SSC To Upgrade Norway'S Maritime Surveillance System

TECH SPACE

SSC To Upgrade Norway's Maritime Surveillance System

Kiruna (SPX) Mar 10, 2005
The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has been awarded the contract to upgrade the MSS 5000 surveillance system for The Norwegian Coastal Administration (Kystverket). The system to be upgraded includes a SLAR (Side Looking Airborne Radar), an IR/UV scanner, cameras and a data link.

In the upgrade, a new digital camera system will be introduced, as well as extensive modernization of the existing hardware and software. SSC will also add functions to the system for AIS (Automatic Identification System) monitoring and FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) integration with slaving to targets.

Kystverket has recently signed a three year contract with Helitrans A/S for operating its surveillance flights. In connection with the new contract, the effectiveness of the surveillance flights will be increased by modernising the system onboard and adding the latest surveillance equipment.

"The whole sensor package will be upgraded" says Ove Njøten, responsible for the flight operations.

The coastline of the Norwegian mainland is approx. 83,000 km, islands included. In addition there is the 9,000 km coast line of Svalbard. This equals more than twice the Earth's equatorial circumference.

The flight operations have a 24-hour alert preparedness and fly about 700 hours a year. Flight surveillance along the Norwegian coast first started in 1981, using the SLAR from SSC. The IR/UV scanner was bought in 1987.

In 1998, the system underwent a major revision when SSC installed the first MSS 5000 system on board the Norwegian aircraft.

The SSC Maritime Surveillance System (in versions MSS 3000, MSS 5000 and MSS 6000) is a field-proven, user-friendly system and is used by coast guard organisations around the world.

"SSC is very proud to be part of this new project. The current upgrade is an example of SSC's commitment to long-term relations with our clients and continuous support of our products", says Christer Colliander, head of Product Support at the SSC Airborne Systems Department.

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