IRCM + HALTT = JATAS … well not really, but the concenpt of countermeasures against all threats (missiles + rockets + fire arms) against helicopter platforms. This links to Afghanistan, and future counter insurgency. I will bet Is rael is going to be staring at US again for these advanced COIN ideas. (Oh, by the way, Raytheon bought BBN Technologies weeks ago. I was surprised about that.)

Is this the end of evolution? No… but I am not going to discuss further. I think I’ve unzipped my mouth too much today.

freefallingbomb , your new alias here? Why not try MOAB or MOP lol, just joking.

About “HALTT” :

“BBN Technologies Corp., Cambridge, Mass., was awarded on Oct. 1, 2009 an 8.647.422 $ cost-plus fixed-fee contract. The object of this effort is to provide five operational H-60 Blackhawk aircraft with the helicopter alert and threat termination (HALTT) shooter detection and localization capability. The Blackhawk aircraft will be deployed to Afghanistan for operational evaluation. The HALTT system will reduce the effectiveness of small arms fire by detecting bullets fired at the aircraft and precisely locating the shooter. This capability will enhance the safety of Blackhawk crews and aircraft to avoid loss of life and assets. Work is to be performed in Boston, Mass., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2010. One bid solicited with one bid received. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-10-C-0017).”

http://www.defenselink.mil/contracts/contract.asp...
(Scroll two thirds down the page)

(By the way: I’m Christian Lowe)

1) In useful time? When flying low?

2) When flying alone?

3) I wonder if and when every single U.S. helicopter is going to be equipped with a system so sophisticated that even Airforce One doesn’t have it!

4) Airforce One may not have this “por­tal for even­tual inte­gra­tion of elec­tronic attack and war­fare capabilities” that warns it of a 0,50 calibre shooter standing at the end of the runway, or on some roof-top, but how is this system supposed to work against true hi-tech enemies? “Shoo, shoo” ?

5) Once again, the most important information is missing in this article (in this whole miracle technology…?) : What is a helicopter engulfed in a cloud of “dumb” ammunition supposed to do?
Drop tests?

Dodge the ammunition? Upgrade the armour?! Use chaff and flares? Expand the search across the electromagnetic spectrum? Even a near-miss of a missile (with proximity fuze) can blast it to smithereens!