A border surveillance system tested in Nogales, Ariz., for the past seven months has been approved by the U.S. Border Patrol for further deployment.

Elbit Systems of America LLC has announced that its Integrated Fixed Towers border surveillance system was certified by Ronald Vitiello, acting chief of the Border Patrol, as meeting its operational requirements.

“Test results and agent feedback, confirms that the IFT system adds surveillance capability, increasing situational awareness and officer safety,” Vitiello said. 

This decision is based on review of test results and agent feedback from the first deployment in Nogales, which confirmed the system adds significant surveillance capability at the border, according to Elbit Systems.

“We are pleased that the acting chief of the U.S. Border Patrol has certified that IFT meets its operational requirements,” said Raanan Horowitz, president and CEO of Elbit Systems.  “We are ready to proceed with additional deployments of this important technology which contributes to the operational effectiveness and safety of Border Patrol agents as well as the security of the country.”

As part of the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, certification of the first fixed-towers surveillance system was required in order to proceed with further deployments.

Now the system can be used in Douglas, Ariz. This also opens the door for further deployments based on future needs and requirements across the southern Arizona border.

The IFT provides Border Patrol agents long-range, 360-degree, all-weather surveillance capability.  The system gives agents a high degree of situational awareness along the border by assisting them in identifying and classifying “items of interest” and coordinating an appropriate response, while also contributing to agent safety.

Elbit Systems of America’s products serve the commercial aviation, defense, homeland security, cyber security and medical- instrumentation markets.