Soldier Wearable Acoustic Targeting System (SWATS)

Published Tue, 2008-04-22 13:29 Military

Designed for both mounted and dismounted infantry, QinetiQ’s miniature, low-profile acoustic Ears family of wearable, sniper detection and gunshot localisation solutions is based on a miniature single integrated acoustic sensor.

The palm-sized, 6.4-ounce sensor can be coupled with an individual operators’ interface or used in vehicles and at fixed locations. It responds with the direction and distance in less than a tenth of a second from the first gunshot being fired, without being confused by surrounding sounds, to accurately locate snipers in a 360o view, even when in use on a vehicle moving at speeds over 50mph.

The Ears solution was develop by a QinetiQ North America subsidiary and is known to the US Army as the Soldier Wearable Acoustic Targeting System (SWATS). Ears has already been selected by the US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC) to integrate the warfighter-wearable member of the Ears sniper detection family into Future Force Warrior (FFW). FFW is the Army’s flagship Science and Technology initiative to develop and demonstrate revolutionary capabilities for Future Force Soldier systems. The entire Ears product family makes use of this unique sensor, which is currently combat-deployed with the Army in Afghanistan and Iraq.

During the Autumn of 2007, US Army field tests proved the effectiveness of the Ears solution in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The US Army’s positive evaluation of Ears’ in-theatre performance – which proved the advantages of Ears’ vastly reduced size, weight, and power requirements – led to this award by NSRDEC.

The NSRDEC contract award is for eight Ears SWATS systems for integration into Future Force Warrior.

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