At Eurosatory 2014, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems exhibits SPOTLITE-M, an in-motion enemy fire-source detection, positioning and classification system. SPOTLITE is a family of electro-optical (EO) products that quickly and accurately detect and locate enemy fire and swiftly close the sensor-to-shooter loop to neutralize the enemy and to initiative on the battle field.
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| Rafael's SPOTLINE (Photo: Rafael) |
SPOTLITE – M, an EO system installed on ACVs and other vehicles, detects and locates an enemy that is firing small arms, RPG bombs, anti-tank missiles, and rockets, in motion, day and night, at a range of up to 360°.
These system capabilities allow forces to perform several operations concurrently:
- At platform level - immediate use of jammers/smoke screens, barrel slaving to the location point and prompt firing and immediate backward/forward withdrawal
- At tactical unit level (platoon, company, battalion) the enemy location coordinates are in the unit computer within seconds. They are then sent through the C2 networks to relevant clients and to various shooters who can receive the target coordinates and quickly and accurately slave their sights to these coordinates, or to Special Forces active in the area of the incident.
The system has several technical capabilities that have a direct effect on the level of success in the battle field, e.g. locating (extracting coordinates of) the firing enemy in motion. This capability enables the threatened platform to continue moving while performing combat drills and techniques and using jamming means. Other technologies, unlike SPOTLITE – M, require the platform to stop (for ranging) which is inconceivable when the platform is threatened by an approaching anti-tank missile.
Another capability is: Locating the firing enemy beyond the effective range of the fired munitions. This capability (in addition to the ability to extract the coordinates of the firing enemy) allows not only to defend the manoeuvring platform but also to neutralize the fire source by sending the targets through the C2 networks to various sources of precise fire such as electro-optical missiles (the SPIKE Family), precise artillery, attack helicopters, and fighter aircraft. The indicated capabilities can be implemented day and night.