Traditional approaches to border security involve physical security, electro-optical surveillance, and radar. While these methods are essential, they have drawbacks, including limited coverage, scaling challenges, and human error.
Illegal activity at borders is often aided by communications devices that emit RF signals, such as cell phones, push-to-talk radios, or even radars. Therefore, by using a network of receivers and exploiting these signals, border forces can detect, classify, and geolocate emissions. Automated, passive 24/7 RF spectrum delivers a vast amount of additional intelligence, improving situational awareness without being overtly defensive.
CRFS works with military border forces and border agencies to create passive ISR solutions capable of interconnecting land, air, and sea missions. These include vehicle, drone, and tethered drone integrations and support border agency and EW operations.
Highly sensitive RF receivers
Passive 1–1000km surveillance missions
Hostile neighbor monitoring
Land border crossing monitoring
Coastal surveillance
Port protection & smuggling
Small & wide-area sensor networks
EW integrations
RF monitoring systems detect and geolocate unauthorized and modified UAVs that may be used for surveillance, smuggling, or other illicit activities in border areas.
Pasive RF monitoring across borders spanning thousands of kilometers can provide covert intelligence on hostile aircraft or ISR drones conducting reconnaissance missions.
Closely monitoring borders gives border forces tactical advantages and strategic awareness—useful for both cross-border cooperation and countering potential threats.
Spectrum monitoring can help geolocate and monitor the movements of individuals and groups attempting to cross a border without the correct documentation.
RF monitoring technologies help identify and intercept attempts to smuggle contraband, narcotics, weapons, and human trafficking across borders.
Intrusion detection systems identify any attempts to breach border security infrastructure, such as fences, barriers, or walls.
Monitoring systems detect and alert authorities to individuals or vehicles attempting to cross both land and maritime borders without proper authorization.
Talk to an advisor about border security monitoring
An overview of contemporary radio spectrum monitoring practice and the sensor and geolocation technologies required to meet emerging challenges.
How does AoA work? How can it be applied in practice? And how can it be combined with other geolocation techniques such as time difference of arrival (TDoA)?
How a NATO partner built an air defense platform to increase national security
Read the storyHow a Southeast Asian government intelligence service secured multiple borders.
Read the storyHow a government agency secured its borders in a volatile region.
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