The Texas Department of Public Safety (Texas DPS) is working with CNC Technologies, a Californian aviation technology and wireless communications company serving the law enforcement, government and military markets, and with Shreveport, Louisiana-based Metro Aviation, to fit an airborne mission suite in the Texas DPS' recently acquired Airbus H125 helicopter. CNC led the development and design of the new system and will provide ongoing training and 24/7 support.

The mission suite provides the Texas DPS with the capability to stream real-time HD video and data from the H125 to ground based forces around the state and to partners around the world. Key system highlights include the latest generation Wescam MX-10 gyrostabilised gimbal equipped with HD video, advanced video tracker and HD infrared payloads; advanced microwave downlink infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted video, audio and data transmission; and a Garmin moving map system that allows operators to seamlessly overlay location specific data on top of live HD video feeds. The system is also fully interoperable with the Texas DPS' existing ground receive network.

CNC currently provides the Texas DPS with ongoing support for the airborne mission suites deployed on the agency's two Pilatus PC-12 Spectre fixed-wing aircraft. Each of these systems was custom developed by CNC for the Texas DPS and went into service in 2016. Other agencies CNC works with include the NYPD, LAPD, Michigan State Police, Atlanta Police, Florida Highway Patrol and LA County Sheriff's Department.

“The Texas DPS is one of the country's premier public safety agencies with a broad range of mission requirements spanning law enforcement, counterterrorism, disaster response and search and rescue,” says Ron Magocsi, founding partner and chief technology officer at CNC Technologies. “We are honoured for the opportunity to extend our ongoing relationship with the agency with the deployment of the new mission suite for its H125 helicopter.”