Dutch Ministry of Defence Purchases First RAM-SCORE Systems

Microflown AVISA has delivered its first RAM-SCORE system to the Royal Netherlands Army. The Dutch Ministry of Defence formally commissioned Microflown AVISA to provide an array of Acoustic Vector Sensors for permanent installation on the Artillery Shooting Range (ASK) ‘t Harde in the Netherlands for target practicing. The array is capable of determining the locations of exploding mortar and artillery shells (Points of Impact) shot by artillery soldiers during firing exercises. This can be done with high accuracy under all weather conditions.

The acquisition leads to a potential increase of productivity within the Army, because the use of forward observers during training, using advanced binoculars to confirm the positions of the artillery strikes, becomes largely unnecessary.

Additionally, RAM-SCORE will be used by the range warden to monitor all firing events on the range, including Points of Origin of artillery and mortars, as well as small arms fire, from 9mm up to 0.50 cal., for range safety purposes, maintaining an overview of the weapons being fired and the positions of both origins and impacts.

As RAM-SCORE will be permanently installed, another use of the system could be to monitor the environmental noise emission of the shooting range, potentially increasing the range utilization without causing statutory nuisance.

The first of November 2012, the Dutch Ministry of Defence signed the contract for the purchase of a second (mobile) RAM-SCORE training system, that can be taken with them and used for training at other international locations, as and when required. Furthermore, the purchase of the first operational system is being prepared by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

During the signing of the contract, Minister Hans Hillen (Dutch Minister of Defence) emphasized that the Ministry of Defence will benefit from working with innovative SME organizations. The minister also realized that buying from its home market is of importance towards SMEs to be able to buildup references which facilitate exports entries. The management of Microflown AVISA emphasized that every high-tech company that seeks to market an invention, has interest to do this quickly. "Fast track innovation" is a requirement.

Microflown AVISA, established in 2010 as a spinoff from Microflown Technologies, has the mission to develop and market the Microflown sensor for defense and security applications. The company employs 20 FTEs from seven NATO countries.

Acoustic Vector Sensors

Acoustic Vector Sensors are able to locate, classify and track all kinds of sound sources in three dimensional space. As the Acoustic Vector Sensors are passive, they cannot be electronically disturbed or jammed. Partly for this reason, Acoustic Vector Sensors can be used as a gap filler for, or indeed even a replacement for, weapon locating radar.

The unique technology of Microflown AVISA, has also led to great interest abroad. Because the Acoustic Vector Sensors are very small, lightweight and energy efficient, they can also be used on other platforms, such as vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles or dismounted soldiers.

Microflown AVISA develops these applications, for instance, in research contracts from the Netherlands, India and the United States.

There is great interest in ACHOFILO; the application of Acoustic Vector Sensors for Hostile Fire Indication (HFI) on helicopters requiring self-protection from ‘low tech’ small arms and RPGs. Despite the background noise of the helicopter itself, the Acoustic Vector Sensors are able to detect the location of enemy fire, so pilots can react and respond appropriately.