[Laser] Government lasers to shoot aliens from miles away

bernies at netaxs.com bernies at netaxs.com
Tue May 11 20:02:50 EDT 2010


I think if these lasers have enough optical power to illuminate human  
targets six miles away, then they're definitely powerful enough to  
cause permanent eye damage.

Must look pretty cool (or scary) at night, though.  Probably deters  
alien invasions.

-Ed


http://www.gsnmagazine.com/article/20686/border_patrol_use_laser_designators_spot_approachi

Border Patrol to use laser designators to spot approaching immigrants  
6 miles away
Government Security News
Sun, 2010-05-09 06:11 PM
By: Jacob Goodwin

In an effort to spot illegal immigrants heading toward the  
U.S.-Mexican border at ever greater stand-off distances, Customs and  
Border Protection is planning to install laser designators on 100-foot  
towers, adjacent to cameras and radar systems, that would enable  
Border Patrol agents to pinpoint immigrants traveling at night, as  
much as six miles away.

?The intended deployments of Enhanced Designator capabilities are  
along the land and waterway borders of the United States,? says a  
presolicitation notice posted online by CBP on May 7. ?The purpose of  
the Enhanced Designator is to assist in the detection and  
identification of Items of Interest by CBP Agents.?

CBP has issued a Request For Information (RFI) to gather market  
research information from companies capable of supplying such  
commercial-off-the-shelf  (COTS) laser illuminators or pointers.

CBP hopes that the laser pointers, which it sometimes calls ?Enhanced  
Designators,? can operate within a range of 29 meters to 10 kilometers  
(approximately six miles.) The illuminators must adhere to an eye  
safety provision spelled out in the ?ANSI Z136.1 Safe Use of Laser?  
standard, says the CBP notice.

?The device will be used in conjunction with cameras mounted on towers  
along the border, will illuminate a given area of surveillance and  
assist in the tracking of targets,? says an appendix to the CBP?s  
specification document. ?The Enhanced Designator will be primarily  
used for nighttime operations.?

Further information is available from Janeen Guest, a contracting  
specialist in CBP?s Secure Border Initiative acquisition office, at  
571-468-07012 or janeen.guest at cbp.dhs.gov



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