DARPA sniper system to use optical data link from Cubic

Posted by John McHale
SAN DIEGO, 26 March 2011. Engineers at Cubic Defense Applications will design a new optical data link system for a new sniper system from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
DARPA's Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO) system is a new 50-caliber sniper rifle system, that is a guided, actively controlled system with significantly improved range and accuracy over current systems. Cubic is under contract to Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC, prime contractor for the EXACTO program, to develop optical command link components for the fire control and guidance subsystems.
"EXACTO will enable our ground troops to operate with greater precision at long range and under difficult environmental conditions," says Steve Sampson, vice president of Advanced Programs for Cubic Defense Applications. "Our optical link will be a critical piece of this new guided system."
The new endeavor draws upon the company's past research and development efforts in optical communications, including creation of two-way optical combat identification system designed to reduce the incidence of fratricide. Cubic developed the combat ID solution with funding from DARPA and the U.S. Army.