Rheinmetall Acoustic Shooter Locating System ASLS to detect asymmetric threats 2002139

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IDEX 2013
Tri-Service defence exhibition
17 - 21 February 2013
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 
Rheinmetall Acoustic Shooter Locating System at IDEX 2013
 
 
Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 08:19 PM
 
Rheinmetall Acoustic Shooter Locating System ASLS to detect asymmetric threats.
In modern military and law enforcement operations, asymmetric threats pose the principal danger to the forces tasked with those missions. Security sweeps by mobile elements and the need to protect patrols or convoys used for moving troops and supplies are the order of the day in deployed operations. During such situations, ambushes by lightly armed insurgents and sniper fire – whether in urban environments or open terrain, often from semi-concealed positions or from above – constitute a clear and present danger to vehicle crews and dismounted troops in the vicinity of vehicles.
     

The ASLS (Acoustic Shooter Locating System) versions comprise a powerful acoustic sensor platform (microphone antenna) with integrated analysis electronics as well as a control and display device inside the vehicle.
     

To response against this threats, Rheinmetall has developed the Acoustic Shooter Locating System (ASLS), which comes in a basic version as well as an integrated version with Rheinmetall’s SAS Situational Awareness System, an electro-optical sensor system for immediate target verification. Both products are ready for the market and on display at IDEX 2013.

The ASLS versions comprise a powerful acoustic sensor platform (microphone antenna) with integrated analysis electronics as well as a control and display device inside the vehicle.

When a shot is fired, the ASLS alerts the crew acoustically and visually, instantly displaying the results of the shooter location process on the control and display device, including azimuth, elevation and distance. In addition, the shooter’s geo-referenced position is determined with a GPS system. This makes it possible to use the information in C4I systems, e.g. for target assignment and subsequent engagement.

The microphones feature an extensive dynamic operating range, meaning that they reliably register loud artillery fire as well as less noisy muzzle blasts.

The optimized microphone antennas and robust signal analysis procedure enable precise location of the shooter, with complete coverage of the surrounding terrain and a low false alarm rate even in the disrupted zone around the vehicle.

Integrated position sensors compensate for the movement of the vehicle, meaning that the shooter’s position on the control and display device can be precisely located even when the vehicle is on the move. Furthermore, the display incorporates a history feature that enables ready access to recent events.

An easy-to-use menu enables intuitive operation of the ASLS after minimal instruction. Designed for compactness, the ASLS is characterized by low weight and low power consumption (less than two watts).

The basic configuration of the ASLS is designed for maximum flexibility. A quick mounting device eliminates the need for a vehicle-specific installation kit. This means that the system can be mounted in less than 15 minutes even in small vehicles with very little effort. The analysis electronics and battery pack are both integrated into the antenna base, enabling the system to operate without being connected to the vehicle’s central power supply. The analysis results can be transmitted to the control and display device either by wireless link or cable.

The ASLS’s modularity assures high growth potential. Numerous enhancements and integration solutions in higher-echelon system environments are currently being examined under the rubric of future technologies.