Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group

SPECIAL SECTION
In the aftermath
of the 2001 terror attacks,
United States Customs and Border Protection
developed a program called the Secure Border
Initiative, a multifaceted, multi-billion-dollar
program that ranged from policy and low-tech fencing
to high-tech surveillance systems and command, control,
communications and intelligence technologies
under a sub-program called SBInet.
SBInet was to build an integrated persistent surveillance
system for the Southwest border from the
ground up. Two increments of SBInet were implemented
on the Southwest border and have been working
well there.
vice president for homeland
security solutions at Elbit
Systems of America. “On the operational
side, they are looking for a proven system that will
assist Border Patrol agents identify, classify and track items of
interest. This allows agents to coordinate a proper response for a
successful mission and, more importantly, their own personal safety.”
The first block of IFT will place towers along the Arizona-
Mexico border, “where it makes the most sense to have them,” said
Borkowski. “The current RFP focuses on Arizona because that part
of the border is still hemorrhaging with traffic illegally
entering between the ports of entry. The rest of the
border is not as bad.”
Raytheon Company has extensive experience in
developing solutions for federal agencies to help maintain
border security.
“Raytheon is a leader in radar, command and control,
and tracking systems, and Raytheon has significant
experience integrating off-the-shelf technology
quickly and effectively in border and critical infrastruc-
But then SBInet ran into management and monture
protection systems,” said TJ Kennedy, director of
etary difficulty, and CBP came up with an alternative Mark Borkowski public safety and security at Raytheon Company.
that would incorporate off-the-shelf technologies into
“One of the most critical benefits of improving the
a surveillance program to replace SBInet. The high-
level of border security through the deployment of
end portion of that concept, which involves mount-
systems such as the Integrated Fixed Tower systems is
ing radars and cameras on interlinked towers at key
providing greater safety for the Border Patrol agents
locations along the border, has now emerged as the
who are out there on the line,” said Kevin Stevens,
Integrated Fixed Towers program, or IFT.
Homeland Security Strategy and Policy, Raytheon
The request for proposals for IFT is now on the
Company, and retired deputy chief, U.S. Border Patrol.
street with a contract award expected later this year.
The fixed towers allow the Border Patrol to “plant
Several companies are considering participating in the
the flag” in key areas of operation so that smugglers
program.
must shift their operations to areas where the Border
“Simultaneously with our dealing with the prob-
Patrol can then react with transportable and mobile
lems of SBInet,” related Mark Borkowski, CBP’s James Norton capabilities. Having the capability to detect activ-
assistant commissioner in the Office of Technology
ity, identify and classify the threat early is key to a
Innovation and Acquisition, “we were approached by
safer, faster enforcement response by Border Patrol
companies that told us they had systems that could
agents.
help us. They might not have everything we were
“In areas where technology doesn’t provide this
looking for, but wouldn’t it be smarter to take an 80
level of situational awareness, Border Patrol agents
percent or 90 percent solution today?” That’s the route
typically respond to border intrusions with very little
CBP chose to take.
information and generally have to identify and classify
“The government is seeking a commercial off-
the threat at the point of interdiction, which is too
the-shelf solution to detect, track, identify and classify
late,” added Stevens. “If the agents are able to deter-
activities at the nation’s Southwest border,” said James
mine what they are up against before they respond,
Norton, vice president, Business Development for Gen-
they will be in a much better position to determine
eral Dynamics C4 Systems Washington Operations. Gordon Kesting how many agents are needed to respond and how they
“It is essential that the solution be proven and rapidly
should arm or equip themselves for a safe and suc-
deployable.”
cessful resolution of the event. They deserve no less, and if industry
“The key theme we are hearing most often is CBP’s desire for can help get them this technology we will be performing a critical
a non-developmental, off-the-shelf solution,” said Gordon Kesting, service.”
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