Spotlight on Crane-Surveillance

This is a training area for systems that provide surveillance in the war zone. After erecting towers like this the operators inside can utilize video equipment that can zero in long range on possible enemy activity.

Here's a good example. As I got out of the vehicle to shoot video of the tower in the distance, they were watching me at the same time. Had I been the enemy, it would have been the last video I would shoot.

In the real world of war, this equipment is essential.

Patrick Daria of SAIC says, "We've gone out as far as 15 miles and we have witnessed IED's being planted into the ground. From that range, send a rapid response team out, they destroy the IED adn they destroy the threat."

Soldiers from a remote location are stationed in small air-conditioned boxes like this to operate this type of equipment to protect their brothers from the enemy. It utilizes a much smaller force than it would have in the past.

Daria continues, "As a force protection with this system we electronically survey the battle space. We can do that with four or five soldiers vice the hundreds that would be required t stand post on the wire, on the fence."

Despite the sophistication of this system, improvements are constant. We'll talk about that in our next Spotlight on Crane.