• Blighter Revolution 360 addresses growing requirement for low-cost and lightweight vehicle-mobile radar surveillance for defence and security applications
• Long-life maintenance free cable-drive azimuth positioner allows full 360-degree scan & pan surveillance in just 12.5 seconds
• Blighter Surveillance Systems to exhibit Blighter radars at Milipol Paris, Paris Nord Villepinte, 19-22 November (Stand 5T-061)

Cambridge, UK, November 14, 2013 – Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), a British electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider, today announced Blighter® Revolution 360, a mobile e-scan radar designed to address the growing need for low-cost and lightweight vehicle-mobile radar surveillance systems within the military market and in commercial and state security applications.

Consuming less than 100 Watts of power and with a 38 kg mast payload, the novel system detects small and slow moving targets – even in cluttered environments – due to the radar’s coactive Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) Doppler fast-scan processing. The radar can detect a walking person at 7.4 km (4.6 miles) or a large moving vehicle at 22 km (13.7 miles).

Blighter Revolution 360 system is deployable on vehicle or trailer masts and uses a specially-designed maintenance-free cable drive azimuth positioner to provide 360-degree surveillance capability with a single Blighter B402 radar unit. Operating in Vortex fast-scan mode, Blighter Revolution 360 can achieve full 360-degree ‘scan & pan’ surveillance in just 20 seconds.

With its wide 20-degree continuous elevation beam coverage – which can be increased to 40-degrees via an optional motorised tilt option – Blighter Revolution 360 is particularly well suited for mobile deployment in hilly or mountainous areas, such as where a surveillance vehicle is high on a mountain top or deep in a valley.

Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “With Blighter Revolution 360 we are now able to offer all the benefits of our best value long-range B400 series radar in a format that is attractive to the price and weight conscious mobile surveillance market.”

Blighter Revolution 360 uniquely revolves around its mast – hence the name – and this allows it to sit beneath an integrated electro-optic camera system.

“This is a big advantage in this market as many customers will want to slew a thermal camera system to track intrusions and allow fast identification of any possible threat,” added Mark Radford. “Our system features a non-rotational central post for mast-top camera mounting and our BlighterView HMI 2 software platform is designed to integrate with a wide range of third party camera systems to make this a straightforward process.”

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 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 Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

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

Blighter Revolution 360 Ground Surveillance Radar with Long Range Camera System

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

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

• B400 series electronic-scanning radars proven effective in extreme weather conditions and mountainous terrains

Cambridge, UK, October 9, 2013 – Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), a British electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider, has won a contract to supply the South Korean Armed Forces with its Blighter B400 series electronic-scanning radars. The value of the contract has not been disclosed.

The Blighter long-range ground surveillance radars will be deployed to monitor the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), a buffer zone which runs 250 km across the Korean peninsula and separates North and South Korea.

Blighter radars have been operational in South Korea for some years providing a persistent surveillance capability along the DMZ in what is considered one of the world’s most mountainous countries with environmental extremes of -30 ºC in winter and a humid +40 ºC in summer. The Blighter radars work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, monitoring the 4 km-wide DMZ for any human, vehicle or low-flying aircraft incursions.

Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “We are delighted to have secured further business for this strategic border surveillance project. Our long-term relationship with the Koreans goes back some 8 years to when we first demonstrated our radar in the country.

“This contract for additional B400 radars clearly shows that our technology is effective in extreme weather conditions and in rocky terrain. The customer has also seen that the radars really do remain operational without any routine maintenance.”

Blighter radars are particularly well suited to border security applications due to their long-range detection capability (10 m to 2 km in steps up to 32 km), 20º wide elevation beam and their ability to detect very small and slow targets even in cluttered environments.

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.

“Our radars are now deployed in more than 15 countries worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets,” added Mark Radford. “The radars are used at Heathrow and other international airports, by the British Army for force protection, and in numerous border security and asset protection applications.”

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 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 Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

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 radars are now deployed in more than 15 countries worldwide and it’s the only e-scan radar to offer coactive FMCW Doppler fast-scan capability, a major advantage for heavily cluttered environments
• Blighter Surveillance Systems will be demonstrating its electronic-scanning radar and sensor solutions on stand S4-144 in the UK Pavilion at DSEI, the world’s largest defence and security exhibition, 10-13 September 2013 at ExCeL, London

Cambridge, UK, September 10, 2013 – Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), an electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the launch of its pioneering Blighter® ground surveillance radar (GSR) at DSEI, the world’s largest defence and security exhibition. The Blighter radar was first demonstrated at the DSEI event in 2003 and it is still going strong today.

The Blighter radar was the first commercial electronic-scanning GSR on the market and its modular solid state design – uniquely low power due to the patented passive electronic scanning array (PESA) technology – continues to give Blighter the edge over other e-scan radars.

Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “We were aware back in 2003 of traditional military ground surveillance radars and thought we could produce something smaller, cheaper and with better performance to penetrate commercial markets that simply could not afford traditional radars.

“Ten years at the frontier of security and our Blighter radars are now deployed in more than 15 countries worldwide in commercial, government and defence markets. Our radars are used at Heathrow and other international airports, by the British Army for force protection, and in numerous area and asset protection applications. The technology choices we made back then about e-scan and Doppler were right and the radar’s modular architecture and its scalability and extensibility has proved to be a great success.”

Blighter PESA radars are all-in-one integrated units comprising antennas, signal processing, plot extractor, GPS and compass. The radar units 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.

“We believe we have the best value e-scanning solution on the market and our experienced design team continue to improve Blighter with new innovations,” added Mark Radford. “For example, Blighter’s the only e-scan radar to offer coactive FMCW Doppler fast-scan capability, a major advantage for heavily cluttered environments.”

Looking forward to the next decade, Blighter says it is focusing its design efforts to address mobile radar applications such as VIP protection and will be looking to reduce the price and weight of systems to address this sector. Furthermore, the company will continue to develop its integrated multi-sensor toolkit for systems integrators and has plans to enhance its B400 radar with static target detection to improve its littoral surveillance capability.

“We will be showcasing at DSEI our Blighter Revolution 360 product, developed in conjunction with Chess Dynamics,” added Mark Radford. “We will also be demonstrating our VIP protection system at the show. This consists of an integrated Blighter B202 Mk 2 portable radar working with Liteye System’s Aquila PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) thermal imaging surveillance system.”

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 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 Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

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

Blighter Celebrates 10th Anniversary at DSEI

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

Nick Booth (on booth at DSEI)
Blighter Surveillance Systems
Tel: +44 1223 491122
Email: Nick Booth

Cambridge, UK, June 12, 2013 – Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), an electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider, has supplied a number of its Blighter B400 long-range ground surveillance radars to Siemens (www.siemens.com) for installation at a national infrastructure site in Europe.

Siemens needed a field-proven electronic-scanning radar to monitor the perimeter of a strategic infrastructure site. It was important that the solution selected was maintenance free and offered 24-hour all-weather capability, very low false-alarm rates, the ability to detect vehicles and people including crawlers out to 7km, and cause minimal disruption to the site during installation.

Siemens selected the Blighter B400 series radars, which combine patented solid-state Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing, to deliver a robust persistent-surveillance capability.

Milan Ceeh, head of Siemens’ Fire Safety and Security business unit in the Czech Republic, said: “We opted for the technically superior Blighter radars after careful consideration, analysis and field trials. The Blighter radars met all our requirements. The long-range detection capability and wide elevation beam enabled the radars to be remotely mounted on existing infrastructure at the site thus avoiding the cost and disruption of digging up surfaces to lay cables.”

The Blighter radars have now been installed at the location transmitting information (target latitude/longitude co-ordinates, range and bearing) over a TCP/IP network to a control room where they provide security staff with a map-based display of activity within the perimeter of the site. “Already the radars are proving successful,” added Milan Ceeh. “Within weeks of installation an intruder was detected by the radars, identified using the existing PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) security cameras and apprehended by security staff after illegally crossing the perimeter.”

Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems, said: “We are delighted to be supplying our radars to Siemens for this strategic infrastructure site. Our solid state low power PESA radars – already in use in over 12 countries – are able to detect very small and slow moving targets in extremely cluttered environments which results in improved detection capabilities and reduced false alarm rates.”

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 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 Surveillance Systems, please visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 1223 491122 or email.

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

Blighter B402-SP E-scan Radar with W20S Antennas

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About Siemens (www.siemens.com)

Siemens, s.r.o. belongs among the largest electrical engineering companies in the Czech Republic. For 122 years, Siemens has been an integral part of the Czech industry and a guarantor of modern and innovative technologies. It creates over 10,500 jobs, which makes it one of the largest employers in the Czech Republic. It supplies its technologies, products and services to customers from private and public sectors in the fields of energy, healthcare, industrial and public infrastructure and information technology. In the fiscal year 2012, the companies of the Siemens Czech Republic Group posted revenues of CZK 32.5 billion. With the volume of exports which amounted to CZK 21.5 billion, Siemens is one of the largest exporters in the Czech Republic.

The Siemens Czech Republic Group is part of a global powerhouse Siemens AG. For over 165 years, it has been a synonym for state-of-the-art technologies, innovation, quality, reliability and international operations in the fields of industry, energy, healthcare and infrastructural solutions for cities and their surroundings. Siemens AG is the largest provider of eco-friendly technologies, which generate 40% of its total revenues. In the fiscal year 2012, revenue from continuing operations totalled € 78.3 billion and net income from continuing operations € 5.2 billion. At the end of September 2012, Siemens had around 370,000 employees worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. For more information visit: www.siemens.cz or www.siemens.com.

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

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

• Centennial Airport to install new surveillance system that combines Liteye and Blighter systems to enhance facility security

Centennial, Colorado, May 20th, 2013 – Centennial Airport, (Centennial, Colorado, USA), announced today that it will be deploying a new facility security system that combines the Aquila thermal pan & tilt camera system, from Liteye Systems Inc., (Centennial, Colorado, USA), and the Blighter B400 series electronic -scanning ground radar system from Blighter Surveillance Systems, (Cambridge, UK), to deliver a fortress-like ring of security over their facility.

The combination of the two systems will utilize the radar to scan and detect moving vehicles, persons, (Including “Crawlers”), and wildlife over a wide area, slewing the thermal camera system to track those intrusions and allow fast identification of any possible threat or safety issue.

“After seeing firsthand the capabilities of these two systems, I knew they would be valuable to the security of our airport,” said Robert Olislagers, director of Centennial Airport. “We like the Liteye/Blighter system and when installed it will greatly enhance our security ability at the airport for years to come.”

Tom Scott, president of Liteye, said: “We are delighted to be installing our security solution at one of the busiest modern general aviation airports in the world. Centennial Airport is growing and our systems will help ensure the security and safety of all those businesses that call it home.”

The combination surveillance system consists of two systems working together — Liteye’s high-performance, rugged, multi-sensor thermal camera system designed for day-night operations in the harshest weather, and Blighter Surveillance Systems’ electronic scanning, advanced frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing radar that features 24-hour, all weather capability, virtually maintenance free.

Mark Radford, CEO of Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com), said: “Blighter and Liteye together provide a compelling and cost-effective solution for airport security as operators seek to prevent perimeter incursions as well as effectively monitoring movement between different security zones. We are delighted to see yet another busy international airport adopting our solution following the recent success at Heathrow Airport.”

The Aquila system from Liteye consist of 3 cameras; a high resolution thermal imager with zoom, a daylight visible camera with zoom, and a daylight/low-light wide field-of- view situational awareness camera, all packaged in a rugged 360° continuous rotation pan & tilt housing.

The Blighter B400 series radar features modular scanning from 90° to 360° in a single radar. This fully electronic scanning, or E-scan technology, is unsurpassed in ground clutter suppression with low false alarm rate. The radar’s ultra-slow movement detection is made possible using Blighter’s patented low power Passive Electronic Scanning Array (PESA) technology. The BlighterView HMI sensor and control software allows easy integration of multiple sensors into a control panel and links seamlessly to existing security systems, including site-wide physical security information management (PSIM) software packages.

The new surveillance system will be installed and operational in early 2014.

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

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

Liteye Aquila Camera and Blighter B402 Radar

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About Centennial Airport (www.centennialairport.com)

Centennial Airport is owned and operated by the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, a political subdivision of the State of Colorado. The Airport is conveniently located in the center of The Denver Tech Center, surrounded by 23 individual business parks, and only 13 miles from downtown Denver. The airport opened on May 13, 1967 and has grown steadily since that time to become the 3rd busiest General Aviation airport and among the top 25 busiest of all types of airports. Centennial Airport is an international facility with 24 hour US Customs, and a 24/7 Federal Aviation Administration control tower, and all weather capability.

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.

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:

Robert Olislagers
Centennial Airport
Tel: +1 303 218 2907
Email: Robert Olislagers

Kenneth Geyer
Liteye Systems, Inc
Tel: +1 720 974 1766, ext. 155
Email: Kenneth Geyer

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

• 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.

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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