Special Operations.Com

U.S. Army Joint Counter Sniper Program

PURPOSE

The Joint Counter Sniper Program was initiated as an Army project by TRADOC Commander, Gen Franks in 1993. The issue that was given to DBBL by him was "Where are we in Counter Sniper?" This question materialized because of the sniping that was occurring in Bosnia. The project was kicked off with a joint, interagency conference to determine where we were and to begin to define a distinct requirement.

OBJECTIVE

By the middle of 1994 a draft requirement was formulated and some prototype technologies were demonstrated at Ft Benning and at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. DARPA published a BAA in late 1994 and by 1995 we had half a dozen companies under contract to build prototypes. DBBL had contracted through ARDEC under the ACT II Program to look at the possibility of doing a soldier mounted system.

By the beginning of 1996 requirements were refined and took on a form that met the need of all participants. There are three basic thrusts for counter sniper, a fixed site system, a vehicle-mounted system, and a dismounted soldier system.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In 1996 a Mini-ACTD for Counter Sniper was approved and partially funded by OSD. The ACTD started May 1996 and the deliverables arrived at DBBL during the latter part of August 1996. A total of ten systems were delivered to DBBL: One fixed site acoustic system called Secures/Tagit. (This system was used in the Ft Benning Olympic Village), four each Sniper team IR systems called VIPER, and five each fixed site acoustic systems called Bullet Ears. The program was supported by the Army Research Lab (ARL), the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Dismounted Battlespace Battle Lab (DBBL), and the U.S. Marine Corps. The final report was completed in December 1997. The user participants to date are: Army, USMC, AF, NIJ. Various allies are following the program as associate participants and include Canada, UK, and France. 

FUTURE

Currently, DARPA has a soldier helmet program under contract that is near completion. DBBL is coordinating with DARPA to use the deliverables in a Concept Experimentation Program initiative during Sep 99. In addition, the Army Research Lab has a contract for development of a vehicle-mounted system with DBBL acting as the user representative. This system should be available for experimentation in Apr 99. ARL is in the process of procuring the French system, PILAR. These system should be available for experimentation during Mar 99.

POINTS OF CONTACT

Mr. Chris Kearns, commercial: (706)545-6391, DSN: 835-6391, email kearnsc@benning.army.mil.

OR

Mr. Tony Mason, commercial: (706)545-5257, DSN: 835-5257, email masonr2@benning.army.mil.