Unique Combination of Technologies Bridges Critical Safety Gap

The REBUS Inhibition Blanket is a unique new product from Kirintec Limited, combining a V50 rated blast suppression blanket with a low powered RF inhibitor (or "jammer") to prevent the remote initiation of an RCIED.

What's new?

Kirintec's inhibition blanket isn't an ordinary blast suppression blanket. What's unique about REBUS is the addition of special layer of fabric that screens out radio signals, and a low powered jammer which is powerful enough to prevent a radio controlled bomb from being detonated remotely, but which doesn't affect the radio communications of response teams.

Just as importantly, Kirintec's low power jammer will not interfere with public communications networks i.e. GSM and 3G cell phone networks, or VHF and UHF private radio networks used by security teams or airport control towers, or Wi-Fi data networks, or certain equipment used in hospitals. So the jammer can be turned on to increase the safety cordon around the device, without affecting the business that goes on around it. And without any worry about the cost of disabling a mobile phone network.

How does it work?

The REBUS blanket is a standard V50 rated blast blanket enhanced with an additional layer of electromagnetic screening material that blocks and filters incoming radio frequencies. For example, if a device is designed to be triggered by a call from a mobile phone or PMR (e.g. Walkie-Talkie), the screening fabric shields the device, making it difficult for the triggering call to get through. The electromagnetic screening is not sufficient on its own to guarantee that an RCIED will not be triggered, but its RF protection is better than none at all.

Each blanket also has an RF antenna embedded into its construction so that a low power RF inhibitor can be operated under the blanket to provide much greater protection, completely blocking the reception of any triggering signal by the device underneath. The electromagnetic screening also stops the emissions from the inhibitor escaping out from under the blanket, preventing it from adversely affecting any local RF communications e.g. between the response teams.

The Kirintec REBUS jammer is a low power jammer. It simultaneously covers threats in the frequency range 20Mhz - 2.4GHz including GSM and 3G mobile phones, popular VHF and UHF PMRs, and Wi-Fi. Because the antenna for the jammer is embedded in the blanket, right next to the device, the jammer only needs a low power signal source to overpower a much stronger trigger signal being transmitted from a distance. In tests, the REBUS jammer repeatedly killed high-power PMR signals generated at unrealistically close proximity i.e. closer than a terrorist would usually be within line of sight of his target.

Who is it for?

Terrorist threats are now taken seriously by all sorts of organisations, particularly ones whose facilities have a high public traffic or who must keep disruption to their services at a minimum if at all possible - airports, train stations, stock market trading floors, court rooms, shopping centres, convention centres etc. These organisations increasingly have to bear the responsibility for initial public safety if a suspect device is reported. REBUS has been designed specifically for the security professionals at these organisations who have to make the first decision about the nature of a device and its potential threat.

Whoever places the collar and blanket over a suspect package is automatically provided with blast protection by the blanket itself. No training or qualifications are required to plug in the jammer and turn it on. Local communications shouldn't be affected by the jammer. So in the period between placing the blanket over the device and the arrival of a bomb disposal team, the area has been made as safe as possible. Leaving the professional EOD operators to x-ray the device through the blanket and make the final decision regarding intervention.

If an airport, for example, chooses to allow its civilian staff to only deploy blankets with passive RF inhibition, when the bomb squad arrive, their approach to the device is already protected and they can take responsibility for plugging in and switching on the low power jammer. As the bomb squads themselves are frequently the target for terrorists using radio controlled IEDs, this is as much a consideration for them as neutralising the device.

Multiple devices are a serious challenge for responders, particularly if the devices are placed in such a way as to threaten a safe evacuation route. REBUS gives the security forces multiple options in terms of a response, increasing the safety of the initial response teams, the EOD teams, and the general public being led to a safe area. REBUS buys everyone critical time to consider what action to take and increases their safety if they remain in the vicinity.