HAVELSAN plays a Critical Role in the Development of Turkey’s New Coastal Surveillance System
The Defence Industries Presidency (SSB) of Turkey recently announced that an indigenous software package has been developed for the Turkish Coast Guard’s new surveillance radar system to enhance security along the Aegean Sea coastline. Ensuring the security of the coastline along the Aegean Sea has gained special prominence in recent years, where Turkey has become one of the key transit points for refugees and migrants aiming to cross into Europe.
Prof. İsmail Demir, Head of SSB, told that the first software package of the Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS) programme has been delivered to the Turkish Coast Guard Command (TCGC). He added that the system has been developed entirely by local sources, with the two remaining software packages with additional features for the system in the pipeline.
The CSRS will be fully integrated with other public services, offering uninterrupted surveillance along the coastline to enhance search-and-rescue (SAR) efforts and prevent illegal activities like human smuggling, irregular migration and violations of Turkish territorial waters, Prof. Demir stated.
The main purpose of the CSRS is to provide situational awareness with extended radar coverage for the coastal and territorial waters by creating a Recognized Maritime Picture, which is further augmented by inputs from electro-optical sensors, Public Services and/or other governmental organizations. Such a capability will clearly enable authorities to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement and SAR activities in coastal and territorial waters. Moreover, the system has the potential to contribute to ecological endeavors by making the fight against maritime pollution and illegal fishing more effective.
The CSRS’ software components have been developed by HAVELSAN, Turkey’s prominent defence and technology house, and an established global player offering new generation, end-to-end technologies with 38 years of experience in the fields of defence, simulation, information and communication technology, as well as homeland security and cyber security.
The global rise in transnational threats is increasing the importance of the next generation of border/coastal surveillance technologies and of augmented reality and data analytics to further enhance those capabilities. The sector is thus gaining momentum rapidly in terms of integrated technologies as a result of investments worldwide. The increase in transnational incidents, criminal activities and border disputes threaten not only countries individually and their bilateral relations but also global peace and security. Coastal areas are among the primary lines of defence for authorities in the protection of the public and critical infrastructure.
