Officials at the U.S. Army Joint Precision Strike Demonstration (JPSD) at Camp Roberts, Calif., needed a high-speed infrared imaging system with a wide range to fly on their Altus unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The RISTA II advanced passive infrared airborne imaging system from the Northrop Grumman Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector in Linthicum, Md., met their needs.
"The results achieved during the two weeks exceeded my expectations," says Terry Jones, sensors director for JPSD and RISTA II project leader. "The unique features of RISTA II - its ability to quickly provide high-resolution thermal imagery over large areas and screen the imagery for an operator with an aided target recognizer - were demonstrated on the UAV. During our flights on Altus, we were able to cover more than 50 square kilometers per minute."
RISTA II - reconnaissance, infrared surveillance, and target acquisition - uses infrared focal-plane-arrays to detect, identify, and track threats. The device tracks troop or equipment movement, conducts battle damage assessment, as well as performs drug interdiction, border surveillance, and other non-military operations.
During the Camp Roberts operation, RISTA II located and recorded targets such as vehicles, dams, airfields, trains, bridges, boats, and weapons. The device also performed in smoky conditions by detecting and collecting imagery of wildfires in California, Northrop officials claim. - J.M.
For more information on the RISTA II contact Jack Martin by phone at 410-765-4441, by fax at 410-993-2394, by mail at Electronic Sensors and Systems 1580-A West Nursery Road, Linthicum, Md. 21290, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.northrop-grumman.com.
