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NSWC Crane Successfully Tests Enhanced Surveillance System

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080508-14
Release Date: 5/8/2008 3:28:00 PM

By Jamie Wagler, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Public Affairs

CRANE, Ind. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) teamed with the Army and industry in a successful final acceptance test of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Ground-Based Operational Surveillance System (GBOSS) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., March 28.

GBOSS is an expeditionary, camera-oriented tool that provides a 24-hour day/night detection, tracking, and recording capability to disrupt insurgent emplacement and employment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Army's Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment (RAID) Product Office collaborated in the event with NSWC Crane and industry partners Next Wave Systems and Raytheon.

GBOSS provides the Marine Corps with an enhanced version of the Army's RAID system, providing greater situational awareness and target recognition with the addition of multi-sensor and radar surveillance. GBOSS consists of Commercial-Off-the Shelf (COTS) products attached to a tower and can be placed anywhere the USMC needs surveillance. The system consists of one or more computers, a portable tower, a multi-spectral sensor suite, a ground control station (GCS) and remote ground station (RGS) which displays and controls all connected GCSs, related equipment and communications.

NSWC Crane and Next Wave Systems led the development efforts for the GBOSS software, enhanced the software systems integration, integrated the software with the hardware on the existing RAID system, and assisted Raytheon with the debugging of both the hardware and software.

GBOSS includes several significant advances while leveraging much of the existing RAID system. A new RGS user interface integrates all sensor data, including electro-optic sensor pointing vectors, radar targets, and other contact information into a single display.

As a result of the successful demonstration, additional work is being evaluated to include the integration of a new suite of unmanned aerial vehicle sensors, a possible unmanned ground vehicle, and a large touch screen display.

After the demonstration, Mike Grannan, Army Technical Director for RAID said, "Super team effort by all today. Our customers were impressed; this capability is a big payoff for our Marines. Thank you for your passion and professionalism in getting the job done right, on schedule, and with impressive results."

NSWC Crane is one of the Naval Sea Systems Command's Warfare Centers. Its technical experts rapidly respond to warfighter needs with proven solutions. The focus of NSWC Crane is harnessing the power of technology for the warfighter. NSWC Crane specializes in full life cycle support in three mission focus areas: special missions, strategic missions, and electronic warfare/information operations.

For more news from Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, visit www.navy.mil/local/crane/.