• BlighterView sensor and control software now supports Arabic, Korean and English/European languages with capability to localise the software
• BlighterView provides further features for the systems integrator: new modular architecture to improve integration of Blighter solutions into command and control systems; improved scalability/adaptability; ESRI GIS mapping; and third party sensor support
• Blighter Surveillance Systems will be demonstrating Blighter radars and BlighterView software at The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 17-21 February 2013

CAMBRIDGE, UK, February 18, 2013 – Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), an electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider, has today unveiled a new multi-language version of its BlighterView sensor and control software at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The BlighterView software provides a wealth of new features: multiple language support – including Arabic, Korean, English and other European languages; a new modular architecture to improve integration of Blighter solutions into command and control systems, ESRI geographic information system (GIS) mapping; and support for third party sensors such as cameras and thermal imaging systems.

Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “This feature rich multi-language version of our BlighterView software will provide the additional capabilities we need to support large scale deployment of radars, cameras, thermal imagers and other sensor systems into global defence and security applications, such as border and perimeter security and infrastructure protection.

“Several customers, including a South Korean integrator, approached us about providing local language support so we developed the capability to customise the BlighterView application to use local language and terms that are familiar to systems operators. This is a key development given our particular focus on Middle Eastern and North African markets.”

At the heart of BlighterView is the control panel which allows access to the wealth of advanced settings provided by the company’s electronic scanning ground surveillance Blighter radar. The control panel is a key component necessary for a system integrator to design the Blighter radar into their system.

John Oyler, software manager for Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “We have expanded the Blighter software team to enable us to develop new capabilities within the BlighterView software. The new architecture provides greater flexibility for supporting individual users and simplifies the integration of the Blighter radar into existing command and control systems as we now provide customers with a toolkit of modules to ease the integration process.

“Furthermore, the addition of advanced mapping based around the ESRI GIS system enables customers to load existing open source maps and satellite images, or their own country maps, into the application if required. The BlighterView software then overlays terrain data, radar, camera images and other sensor information onto the available map to provide a multi sensor display capability.”

BlighterView is available as a stand-alone Microsoft Windows application and is also supported by a Software Developers Kit (SDK) enabling system integrators to simply plug the required elements of the BlighterView software into their own command and control systems.

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 links below:

Multi-language BlighterView screen capture showing Arabic, Korean & English versions
Multi-language BlighterView screen capture zoomed-in on Arabic control panel

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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 and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. 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

• 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

• Combination of the Blighter B202 Mk 2 portable ground surveillance radar and Liteye’s Aquila PTZ thermal surveillance system provides a virtual fortress around VIPs

CAMBRIDGE, UK, November 8, 2012 – Liteye Systems, Inc. (Centennial, Colorado, USA) and Plextek Limited (Great Chesterford, England) announced today that they have combined their market leading thermal imaging and ground surveillance radar products to target the VIP protection market.

The combination of Plextek’s Blighter B202 Mk 2 portable electronic scanning ground surveillance radar (www.blighter.com) and Liteye’s Aquila PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) thermal imaging surveillance system (liteye.com) provides a truly portable, battery powered surveillance solution that delivers a fortress-like ring of security over an area of many hundreds of square kilometres. This mobile solution allows the ring of security to follow the VIP.

Mark Radford, director of the Blighter Group, said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Liteye to target the VIP protection market, which has traditionally been a labour intensive operation with agents, security staff and bodyguards etc. 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 (people, vehicles and low flying aircraft) and the Liteye high performance cameras and thermal imagers on agile pan/tilt mechanisms to rapidly intercept and confirm the identity of the intruder.”

Kenneth Geyer, VP of Business Development, Liteye Systems, said “The combination of our rugged, low profile, three camera system with the low cost Blighter e-scan ground surveillance radar provides us with a compelling solution for the military and commercial VIP protection markets. All that is needed for the system is a laptop, the radar and our camera!”

The Liteye’s high-performance, rugged multi-sensor system is designed to MIL-STD for day and night operations in the harshest weather and environmental conditions. The three cameras – thermal imager microbolometer (640 x 480 17 µm), visible camera with zoom lens, and situational awareness WFoV low-light camera – and its 360° continuous rotation at 100° per second, makes it particularly well suited for VIP protection.

Similarly, Blighter radars feature 24-hour all-weather capability and are virtually maintenance free. Ultra-slow movement detection by Blighter radar, including a crawling person, is made possible using Blighter’s Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology. The radar’s wide elevation beam also makes for easy alignment by eye in hilly terrain and also provides detection of low flying manned or unmanned aircraft.

As well as providing VIP ‘on-the-go’ protection, the Blighter/Aquila solution is also well suited to numerous other fixed and mobile surveillance applications including military camp protection, airport security and checkpoint security. To demonstrate this capability, Plextek will be installing a combined Blighter B400 series long-range fixed radar with the Liteye Aquila system at its local airport (Cambridge) in the UK. Liteye will be installing a Blighter B202 Mk 2 portable radar with its Liteye Aquila system at its 25,000 sq. ft. facility in Centennial, Colorado.

“These demonstration systems will allow customers to see how the two products complement one another to provide VIP protection as well as a surveillance solution for other mobile and fixed installations,” added Kenneth Geyer, Liteye Systems.

Blighter radars, developed by Plextek, a leading British design house and technology innovator, are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, coastal surveillance, and in defence applications. Blighter radars provide an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership.

For more information about the Blighter range of advanced radars, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

Liteye Systems’ Aquila line of thermal imaging products are targeted to the defence and security markets, as well as VIP and high value facility protection. The Aquila thermal imaging surveillance systems were deployed as part of a multi-agency security operation, successfully protecting the London 2012 Olympic Games.

For more information about Liteye Systems’ thermal imaging surveillance systems, please visit liteye.com, telephone +1 720 974 1766 (USA), +44 1206 848452 (UK) or email.

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

Blighter B202 Mk 2 Radar with Liteye Aquila Camera for VIP Protection

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About Plextek and Blighter (www.blighter.com)

Blighter is a family of advanced ground surveillance radars developed by Plextek, a leading British design house and technology innovator. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state electronic-scanning technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. The electronics scanning system in Blighter uses Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology, an enhancement of the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) used in older radars. Blighter’s PESA technology is inherently lower power and runs cooler than AESA technology. First developed in 2003, Blighter radars provide an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership and are designed for use in extreme weather conditions and in the most difficult terrain. Plextek is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England. Blighter products are designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom.

About Liteye Systems (liteye.com)

Since 2000, Liteye Systems, Inc. is a world leader in rugged head-mounted-displays (HMD), micro imaging viewfinders, and now its new ‘Aquila’ line of thermal surveillance systems. All of its cutting edge solutions feature revolutionary designs in optics, electronics, ergonomics, and form factors that enable a broad range of military and commercial applications. Liteye’s research and development team delivers sophisticated custom packages to some of the world’s largest companies, government agencies, and military organizations. Headquartered in Centennial Colorado, with offices in the UK, and representatives worldwide, Liteye truly is “Enhancing Human Vision” on a global level.

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

Kenneth Geyer
Liteye Systems, Inc
Tel: +1 720 974 1766 x155
Email: Kenneth Geyer

• New N5S antennas enhance the Blighter B400 series radar’s effectiveness in border, area and perimeter security applications
• Unique modular approach dramatically drives down through-life costs for ground radar systems

CAMBRIDGE, UK, October 17, 2012 – The reach of the market leading Blighter® B400 series electronic-scanning ground surveillance radar system (www.blighter.com) has been extended to 15km with the introduction of its N5S extended-range antennas. This will enhance the Blighter B400 series radar’s effectiveness in border, area and perimeter security applications.

The N5S field interchangeable antennas concentrate the elevation beamwidth of the B400 series radar down to 5° allowing new and existing users of the radar to detect – out to 15km – both walking humans in very flat terrain and small boats over water. The new antennas complement the existing M10S and W20S antennas which feature elevation beamwidths of 10° and 20° respectively and provide detection in either normal terrain (to 10km) and hilly terrain (to 5km).

Mark Radford, director of the Blighter Group, said: “The Blighter radar is the only ground radar system on the market that can provide this modular plug and play capability – other ground surveillance radars are marketed in fixed man detection range steps, typically ‘man at 5km or 10km or 15km’. In contrast, our modular system allows customers to hold a common set of radar units and antennas which allow them the flexibility to configure the radar to 5km or 10km or 15km with one set of equipment according to their surveillance application and the presenting terrain.”

The Blighter B400 series radar is itself a modular design that allows a variety of configurations to be created to suit a multitude of different surveillance scenarios. The main radar unit contains all the waveform generation and signal processing brains for the modular system, plus a set of PESA (Passive Electronically Scanned Array) e-scan modules. Auxiliary radar units containing only the PESA e-scan modules can be plugged into the main radar unit allowing the radar to be configured as a 90°, 180°, 270° or 360° electronic scanning radar.

“Anyone buying a Blighter radar can be sure that they will be getting the very latest technology, with the highest reliability due to its solid-state design and PESA technology,” added Mark Radford. “The inherent modularity – now with the addition of the N5S antennas for extended range – means that we are able to dramatically drive down the through-life expenditure of our zero maintenance ‘fit and forget’ system, which is extremely attractive to customers!”

Blighter B400 series radars featuring Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing are particularly well suited to border, area and perimeter security applications due to their long-range detection capability. Human intruders can be detected at ranges in excess of 15km and vehicles in excess of 20km.

Key benefits of these radars include: ultra-high reliability, zero-maintenance, operation over complex terrain including hills, 24-hour all-weather capability, ability to detect crawlers, very low false-alarm rate, low power consumption and low data communications bandwidth.

Blighter radars, developed by Plextek, a leading British design house and technology innovator, are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, coastal surveillance, and in defence applications. Blighter radars provide an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership.

For more information about the Blighter range of advanced radars, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

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

Blighter B400 Series Radar with N5S Antennas

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About Plextek and Blighter (www.blighter.com)

Blighter is a family of advanced ground surveillance radars developed by Plextek, a leading British design house and technology innovator. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state electronic-scanning technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. The electronics scanning system in Blighter uses Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology, an enhancement of the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) used in older radars. Blighter’s PESA technology is inherently lower power and runs cooler than AESA technology.

Blighter radars are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, coastal surveillance, and in defence applications. Prime contractors and systems integrators can combine the radars with long-range cameras, thermal imagers and other sensors to provide wide-area, 24-hour, all-weather rapid detection and identification of potential security threats over land or water.

First developed in 2003, Blighter radars provide an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership and are designed for use in extreme weather conditions and in the most difficult terrain. Plextek is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England. Blighter products are designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom.

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

• Deployment of Blighter electronic scanning FMCW Doppler radars at Heathrow has led to considerable savings and a marked improvement in detection – with minimal installation costs

CAMBRIDGE, UK, May 30, 2012 – Plextek Ltd, the design house behind the market-leading Blighter® (www.blighter.com) electronic-scanning ground surveillance radar system, announced today that its Blighter radars have been deployed to enhance Heathrow’s perimeter security.

The Blighter B400 series electronic scanning radars – with Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing – form part of an integrated perimeter security system at Heathrow, developed and supplied to BAA plc, the airport operator, by Touchstone Electronics, a specialist security provider to the UK airport industry. The complete airport perimeter surveillance solution includes long-range day and night cameras and a network of high definition cameras, capable of quickly identifying and tracking intruders detected by the Blighter radar.

Andy Cowen, BAA’s Security Development Manager said: “We needed a highly reliable, maintenance-free system that could provide intensive 24-hour surveillance of key areas of the airport in all weather and light conditions. The Blighter Doppler system is technically superior to anything else we’ve seen and met our requirements in full, and since deployment has led to considerable operational savings, reduced security staff costs, with a marked improvement in detection.

“Installation costs were also minimal as Blighter’s long-range detection capability and wide elevation beam allow the radars to be remotely mounted on existing airport infrastructure thus avoiding digging up airport surfaces to lay cables. Blighter is also particularly effective in the airport environment as it is able to monitor movement between different security zones.”

Heathrow Airport (Copyright BAA Airports Ltd) Mark Radford, Director of the Blighter Group at Plextek, said: “We are delighted that the major benefits of our Blighter radar are being recognised by busy international airports such as Heathrow and at other airports in the United States, Europe and Africa.”

Heathrow Airport is the world’s busiest international airport and the hub of the civil aviation world. Over 67 million passengers travel through the airport annually on services offered by 90 airlines travelling to over 180 destinations in over 90 countries.

Blighter radars are particularly well suited to airport security applications due to its long-range detection capability (10m to 2km in steps up to 32km), 20º wide elevation beam and their ability to detect very small and slow targets even in cluttered environments. The Blighter radar’s low-power FMCW electronic signature is also compatible with other airport communications and navigation equipment.

“Our radar’s eagle-eye view can look over the top of obstructions and uneven ground giving it a continuous, unobstructed view of critical perimeter areas,” added Mark Radford. “This is a major advantage over traditional surface mounted radars which suffer substantial blockage from local buildings, infrastructure and airport vehicles including aircraft.”

For more information about the Blighter range of advanced radars, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

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

Mark Radford (Director – Blighter Group) with a Blighter B400 Series E-scan Radar
Heathrow Airport^*

^* This image is © BAA Airports Limited. The image is rights-managed and licensed for single use to accompany this Plextek news release, May/June 2012. Once downloaded, the image must not be stored, redistributed or used for any other purpose. Contact: BAA Aviation Photo Library

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About BAA (www.baa.com)

BAA is a leading airport operator. Its two London airports, Heathrow and Stansted, have helped to make London one of the world’s best connected cities and Heathrow is Europe’s hub airport of choice. This is vital to the UK’s economic success, through the growth of high-value trade in manufacturing and services. In Scotland we have transformed connections to all the major cities, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow. And in Southampton we have developed a very successful regional airport. Our UK airports have been the catalyst for the growth of Europe’s most dynamic low-cost aviation industry.

About Touchstone Electronics

Touchstone Electronics is one of the UK’s leading providers of fully integrated electronic security & communications systems. The company has more than thirty years’ experience of designing, supplying, installing and servicing highly complex security and data systems within demanding operational environments. Touchstone has a particularly strong presence in the airport sector with solutions installed at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Cardiff airports.

About Plextek and Blighter (www.blighter.com)

Blighter is a family of advanced ground surveillance radars developed by Plextek, a leading British design house and technology innovator. Blighter radars combine Plextek’s patented solid state electronic-scanning technology with advanced FMCW and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. Prime contractors and systems integrators can combine the radars with long-range cameras, thermal imagers and other sensors to provide wide-area, 24-hour, all-weather rapid detection and identification of potential security threats over land or water.

Blighter radars are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, coastal surveillance, and in defence applications. First developed in 2003, the Blighter radars provide an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership and are designed for use in extreme weather conditions and in the most difficult terrain. Plextek is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England. Blighter products are designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Media contacts:

Martin Brooke (for Blighter)
Martin Brooke Associates
Tel: +44 1223 882174
Email: Martin Brooke

• Nuriplan to leverage its expertise across government, commercial and military markets to support the sale of Blighter’s advanced radar technology into this region
• Plextek’s advanced Blighter electronic-scanning FMCW Doppler ground surveillance radars and track record in South Korea with border surveillance installation were factors in agreement

CAMBRIDGE, UK, February 24, 2012 – Plextek Ltd, the design house behind the market-leading Blighter® (www.blighter.com) electronic-scanning ground surveillance radar system, announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Korean firm Nuriplan Co. Ltd, for the supply of Blighter radars into the South Korean market.

The agreement provides Plextek with a supply channel for its radar systems into the diverse Korean market. Nuriplan, a KOSDAQ listed company, will leverage its expertise across government, commercial and military markets to support the sale of Blighter’s advanced technology into this region. This will include local manufacturing of the radars, training and technical support for customers, and localisation of the radar software.

At the signing ceremony hosted by the British Embassy in Seoul, Sang Woo Lee, chairman of Nuriplan, said: “We are excited to be working in partnership with Plextek to introduce their maintenance-free Blighter radars into the South Korean domestic market. We believe that Plextek’s ground surveillance radars – which have been proven to be highly effective in local border surveillance applications in mountainous terrain and in extreme weather conditions – have great sales potential in South Korea.”

Blighter radars are already operational in South Korea and for over a year have been providing failure-free border surveillance in what is considered one of the world’s most mountainous countries with environmental extremes of -30ºC in winter and a humid +40ºC in summer.

In this existing installation, the Blighter radar systems provide a persistent surveillance capability to search for illegal immigrants and allow border patrol agents to precisely intercept them. The Blighter radars keep working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, monitoring borders for any human, vehicle or low-flying aircraft incursions.

Plextek meet the Board and Blighter support team at Nuriplan Mark Radford, director of Blighter solutions at Plextek, said: “We have had great success in selling the Blighter radar to customers in ten countries – including this strategic border surveillance installation in South Korea, as well as to our own British Army, and to international airports and other government, defence and commercial organisations. After pursuing the South Korean market for over seven years, we are delighted to form this strong partnership with Nuriplan for the long term supply of Blighter radars and associated technology into South Korea to enhance the country’s homeland security.”

Blighter is a family of advanced electronic-scanning FMCW Doppler ground surveillance radars. These radars can be integrated with cameras and other sensors to provide prime contractors and systems integrators with effective, long and medium range, wide-area, 24-hour, all-weather rapid detection of potential security threats over land or water. Blighter radars provide an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership.

For more information about the Blighter range of advanced radars, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

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

Simon Cassia COO of Plextek exchanges MOU with Chairman SW Lee of Nuriplan
Plextek meet the Board and Blighter support team at Nuriplan

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About Plextek and Blighter (www.blighter.com)

Blighter is a family of advanced ground surveillance radars developed by Plextek, a leading British design house and technology innovator. Blighter radars combine Plextek’s patented solid state electronic-scanning technology with advanced FMCW and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability. Prime contractors and systems integrators can combine the radars with long-range cameras, thermal imagers and other sensors to provide wide-area, 24-hour, all-weather rapid detection and identification of potential security threats over land or water.

Blighter radars are used worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets in area and asset protection for national border security, homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, coastal surveillance, and in defence applications. First developed in 2003, the Blighter radars provide an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership and are designed for use in extreme weather conditions and in the most difficult terrain. Plextek is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England. Blighter products are designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Media contacts:

Martin Brooke (for Blighter)
Martin Brooke Associates
Tel: +44 1223 882174
Email: Martin Brooke

• Scanning 100km² of land, in just 1.5 seconds

Blighter B303 Ground Surveillance Radar on WASP Trailer Plextek, the leading Cambridge design house and technology innovator, has released its new Blighter B303 radar system. Based on the field proven Blighter B202 radars, the B303 offers 180° of electronic scanning (e-scan) in a compact 20 kg pole or mast mounting unit with a detection range out to 8 km. The B303 can scan 100 km² of land, in just 1.5 seconds, making it ideal for mobile and fixed area, border and perimeter surveillance applications. Two Blighter B303 units can also be mounted back-to-back to provide a complete dual-scanning 360° solution for site perimeter protection applications.

The Blighter B303 radar system is currently being used by Meridian Defence and Security Ltd on their G-WASP (Ground Wide Area Security Platform) to create a comprehensive trailer mounted multi-sensor surveillance system. The G-WASP system includes the Blighter B303 radar for rapid intruder detection and a long-range Electro-Optic system for target identification purposes. A comprehensive Command and Control system integrates the sensors into an intuitive border surveillance platform. The G-WASP platforms can be interconnected over secure wireless radio links to provide a continuous border surveillance capability.

All Blighter radars use electronic-scanning technology to achieve exceptionally slow speed target detection even in cluttered environments, whilst scanning at high speeds. The Blighter B303 radar uses Plextek’s patented low-cost printed antenna technology to electronically scan a full 180°, equivalent to 100 km² of land, in just 1.5 seconds. Blighter’s electronic scanning system forms precise beams both on transmit and receive, allowing it to ignore and reject targets and clutter that trouble older staring array radars. The B303 radar maintains the exceptionally wide elevation beam width of 20° offered by the B202 product. This feature allows the radar to operate in regions with complex hilly terrain and detect hill-top and valley hugging targets with a single scan. The B303 radar offers a range of software selectable radar modes to optimise the radar for different applications and terrain.

Mark Radford, Director of Security Products at Plextek commented: “The development of the Blighter B303 radar is testament to the success of our existing Blighter B202 Mk 2 portable radar system and Blighter B400 series long-range radars. It extends the capability and cost effectiveness of the Blighter electronic-scanning radar family for short-to-medium range ground surveillance applications, making the Blighter B303 radar the most effective product in its class and price range.”

Mark Hussey of Meridian commented: “The new Blighter B303 radar has been the perfect match to our lightweight trailer mounted surveillance system. The B303 radar is compact and robust making it ideal to use as the prime sensor on our WASP system. We have already received considerable attention from defence users in Europe and the USA and anticipate significant orders in the coming months.”

The Blighter B303 radar will be on display at the Plextek stand S3-495 at DSEI, 13th to 16th Sept. 2011 and also on the Team G-WASP stand (S6-190).

• Educating students on the latest in battlefield surveillance and security technology

Plextek Works with MoDPlextek has supported the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Intermediate Command & Staff Course (Land) (ICSC(L)) on its annual NIGHT OWL exercise at the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC). The event, which featured Plextek’s Blighter radar technology, took place over two nights from the 9-10 of November and guided students through hands on experience of the latest in surveillance and security technology.

Plextek has supported the event for three years now and has worked closely with ICSC(L) and Defence Academy staff to ensure students experience the latest in battlefield surveillance technology.

Plextek’s Jonathon Pittock, Blighter Field Applications Engineer, attended the event and said, “We are proud to continue our support in educating JSCSC students on the latest in battlefield technology. Modern radar systems now offer integration with a wide range of other sensors and can be remotely managed and the best way to experience this is through the hands-on experience that the NIGHT OWL exercise brings.”

“We are very grateful for Plextek’s continued support on this exercise,” said Major Gareth Davies, the ICSC(L) Directing Staff responsible for Ex NIGHT OWL. “It’s essential for students to see the very best in equipment capability and develop a good understanding of its capabilities and potential – working with Plextek makes this possible.”

Plextek’s Blighter radar systems continue to prove themselves a valuable asset within Defence, Force Protection and Homeland Security environments. Blighter is now used in the UK, France, Poland and the Czech Republic in Europe; the Middle East including Saudi Arabia; Asia Pacific including South Korea and Australia as well as North America. Earlier this year Plextek launched Blighter MultiWatch, a persistent wide-area surveillance system that allows up to six radars to be networked together to monitor up to 300 sq km of land.

Plextek, the Cambridge-based electronics and communications design consultancy today launched Blighter MultiWatch a persistent wide-area surveillance system using its successful patented Blighter radar that allows up to six radars to be networked together to monitor up to 300 sq km of land.

Blighter MultiWatch is ideal for camp security, border security and key asset protection. It is able to monitor large areas, including complex rocky or mountainous terrain, as well as flat or dune covered desert. The radars can be set up in a circular configuration to provide wide-area surveillance around a camp or site of critical infrastructure or they can also be used as a line of sensors to provide a ‘virtual fence’ at troublesome border spots or along a line of control. Once the threat has passed, the whole MultiWatch system can easily and quickly be dismantled and transported to another area.

Using a self-forming and self-healing wireless mesh network, the system is man-portable and can be set up from backpacks for rapid deployment. The radars are connected back to the BlighterView HMI control station through a number of Wireless Repeater Nodes. The Blighter radars and Wireless Repeater Nodes can be battery powered and/or solar powered for minimal maintenance. The Blighter radar’s Vortex Fast-Scan technology allows all the radars to scan simultaneously with a one second update ensuring that all targets are tracked reliably.

“Blighter MultiWatch provides a cost effective and highly efficient way to monitor a wide area,” said Mark Radford, Director of Security Products at Plextek. “Blighter radars are already being successfully used across the globe to monitor and detect threats, and the addition of Blighter MultiWatch will provide a new level of security for camps, international borders and control lines allowing them to cover much more ground and intercept threats at the earliest possibly opportunity.”

Plextek, the Cambridge-based electronics and communications design consultancy today announced that its Blighter radar is helping to detect and track illegal immigrants trying to enter the USA across the hills on the Mexican Border. Frustrated by the current intruder interception rate in their local area, a group of ranch owners have developed their own state-of-the-art multi-sensor surveillance systems, utilising the Blighter radar, to protect their land and help the enforcement organisations intercept and apprehend the immigrants.

The Blighter radar system detects humans walking over the rocky, hilly landscape that defines a substantial part of the USA/Mexico border. The Blighter electronic-scanning Doppler Ground Surveillance Radar is uniquely able to detect humans in this complex landscape. The combination of advanced Doppler movement filtering combined with fast electronic-scanning allows the Blighter radar to ignore the rocky landscape yet still detect humans walking slowly through the hills at ranges up to 4km.

The Blighter radar’s tall beam allows it to be sited on the hill tops, surveying the whole area with an eagle-eye view. In a single sweep both the hill crests as well as the valleys/canyons are simultaneously scanned whilst still being able to see objects as close as 20 metres away. Any movement detected by the Blighter radar is clearly displayed by coloured markers on a map of the local area. The display can provide additional information about each target including its precise location, size and speed. Zones can be easily defined within the map, which generate audible alerts when an intruder enters or crosses the zone. Zones can also be defined to exclude or ignore areas of known traffic. An optional target tracker called BlighterTrack allows the operators to see the path travelled by the intruders and at the same time filters out unwanted radar detections from wildlife and wind-blown vegetation.

One of the ranch owners commented: “Of all the surveillance equipment we use here the Blighter radar has proven itself to be the most solid, reliable performer of all. It simply never falters. We regularly experience early morning coastal fog that renders our IR cameras useless. The radar then becomes the primary asset at our disposal. In conjunction with the recently added BlighterTrack software, the targets presented are nearly always verifiable illegals. We have reported many groups of aliens based on Blighter’s alarms alone with which the Border Patrol has made apprehensions. With the radar’s feature set we can also apply settings which pretty much rule out all false targets.”

The complete surveillance system is comprised of the Blighter radar, high performance day/night cameras, acoustic listening and warning system, unattended Ground Sensors and an advanced wireless communication system. All this equipment is remote from a mains power supply and is therefore totally reliant on solar power. The Blighter radar features advanced power saving technology so that maximum operational time is achieved even during the winter months.

The complete Radar system including all power monitoring and control can be remotely accessed over the Internet allowing the operators to control and monitor the system from the comfort and safety of their homes. So far this year the system, operating on an ‘as required’ basis over several kilometres of the border line, has been responsible for detecting hundreds of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the ranchers’ properties.

Plextek will be demonstrating its Blighter radars at ASIS 2009, September 21-24, Anaheim, CA, US on stand 963.