HGH Infrared Systems Demonstrates Spynel-S

This past week in California, HGH Infrared Systems participated in the Offshore Platform Security Threat Awareness and Response (OPSTAR) program, developed and conducted by the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare, and designed to explore the homeland security, homeland defense, emergency response and emergency management issues presented by security threats to offshore oil and gas platforms. The program explored specialized capabilities available to support security response, equipment and tactics requirements to enable effective operations as well as technologies capable of providing early warning, threat characterization and providing for enhanced maritime domain awareness.

During the exercise, HGH’s Spynel-S, an real-time panoramic thermal imaging system with automatic detection and tracking capabilities, was featured as a key asset for threat identification and general maritime domain awareness.

The tactical exercise provided an opportunity for a full mission profile of a tactical response and assault by the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and other Federal, State and local agencies demonstrating quick responses to the impending threat. The improvised takeover in a maritime setting was an ideal environment to display the capabilities of the Spynel-S which could successfully detect various large and small surface and air targets. Spynel-S is highly effective when tracking small boats, RHIBs, and swimmers with its high resolution panoramic image. Unlike radars, the Spynel-S is a fully passive and undetectable imaging system that is also compact for an easy and quick deployment.

With the rise of domestic offshore oil and gas production, especially in the last three years where production increased by 18%, offshore platforms are becoming a primary national security interest. HGH’s Spynel imaging systems offer cost-effective and reliable surveillance against asymmetric threats through its advanced tracking and detecting algorithms. The Spynel systems have been installed and proven for over 7 years in various harsh environments all over the world, for coastal and maritime applications. HGH Infrared Systems looks forward to continuing their collaboration with the Center for Asymmetric Warfare through future field experimentations.