The Integrated Airbase Protection System

An airbase is a very sensitive object for any sabotage and terrorist activities. The airbase is generally located in a widespread area in some diversified environment. It operates in constantly changing conditions. There are a lot of installations and objects critical to the operational use of airborne systems. These kinds of objects are prone to threats, such as above all penetration from the outside and direct fire action from surroundings of the protected object. Prevention against threats of these kind is the reason why soldiers are involved to round-the-clock patrolling the nearest surroundings, at the cost of their basic responsibilities. The necessity of night patrols, in difficult land site and atmospheric conditions make additional difficulties. This paper describes a concept of applying different sensors and systems to form an integrated security system. Some components of such a Stationary Observation System have already been developed, tested and implemented by the Air Force Institute of Technology. The system was designed as an open system, so it is possible to make its configuration using new sensors, and to adapt the system for requirements resulting from elements located outside the system, such as landform features of the protected area or predicted different kinds of threats. The base protection system was designed by the use of military requirements, however its implementation is also possible for civil airports, including aero club airports. The airbase protection command station makes an important element of the system. It enables not only a data fusion, but also allows to use the information for a particular decisive level. Additionally, the command station's operator has the possibility to collect, archive, and also to transfer the processed information. Using a digital map together wit a laser and an optoelectronic sensor makes it possible to permanently update coordinates of interesting objects, including moving objects. The situation awareness, worked out on the basis of a complex technical system, provides a reaction of active protective elements in an appropriate way and within the time required. Due to that, the reaction by the active elements of the base protection, with the full situation awareness, can be adequate to the threat and eliminate an unnecessary human effort. The integrated airbase protection system using a data fusion and being able to process the data obtained makes a significant contribution not only for a more efficient base protection and security of infrastructures, but also for space and communication technologies. As an open system it can be linked for example to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or to a satellite. There is also a potential for the system to compile by data fusion pieces of "inner" information, already existing in the system, and the information received from the outside of the system. As a result it may be possible for example to try to predict a terrorist attack being prepared.