Testing the Falcon 4G
In the real world, where there is a continuous threat of chemical attacks on military personnel as well as on the civilian population, stand-off detectors can provide early warning of an attack, usually by detecting and identifying a distant chemical warfare cloud or release.
The advantages of stand-off detection capabilities, if well understood, are that they can eliminate possible operator and equipment contamination and the need for subsequent decontamination. In the worst-case scenario, they can even prevent health damage or death.
From the heart of Europe
SEC Technologies is uniquely situated at the crossroads of Europe, between the premier testing grounds of Kamenna Chaloupka in the Czech Republic and Zemianske Kostolany in Slovakia. This prime location allows the company to leverage the latest advancements in detection technology. SEC Technologies uses both, providing grounds for testing and development of its Patent Protected Technology to detect hazardous materials and highly toxic substances. The training conducted at the CBRN Defense Training and Testing facilities in Kamenna Chaloupka and Zemianske Kostolany in the past used SEC Technology’s flagship product, the Falcon 4G Long Range Reconnaissance Chemical Detector.
The main aim of the testing was to share knowledge on how to deal with CBRN incidents that are a threat to the civilian population. Such simulated chemical attack exercises increase the professional competence of military specialists, as well as contribute to the further development of the technology.
Falcon 4G: Empowering CBRN Specialists with Active Stand-Off Detection Technology
Slovak company SEC Technologies is a game-changer in the world of active stand-off detection, offering superior and highly advanced technology that provides precise and accurate detection methods to increase public and military personnel safety.
The company’s team of experts has been working on chemical and biological detection, and their hard work has resulted in a range of highly advanced products that offer superior stand-off and long-range detection and identification of airborne chemicals.
SEC Technologies has developed advanced products that provide highly precise and reliable detection methods, with the aim of enhancing safety for both the general public and military personnel. The company’s core team of professionals comes from diverse backgrounds, including engineering and scientific fields, and they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. They work collaboratively to research, develop, and maintain state-of-the-art products and technologies, ensuring that their customers always have access to the very best solutions.
Active stand-off detection technology
The only principle practically usable for stand-off detection of chemical warfare agents (CWA) is the absorption of optical radiation in the far-infrared (FAR IR) part of the optical spectrum. Detection of CWA is possible only if the agent is present in the air in vapor form.
Both passive and active approaches to chemical stand-off detection are based on the same scientific principle: absorption of light passing through a chemical cloud. Various wavelengths of light are absorbed in the cloud, creating a specific and identifiable signature.
However, the atmosphere itself absorbs various wavelengths of light, making it necessary to use wavelengths in the far infrared spectrum, between 8.5 μm and 11 μm, which are able to pass through the atmosphere almost unaffected for long-range detection (in distances of thousands of meters). Another crucial factor influencing the success of detection as well as identification of chemical vapors is humidity.
Passive stand-off detection is an alternative technology that utilizes energy that naturally exists in the environment and only passively “listens”. With this approach, the detection result is entirely dependent on the energy emitted from the background. However, for a passive detection system, humidity can be a real problem, and the longer the detection distance, the greater the issue. Once humidity reaches over 80%, detection using a passive detector is only theoretically possible.
Active stand-off detection technology, on the other hand, has its own source of energy: a tunable laser.
How Falcon 4G works?
The Falcon 4G can detect in environments that were previously thought impossible, including high humidity, rain, or any temperature range. Its success depends on several factors, including the quality of the laser and the detection distance.
SEC Technologies flagship product has its source of energy, a tunable laser. The Patented Technology uses a pulsed CO2 laser based on Differential Absorption LIDAR (DIAL) principles, which allows it to detect Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC) in vapor concentrations without requiring direct contact. Falcon 4G does not assess the whole absorption spectra, but it evaluates the absorption at two for chosen gas specific wavelength: λON – strongly absorbed by the gas and λOFF-nearly not absorbed by the gas.
It offers 30-100 times higher sensitivity than other state-of-the-art solutions in the market.
The Falcon 4G is the only stand-off detector that can detect a secondary cloud long after it has become invisible to other systems due to the loss of its temperature difference in the environment. This fact makes it a valuable tool for emergency responders, military units, and other organizations that need to monitor chemical clouds in real-time.
Full user capability
Falcon 4G requires minimum training and maintenance and utilizes operator-friendly software that allows easy control of the instrument and interpretation of data. Additionally, Falcon 4G system is fully hardened according to MIL 810G and 461F standards.
The Falcon 4G is also undetectable on the battlefield and can be used on any platform or infrastructure. An extended substance library makes it an ideal tool not only for military applications. It can perform in various environments and is a preferred choice for fire departments, heavy industries, and other organizations that need to monitor chemical clouds. With an extensive detection range of up to 6 km, it is capable of detecting average concentrations of chemicals on the detection path, not only locally. Additionally, it consumes less than 25W of power, meaning it can operate tirelessly for a whole day on a battery, making it a reliable partner for any of your missions.
Our responsibility
At SEC Technologies, we are dedicated to continuously investing in research and development and in collaborating with top experts and end-users to gain a thorough understanding of the distinction between demonstration and reality. We aim to be the number one provider of chemical detection in any environment planet Earth may present.
Therefore, we continue to test, develop, and improve Falcon 4G for use in the hottest deserts and coldest regions of the north, as well as in harsh and salty sea conditions while mounted on the vehicles, boats, helicopters or in fixed positions.
Testing, trials, and feedback from our current and potential customers helps us improve our products on a daily basis.
We at SEC Technologies are constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries. The Falcon 4G has already proven to be a game-changing technology, providing unprecedented capabilities in long-range stand-off detection. However, we know that there is always room for improvement, and we are committed to delivering the most advanced and effective solutions to our customers.
Looking to the future, we are excited about the potential of the next generation of active detectors. While there is still much work to be done, we are confident that with our ongoing investment in research and development, our commitment to collaboration and innovation, and our dedication to delivering the highest quality solutions to our customers, we will continue to lead the way in the years to come.
*All the Photos in this article are property of SEC Technologies.
