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| Iraq |
| U.S. Army Uses System To Detect IEDs |
| 2006-12-20 |
| [MENL] -- The U.S. Army has achieved mixed results with an advanced system meant to detect improvised explosive devices. Officials said army units have not resolved the IED threat with the use of the Common Remotely Operated Weapons System. CROWS, which replaces the turret gunner on the Humvee combat vehicle, enables crews to engage targets viewed on a computer screen without being exposed to IEDs and small-arms fire. CROWS contains daytime and thermal sights, the latter which detects heat signature at a range of more than one kilometer. This has enabled patrols to cover wide areas in the search for IEDs. Officials said CROWS has been used to help detect IEDs at night. Most anti-IED operations take place before sunrise. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Al, the thermal camera on the CROWS (Recon Optical Rave) or Protector (Kongsberg system that is on the Stryker vehicle) can help identify an IED in special cases. The metal jacket on the shells often used for IED's will retain their heat longer than the surrounding soil in which they are buried, at least for a period of time after dusk. Likewise they will be cooler for a period of time in morning. But you are right in saying this is not the primary benefit of a remote weapon station. Yes, the reporter does not know what he/she is talking about. Wotta surprise. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2006-12-20 13:55 |
| #1 This is a classic case of the reporter not knowing what he is talking about. CROWS is simply a method of operating a top mounted remotely. It has no special equipment for detecting IEDs. As such, it is of more use in protecting the operator from sniper fire than IEDs. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2006-12-20 10:46 |