Logos Technologies wins Kestrel surveillance system contract

2nd October 2012 - 17:29 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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Logos Technologies has announced that it has been awarded a contract by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to develop an additional 22 Kestrel wide-area persistent surveillance systems to support US forces in the field. The $111.8 million contract was announced on 1 October.

The Kestrel surveillance system is designed for use on a tethered blimp, to provide wide area persistent surveillance in all light conditions, providing a heightened level of security for troops, particularly at forward operating bases.

Under the contract Logos Technologies will provide 20 Kestrel systems, spare parts, and two units for testing and upgrading. The company will also provide operational, logistical and analytical support for the Kestrel system through 2013.

With its 360-degree field of view, Kestrel allows operators to simultaneously track and record multiple targets in medium-resolution over many kilometres. Kestrel can also cue full motion video (FMV) sensors for higher resolution imaging, and can be programmed for autonomous monitoring.

The system is currently employed on both the Persistent Threat Detection System and Persistence Ground Surveillance System in Afghanistan, and has applications for border patrol, counter-trafficking and other homeland security missions.

Greg Poe, CEO of Logos Technologies, said: ‘Since the first units were deployed in Afghanistan, Kestrel has saved the lives of countless warfighters by preventing improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and providing our forces with greater situational awareness. This new contract will extend that protection to more bases, and ultimately, more troops.’