(Phys.org) -- SpotterRF has announced a special radar backpack kit designed to enhance situational awareness for soldiers on the ground. The company says its special radar is designed for warfighters as part of small expeditionary groups in austere and remote locations across the world. The company provides small and easy to use surveillance radar, the Spotter M600, for use by these soldiers. The military backpack kit announced this month is called Spotter Radar Backpack Kit (RBK).
The kit, which weighs less than 20 pounds, includes two M600C radar units, each mini-radar unit tracking a 90-degree angle, network hub, tablet, 2590 battery, tripod, cables, and backpack. Power and networking connections are via a ruggedized, waterproof Ethernet connector.
The company says training to operate the system (using a web UI setup) is not complex and may take as little as 30 minutes in the field. SpotterRF’s backpack system covers a 150-acre track, 1000 meter by 800 meters wide (If an ambush attacker comes within 150 acres, the system tracks it.) Threats can be detected regardless of weather conditions—snow, rain, fog, or sand. The onboard CPU combines imaging, tracking and discrimination.
The Spotter Radar Backpack Kit was developed in response to calls from the military to focus on protecting the soldier on the ground. This may seem too obvious, especially with army sayings such as soldiers are the service's greatest weapon. While big-ticket weapon systems, attack helicopters and special aircraft have won attention, however, product development for the soldier is a work in progress. Army leaders are seeking a greater product development focus on individual fighters.
Logan Harris, CEO for SpotterRF. noted that “Until recently, radar surveillance was only available for large force protection systems like BETSS-C or G-BOSS. Now, every warfighter can have radar. This is truly a force multiplier for small combat outposts." Situational awareness at night may collapse around the solider, he added, making it all the more valuable in coupling ground-based radar with imaging into a backpack unit as what he was referring to as a potent "force multiplier.”
The kit is being promoted as cost-effective for small force situational awareness, counter insurgency efforts and other forward operating base missions. This is in step with the service’s call to start spending on small units and direct more technology research efforts around the foot soldier.
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More information: spotterrf.com/rbk.html
