Sniper detection using a helmet array: first tests in urban environment

The presence of snipers in modern conflicts leads to high insecurity for the soldiers. In order to improve the soldier's protection against this threat, the French German Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL) and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH (RDE) work together under the hospice of the German MOD to develop a helmet integrated acoustic array for the detection and localization of snipers. This paper summarizes the results obtained during the collaboration between RDE and the ISL concerning the detection and the localization of the Mach and muzzle waves generated by rifle shots. It summarizes the technical choices that have been made and explains the algorithms that have been used in October 2006 in Lehnin (proving ground of the German MOD), where some measurements in an urban environment have been made. The estimation of the distance between the shooter and the arrays is made with one head equipment alone. In the first tests that have been made with the algorithms developed in ISL, more than 2000 shots have been detected and localized successfully in real-time in non-urban environment. No false alarms have been observed. This paper will present the first results that have been obtained in urban environment.