disruptor for AUDS. ECS is based in Wappenham, Northamptonshire in the UK.

About Liteye Systems (liteye.com)

Liteye Systems, Inc. is a leader in surveillance systems for protection of critical infrastructure. Products include radars, covert thermal cameras, tactical displays, and the new AUDS counter UAS system. All of its cutting edge solutions feature revolutionary designs that enable a broad range of military and commercial applications. Headquartered in Centennial Colorado, the company has offices in the UK and representatives worldwide. The AUDS team is represented by Liteye Systems as its exclusive manufacturing/integration partner for the USA and Canada.

Media contact:

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

• Blighter presented with the prestigious 9/11 Transportation Security Enterprise Award for security products/services that have significantly assisted law enforcement and public safety agencies in the fight against terrorism, serious crime and disasters
• Blighter to demonstrate perimeter security radars at Security & Policing (stand B34), 8-10 March at FIVE, Farnborough, UK; and at ISNR 2016 (stand 3130), 15-17 March at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Cambridge, UK, March 4, 2016 – Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd (www.blighter.com), a British electronic-scanning (e-scan) radar and sensor solution provider, has received the 9/11 Transportation Security Enterprise Award from InterPortPolice, the International Association of Airport and Seaport Police.

The prestigious 9/11 awards (www.interportpolice.org) are given for commercial security products/services that have significantly assisted law enforcement and public safety agencies in the fight against terrorism, serious crime and disasters. The 2015 9/11 awards recognised 13 global companies who excel in policing and security innovation and stabilisation.

Blighter Surveillance Systems was recognised for its innovative Blighter B400 Series perimeter security radars which are widely used the world-over to protect international airports and seaports, such as London Heathrow , national borders including the Korean demilitarised zone (DMZ), and numerous critical infrastructure sites.

Jay Grant, Secretary General of InterPortPolice, said, “It is truly an honour to present Blighter Surveillance Systems with this distinguished award. We do this in the remembrance of our fallen police colleagues on September 11, 2001 and those officers and officials who follow in their footsteps making the world a safer place. Companies who excel in developing security products that assist us in our fight against terrorism are to be commended.”

Mark Radford, CEO, Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd, said: “We are thrilled to receive this award from the InterPortPolice. It is an honour to be recognised by the international airport and seaport police for the positive impact our technology is having on countering terrorism and transnational crime.”

The Blighter B400 series Doppler radar delivers a 24/7 all-weather persistent surveillance capability. It can detect a walking person at 11 km (6.8 miles) or a large moving vehicle at 25 km (15.5 miles) and then cue a camera system to follow and identify targets. A new Blighter radar has recently been launched (the Blighter A400 series) to detect small consumer drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and this radar has been integrated into the world’s first Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) capable of detecting, tracking and disrupting drones at ranges up to 10 km (6.2 miles).

Blighter Surveillance Systems delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter radars plus cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Its ITAR-free systems are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection such as airports, coastal surveillance, and in military applications.

For more information about Blighter B400 Series radar or other products from Blighter Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email [email protected].

Visit Blighter at Security & Policing (www.securityandpolicing.co.uk), stand B34, 8-10 March at FIVE, Farnborough, UK; and/or at International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR) (www.isnrabudhabi.com), stand 3130, 15-17 March at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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

9/11 Transportation Security Enterprise Award Logo
Blighter B400 Series E-scan Radar System

About InterPortPolice (www.interportpolice.org)

The InterPortPolice, the International Association of Airport and Seaport Police (IAASP), was established by global law enforcement and public safety agencies headed up from Canada, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States. 46 years later, IAASP continues to assist member agencies and stakeholder security organization in a strong path dealing with terrorism and organized crime. Member jurisdictions or organizations have responsibility over airports, seaports, borders, cruises, supply chains and/or public transportation. IAASP’s involvement consists of a “prepare, prevent, and protect” strategy on several levels of activities from policy and agency leaders, national governments, intergovernmental organizations and specialized associations. In addition, IAASP international awards and decoration programs recognize law enforcement and public safety officers and officials who have distinguished themselves in fighting terrorism and serious transnational crimes.

About Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com)

Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd is an independent electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider. It delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter e-scan radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology – utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive – with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.

Media contacts:

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

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

Cambridge, UK, December 18, 2015 – Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd (www.blighter.com), a British electronic-scanning (e-scan) radar and sensor solution provider, has won the coveted Battlespace Businessman of the Year award for 2015. Battlespace C4ISTAR Technologies magazine is a leading international defence industry publication.

Receiving the award at a special reception held at Chepstow Racecourse, Mark Radford, said: “It is an honour to receive this award as it recognises the enormous hard work of our dedicated team of engineering and support staff and their contribution to our ongoing success.

“Our radars are deployed in over 20 different countries and used by the British Army for force protection, and in numerous asset protection and border security applications, including monitoring the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).”

Battlespace publisher, Julian Nettlefold, said: “This is the eleventh year of our awards and we are thrilled that Mark has been nominated by our readers as the Battlespace Businessman of the Year for 2015. He joins a select group that includes some of the outstanding leaders in the global defence industry.”

Mark has worked in radar for his entire career. He was first sponsored by GEC Marconi Radar and Defence Systems, now a division of BAE Systems in Chelmsford. He began his career as a digital signal processing engineer using the earliest 68000 and Bit-slice processing technology and found his roots in radar technology to be invaluable for his role as CEO at Blighter Surveillance Systems.

The patented Blighter e-scan Doppler radar delivers a 24/7 all-weather persistent surveillance capability. It can detect a walking person at 11km (6.8 miles) or a large moving vehicle at 25km (15.5 miles) and then cue a camera system to follow and identify targets. The Blighter radar has recently been enhanced to detect small consumer drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and has been integrated into the world’s first Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) capable of detecting, tracking and disrupting drones at ranges up to 8km (5 miles).

Blighter Surveillance Systems delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter radars plus cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Its ITAR-free systems are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection such as airports, coastal surveillance, and in military applications.

For more information about Blighter radars or other products from Blighter Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email [email protected].

Media photo shows (left to right): David Beatty, Thales UK (2014 winner) with Mark Radford (this year’s winner in the centre) and Julian Nettlefold (Battlespace publisher):

Mark Radford (centre) wins Battlespace Businessman of the Year 2015

About Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com)

Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd is an independent electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider. It delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter e-scan radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology – utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive – with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.

Media contacts:

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

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

• First sale into South America sees the Blighter solution deployed to enhance security at Paraguay’s two main international airports – Silvio Pettirossi and Guarani airports
• Blighter’s PESA e-scan radar selected due to superior performance, ease of installation onto existing infrastructure, intuitive operation and seamless integration with PTZ cameras from Liteye Systems
• Blighter to demonstrate airport capability on stand 1932 (Hall B4) at Inter Airport Europe 2015, 6-9 October at the Munich Trade Fair, Munich, Germany

Cambridge, UK, October 6, 2015 – Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), a British electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider, has won a contract from Paraguay’s National Civil Aviation Administration (DINAC) – via local security systems integrator Omni S.A. – to supply its Blighter B400 Series radar solution for enhanced security at the country’s two busiest international airports.

The Blighter B400 Series passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radars are now deployed at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, near Asunción in Western Paraguay and at Guarani International Airport located on the Eastern border in the city of Minga Guazú.

The Blighter solution consists of the Blighter B400 radar fitted with 20-degree antennas, BlighterTrack software and the BlighterView HMI control system. It is fully integrated with cameras from Liteye Systems providing the capability to slew-to-cue the PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) thermal imaging surveillance systems and to automatically initialise the CCTV recording system.

Blighter’s electronic scanning technology with its FMCW Doppler fast scan capability performs well in cluttered airport environments, detecting small and slow moving targets with minimal false alarms. The Blighter radar can also be mounted high up on existing airport infrastructure thereby minimising installation costs and maximising surveillance as the radar can see over obstacles including aircraft and vehicles.

Jorge Alfonso Ramírez, vice president, Omni S.A., said “We needed a robust, reliable and maintenance free solution that could provide 24-hour surveillance across the airfield and airport perimeter in all weather and light conditions. Blighter exceeded our expectations and outperformed the other suppliers’ systems. The benefits of the Blighter PESA e-scan radars are clear – superior performance, ease of installation onto existing infrastructure, intuitive operation, seamless integration with cameras – as well as lower installation costs, lower through life costs and lower false alarm rates.”

Using Blighter’s PESA technology, man detection ranges out to 3, 5 or 6.5 miles (5, 8 or 11 km) and ultra-wide elevation beams (up to 20 degrees) can be achieved. This allows the radars to stand-off from the area to be monitored, for example mounted on top of existing airport buildings, giving clear line-of-sight to the airport perimeter, while still maintaining the full integrity of the radar coverage zone. Being able to mount the sensors on the existing airport buildings, allows for ease of connection to readily available sources of power and network connectivity.

Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “We are delighted to have secured this contract for the two main airports in Paraguay, our first sale in South America. The significant benefits of the Blighter radar are now being recognised by busy international airports such as London Heathrow and others in the United States, Europe and Africa. We plan to build on this success in this region by targeting other airports and infrastructure sites – oil and gas facilities, mines and air bases that would clearly benefit from our advanced protection technology.”

Blighter PESA radars are all-in-one integrated units comprising antennas, signal processing, plot extractor, GPS and compass. The radars contain no moving parts and therefore offer dramatic improvements in reliability compared with mechanically-scanned radars. Blighter radars provide modular scanning from 90º to a full 360º configuration in a single radar.

Blighter Surveillance Systems delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter radars plus cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Its ITAR-free systems are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection such as airports, coastal surveillance, and in military applications.

For more information about the integrated Blighter perimeter security radar and camera solution or other products from Blighter Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email [email protected].

Blighter will be demonstrating its airport surveillance solutions on stand 1932 (Hall B4) at Inter Airport Europe 2015, 6-9 October at the Munich Trade Fair, Munich, Germany; and at Airport Security 2015 (stand 10) at the Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel, Barcelona, Spain, 17-18 November.

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

Silvio Pettirossi International Sirport (Copyright Felipe Mendez)
Blighter B400 Series Radar with Liteye Aquila Camera

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 – utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive – with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. 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 (for Blighter)
Martin Brooke Associates
Tel: +44 1223 882174
Email: Martin Brooke

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

• All British AUDS team – Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems – adds new capability to production version of counter UAV/drone system following extensive government sponsored spring/summer trials
• New features include a fourth inhibitor band, an optical disruptor and additional modularity for ease of deployment; AUDS is designed to detect, track, classify and disrupt the growing threat of malicious UAVs at ranges of up to 8 km/5 miles
• Fully featured production version of AUDS to be unveiled at the DSEI Show, the world’s leading defence and security event, at the ExCeL Centre, London, 15 to 18 September 2015

London, UK, 8 September, 2015 – The world’s first fully integrated detect-track-disrupt Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) – launched by a trio of British companies in May this year – now features a quad band radio frequency (RF) inhibitor/jammer, an optical disruptor and rapid deployment features in the final production version of the market leading counter-drone system. These enhancements follow extensive customer trials of the pre-production system across Europe and North America over the spring and summer.

The AUDS system, developed by Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems, is designed to combat the growing threat of malicious micro, mini and larger unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. The system can detect a drone five miles (8 km) away using electronic scanning radar, track it using infrared and daylight cameras and specialist software before disrupting the flight using an inhibitor to block the radio signals that control it.

Graham Beall, managing director, Chess Dynamics, said: “Countering drones is now a global issue and an increasing concern for the military, government and homeland security forces across every continent. It’s expected that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will be used increasingly for malicious purposes as they can carry cameras, weapons, toxic chemicals and explosives and are being used increasingly for terrorism, espionage and smuggling purposes.

“Our system has been developed to address this urgent operational requirement and has been successful in government sponsored counter-UAV trials, detecting and disrupting a variety of fixed and rotary wing drones in under 15 seconds. The new capabilities further enhances the system’s suitability for countering rogue or malicious unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS).”

According to the AUDS team, the speed with which new features have been added to the system since the launch in May, demonstrates both the agility and flexibility of the trio of specialist companies. The quad band inhibitor enables the AUDS operator to disrupt the different licensed telemetry bands of commercial drones no matter where in the world they are designed and licensed for use. For example, both the 433 and 915 MHz frequencies commonly used by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can be disrupted as can the 2.4 GHz control band and the global satellite (GNSS) bands.

The new optical disruptor is yet another tool available to the AUDS operator. This feature can be utilised for both pointing at a drone for identification purposes and disrupting the automatic gain control settings in the drone’s camera system such that the operator loses visibility. The optical disruptor can also provide a very precise identification of known UAV launch activity to any ground forces.

Commenting on the new features, Colin Bullock, CEO, Enterprise Control Systems, said: “Carefully controlled disruption of these command links – and the use of the optical disruptor – significantly impairs the operator’s ability to control the drone and forms a key part of the spectrum of techniques used by the AUDS system to mitigate the malicious use of drones.”

Other improvements in the production version of the AUDS system include a new positioner for the camera. And, following a whole series of trials in a variety of different terrains, the team has modularised the system to reduce the single lift weight down to 25 kg. All the different elements – radar, cameras, and RF inhibitor – now clip together to form a complete system.

Mark Radford, CEO, Blighter Surveillance Systems, added: “We have so far carried out over 150 hours of live testing in government organised trials operating against more than 200 flown sorties of group 1 UAVs. Feedback from our own team and from customers was for a greater level of modularity to speed deployment and to minimise the need for multi person set-up teams. This has now been implemented in the production version – yet another example of our team’s fleet footedness.”

The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) integrates the Blighter A400 Series Ku band electronic scanning air security radar, Chess Dynamics’ stabilised electro-optic director, infrared and daylight cameras and target tracking software, and a directional radio frequency (RF) inhibitor from Enterprise Control Systems to detect, track, classify, disrupt and neutralise UAVs at ranges of up to 8km. The AUDS system is even effective against so-called Group 1 micro UAVs at ranges of up to 2km and Group 1 mini UAVs at ranges of several kms.

The AUDS system is designed for countering drones or remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in remote border sites or urban areas. It can be operated from fixed locations and from mobile platforms. It has been developed and manufactured in the UK using British technology and a production version is available now.

The fully featured production version of AUDS will be unveiled at the DSEI Show, the world’s leading defence and security event, taking place at the ExCeL Centre, London, 15 to 18 September 2015. Blighter Surveillance Systems (stand S4-154), Chess Dynamics (stand S8-140) and Enterprise Control Systems (stand S3-260).

For more information about AUDS, please contact any of the partner companies: Blighter Surveillance Systems: visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email [email protected]. Chess Dynamics: visit www.chess-dynamics.com, telephone +44 1403 249888 or email [email protected]. Enterprise Control Systems: visit www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk, telephone +44 1327 860050 or email [email protected]. The AUDS team is represented by Liteye Systems (liteye.com) as its exclusive channel partner for the USA and Canada.

Photography and videos to accompany this press release are available via the links below:

AUDS – Anti-UAV Defence System Photo
AUDS – Anti-UAV Defence System Video on YouTube

About Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com)

Blighter Surveillance Systems is an electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider. It delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter e-scan radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology – utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive – with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. Blighter Surveillance Systems is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.

About Chess Dynamics (www.chess-dynamics.com)

Chess Dynamics is an entirely UK owned British company providing end to end electro-optic and video tracking solutions. Its platforms and cameras are in service with military forces around the world. From the range of Hawkeye electro-optic surveillance systems, the Hawkeye Deployable System (DS) is at the heart of AUDS, combining the proven Viper dynamic positioner (VDP), cooled IR camera, Chess Piranha 46 high resolution daylight camera and video tracking and Graphical User Interface (GUI). All of the elements of the Hawkeye DS are already in service with the Royal Navy and British Army and have been used and supported on operations in Afghanistan. Chess Dynamics’ products and EO systems are manufactured on site to BS ES ISO 9001, Mil-Std-461 and 810C. Chess Dynamics is based in Horsham, West Sussex in the UK.

About Enterprise Control Systems (www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk)

For over 25 years Enterprise Control Systems Ltd (ECS) has been supplying mission critical RF inhibition systems and surveillance data links in support of security services around the world. ECS is a proven and trusted British supplier to the UK MoD, the UK Police and to specialist military and government users in over 40 other countries. ECS designs and produces a range of programmable jammers (RF Inhibitors) to counter a variety of threats. ECS understands the complex integration necessary between equipment performance, training, tactics, techniques and threat assessment needed to achieve optimum user capability in demanding and dynamic situations. ECS also designs and produces specialist COFDM data links optimised for use in high level military and security domains. ECS data links are fully secured (encrypted), optimised for long range performance and are designed to be robust in complex RF environments. ECS brings together their expertise in data link technology and RF Inhibition to provide a highly effective RF Disruptor for AUDS. ECS is based in Wappenham, Northamptonshire in the UK.

Media contact:

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

• White paper highlights how radar is being implemented by many airports (such as at London Heathrow) to combat ‘backdoor’ threats resulting from relatively low levels of perimeter security
• Airport Security white paper includes comparison between low-cost mechanically scanned radars and solid state electronic scanning radar systems; assesses AESA and PESA technologies, and discusses the growing trend towards integrated radar/camera solutions

Cambridge, UK, June 25, 2015 – Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), a British electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider, has published an Airport Security white paper highlighting how radar is being implemented by many airports to combat the growing ‘backdoor’ threats posed by relatively low levels of perimeter security.

Written by radar industry veteran Mark Radford, the white paper highlights how attention at tier one and tier two airports is turning from the strict levels of security employed for passenger screening to safeguarding the perimeter. This renewed focus is being driven by the continued targeting of aviation by terrorist groups worldwide as well as by the ongoing threat from political activists, stowaways and unwanted intruders.

The white paper includes a comparison between low-cost mechanically scanned radars and solid state electronic scanning radar systems. It briefly assesses the advantages and disadvantages of active (AESA) versus passive (PESA) electronically scanned array technologies, and it highlights the growing trend towards airports introducing integrated radar/camera solutions – as is the case at London Heathrow.

Peter Hanlon, airports sales manager, Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “The flat and open nature of airports allows perimeter surveillance radars (PSRs) to be effectively deployed to deliver improved intruder detection in all weather, 24 hours a day. PSRs also offer considerable operational cost savings when compared to using CCTV and large numbers of security personnel.”

The white paper also lists the ideal radar attributes for surveillance at airports and stresses that Doppler processing is absolutely essential to the cluttered airport environment as it enables the operator to discern smaller, slow moving targets such as intruders on foot from larger and faster objects such as taxiing aircraft or support vehicles.

The Airport Security white paper can be downloaded here.

A high resolution photograph of Peter Hanlon can be downloaded here.

Blighter radars are in use at several major international airports in Europe, United States, South America and Africa. In the UK, a Blighter radar/camera surveillance system already forms part of the perimeter security solution at Heathrow airport. A typical Blighter airport configuration consists of the Blighter B400 Series passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, BlighterView HMI software, and slew-to-cue PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) thermal imaging surveillance camera systems. The BlighterView HMI based command and control system displays and records all these elements including additional sensors such as a perimeter intruder detection system (PIDS).

For more information about the integrated Blighter perimeter security radar and camera solution or other products from Blighter Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email [email protected].

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 – utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive – with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. 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 (for Blighter)
Martin Brooke Associates
Tel: +44 1223 882174
Email: Martin Brooke

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

• Blighter Surveillance Systems (electronic-scanning radar target detection), Chess Dynamics (electro-optic tracking and classification) and Enterprise Control Systems (radio frequency disruption) join forces to combat growing threat of micro, mini and larger unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones
• Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) designed to detect, track, classify and disrupt UAVs at ranges of up to 8km; at recent international trials, AUDS successfully disrupted a variety of micro, compact and standard UAVs

London, UK, May 19, 2015 – A trio of British technology companies comprising Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems – leaders in their respective fields – have combined forces to develop a powerful, highly effective and fully integrated Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) to combat the growing threat of malicious micro, mini and larger unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones.

The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) integrates the Blighter A400 Series Ku band electronic scanning air security radar, Chess Dynamics’ stabilised electro-optic director, infrared and daylight cameras and target tracking software, and a directional radio frequency (RF) inhibitor/jammer system from Enterprise Control Systems to detect, track, classify, disrupt and neutralise UAVs at ranges of up to 8 km. The AUDS system is even effective against so-called Group 1 micro UAVs at ranges of up to 2 km and Group 1 mini UAVs at ranges of several kms.

Mark Radford, CEO, Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “We formed the all-British AUDS team in 2014 as we were each acutely aware of the urgent operational requirement from our customers for an effective and affordable anti-UAV system. Working in partnership, we have developed some clever technology (patents are pending) that integrates the different sensors, effector and electro-mechanical positioning systems to disrupt and bring down any malicious drone in a phased and controlled manner.”

According to the AUDS team, the technology has been extensively tested in South Korea along the 250km demilitarised zone (DMZ), where Blighter radars have been deployed for some years. In March 2015, the AUDS team took part in multi-supplier French Government trials in Captieux, France, where its counter UAV system proved highly successful in detecting and neutralising a variety of fixed and rotary wing micro, compact and standard UAVs. And last week, the system also performed well in UK Government sponsored counter UAV trials (known as Bristow 15) in West Freugh, Scotland.

The AUDS system is designed for counter UAV operations in remote border sites or urban areas. It can be operated from fixed locations and from mobile platforms. Key features and benefits include:

• Fully electronic scanning radar technology with Doppler processing allowing all weather, 24-hour detection of both fast and slow moving micro and mini UAV targets with unsurpassed ground clutter suppression for near horizon operation;
• Highly accurate stabilised pan and tilt director combined with the very latest electro-optic infrared day and night cameras and state-of-the-art digital video tracking technology to automatically track the UAV and classify the target;
• Smart radio frequency inhibitor to selectively disrupt various command and control communication links employed by the UAV. Disruptive effect can be carried out in an intelligent, proportional and non-kinetic manner to mitigate collateral impact, and the inhibitor/jammer system is software controlled giving the capacity to counter new and emerging threats;

Colin Bullock, CEO, Enterprise Control Systems, said: “We believe that with the combination of our three systems – best-in-class expertise in radar detection, camera & video tracking and RF jamming & data communications – we have a world-beating product that competes even with systems based around expensive military 3-D air security radars. And, AUDS is available at commercial (COTS) prices right now.”

With incidents of UAV and drone related security breaches occurring on an almost daily basis, the AUDS system is able to address the heightened concern about UAVs within military, government, critical infrastructure and commercial security organisations. While UAVs have many positive applications, it’s expected that they’ll be used increasingly for malicious purposes – they can carry cameras, weapons, toxic chemicals and explosives – and be used increasingly for terrorism, espionage and smuggling purposes.

Graham Beall, managing director, Chess Dynamics, said: “This is truly an exciting collaboration – three British high-tech companies with different technologies and expertise working together to address the global problem of UAV detection. Our new invention is a complete smart sensor and effector package that can automatically detect, track, classify and when required neutralise the potential impact of malicious UAVs with a measured response. These three fully integrated technologies give AUDS a truly optimised Sensor Effector Mix.”

The Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS) has been designed, developed and manufactured in the UK using British technology and is available to order now with shipments beginning in August 2015. For more information about AUDS, please contact any of the partner companies below:

Blighter Surveillance Systems: visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email [email protected].

Chess Dynamics: visit www.chess-dynamics.com, telephone +44 1403 249888 or email [email protected].

Enterprise Control Systems: visit www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk, telephone +44 1327 860050 or email [email protected].

The AUDS team has appointed Liteye Systems (liteye.com) as its exclusive channel partner for the USA and Canada.

Photography and videos to accompany this press release are available via the links below:

AUDS – Anti-UAV Defence System Photo 1
AUDS – Anti-UAV Defence System Photo 2
AUDS – Anti-UAV Defence System Video on YouTube

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 – utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive – with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. 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.

About Chess Dynamics (www.chess-dynamics.com)

Chess Dynamics is an entirely UK owned British company providing end to end electro-optic solutions. Its platforms and cameras are in service with military forces around the world. The Hawkeye electro-optic surveillance system (Hawkeye EOSS), at the heart of AUDS, combines the combat proven COBRA pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) dual axis stabilised positioner, a cooled or uncooled IR camera with Chess Dynamics’ advanced Piranha 46 daylight camera along with our own high performance digital video tracking and Graphical User Interface (GUI) software. This surveillance system is in service with the Royal Navy and the British Army and has been used on operations in Afghanistan. Chess Dynamics’ products and EO systems are manufactured on site to BS ES ISO 9001:2008, MIL-STD-461 and 810C. Chess Dynamics is based in Horsham, West Sussex.

About Enterprise Control Systems (www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk)

For over 25 years Enterprise Control Systems Ltd (ECS) has been supplying mission critical RF inhibition systems and surveillance data links in support of security services around the world. ECS is a proven and trusted British supplier to the UK MoD, the UK Police and to specialist military and government users in over 40 other countries. ECS designs and produces a range of programmable jammers (RF Inhibitors) to counter a variety of threats. ECS understands the complex integration necessary between equipment performance, training, tactics, techniques and threat assessment needed to achieve optimum user capability in demanding and dynamic situations. ECS also designs and produces specialist COFDM data links optimised for use in high level military and security domains. ECS data links are fully secured (encrypted), optimised for long range performance and are designed to be robust in complex RF environments. ECS brings together their expertise in data link technology and RF Inhibition to provide a highly effective RF Disruptor for AUDS. ECS is based in Wappenham, Northamptonshire in the UK.

Media contact:

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