Detected targets are reported via a standard Ethernet TCP/IP network connection, allowing target recognition and identification through the automatic slew-to-cue of optional cameras or thermal imagers. Accurate positional information is reported, including target lat/long co-ordinates, range and bearing. The data bandwidth required for target output and radar control is very low.

E-Scan Ground Surveillance Radar
The B400 series is BSS’s latest generation of e-scan ground surveillance radars (GSR). Blighter e-scan radars have no moving parts to wear out, maintain or replace and offer dramatic improvements in reliability over mechanically scanned radars. Blighter radars are all-in-one fully integrated units comprising antennas, signal processing, plot extractor, GPS and compass. Angular coverage is provided in modular units of 90°. Blighter radars are proven to withstand harsh environmental conditions and provide many years of maintenance free operation. The radar operates in all weather conditions and includes a built-in precipitation filter that suppresses false detections from rain or snow. Day/night 24-hour operation is fully supported.

Low-power FMCW Doppler Technology
Blighter radars incorporate a unique combination of FMCW and Doppler processing technology, ensuring unsurpassed ground clutter cancellation with the ability to detect incredibly slow movement. Radio transmission power is very low, making the radar safe for human operation and difficult to intercept (i.e. electronically covert). Power consumption is low, allowing operation from battery, vehicle or mains.

Wide Elevation Beam
In order to maximise long range detection performance, radars are typically mounted high on a tower or on top of a hill. However, when mounted in this way, the narrow vertical elevation beam of traditional radars results in the problem of ‘dead ground’ close to the radar. Blighter radars benefit from having a very wide vertical elevation beam, allowing them to detect targets in the distance as well as close-up simultaneously. In complex mountainous regions, the Blighter radar’s wide elevation beam also ensures that hill tops and valleys can be scanned simultaneously, without the need to physically tilt the radar. Over flat land and calm water, the wide beam also provides rapid detection of low flying manned and unmanned aircraft including planes, helicopters, UAVs, microlights and hang gliders.

Blighter C400 series radars are designed for coastal security applications including seaport security surveillance and water-side security of land based coastal assets, such as oil and gas installations, desalination plants, nuclear power stations, palaces and other high value assets. Additionally they can be used for river and estuary monitoring in situations where traditional bulky coastline security radars are unsuitable.

Coastal Security Radars with Doppler Processing

Blighter C400 series coastal security radars use advanced Doppler signal processing to provide the ability to precisely examine the motion of waterborne objects with respect to waves or ripples on the water surface. This allows the radar to separate targets of interest from the background water clutter so that it can detect very small targets even in cluttered environments. For example this allows an intruding kayak, RIB (rigid inflatable boat) or other small boat to be detected alongside larger ships or in ports.

Detection of Static Targets

Unlike traditional Doppler radars, Blighter is able to characterise non-moving targets so that moored boats, buoys and other structures remain visible on the radar screen. The radar’s built-in sea clutter filter (SCF) automatically adapts to changing sea states and wave conditions

Blighter C400 series coastal security radars can be used as part of a larger coastal security system including day/night and fog penetrating electro-optical camera systems, AIS (Automatic Identification System), other boat tracking systems and CCTV with control and display through the BlighterView HMI C2 (Command and Control) software application.

A400 series radars are optimised for the detection of aerial threats, which could be carrying video cameras, wireless communication systems, narcotics, explosives and other malicious payloads. A400 series radars use D3 (Digital Drone Detection) technology that enables them to extract the tiny radar reflections from modern plastic bodied UAVs even when flying close to the ground or near buildings where clutter reflections are relatively large. Blighter's Ku-band operating frequency is ideally suited to detecting the structures used to construct UAVs such as the control wires, battery pack, motor and wireless communication system.

A400 Series Air Security Radar Configuration Options

The A400 series radars are offered in three configurations. The Blighter A402 radar covers a horizontal azimuth scan sector of 90°, the Blighter A422 radar covers 180° and for 360° surveillance a dual-A422 back-to-back configuration can be used. Vertical elevation coverage is selected by use of either the W20S antennas (20° standard or 30° extended coverage) or the M10S antennas (10° standard or 15° extended coverage). An optional Blighter Radar Tiliting System (BRTS Mk 2) allows the A400 radar to provide increased volumetric air coverage combined with drone altitude indication.

Detection Performance

A400 series radars are capable of detecting DJI Phantom drones at ranges from 10 m to more than 3 km and larger drones and aircraft at ranges up to 20 km. Drone speeds ranging from hover-drift to over 400 km/h are all detected. Target tracking software and extensive zone filtering facilities allow drones to be detected while reducing false alarms from birds.

The A800 Mk 2 performs its air, ground, and sea detection functions simultaneously, allowing multimode operation with simple user setup. The A800 Mk 2 uses triple, transmit and receive, radar-beam spotlighting to focus all its energy on targets of interest. The radar ignored ground clutter and off-beam targets, giving rapid scanning of a 90° wide by 40° high cone.

A800 Mk 2 4D Multi-Mode Radar

The A800 Mk 2 inherits its core technology from Blighter’s TRL-9 (technology readiness level nine) field-proven A400 series air security radars. However, the A800 Mk 2 combines the ability to detect land and water-based objects, which of course may include the drone operator.

Countering Low, Slow and Small (LSS) Threats

The A800 Mk 2 acts as the key detect element in C-UAS (counter-unmanned aerial system) products. It is designed to counter current low, slow and small (LSS) threats caused by the mis-use of commercial ‘hobby’ drones. (Including the commonly used ‘DJI Phantom’ style quadcopters, as well as larger winged drones.) To further enhance system performance, the A800 Mk 2 features smart microDoppler target filtering with AI target classification. This reduces false alarms from wildlife and helps improve the detection of multicopter and winged drones.

Ruggedised and Secure

The A800 Mk 2’s rugged e-scan design with zero moving parts, allows it to operate in harsh conditions of high or low temp. It comes with mounting options for:
Tripods and quad-pods
Land vehicles and trailers
Fixed towers and masts

For use in critical security projects, the radar is fitted with either an optical or copper based Gigabit Ethernet interface with built-in robust data encryption. A software developer’s kit (SDK) is available for download. The SDK allows system integrators to quickly upgrade their existing wide area perimeter security and C-UAS systems. Such systems can then make full use of the A800 Mk 2 radar’s advanced long-range detection features. The A800 Mk 2 connects with the leading industry standard PSIM (physical security information management) platforms and defence C2 (command & control) systems through the BlighterNexus Hub.