Crosshairs
Abstract
(U) The Crosshairs program seeks to develop a vehicle mounted threat detection and countermeasure system that will detect, locate, and engage enemy shooters against a variety of threats to include bullets, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), and direct fired mortars, both stationary and on the move. Threat identification and localization will be accomplished in sufficient time to enable both automatic and man-in-the-loop responses. Phase I of the program focused on initial development and testing of the Crosshairs sensor system. Phase IA culminated with a static live fire test to determine the most effective candidate sensor system. During Phase IB, enhancements were made to the sensor system for on the move performance, and on the move testing against multiple threats was conducted. DARPA and the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) entered into an MOA for Phase IIA. Phase IIA consisted of a moving demonstration of the hardened, packaged, and enhanced Phase I sensor system on two networked HMMWVs (Humvee), integration with candidate response systems, and testing and evaluation of the complete systems in relevant environments. The program is currently in Phase IIB. During this phase, the Crosshairs sensor system is being integrated with the Iron Curtain Active Protection System (IC-APS) on four up-armored vehicles. At the end of Phase IIB, the Crosshairs systems will be ready for field testing. (U) The Concept of Operations is to provide a military vehicle with an affordable vehicle mounted detection and response system that operates both stationary and on the move for light tactical vehicles. Bullets will be detected and localized using the DARPA-developed Boomerang acoustic gunfire detection system. Radar detection of all other threats will be made using the CrossCue radar. Protection against incoming RPGs will be provided by the IC-APS. The CrossCue radar is a dual mode, continuous wave, and pulsed Doppler radar, which will be used to determine range, velocity, and angle of bearing of the incoming threat. IC-APS uses the CrossCue Radar to alert the optical break screen of incoming RPGs. The optical break screen characterizes the threat and activates the cutting charge to engage the warhead and cut the fuse. Technology challenges include: improving target classifier, reducing navigational drift, reducing effects of acoustic noise, improving estimates for point of closest approach and velocity, and integration of the IC-APS and CrossCue Radar. (U) DARPA is working with the Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) and the Project Manager Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (PM-MRAP) to validate the capabilities and initiate transition to combat forces in the 2010/2011 time frame.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- a1f220f5a9b07efcb47970dbad6b476a
Related Documents
- Root: TACTICAL TECHNOLOGY