ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates armed forces' Joint Aviation Command (JAC) is concluding a $52.27 million deal with Florida-based Orbital ATK Defense Electronic Systems for acoustic hostile fire warning systems.
The announcement, made on Wednesday at the IDEX show here International Defence Exhibition (IDEX2015) in Abu Dhabi by Maj. Gen. Obeid al-Kitbi, spokesman for the show, signifies the first order for purchase, integration and installation of ATK Orbital's new ShotFinder system.
ShotFinder provide aircrews with enhanced notice of incoming threats by using the supersonic shock wave from a passing bullet and the muzzle blast from the weapon to determine a bullet's origin and point of closest approach.
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The ShotFinder warning system will be placed on all JAC fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft.
The command currently has a fleet that includes of aircraft which include AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47 Chinooks and SA-330 Pumas. The command also has fleets of trainer craft, such as which include the Pilatus PC-7, PC-21 and the Alenia Aermacchi M-346.
According to ATK Orbital, the selection was has been made after several in-country demonstrations that which confirmed the ShotFinder's high probability of hostile-fire detection and low false-alarm rate to the JAC commanders.
The system identifies and directionally locates small arms fire, anti-aircraft artillery and rocket-propelled grenade threats, providing pilots the situational awareness needed to safely accomplish their mission.
"We look forward to working with the UAE Joint Aviation Command on this leading capability in aircraft protection and survivability equipment," said Bill Kasting, vice president and general manager of the Defense Electronic Systems division of Orbital ATK's Defense Systems Group.
"ShotFinder's ability to detect incoming enemy arms fire and relay real-time warning to the pilot provides our customers the capability they need to protect aircrew lives during combat missions."
Orbital ATK added in their statement that the the ShotFinder acoustic hostile-fire system was developed with Scientific Applications and Research Associates (SARA).
ShotFinder provide aircrews with enhanced notice of incoming threats by using the supersonic shock wave from a passing bullet and the muzzle blast from the weapon to determine a bullet's origin and point of closest approach.
The Joint Aviation Command also signed a maintenance, repair and overhaul contract with Emirates Defence Industries Co.'s subsidiary AMMROC worth $630 million, dollars bringing the total purchases by the UAE military so far to $4.35 billion.
Email: amustafa@defensenews.com
Awad Mustafa was a Middle East and Africa correspondent for Defense News.
