Wide Area Surveillance Sensors Prove Value on Battlefields
By Stew Magnuson NDIA
Heidi Breslow, a retired Marine Corps corporal and battlefield intelligence analyst, described how she would use unmanned aerial vehicles coupled with the latest wide area airborne surveillance sensors to help protect ground troops.
When Marines were transported by helicopter to conduct an operation the wide-angle camera provided a broad view of the area. Specialists such as herself watching the scene from a command center could search the surroundings for ambushes or any other dangers and alert the Marines on the ground.
If she did spot something suspicious, an unmanned aerial vehicle with a higher resolution camera could be flown in to take a closer look.
“Having both sensors at the same time is always better because you have that constant perimeter outlook,” she said in an interview.