Super Bowl LX, held at Levi's Stadium, has brought law enforcement of all stripes to the San Francisco Bay Area. This includes a fleet of 'unfamiliar' low-flying planes buzzing the area to assist with security.

The large number of military-style equipment is part of a regional effort to ensure the safety of more than a million people who are expected to attend Sunday's Super Bowl, or to attend the glamorous parties that precede the game.

A helicopter equipped with radiological detector equipment and flown by the Energy Department's Nuclear Emergency Support Team was seen flying at a height of about?100 feet (about 30 meters) above some San Francisco neighborhoods.

The Department of Homeland Security will also fly helicopters for transport and surveillance to support tactical teams, as well as to keep an eye on the skies.

Air and Marine Operations Unit plans to deploy Airbus AS350'surveillance helicopters' from an undisclosed Bay Area aifield in the days leading up to and during the NFL championship game.

Airbus helicopters are equipped with infrared detectors and video surveillance. In a two-person practice flight, the helicopter was able to identify the brand of shoes worn by a Super Bowl worker as it circled over 250 feet (76 meters).

In an interview, an Air and Marine Operations Agent, who asked that his name be withheld due to security reasons, stated: "We have been providing intelligence surveillance, reconnaissance, and air security around Super Bowl?and its venues."

The?unit, which is responsible for crowd control and enforces the no-fly zone around the stadium, will be in charge of enforcing the no-fly zone on Sunday.

The 35 agencies that are involved in the National Football League title game between New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks face a challenge because Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara is 50 miles (80,5 km) south from San Francisco, where the majority of events leading up the game take place.

The U.S. Coast Guard has increased its deployment at Levi's Stadium, despite the fact that it is located inland. This is due to the risk that the Bay poses and the events taking place along the San Francisco waterfront.

In an interview, Coast Guard Lieutenant Command Eddie Kalankiewicz stated that the marine unit anticipates more pleasure boats around the Bay, and possibly two large cruise ships arriving during the week. This will require increased security.

He said: "By displaying a stronger presence, we hope that any bad actors will be deterred." (Reporting and editing by Bill Berkrot in San Francisco, Max A. Cherney reported from San Francisco.

(source: Reuters)