Gunslinger Package for Advanced Convoy Security (GunPACS)

What Is It?

Gunslinger Package for Advanced Convoy Security (GunPACS) is an integrated gunfire detection and counter-fire system package that provides a modular, networkable capability that can be installed on light platforms such as the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR).

How Does It Work?

GunPACS enhances situational awareness by combining threat detection and cooperative engagement capabilities for ground and combat logistics elements. Utilizing networked data fusion, such cooperative engagement enables more accurate and effective fire.

What Will It Accomplish?

Equipping vehicles with GunPACS will allow for better situational awareness for tactical formations. It will provide vehicles with the ability to identify small arms  fire, rapidly prosecute targets from under armor, and share gun sight and situational awareness video to similar platforms or the combat operations center/tactical operations center in near real time. It will also provide a networked ability to share friendly positions and cue remote weapons system to hostile fire locations.

GunPACS is being developed in response to an urgent need requesting kits that can be rapidly fielded and installed in theater to protect convoys. The initial  platform for integration of these bolt-on kits was identified as the MTVR because of its durability and availability in theater.

GunPACS is a partnership between the Office of Naval Research and the Rapid Reaction Transition Office at the Office of the Secretary of Defense that builds on previous successes with the Gunslinger gunfire detection, counter fire system and the WolfPack small-unit enabling capability. The focus of this project is to develop and field MTVR kits that provide a gunfire detection and counter fire capability through acoustic detection and rapid and accurate response and/or direct fire against a threat via a remote weapons station (RWS). It also focuses on enhanced communication systems to extend lines of communications and expand pathways for transmission of shared information between individual GunPACS systems and an operations center or small unit commander.

Designed and developed with small-unit missions in mind, GunPACS leverages current MTVR capabilities of mobility, survivability, reliability, the current MTVR and additive kit. GunPACS further enhances these resident capabilities by integrating several technologies to improve a small units’ ability to expand situational awareness, share information, locate, close with, and more accurately engage threats.

The combination of capabilities in each kit is intended to enhance and improve a small units’ versatility, adaptability and lethality through increased situational awareness enabled by the RWS optics package; distribution and sharing of information through more capable communications; and, when lethal force requires, highly accurate and rapid volume of fire enabled by the RWS operator protected under armor. The capability is further enhanced through the organic capabilities of mobility and survivability of the MTVR platform.

Research Challenges and Opportunities:

  • Designing a digital backbone that can transmit relevant data among vehicles in real world operational conditions
  • Designing integrated kits that are easy to install and maintain in the field

Point of Contact

Dan Simons
(703) 696-4840
dan.simons@navy.mil

* Some pages on this website provide links which require Adobe Reader to view.