Announcements

In the context of the development of a common European border surveillance system (EUROSUR), Member States are expected to improve and harmonise their surveillance activities in order to ensure effective detection of illegal immigration and cross-border crime activities and to reduce the death toll of illegal immigrants by rescuing more lives at sea.

In the maritime domain, there is a wide spectrum of possible technical means that can be employed to provide effective surveillance including: coastal radar stations, surface ships, manned aircraft and satellites. However, it is clear that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) could also play an important role in further enhancing border surveillance in the future, though they face a number of technical and other challenges.

Following last year’s successful mini-UAV demonstration event in Finland focusing on surveillance of land borders, Frontex R&D Unit intends to organise a UAV workshop and real-flight demonstration event at the beginning of October 2011 covering the maritime domain. Representatives of the border guard services of EU Member States and other key stakeholders will attend.

The objective of the workshop and demonstration session is to allow end users and policy-makers to debate the main challenges related to UAV technology and its use for creating more efficient and effective maritime surveillance and to present industry with the chance to demonstrate the capabilities of currently available technical solutions. The interoperability and integration of sensors and reporting systems will also be a focus of the event.

The demonstration session aims to showcase in particular several of the latest developments in Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs but may include suitable small UAVs with Long Endurance as well.

Frontex would therefore like to call on leading Vendors / Operators of such equipment to express their interest in attending the event and demonstrating existing unmanned aerial systems for the purpose of maritime surveillance.  Vendors would be expected to cover all costs relating to their participation in the event.

Detailed information and conditions for participation in the UAV demonstration session will follow when they become available.

Please express your interest to Frontex, exclusively by e-mail to Zdravko Kolev at zdravko.kolev@frontex.europa.eu and/or Dragos Voicu at dragos.voicu@frontex.europa.eu latest by March 21, 2011 if you intend to participate and demonstrate. An organizational meeting is foreseen to take place in Frontex HQs in the end of March.

Again, capacity is limited and your attendance will be determined on a strictly first come, first served basis so in order to avoid disappointment you should express your interest immediately.