AIRCRAFT–BIRD STRIKE AVOIDANCE RADAR

As TLY Energy and Defense Industry Inc., we are pleased to provide detailed information about the Aircraft–Bird Strike Avoidance Radar, one of the leading products of DeTect Inc.

The Aircraft–Bird Strike Avoidance Radar is a radar system that plays an important role in aviation safety. It has been specially designed to reduce the risks associated with bird–aircraft strikes and improve flight safety.

The radar system is equipped with high-sensitivity sensors and advanced software algorithms. It detects birds along aircraft flight paths and in airport approach areas, helping identify potential risks in a timely manner. The resulting information is transmitted to air traffic control teams and relevant operational units, contributing to improved flight safety.

Main Advantages of the Aircraft–Bird Strike Avoidance Radar:

• Bird Detection: The system detects birds using radar sensors and identifies potential risks along flight paths.

• Rapid Warning: The system provides timely risk warnings, helping pilots and operational teams take the necessary precautions.

• Operational Guidance Support: Identifying high-risk areas contributes to the safe planning of flight routes and operations.

• Data Recording and Analysis: The radar system records and analyzes data related to bird activity. This provides valuable information for future preventive measures.

The Aircraft–Bird Strike Avoidance Radar is used at airports, military air bases, aviation facilities, and other aviation-related installations. It is also preferred in other sectors, such as wind power plants, to reduce bird-related risks.

As TLY Energy and Defense Industry Inc., we are proud to offer the Aircraft–Bird Strike Avoidance Radar from DeTect Inc. For detailed information, you may visit our website or contact us.

We are here to support your safe flight operations.

MERLIN™ AIRCRAFT–BIRD STRIKE AVOIDANCE RADAR SYSTEM

Bird–aircraft strikes pose a significant safety risk to aircraft, pilots, and passengers. According to government research, aircraft losses and damage, operational delays, out-of-service periods, and fatalities cost military and commercial aviation more than USD 2 billion each year.

The MERLIN™ System is DeTect’s radar system developed to help prevent aircraft–bird strikes. It is one of the first production-model bird-strike radar systems designed to manage bird–aircraft strike risk and to detect, track, and provide warnings of hazardous bird activity in real time at commercial airports, military air bases, military training areas, and bombing ranges.

MERLIN bird radar is a proven operational technology, with more than 250 systems delivered worldwide for aviation safety and environmental applications.

MERLIN has a documented track record of reducing bird strikes, improving safety, and lowering aircraft damage and delay-related costs at both military and commercial airports.

MERLIN is also the only bird radar system evaluated and approved by the U.S. Government through NASA and the USAF for real-time tactical flight-safety applications. In addition, it is the only bird radar system approved and currently used in a commercial airport control tower under national aviation safety standards.

Main Features of MERLIN Technology:

• Operational, production-ready technology

• Real-time visualization of bird activity with high update rates

• Precise, tactical, and automated bird–aircraft strike risk warnings for controllers and pilots

• Mobile, real-time information displays for airport bird-control units

• Bird detection from ground level to aircraft operating altitudes

• Full 3D airspace coverage and data presentation

• State-of-the-art solid-state S-band Doppler radar technology

• Reliable bird detection in moderate fog, rain, and snow

• Military-grade bird-detection and tracking algorithms with clutter suppression

• Real-time target filtering by size and mass for hazardous bird activity

• Operating software specially developed for bird detection and tracking

• Simultaneous multi-range processing to support Air Traffic Control (ATC) and bird-control operations

• Multi-purpose capability supporting simultaneous bird and drone detection

• Full remote control and real-time information display for multiple users

• Automated daily report-generation engine and SQL data system

• Complete design, installation, commissioning, and long-term support

• Comprehensive parts, labor, and performance warranties

EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES

MERLIN users receive more than a bird radar; they also benefit from the support of DeTect specialists in military and commercial aviation safety, air traffic control, airport management, airport bird control, and radar remote sensing.

Each MERLIN system is supported by expert teams to ensure smooth and effective integration into airport infrastructure and operational processes.

The standard MERLIN model uses a surveillance-radar configuration combining dual vertical scanning and horizontal scanning to simultaneously monitor critical runways and approach and departure corridors and display the surrounding airspace. These areas account for more than 85% of bird–aircraft strikes occurring at airports.

The system can provide 360-degree coverage from ground level to 15,000 feet AGL and extend more than 8 miles around the airport. The MERLIN 3D model provides full 3D target tracking, while the MERLIN 3D+ model delivers a high level of bird-strike risk warning.

MERLIN systems are available in standard mobile and custom fixed-platform configurations. At large, multi-runway airports and military air bases, multiple fixed sensor packages can be installed and networked to provide dedicated scanning of each runway’s approach and departure corridors.

This configuration provides optimum 3D coverage of the airspace and airport environment, continuous risk warnings, and precise real-time information.

Commercial airport installations can be delivered as fixed radar packages consisting of frangible radar towers and electronic components housed in compact, outdoor-rated, environmentally controlled, NEMA-certified enclosures.

Processing equipment may be installed in a centralized equipment room located up to 50 miles away. Power and network infrastructure requirements are minimal, and all components can be controlled entirely remotely.

MERLIN is scalable and expandable. Users can begin with a basic system and add sensors to extend coverage according to their budget and operational requirements.

All components are industrial-grade and provide high reliability with low maintenance costs.

FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES

MERLIN transmits the position data of hazardous bird targets to multiple local and remote users simultaneously in real time and in operational formats through user-selectable display options.

Display options include color-coded symbols, unique identifiers for birds and aircraft, target tracks, target labels, and various operational display features.

DeTect’s unique MERLIN Advisor risk-warning software continuously monitors bird activity in runway approach and departure corridors and throughout the airport environment. The software automatically determines the current bird-strike risk for each corridor and displays it on screen as color-coded text at LOW, MODERATE, or SEVERE levels.

The risk status can be interpreted easily using GREEN, YELLOW, and RED color coding and used effectively during high-tempo control-tower operations.

Tower controllers, airport managers, and bird-control personnel receive user-selectable visual, audible, and text-based warnings concerning real-time and anticipated changes in risk status.

MERLIN Advisor is a proven, operational automated risk-monitoring and warning system used for real-time bird-strike risk management at commercial airports and military air bases.

All target data are continuously recorded in the MERLIN SQL database system for playback, archiving, and analysis. The data can be analyzed using Data Analyzer software, which provides standard point-and-click queries.

The integrated MERLIN Reporter feature automatically generates customized or standard BASH-management reports and sends them to users by email at the end of each 24-hour period.

Data can also be exported to GIS and Google Earth, allowing integration with customer resource and planning databases for modeling and detailed analysis.

MERLIN also offers an optional incident-recording module that stores 48–72 hours of complete radar data to support incident and accident investigations.

ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES OF THE MERLIN SYSTEM

• Real-time automated monitoring of bird-strike risk and the generation of related warnings

• User-selectable visual, audible, and text-based risk warnings

• Detection and tracking software specially developed for bird detection and aviation safety

• Extensive 3D airspace-scanning capability

• Upgrade capability for simultaneous bird and drone surveillance

• High data-update rate

• Precise XYZ bird-target position information

• Developed and supported by senior BASH and aviation-safety specialists

• Proven performance at airports, military air bases, and training ranges worldwide

• Remote viewing and control over LAN, WAN, internet, and wireless connections

• A wide variety of standard and custom functions

MERLIN is widely used by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, NASA, and major airports for real-time tactical bird detection.

MERLIN bird-radar operating software has been specially developed to detect and track the unique characteristics of bird targets. The system can monitor birds from areas close to ground level up to aircraft operating altitudes. A significant proportion of bird strikes around airports occur below 500 feet.

MERLIN uses advanced solid-state, S-band, 10-centimeter-wavelength Doppler radar sensors designed specifically for bird detection.

While reliably detecting different target-size risk classes, the system generates bird-strike warnings for medium and large birds and flocks. This helps minimize false positives that could otherwise cause incorrect risk warnings.

SYSTEM DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

MERLIN uses state-of-the-art solid-state S-band radar sensors with Doppler processing to detect and track birds in different weather conditions, including fog, rain, and snow.

The solid-state radars used in MERLIN are specifically designed and manufactured for bird detection. These radars provide greater sensitivity than conventional magnetron-based bird-radar systems.

Magnetron-based systems may generate false-positive warnings due to insect clutter and may lose detection performance in wet fog or light rain.

Low-visibility conditions such as wet fog and rain represent high-risk periods for aircraft because they make it more difficult for bird-control units, controllers, and pilots to see birds.

MERLIN is a fully integrated and fully engineered system manufactured at DeTect’s own facility. It includes temperature- and humidity-controlled field-equipment consoles and enclosures, radar data processors, software, radar towers, and military and AOA airfield lighting and marking components.

Mobile MERLIN systems can be transported by land, sea, or air in a mission-ready configuration for use at forward operating locations and are certified for air transport under USAF ATTLA requirements.

With the optional Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) and multifunctional HARRIER and DroneWatcher options, the MERLIN system can simultaneously support the following operations from a single compact, fully mobile, ruggedized, and self-contained platform:

• Real-time bird-strike risk management

• Drone and small-UAS detection

• Airspace and perimeter surveillance

• Intrusion warning

EXPERT APPLICATION SUPPORT

MERLIN is supported by a team comprising some of the world’s most experienced bird-radar specialists.

MERLIN users receive not only an aircraft–bird strike avoidance radar system but also comprehensive application support with every system delivery.

Support services provided by DeTect include:

• Project-specific engineering

• Turnkey installation

• Complete Concept of Operations development

• System integration

• Site-specific operational training

• Long-term technical support

Each system is supported by DeTect application specialists with extensive knowledge and experience in radar systems, BASH management, and airport operations.

The team supporting each MERLIN installation may include:

• A former U.S. Air Force BASH Team Chief

• A former U.S. Air Forces in Europe Bird-Control Chief

• FAA-qualified biologists

• NTSB-trained accident investigators

• Former USDA airport wildlife-control officers

• International specialists in radar ornithology and BASH

The team has experience gained from projects completed at more than 300 airports and military air bases worldwide.

INDUSTRY FIRSTS IN BIRD-RADAR TECHNOLOGY

Over the past 30 years, DeTect’s specialist staff have pioneered many of the major developments in bird-radar technology. These developments include the following industry firsts:

• Permanent bird-radar installation at a Western European airport (2012)

• Fully user-customizable bird-strike risk warnings (2011)

• Bird-radar system with Doppler processing (2010)

• Dynamic trend-monitoring capability in an automated bird-strike risk-warning system (2009)

• Deployment of tactical bird-strike radar in an active combat zone (Afghanistan, 2009)

• Specialized bird-radar “Bird Mode” waveform and antenna (2009)

• All-weather solid-state bird-radar system (2009)

• Delivery of bird-strike risk warnings to a commercial airport control tower (2008, Durban IAP, South Africa)

• Bird radar providing automated bird-strike risk warnings (2006, U.S. Air Force, Dover Air Force Base)

• Bird-radar system at a commercial airport (2003, Augusta Regional Airport, Georgia)

• Bird-detection radar at a military air base (2003, Royal Air Force Kinloss, Scotland)

• Biological-target detection algorithm for radar (2001)

• Automatic vertical-scanning radar for bird detection (2000)

• National Bird-Strike Risk Radar Network (1999, AHAS, www.usahas.com, U.S. Air Force)

• Base-Level Bird Avoidance Model (1997, U.S. Air Force)

• Computer-based bird-strike risk mission-planning model (1996, U.S. Air Force)

• Year-round remote sensing of bird activity (1995, U.S. Air Force)

MERLIN systems are available for purchase, long-term lease, or short-term rental, with or without DeTect operators. The systems are supported by comprehensive parts and labor warranties covering all equipment.

Since 2003, more than 250 MERLIN bird-radar systems have accumulated over 5 million operating hours. These systems have a proven track record of high availability, high reliability, and low maintenance and repair costs.

Current Technical Data Sheets:

• TDS_ABAR

• TDS_TRUE3D_BDR_DDR