Sole Source Contract for EO Cameras for TARS Missions

At the Border Security Expo in San Antonio, TX, this week, Maryland-headquartered Fraser Optics is celebrating the recent award of a sole-source, fixed-price contract to deliver electro-optic cameras to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Fraser cameras will be integrated onto the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS).

CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) uses TARS to provide long-range detection of low-altitude aircraft at the radar’s maximum range. The elevated sensor mitigates curvature of the earth and terrain masking limitations, providing an ability to detect and track a majority of suspicious air traffic, including ultralight and short landing aircraft threats, along the southwest border. AMO also employs this unique TARS capability to interdict transnational criminal organisations engaged in illicit smuggling of narcotics and people.

“TARS is a strategic platform to deploy cost-effective surveillance technologies to confront security challenges at critical border areas – Fraser is a proven partner in delivering needed technology for our mission,” Rob Brown, AMO TARS Programme Manager stated. With 1,800 agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft and 300 vessels, AMO uses cutting edge technologies to detect, sort, intercept, track and apprehend criminals in diverse environments at and beyond US borders.

Fraser Optics has over 40 years’ experience in design and manufacture of stabilised optical technology products for defence, homeland security, law enforcement and commercial markets. Current US government customers include the Departments of Defense, Justice, Interior and Homeland Security.