DSEI Japan 2019: Rafael unveils new mobile fire detection and location system

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems unveiled a new vehicle-mounted passive electro-optical hostile fire detection and location system at the 18-20 November DSEI Japan 2019 exhibition held in Chiba.

Rafael unveiled a new mobile fire detection and location system called Land Spotter at DSEI Japan 2019. The photo shows one of the system's two FLIR sensors (left) next to the HMI unit. (Gabriel Dominguez / IHS Markit)

Called Land Spotter, the system, which can be installed on any tracked or wheeled vehicle, is capable of “rapid day and night, all-weather detection and pinpoint location and classification of enemy fire within the line of sight, whether coming from stationary or on-the-move positions”, a Rafael official told Jane’s , pointing out that the system can detect enemy fire coming from multiple small arms and light weapons – such as machine guns and sniper rifles – as well as from rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank guided missiles and tank shells.

Land Spotter, which weighs less than 30 kg, including cables, is made up of two forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors (190° each) ‒ delivering a 360° horizontal field of view and +37° vertical field of view ‒ as well as a connecting harness and a human-machine interface (HMI) unit.

A diagram of Rafael’s Land Spotter fire detection and location system. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems )

The system can be integrated and share the data with existing battle management systems, remote weapon stations, and other third-party systems, including effectors, that can be positioned on remote platforms such as tanks, helicopters, naval vessels or any other platform connected to the C2 network, said the company official.