A new acoustic system capable of pinpointing enemy artillery and thus enhancing battlefield awareness and protection for the British Army has been developed by a U.K. aerospace firm.
The SONUS Acoustic Weapon Locating System from Leonardo UK reportedly uses sound analysis to detect and locate gunfire, mortars and explosions — all without emitting an electronic signature.
Source: The UK Ministry of Defence
According to its developers, SONUS is a passive system capable of detecting three acoustic cues from hostile fire: the muzzle blast, the supersonic crack of a projectile breaking the sound barrier and the impact or explosion of the shell. SONUS analyzes these signatures to distinguish between weapons like guns, mortars and rifles. The system also uses multiple distributed sensors to apply triangulation to accurately calculate and then pinpoint the source of fire.
Specifically, the technology relies on advanced acoustic processing to detect pressure waves produced by the gunfire, mortars and explosions. Because SONUS can calculate both the point of origin and the point of impact, the technology enables operators to quickly locate hostile fire.
The team noted that SONUS operates passively unlike radar-based systems, which means it does not emit electronic signatures, thus reducing the risk to troops and enabling it to operate undetected in contested environments. Further, the SONUS can be deployed in under three minutes, thereby improving mobility and response times.
“It will significantly enhance our ability to protect our people and respond to emerging threats, ensuring the Army remains ready to meet the challenges of the future,” the researchers explained statement.
