MERLIN™ Aircraft Bird Strike Avoidance Radar

MERLIN technology incorporates a range of unique features and advantages that are not available in any other system:

• Operational, production-ready technology

• Real-time bird-activity visualization with the highest update rates

• Precise, tactical, and automated bird–aircraft strike risk alerts for controllers and pilots

• Mobile, real-time information displays for airport bird-control units

• Bird detection from ground level to above aircraft operating altitudes

• Full 3D airspace coverage and data presentation

• State-of-the-art S-band Doppler radar technology

• Reliable bird detection in moderate fog, rain, and snow

• Military-grade bird-detection and tracking algorithms with clutter suppression

• Real-time target filtering by size and mass for hazardous bird activity

• Specialized operating software developed specifically for bird detection and tracking

• Simultaneous multi-range processing to support both Air Traffic Control (ATC) and bird-control operations

• Multi-mission capability with simultaneous bird and drone detection

• Remote control and real-time information display for multiple users

• Automated daily report-generation engine and SQL data system

• Complete design, installation, commissioning, and long-term support

• Comprehensive parts, labor, and performance warranties

MERLIN users receive more than just a bird radar. Every MERLIN system is supported by DeTect specialists with expertise in military and commercial aviation safety, air traffic control, airport management, airport bird control, and radar remote sensing. This support helps ensure that the system is integrated smoothly and effectively into the airport and its operations.

The standard MERLIN model provides simultaneous airspace surveillance of critical runways and approach and departure corridors—the areas where 85% of bird–aircraft strikes at airports occur—from ground level to 15,000 feet AGL, with 360-degree coverage around the airport. It uses a surveillance-radar configuration combining dual vertical scanning and horizontal scanning. The MERLIN 3D model provides full 3D target tracking, while the MERLIN 3D+ model delivers the highest level of bird-strike risk warning available on the market.

MERLIN systems are available in standard mobile and custom fixed-platform configurations. At large, multi-runway airports and military airfields, multiple fixed sensor packages can be networked together to provide optimal 3D coverage of the airspace and airport environment. This configuration delivers continuous risk warnings and precise, real-time information.

Commercial airport installations can be supplied as fixed radar packages consisting of frangible radar towers and electronics housed in compact, outdoor-rated, environmentally controlled, NEMA-certified enclosures. Processing equipment may be installed in a centralized equipment room located up to 50 miles away. Power and network infrastructure requirements are minimal, and all components can be controlled entirely remotely. MERLIN is scalable and expandable, allowing users to begin with a basic system and add sensors to expand coverage as budgets and operational requirements evolve.

All components are industrial-grade and provide high reliability with low maintenance costs.

Features and Benefits

MERLIN transmits the position data of hazardous bird targets in real time and in operational formats to multiple local and remote users simultaneously through user-selectable display options. These options include color-coded symbols, unique identifiers for birds and aircraft, target tracks, target labels, and other display features.

DeTect’s unique MERLIN Advisor risk-warning software continuously monitors bird activity in runway approach and departure corridors and throughout the airport environment. It automatically determines the current bird-strike risk for each corridor and displays the risk as color-coded text on the screen at LOW, MODERATE, or SEVERE levels. The risk status can be interpreted easily through GREEN, YELLOW, and RED color coding and used effectively during high-tempo daily operations in control towers. Tower controllers, airport managers, and bird-control personnel receive automated alerts regarding real-time and predicted changes in risk status through user-selectable visual, audible, and text-message warning options.

MERLIN Advisor represents the latest technology in real-time bird-strike risk management for commercial airports and military airfields. It is the only proven and operationally deployed automated bird-strike risk monitoring and warning system available on the market.

All target data are continuously recorded in the MERLIN SQL database system for playback, archiving, and analysis. The data can be analyzed using Data Analyzer software, which provides standard point-and-click queries. The integrated MERLIN Reporter feature generates customized or standard BASH-management reports at the end of each 24-hour period and distributes them by email.

Data can also be exported to GIS and Google Earth, allowing them to be integrated with customer resource and planning databases for modeling and detailed analysis. MERLIN also includes an optional incident-recorder module that stores 48 to 72 hours of complete radar data to support incident and accident investigations.

Design and Engineering

MERLIN uses state-of-the-art solid-state S-band radar sensors with Doppler processing to detect and track birds regardless of weather conditions.

The solid-state radars used in MERLIN are specifically designed and manufactured for bird detection. They provide greater sensitivity than conventional magnetron-based bird-radar systems. Magnetron-based bird radars may generate false-positive alerts because of insect clutter and can become “blind” in wet fog or light rain. These low-visibility conditions represent some of the highest-risk periods for aircraft because bird-control units, controllers, and pilots are unable to see the birds.

MERLIN is a fully integrated and fully engineered system manufactured at DeTect’s own facility. It includes temperature- and humidity-controlled field electronics consoles and enclosures, radar data processors and software, radar towers, and military/AOA airfield lighting and marking equipment.

Mobile MERLIN systems are mission-ready for deployment to forward operating locations by land, sea, or air and are certified for air transport under USAF ATTLA requirements.

With the optional Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) and multifunctional HARRIER and DroneWatcher options, the MERLIN system can simultaneously support military field operations from a single compact, fully portable, certified, and self-contained platform. These operations include real-time bird-strike risk management, drone and small-UAS detection, airspace and perimeter surveillance, and intrusion alerting.

Expert Application Support

MERLIN is supported by a team comprising some of the world’s most experienced bird-radar specialists. MERLIN users receive not only an aircraft–bird strike avoidance radar system but also comprehensive implementation support with every system delivery. This support includes custom engineering, turnkey installation, complete development of the concept of operations, system integration, site-specific operator training, and long-term support.

Each system is supported by DeTect application specialists with extensive knowledge and experience in radar systems, BASH management, and airport operations.

The personnel supporting each MERLIN installation include a former U.S. Air Force BASH Team Chief, a former U.S. Air Forces in Europe Bird Control Chief, FAA-qualified biologists, NTSB-trained accident investigators, former USDA airport wildlife-control officers, and international specialists in radar ornithology and BASH. Collectively, they have experience from projects completed at more than 300 airports and military airfields worldwide.