Sniper tracker to be deployed to Afghanistan

[Farnan]

(ChattahBox) — American and British soldiers battling the guerilla insurgence in Iraq and Afghanistan could soon be protected by an anti-sniper device that can pinpoint the position of the shooter within a fraction of a second. After roadside bombs, snipers have been the biggest cause of the 301 British fatalities in both wars, and army leaders are convinced the device could save dozens of lives. The palm-sized device designed by Qinetiq, a British defense firm is pinned to the uniform and uses acoustic technology to calculate the exact position of the rifle fire. Then a electronic voice passes on the “bearing and range” to the soldier allowing him to jump to safety and return fire.

The device, which costs around $4,000 for each unit works by isolating the crack of the sniper rifle thanks to four microphones, a GPS system and a powerful microprocessor. It takes less than a tenth of a second and provides the results in audio and visual formats. It can even send a grid reference via radio to supporting artillery and aircraft. The system, which weighs less than 6oz, is so sensitive it can tell the difference between outgoing friendly fire and incoming enemy fire and can distinguish a sniper even in a gun battle. It helps to make combat scenarios, especially in urban areas, a lot less confusing. Everybody immediately knows what side of the vehicle or building to jump behind when taking fire.”

The machine has already been purchased by the Americans for deployment in the New Year and the British are looking at a vehicle mounted version. The device works at up to 50 mph on a vehicle. The device has already been road tested in Iraq and Afghanistan to claims of great success. Don Steinman, one of the leaders of the project at Qinetiq North America who developed the device called EARS for Early Attack Reaction System says:

“The soldiers gave us feedback and we acted on it. The result is a powerful, rugged, and lightweight gunshot localization system that helps the individual warfighter rapidly respond to dangerous situations. It is all about saving guys’ lives,” said Knowing immediately where the shots come from means that it eliminates the confusion and allows soldiers to find cover and return fire.”

Although the range and accuracy of the device is kept secret for operational reasons Mr Steinman said they were well beyond the capabilities of a sniper.

http://chattahbox.com/technology/200...sniper-device/

Pretty cool device.

[Hounf of Culan]

That thing is awesome! If I remember correctly futureweapons did a piece on it and it looked awesome.

[Tankfriend]

Sounds like a nice gadget to have in a combat zone and it's definitely a very good thing for indirectly saving lifes.
I do see some flaws in the design though, which could make that device either ineffective or useless:

- Depending on the positioning of the device on the uniform (the article just says that it's "pinned to the uniform"), isn't it problematic if the user is facing away from the direction of the shot (i.e. the device is pinned to the front of the uniform)? Another problematic thing could be too loud background noises; the dev's seem to claim that that's not the case but since when have products been 100% true to their advertisement?

- What about the speed? Normally, bullets are travelling faster than sound so they would hit before the device could warn the soldier(s); that's a rather small issue at short distances because there's not that much time between the bullet and the sound but nonetheless, it's not a viable method to prevent a first-shot kill (or wounded; I'm assuming that the sniper in question does know what he's doing and that his equipment is in good-enough shape)

- What happens if the sniper is using a silenced weapon? I guess it would be quite hard if not impossible for the device to warn anyone from incoming silenced sniper fire even at relatively close distances depending on the weapon used by the sniper; It's important to note though, that this flaw most likely only occurs when facing professional military personnel that has special equipment at their disposal, so it shouldn't be an issue in Afghanistan (I doubt that the usage will be limited to Afghanistan though, so that's where this flaw can turn up).

[Farnan]

Sounds like a nice gadget to have in a combat zone and it's definitely a very good thing for indirectly saving lifes.
I do see some flaws in the design though, which could make that device either ineffective or useless:

- Depending on the positioning of the device on the uniform (the article just says that it's "pinned to the uniform"), isn't it problematic if the user is facing away from the direction of the shot (i.e. the device is pinned to the front of the uniform)? Another problematic thing could be too loud background noises; the dev's seem to claim that that's not the case but since when have products been 100% true to their advertisement?

Since its been tested, I assume that has been dealt with. Either way its better than what we have I'm sure you'll agree.

- What about the speed? Normally, bullets are travelling faster than sound so they would hit before the device could warn the soldier(s); that's a rather small issue at short distances because there's not that much time between the bullet and the sound but nonetheless, it's not a viable method to prevent a first-shot kill (or wounded; I'm assuming that the sniper in question does know what he's doing and that his equipment is in good-enough shape)

Its not meant to deal with the first shot, rather with subsequent shots.

- What happens if the sniper is using a silenced weapon? I guess it would be quite hard if not impossible for the device to warn anyone from incoming silenced sniper fire even at relatively close distances depending on the weapon used by the sniper; It's important to note though, that this flaw most likely only occurs when facing professional military personnel that has special equipment at their disposal, so it shouldn't be an issue in Afghanistan (I doubt that the usage will be limited to Afghanistan though, so that's where this flaw can turn up).

Silencers just make it less noisy, and don't hide the sound completely. It may not give an exact location but will at least give a general direction fire is coming from.

[Mathias]

- What happens if the sniper is using a silenced weapon? I guess it would be quite hard if not impossible for the device to warn anyone from incoming silenced sniper fire even at relatively close distances depending on the weapon used by the sniper; It's important to note though, that this flaw most likely only occurs when facing professional military personnel that has special equipment at their disposal, so it shouldn't be an issue in Afghanistan (I doubt that the usage will be limited to Afghanistan though, so that's where this flaw can turn up).

Silencers doesn't work as well as it does in movies; the gun still gives off quite a bang, at least sniper rifles does (which usually are quite powerful).

[Rich86]

What happens if the sniper is using a silenced weapon?

I don't think many do use silencers - simply because it slows the round down. You lose range and penetration by using one - possibly turning a hit into a miss, or a kill into a wounding.

[Garrigan]

Hmm... Does an AK make a different sound to that of a SA80? Or what the Americans use currently? If so I can see that being a next step, in an attempt to stop friendly fire.

[Farnan]

Hmm... Does an AK make a different sound to that of a SA80? Or what the Americans use currently? If so I can see that being a next step, in an attempt to stop friendly fire.

The US use the M4/M16, but yes it gives a different sound. Also, a different caliber weapon, sniper weapons are usually higher caliber would give a different sound. Furthermore, rounds farther away would also have a different volume of sound than one closer.

[Spamostoc]

Hmm... Does an AK make a different sound to that of a SA80? Or what the Americans use currently? If so I can see that being a next step, in an attempt to stop friendly fire.

Big difference between the two. In fact, the distinct sounds are a big reason why you don't pick up an enemy's weapon in battle. In an encounter between say, US marines and insurgents, a marine picking up a dropped AK is begging to be shot by a veteran on his own side.

[boofhead]

Sounds like a new version of the device they have used to pinpoint enemy mortar positions for some years.

[Garrigan]

The US use the M4/M16, but yes it gives a different sound. Also, a different caliber weapon, sniper weapons are usually higher caliber would give a different sound. Furthermore, rounds farther away would also have a different volume of sound than one closer.

So would a system which could differentiate between these two "Standard" weapons in some of the main conflict areas be a possible development from this?

[Surgeon]

I heard the Russians have a similar device they were using in Chechnya, only instead of sound it used laser sensors to detect optic things like binoculars and scopes and then used a more concentrated laser to burn out the sniper's eye. Pretty sick.

[Norge]

I heard the Russians have a similar device they were using in Chechnya, only instead of sound it used laser sensors to detect optic things like binoculars and scopes and then used a more concentrated laser to burn out the sniper's eye. Pretty sick.

And you actually believe this? People sure are gullible.

[Surgeon]

And you actually believe this? People sure are gullible.

Actually it's real from what I know, but Russian snipers have criticized it because it can be easily circumvented by strapping dark filter paper or film over the scope, or placing a tube of any sort (e.g. from a paper towel roll) on the scope to block the laser sensors. That way you'd need to look directly at the device for it to see you.

[Norge]

double post.

[Rich86]

So would a system which could differentiate between these two "Standard" weapons in some of the main conflict areas be a possible development from this?

The only problem is that our own special forces don't always use the SA-80A2 or M16. The SAS for example basically pick their own kit - if a soldier in the SAS picks an AK for say, it's durability ( hell, you can throw the thing in a swamp, drag it out and it will still fire ) - he may end up dead when such a device singles him out

[hellheaven1987]

So, what is the most common sniper rifles used by insurgents??:hmmm:

[Rich86]

So, what is the most common sniper rifles used by insurgents??

Not sure but I'd put money on it being some ex-Soviet Union sniper rifle.

[Roman_Wolf]

pretty cool device.

[Simetrical]

Depending on the positioning of the device on the uniform (the article just says that it's "pinned to the uniform"), isn't it problematic if the user is facing away from the direction of the shot (i.e. the device is pinned to the front of the uniform)?

Why? If the device is able to figure out the position when the gun is in front of it, it shouldn't be any harder if it's behind.

Another problematic thing could be too loud background noises; the dev's seem to claim that that's not the case but since when have products been 100% true to their advertisement?

Loud background noises shouldn't make a lot of difference unless they happen to sound like sniper rifles being fired in some way. I don't know much about acoustics, but I'm pretty sure you would have no problem at all distinguishing things like engines or bombs from gunshots.

What about the speed? Normally, bullets are travelling faster than sound so they would hit before the device could warn the soldier(s); that's a rather small issue at short distances because there's not that much time between the bullet and the sound but nonetheless, it's not a viable method to prevent a first-shot kill (or wounded; I'm assuming that the sniper in question does know what he's doing and that his equipment is in good-enough shape)

No possible device could protect against the first shot from a sniper. You'd have to have something crazy like a device that looks in all directions, detects the incoming bullet optically, and destroys it with some kind of weapon that can hit within milliseconds after detection. Not feasible, at least not for the foreseeable future. The point is so that after the first shot, soldiers know where the sniper is and are able to immediately take cover.

What happens if the sniper is using a silenced weapon? I guess it would be quite hard if not impossible for the device to warn anyone from incoming silenced sniper fire even at relatively close distances depending on the weapon used by the sniper

Why? Silenced weapons are still pretty noisy. They're less audible, not actually silent. A reasonably sensitive microphone should be able to pick them up with no trouble, unless they were very far away.

So would a system which could differentiate between these two "Standard" weapons in some of the main conflict areas be a possible development from this?

If someone's firing at you with an assault rifle or machine gun, you can probably see where they are. It's a continuous sound, so you can much more easily track it, and they're probably a lot closer than the average sniper. I doubt this thing would be as useful, unless you wanted to use it for robots. (But robots don't necessarily need to worry about gunfire, if they're armored heavily enough.)