Mission, TX
26.164914, -98.333968
Mobile Vehicle Surveillance System (MVSS) / “Scope Truck”
Dugan Meyer, January 2024
A Mobile Vehicle Surveillance System (MVSS) unit, often called a “scope truck,” deployed beside the boat launch at the Chimney Park RV Resort on the banks of the Rio Grande in Mission, Texas. The MVSS system is widely deployed in Texas, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, and is often operated by Army and Air National Guard soldiers in support of CBP. Another version of the scope truck is also being used by the Texas National Guard as part of Operation Lone Star.
The first contracts for the MVSS were awarded by CBP in 2015. The system consists of day and night (infrared) cameras, ground radar, and laser range finders attached to a telescopic pole that can be raised and lowered in minutes, allowing the units to relocate quickly. It has an effective maximum range of 3-5 miles. Manufacturers have included Mistral, Tactical Micro (part of the Secure Technology Company), Strongwatch Corporation, and Teledyne FLIR.