BAE Systems’ HAMMER precision targeting system successfully completed the Army’s critical design review for its Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS) target location designation system (TDLS) program, according to a company statement.
BAE says review of the system’s design and capability is a key milestone as the company works toward providing dismounted soldiers and operators with a targeting solution. JETS is an Army-led, joint-interest program with the Air Force and Marine Corps aimed at developing and fielding a man-portable targeting system that provides the ability to acquire, identify, precisely locate and mark targets in all lighting and weather conditions.
BAE was awarded a $15 million engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract to support the JETS program with the company’s HAMMER; or Handheld Azimuth Measuring, Marking, Electro-optic imaging and Ranging; target system in March 2013. BAE spokesman Paul Roberts said Wednesday the JETS EMD program remains on track to complete qualification testing in 2015, enter production in late 2015 and field an initial operational capability (IOC) in 2016. Roberts said the company recently completed the design phase and is now entering the integration and qualification phase of the JETS EMD program.
BAE said it is offering is less than one-half the weight and cost of targeting systems currently in Defense Department inventory. Roberts said examples of other targeting systems in DoD inventory include BAE’s lightweight laser target locator module (LTLM) Target Reconnaissance Infrared Geolocating Rangefinder (TRIGR) system, which he called the primary handheld precision targeting system in United States inventory.
HAMMER builds on TRIGR, enhancing precision targeting capabilities by adding a compact laser marker and a non-magnetic compass. The TRIGR system consists of an integrated, forward-looking advanced infrared optic, a 7x direct-view optic, laser range finger, digital magnetic compass, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to locate targets of interest.
When fielded as part of the JETS program, the HAMMER system will help soldiers distinguish friends from foes with satellite positioning and surveillance information and allow them to rapidly receive, transmit and coordinate targeting data. Roberts said the HAMMER system can be obtained through the JETS program office or directly from BAE, though he said working with the Army offers the advantage of shared acquisition and logistics support.