DRS Technologies, Inc., announced the addition of a new, ultra-low cost high-performance infrared surveillance and security system to its growing line of electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) products for military, commercial and homeland security applications in September.
The Jalapeno LR+ provides colour day video and 640×480 cooled thermal imaging on a pan and tilt for applications requiring long-range yet affordable surveillance. The Jalapeno LR+ can detect targets at distances of up to 7 km. Priced at the level of other manufacturers’ shorter range models, it generates images of unparalleled quality and resolution with continuous zoom optics in both the colour and thermal channels.
Whether it’s in a fixed location, on a moveable mast or mounted on a vehicle for mobile use, the Jalapeno LR+ delivers unparalleled performance for applications such as force protection, border security, airport and base security, coastline patrol, and guarding of vulnerable critical infrastructure such as power plants. The system provides excellent situational awareness, allowing users to detect, evaluate and track threats from safe distances.
The Jalapeno LR+ is the first production system to use DRS’s revolutionary high operating temperature, small pixel HotIR™ technology. The HotIR technology, which senses in the 3µm-5µm band, is the culmination of 5 years of research and development. The cooled technology allows significantly elevated operating temperature of the HotIR sensor reducing size and power required for the cooling of the sensor and employs industry-leading small pixel size to achieve its low cost, small size, light weight, ultra-low power and high reliability. The combination is a feat previously unachievable in cooled thermal imaging systems. This technology is a key enabler to a new generation of products emerging by DRS which leapfrog other systems available today. Furthermore, DRS packages the 640×480 HotIR thermal sensor in a ultra-compact package using patented high-reliability cooling which is optimized for the HotIR sensor and has demonstrated a reliability of 30,000 operating hours. This reliability advantage generates tremendous logistical cost savings for applications requiring around-the-clock security and surveillance needs.
“The Jalapeno LR+ provides the opportunity for security and surveillance users requiring long range with an affordable solution in which they no longer have to compromise on performance and reliability,” said Terry Murphy, president of DRS Technologies’ Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Acquisition (RSTA) business group, the segment responsible for the company’s EO/IR products. “These technologies have already proven themselves in the harshest environments of all. We’re very proud to be putting them in the hands of new users who would once have considered them beyond their reach.”
DRS also offers additional surveillance products including the low cost, uncooled Jalapeno long-wave system, which delivers high-quality infrared imaging at distances of up to 3 km.
Murphy said that DRS’s EO/IR surveillance line will continue to expand with deployment of other HotIR solutions which address customers’ needs and budgetary constraints. “We’re in an ideal position to tailor our capabilities to customers’ requirements and to do so quickly.”
Whatever the configuration, he added, DRS’s surveillance products are backed by complete life-cycle service support, including prompt and dependable on-site repairs. “To us, every mission is critical, and every DRS customer deserves 24×7 coverage. If we can support soldiers in theaters halfway around the world, we can support anyone anywhere. Service is, in fact, a key differentiator for our company.”