Hostile-Fire Detector for Helos
 

Caught this one on a Google Alert today. Written by Nathan Hodge who writes for one of the UK defence mags.

Does this sound a feasible solution to a recognised problem?

Hostile-Fire Detector for Helos

U.S. military aircraft already boast sophisticated systems to counter the threat from surface-to-air missiles. Problem is, missile warning systems and electronic countermeasures don't do much good when you're being targeted with dumb bullets.

BAE Systems, which designs and integrates electronic warfare equipment for military aircraft, is now promoting a new self-protection system for helicopters that can detect the point of origin of hostile fire from the ground -- and give helicopter crews a better chance of taking evasive action.

While the U.S. military doesn't have a formal requirement yet to buy this kind of system, the company announced this week that it had just concluded a series live-fire tests to see if the helicopter-mounted system could actually measure acoustic data and accurately detect threats.

Using acoustic sensors to detect small-arms fire is not new; the BBN Technologies Boomerang shooter-detection system has seen extensive service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Boomerang -- which is typically mounted on military vehicles -- uses a compact array of microphones to detect the supersonic "crack" of incoming small arms fire. It quickly reports the relative position of the hostile shooter, and gives auditory and visual signals to indicate direction for returning fire.

Doing the same thing on a fast-moving aircraft poses a somewhat greater challenge. According to BAE Systems, the system would work by combining acoustic data, noise reduction, and information from existing helicopter sensors to give the crew multiple indications of hostile fire. But despite reports to the contrary, the system is not yet slated to deployed on operational aircraft going to Afghanistan or Iraq.

Perhaps the finer detail is not fit for this thread but lots and lots of work is going on in this sphere including tinkering with algorythms on presently fitted equipments Backseat. Lots of innovation including Acoustic, IR MWS and UV MWS re-configuration as well.

Article about this in the Telegraph on the 16th Jan.

It starts:

"British and American helicopters on the frontline in Afghanistan could be fitted with new technology to pinpoint enemy gunfire that could save hundreds of troops' lives. Dozens of helicopters have been shot down by small arms fire in Afghanistan and Iraq but the new Hostile Fire Indicator would be a major advance in protecting the aircraft."

This part:



made me laugh it did!

:ugh::rolleyes:

Few hours to install..great
Few hundred pounds each...fantastic
3 year delay...expected
£2 million NRE.........Priceless

There are a lot of people using this forum that know more about acoustic HFI, and all other potential types of HFI than the accumulative knowledge of every single person in BAE Systems.

This kind of technology was thought of and discarded years ago, from the work I have been involved in for HFI I seriously hope that this is some kind of early April fools joke, that or just the standard BAE spin on a product looking for a problem (more likely).

And there's this one...

Elixir

Do you really want to talk about this here? :=

No, you probably don't. But at least it shows that the ALM Research Budget wasn't wasted in the good old days before I was a builder!

Hold on.

Helo flies at xxx knots. Incoming fire (AAR/Missile etc) flies at xxxxxxxxxxxxx knots.

Would you really want a piece of kit that tells you that in 3 seconds you are toast? Then three seconds later, you are?

Oh! That kind of hostile fire detector.......I thought you were talking about a smoke detector that shouted rude things at you! I think I live in a parallel universe!
Oh well back to arranging my pens in colour order......
Dicky

Taxydual,

...and gunners always hit the target first time...not!

The theory behind any HFI is that it warns you someone is shooting at you and, hopefully, not hitting you. Therefore you do have time to conduct evasion to prevent any subsequent bursts hitting you.

As for technical solutions, not for discussion on this forum for Security and Commercial reasons.

Speed of sound?
 

Acoustic detection of transonic projectiles? I assume there's more to this than meets the ear, or else its a nice fat pork-barrel contract.

I agree a device could tell you where fire came from after it arrives, but a useful early warning?

Fitted a trial acoustic HFI system in the late '70's. Best bit was watching the trials officer (an RO who appeared to have a slight palsy!) firing a SLR from a standing position, "in the direction of" the helo, hovering 200m down the range!