Theissen Training Systems has won a contract from the US Army PEO STRI (Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation) to supply live fire target systems and location of miss and hit (LOMAH) equipment for Fort Benning (Georgia), Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri) and Fort Jackson (South Carolina).
This award is another success in PEO STRI’s ‘common army ranges and target systems (CARTS) program, which assists in the overhaul of target training ranges around the world by integrating new devices and target systems. CARTS is an indefinite delivery and quantity, multiple-award contract with a five-year period of performance, and a budget cap of $400m.
As a part of the program, Theissen will be delivering modern target actuators equipped with LOMAH (location of miss and hit) electronic scoring systems. All equipment adheres to the US Army’s FASIT (future army system of integrated targets) standards, which set down common benchmarks for the function, communications and conventions surrounding the targets and equipment for army training ranges. The equipment fielded will include:
Stationary Infantry Target (SIT)
The SIT lifts a target silhouette out of cover. The drive is the core device of the target system. Its powerful electric motor is capable of lifting all human silhouette type targets used by the military and is designed to withstand all types of adverse environmental conditions. To operate the mechanism it must be connected to a power supply and to the range control network. It can be configured for hardwired (120/240 VAC) or battery powered (12 VDC) applications. The SIT is equipped with a height adjustable mechanism to vary the target height depending on the height of the berm and to compensate for the unevenness of the ground.
LOMAH Sensor System
The LOMAH (Location of Miss and Hit) system provides immediate performance feedback for supersonic ammunition and specifies shot-positions with exceptional accuracy. The calculated position of the shot is transmitted to the Range Control Unit (centralized) or to the Student Station (decentralized). Shots fired at the target are scored and evaluated in real time. The system can detect up to 20 rounds per second and records all shots fired (hit or miss) in an area that is 100% greater in width and height than the target silhouette profile, although the scoring area can be electronically downsized by the user.
Shot Sensor System
The Shot Sensor system enables objective and reliable scoring. The system has been developed to guarantee accurate hit counting and to eliminate incorrect scoring on multi-lane ranges. It always detects that a round has been fired from the firing point thus signaling the system that a round has been shot in that lane.
Student Station
The ruggedized Student Station with its viewable touch screen of ten inches and a resolution of 1280×800 is used to provide immediate performance feedback by displaying shooting results. The shooter can see the location of the shot and can correct his aiming point. A scratch resistant touch screen panel enables operation of the student station, which is used with an Android based operating system. The internal battery pack enables movement and placement anywhere within a defined radius of the shooter’s firing point depending on the range conditions. For lane identification / placement, the Student Station is equipped with a built-in GPS.
FASIT Compliance and TRACR Control Software
The delivered systems interoperate with the TRACR software via the FASIT PD Interface Control Document (ICD). The component interfaces required for the two-way communication between the FASIT Target PDs and the FASIT Target Controller are used in accordance with the FASIT Specifications. The devices utilize the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP) suite and are connected to the range control network via an ethernet interface (CAT 5e/6 cable). To facilitate future extensions, the devices support the IP Version 6 Protocol Specification.