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| Science & Technology |
| ex-Missile sights being used on border watch |
| 2007-07-26 |
| Since last year, the Border Patrol has been using Javelin missile sights to search for illegal entrants and drug smugglers, said Jim Hawkins, Border Patrol Tucson Sector spokesman. The Army gave to the equipment to the Department of Homeland Security free of charge. The Tucson Sector received about 200 sights, half of which were stored away for spare parts, Hawkins said. The Javelin is an anti-tank missile that is used by the Army and Marine Corps, and is produced in a joint venture by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Corp. Raytheon demilitarized the night-vision scopes by taking off triggering devices at no cost to the Border Patrol, Hawkins said. The Army is now using Javelin missile sights that are two to three generations newer, and it couldn't sell or use the spare parts. "They had absolutely no use for these sights, but they were still functional, so they basically handed them off to us," Hawkins said. The agency often issues them to National Guardsmen in Southern Arizona on the Operation Jumpstart mission, and it allows its agents to check them out as well, Hawkins said. The sights are smaller and lighter than vehicle-mounted scopes, but they're more powerful than night-vision goggles, he said. They can be used while being held, or they can be mounted on tripods. Hawkins wouldn't divulge haw far they they allow border forces to see Now, if they start using the warheads... |
| Posted by:Gary and the Samoyeds |