The special forces are armed with various devices and devices for solving special tasks. One of them may be the so-called. stenovisor - a special system capable of detecting and identifying the enemy behind a particular obstacle. Such devices appeared not too long ago, but they are already gaining some distribution and help fighters in preparing for operations.
On old principles
Preparation for various special operations is always associated with the collection of information about the enemy, his location and capabilities. In some situations, reconnaissance may be difficult or impossible due to the presence of various obstacles - walls of buildings, ceilings, etc. Stenovisor-class devices are designed to provide reconnaissance in such conditions.
Stenovisor or tactical reconnaissance / through-wall vision device is a special type of radar. The low-power radar and related devices are housed in a compact enclosure suitable for portability and rapid deployment. Such products are intended for use in various buildings in order to study the situation behind obstacles. Some wall imagers can also work in the GPR mode.
The compact radar of the centimeter range (2-10 GHz) is capable of "shining through" walls or other objects and, with a high resolution, detecting movement in the space beyond the barrier. Due to sophisticated signal processing algorithms, living beings are identified in the investigated volume, incl. with the selection of people moving or stationary. Objects betray themselves by any movement - in particular, a motionless person is detected by breathing.
With the help of a wall visor, special forces fighters can study the situation, determine the number and location of the enemy or third parties, clarify the layout of the structure, etc. All this simplifies preparation for battle and increases the likelihood of a successful solution to the assigned tasks. In addition, unlike a number of other reconnaissance means, the wall visor can be used in any conditions and gives itself out only with weak radiation, the detection of which is not an easy matter.
Foreign developments
The first serial wall imagers appeared and became widespread in foreign countries. The industry leader is the Israeli company Camero Tech Ltd., which offers customers a line of Xaver instruments. At the moment, it includes three wall imagers with different characteristics and capabilities, as well as a communication and control system for their more efficient use.
The most compact and lightweight in the line (22 x 10 x 7 cm, 660 g) is the Xaver 100 wall visor. It is designed as a small device with a handle for carrying and operating. The front side has a screen and controls, on the back there is a locator antenna. The possibility of observing through walls made of various materials used in construction is declared. The maximum observation range is 20 m. There are operating modes that ensure the study of the situation, the identification of hazards, the search for places for making passages, etc.
The larger and heavier Xaver 400 device (37 x 23 x 12 cm, 3.2 kg) has a different radar and an expanded set of functions. In particular, the calculation of traces of moving objects, detection of stationary targets, etc. is provided. Information is displayed in several modes. It is also possible to transfer data to a remote control.
The largest member of the family is the Xaver 800 wall visor. It features a large, distinctively shaped antenna unit and is mounted on a tripod. The presence of several separate radars with antennas allows not only to study the space behind the obstacle, but also to form a three-dimensional picture. The Xaver 800 is similar in other features to the Xaver 400.
The Xavernet control system is available for use with the Xaver 100 and 400 products. This is a special tablet computer with communication means that allows you to connect wall visuals into a network and use them together by one operator. Xavernet allows you to quickly deploy a whole complex of surveillance that increases the situational awareness of the unit.
Domestic products
Due to the interest from various services and organizations, Russian enterprises have begun to develop their own wall imagers, and some of these devices are already on the market. Some of them have reached the point of being exploited in law enforcement agencies and are receiving good reviews.
An example is the products of the Logis-Geotech company. In the catalog of its products there is a hand-held radar detector RO-900 - an analogue of the Israeli Xaver 100 with a similar form factor. This is a compact and lightweight device with the ability to detect people behind various materials at ranges of at least 15 m. In the RO-900 GPR mode, it "shines through" at least 500 mm of the ground.
A two-channel device RO-400 / 2D is produced, made in the form of a connected control panel and an antenna unit. If necessary, they can be spaced up to 50 m and connected by cable. RO-400 / 2D operates at ranges of at least 21 m behind a 600 mm wall. In the GPR mode, the depth of action reaches 5 m.
The Moscow enterprise "Mercury-Pro" assembles wall imagers of the "Dannik" series developed by NPO "Spetstekhnika i svyaz". Two products are presented in portable and portable versions - analogues of RO-900 and RO-400 / 2D or Xaver 100 and Xaver 400. The purpose of these projects, as previously stated, was the development of advanced technologies and the creation of devices that could compete with foreign products.
Wallvisors in service
Radar detectors "through the wall" are intended for various special forces from the armed forces or security forces. Also, such devices may be of interest to rescuers. Foreign law enforcers began to master wall-vision devices quite a long time ago, and a few years ago a similar process began in our country.
For example, in 2014, the Ministry of Internal Affairs placed an order for 36 wall imagers of two models from the Dannik line. The total cost of purchases exceeded 60 million rubles. The corresponding contract was signed in September 2014. On time, the customer received the required instruments. It was not specified which unit received the wall visors.
In November 2016, it became known about the completion of tests of the RO-900 wall visor by the specialists of the Russian Guard. A large order for the supply of such devices was expected in the near future. The first deliveries took place in the next 2017. To whom the wall visualizers were intended was not named again.
In November last year, the special unit "Saturn" of the Federal Penitentiary Service received new equipment. This organization preferred foreign equipment and purchased the Xaver 400 radar detectors. Apparently, the FSIN specialists were interested in the beneficial combination of small dimensions and all available functions.
Promising direction
Wall scopes allow surveillance through various obstacles. This dramatically increases the situational awareness of the unit and has a positive effect on the efficiency of its work. The advantages of such equipment are obvious, and therefore the special forces of different countries are trying to get it at their disposal.
Interest from customers is an incentive for manufacturers, which leads to the emergence of new designs - with various differences and advantages. Modern designs are not without some drawbacks, and the developers are trying to improve them and introduce new solutions. It should be expected that in the future the number of wall imagers on the market will increase, and at the same time the number of their operators will grow.
