Sensor-to-Shooter System Demonstrated for US Army
This post is also available in: 
עברית (Hebrew)
The US Army is assessing an advanced Israeli system. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems demonstrated its Fire Weaver information system for the US Army together with its US subsidiary, Rafael Systems Global Sustainment (RSGS).
Fire Weaver is an advanced sensor-to-shooter system leveraging AI decision-aid software and 3D terrain data. The system was tested at the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) 2021, which is assessing advanced technologies in support of US Army modernization efforts, including enhancing lethality.
According to last week’s announcement, Fire Weaver integrates as an open and modular software application with existing battle management systems and other tactical computing devices. The system enhances ground combat capability with enhanced situational awareness and ability to maximize available combat power in GPS-denied environments.
The system networks sensors and formations together, providing a shared understanding on a fully digital common operational picture (COP) enhanced with augmented reality of battlefield intelligence.
The result is intuitive situational awareness and common visual language “on the sights” of the battlefield for commanders and soldiers and enabling them to close sensor-to-shooter loops in seconds.
Fire Weaver is a key enabler for increased lethality needed by US Army Infantry formations conducting multi-domain operations. According to Rafael, this demonstration was a joint effort between the US Army and Rafael with the Army providing an operational assessment team and a platoon of soldiers, including combat veterans and junior soldiers from the Army’s EXFOR unit.
At the AEWE, soldiers operated the sensors and shooters to acquire and engage multiple targets, achieving effects in seconds where traditionally it would take minutes or longer. The AI decision-aid algorithms provide target and weapon pairings based on a predetermined set of rules controlled by the commander at echelon, with constant human on the loop presence for lethal tactical decisions. The soldiers received half a day’s training and operated the systems by themselves, commenting on its intuitiveness and the difference it would make in combat.
Following AEWE 2021 demonstration and assessment, Army senior leaders discussed Fire Weaver and other Rafael enabling technologies for inclusion in future Army Live Prototype Assessments under the Joint Modernization Command such as AEWE 22 next January, the Maneuver Fires Integration Experiment, and Project Convergence 22.
