GREENLAWN, N.Y., 11 Sept. 2009. BAE Systems has developed and delivered the first airborne persistent surveillance system to the U.S. Army, addressing a need for continuous, wide-area, day-or-night situational awareness in demanding environments and mil apps.

The Airborne Wide Area Persistent Surveillance Sensor, or AWAPSS, increases mission effectiveness and survivability by helping to expose the actions and behaviors of enemy vehicles, soldiers, and other asymmetric threats.

"AWAPSS is an adaptation of BAE Systems' unique reconnaissance technology," said Howard Weinstein, the company's AWAPSS program director. "It's a compact, lightweight, high-performance system that will play a vital part in saving the lives of our troops."

The system design integrates matched, high-resolution, visible electro-optic and infrared imaging subsystems into a stabilized turret that can continuously record details of activities on the ground. AWAPSS greatly increases the coverage area of current airborne surveillance systems and extends the monitoring capability to complete day and night coverage.

BAE Systems began developing AWAPSS last year under a $23.8 million contract for two complete systems and two spare sensors.