Hold your horses Napolitano, where's the e-fence?

“Boeing's SBInet contract gets the axe

Napolitano says virtual fence can't meet objectives, plans mix of new technologies

By Alice Lipowicz

Jan 14, 2011

Boeing Co.’s multibillion-dollar “SBInet” contract for an electronic border surveillance system along the United State-Mexico border is no more.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that her department is canceling the remainder of the troubled effort and adopting a mix of new technologies that will be tailored to the terrain and needs of each border region.

The announcement came at the completion of a year-long reassessment of the controversial Secure Border Initiative Network (SBInet) program. Development and construction of a 28-mile prototype and a 53-mile permanent segment of SBInet in Arizona has cost about $1 billion. 

Initial plans developed in 2005 and 2006 called for SBInet to extend across the entire U.S.-Mexico land border. Boeing was to build a system of cameras, radars and sensors strung on towers and linked to command and control centers.

“SBInet cannot meet its original objective of providing a single, integrated border security technology solution,” Napolitano said in a statement. “DHS briefed Congress today on my decision to end SBInet as originally conceived and on a new path forward for security technology along the Southwest border.”

“The new border security technology plan will utilize existing, proven technology tailored to the distinct terrain and population density of each border region, including commercially available mobile surveillance systems, unmanned aircraft systems, thermal imaging devices, and tower-based remote video surveillance systems. Where appropriate, this plan will also incorporate already existing elements of the former SBInet program that have proven successful, such as stationary radar and infrared and optical sensor towers,” the statement said.”