Frag Out! Magazine

Rarely there is possibility to detect and localize the shooter with optical means, including the naked eye. Sometimes even the advanced optoelectronic means will fail because they will only allow to localize the threat source. Scanning the whole zone around the threat is taking TIME, too much time. And there is no time at all when bullets are flying closely overhead. he defense industry has an answer for such problems, the acoustic gunshot detection systems. Those devices are localizing the shooters (or muzzle end to be exact) location based on physical phenomenon occurring during shots. They are able to provide direction and sometimes even distance to the threat. One of acoustic gunshot detection and localization solutions currently available on the market is Raytheon Boomerang iii acoustic gunshot detection system. It is able to detect all kinds of threat travelling with sonic speed and to provide exact location and range to threat. The system will not work against subsonic threats like handguns, shotguns or RPG's. The case of the first two threats is not a major problem as their effective range is extremely limited and the shooter position could be easily detected without the shot detection system. The RPG's are different – they are more dangerous but firing will almost always unveil shooters location. Boomerang iii has two-stage detection system. Primary detection is the bullet shock wave (N-Wave) detection when it passes within detection range of sensors, the microphones, initially producing two azimuth locations of ~120° apart from each other. The secondary detection is reverted detection based on location of muzzle blast. The time difference of arrival is combined with the primary detection to calculate a single solution defining the location of the shooter in range, azimuth, and elevation The whole process, from bullet entering the detection zone (within 50 meter radios from the mast with microphones) up to audible and visible alert takes less than one second. The Boomerang iii system might be integrated with PC application and satellite maps. In such configuration the system will display alert on the map pinpointing threat location. www.fragoutmag.com

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