TW recently complete a new C⁴ISR van for the Border Patrol, Search, Trauma and Rescue or BORSTAR division of the United States Border Patrol.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection units have counted on the TW team for a wide range of technology projects ranging from vehicles and trailers equipped with radio direction finding surveillance technologies, tactical interoperability and surveillance packages and the BORSTAR Team’s command and communication interoperability vehicles.

The van originally created for the BORSTAR team has become one of their most effective tools. During the San Diego fires, the Office of Emergency Services for the City of San Diego requested and used the BORSTAR van as the center for evacuee communication at Qualcomm Stadium.

Having spent several years working with BORSTAR teams on the vehicle concept, the TW team integrated many of the lessons learned and mission requirement advancements encountered since the first van was delivered this latest retrofit.

The van is equipped with a wide range of communication and command elements:

• satellite TV
• internet access
• extensive radio communication interoperability
• a powerful computer system
• dual touch screen monitors
• WLAN
• printing and scanning
• video conferencing

This van provides the BORSTAR team with all of the resources needed to perform their mission despite the extreme environments in which they operate.

With options for a large screen externally mountable LCD monitor and high output inflatable area lighting, this vehicle can support a wide range of missions regardless of the infrastructure in the region.

The interior provides a comfortable area for up to four team members to work from including a compact conference table that slides out of sight when not required.

TW is seeing more agencies utilize compact vehicles equipped with technologies that can be of benefit everyday on every incident. Through the use of effective command technology suites, these vehicles are easily synced up with the agencies’ EOC and other command staff in the field.

From monitoring the downlink of a helicopter or UAV to serving as a field command center, or even as a simple information dissemination unit, these well engineered and equipped vehicles provide effective tools for a wide range of Homeland Security and Public Safety missions.