Flir Systems has received awards from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to deliver improved air and ground surveillance capabilities using advanced thermal imaging and drone technology. The awards are potentially worth more than US$23 million, including for delivery of the next-generation Flir LVSS (Lightweight Vehicle Surveillance System) for CBP’s Mobile Surveillance Capability (MSC) program and delivery of SkyRaider drone tether kits, StormCaster-T sensor payloads, and other technology for CBP’s Low Altitude Autonomous Safety and Situational Awareness for Officers (LASO) programme. The LASO contract has a base value of US$545,000 and was awarded from a competitive General Solicitation under authority of the Department of Homeland Security’s Commercial Solutions Opening Pilot Program.
The MSC order is for 19 new LVSS systems that will be deployed on the southwest and northern US borders. Following delivery, CBP will have a total of 27 LVSS units deployed, fitted with TacFLIR 380-HD cameras and R20SS radar. In November 2020, the company delivered a capability upgrade to CBP’s current fleet of R80D SkyRaider UAS, including tether kits and StormCaster-T thermal payloads.
“Whether on the ground or in the air, Flir world-class imaging and drone-based technologies give the men and women of US Customs and Border Protection nimble, rugged and reliable surveillance solutions for the toughest of environments,” said Roger Wells, VP and general manager of the Unmanned Systems and Integrated Solutions business at Flir. “The expanded LVSS deployments and airborne sensor enhancements will deliver tangible benefits for these two programmes. We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with CBP and honoured that agents who serve on our nation’s borders are using Flir technology to augment their efforts.”
