The VIPER infrared muzzle flash detection system was deployed from a helicopter and an airship in response to the Washington, DC area sniper attacks in October 2002. The system consist of a midwave IR camera, which was used to detect muzzle flash and cue a visible light camera on a gimbal to the detected event. The helicopter installation was done to prove that a manned airborne installation of the VIPER detection system would work. Within 36 hours of the request to deploy the system, it had been modified, approved by the FAA inspector and flown. Testing at the Ft. Meade rifle range showed that in the helicopter installation the system worked at least as well as the ground based system. Because of the limited endurance that a helicopter allows, the system was then installed aboard a Navy leased airship. It was flown at Elizabeth City, NC and was tested against live fire. These were the first flights of the airborne VIPER payload. It has since been flown numerous times on helicopters and tested against various guns, mortars, and artillery. The Naval Research Laboratory has demonstrated multiple payloads, each of which flew in manned helicopters and all controlled from a single ground station.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Quick response airborne deployment of VIPER muzzle flash detection and location system during DC sniper attacks


    Contributors:
    Pauli, M. (author) / Ertem, M.C. (author) / Heidhausen, E. (author)


    Publication date :

    2003-01-01


    Size :

    297696 byte




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Quick Response Airborne Deployment of Viper Muzzle Flash Detection and Location System During DC Sniper Attacks

    Pauli, M. / Ertem, M. / Heidhausen, E. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2004


    Airborne Deployment of and Recent Improvements to the Viper Counter Sniper System

    S. A. Moroz / R. B. Pierson / M. C. Ertem et al. | NTIS | 1999




    Radiometric measurements of muzzle flash

    LaRoca, A.J. / Lindquist, G.H. / Livisay, J.P. et al. | Tema Archive | 1978