SIG Sauer XRAY9-CUAS Computes The Lead On Incoming Drones
Hitting a drone with gunfire is hard for an unglamorous reason: by the time the bullet arrives, the drone has moved. SIG Sauer's answer is the XRAY9-CUAS, a counter-unmanned aircraft systems electro-optic unveiled at AUSA, and the idea behind it is to let a soldier point and shoot while the optic works out where the drone will be.
The optic mounts to a counter-UAS weapon system and borrows its approach from the targeting system in SIG Sauer's remote-controlled weapon station. A proprietary SWIR laser rangefinder (Short-Wave Infrared) and onboard slew-rate sensors instantly calculate the drone's distance, speed and vector, and from that the optic generates a custom disturbed reticle with dynamic targeting solutions.
A disturbed reticle is a lead-computing sight: instead of showing a fixed crosshair and leaving the shooter to estimate how far ahead of a moving target to aim, the reticle itself shifts to account for target motion and projectile time of flight. Put the moving reticle on the drone and the lead is already built in. It is a long-established principle in anti-aircraft gunnery, and the XRAY9-CUAS brings it to a shoulder- or mount-level counter-drone weapon. Unfortunately, there are no images of how the display and the reticle work.
Sensor options extend the working envelope. The XRAY9-CUAS can be integrated with CMOS and thermal sensors to give a day, night and fused-capable fire control system.
Engagement range runs up to 300 yards (274 m), with exact capability varying by drone size. The optic itself is small, measuring 5.25 x 2.5 x 3.3 in (133 x 64 x 84 mm) and weighing 24 oz (680 g). Battery life is up to 50 hours of continuous use, the display is 640x480 and the window has a 48mm clear aperture.
Andy York, President of SIG Sauer Electro-Optics, says the XRAY9-CUAS was fast-tracked because the capability is needed on today's battlefield, and that the company's work in remote weapon stations and electro-optics follows from its focus on supporting soldiers.
The XRAY9-CUAS fits into a wider push at SIG Sauer. The company has built out a full unmanned portfolio covering drones, counter-UAS and remote-controlled weapon stations, and Ryan Scott, Director of Advanced Concepts, says SIG Sauer is doubling the square footage and workforce at its North Carolina facility through a multi-million-dollar expansion across R&D, engineering, manufacturing and training. The drone lineup includes the fixed-wing SCYTHE, the SABER quad-copter and the M-HORNET 22 LR payload attachment. At AUSA, the XRAY9-CUAS (as seen below) shares the stand with the M250, the MMG, the new XM8 carbine, hybrid ammunition and the RCWS, at booth #8015 in Hall E.
SIG Sauer XRAY9-CUAS specifications:
- Counter-UAS electro-optic, mounted to a counter-UAS weapon system
- Proprietary SWIR laser rangefinder with onboard slew-rate sensors
- Calculates drone distance, speed and vector
- Custom disturbed reticle with dynamic targeting solutions
- Integrates with CMOS and thermal sensors for day, night and fused fire control
- Tracks and engages up to 300 yards (274 m), varying with drone size
- Dimensions: 5.25 x 2.5 x 3.3 in (133 x 64 x 84 mm)
- Weight: 24 oz (680 g)
- Battery life: up to 50 hours of continuous use
- Display: 640x480
- Window: 48mm clear aperture
SIG Sauer’s Defense products can be found here: https://www.sigsauer.com/defense-products
Source: New SIG SAUER XRAY9-CUAS Electro-Optic Provides Counter Drone Targeting and Engagement
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Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.
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More NONSENSE. You CANNOT reliably shoot down drones when your life depends on it. Darkness and weather will keep you from seeing the drone often. Even on a clear day they can come at you from ANY angle and you may not even be facing the right way or have time to shoulder a weapon before the crash into you. There might even be more than one so no matter which one you shoot, the OTHER one WILL get you.
About Anti-Drone Reticles:
“When you shoot at or destroy a drone, the operator knows where you are…the author recommends only shoot at drones that have directly targeted you.
And exactly how are we to know when the drone has you in it’s field of view?”
There are four elements of sighting needed to develop a “fire control solution” against a moving target: Speed, Range, Bearing And Angle.
Speed:
The main difference between a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft is the ability to hover without stalling, making their flight paths less predictable. The ability of copter type drones to fly at speeds from a low of zero fps to more than 200 miles per hour, and to change speed rapidly makes leading the target FAR more difficult than hitting a clay disc at trap. At the ranges of counter drone shotguns and fragmenting centerfire, this is a problem with all but directly approaching targets.
Range:
To hit with a shotgun or fragmenting centerfire for counter drone use, you would certainly need to know the range so you can achieve the density of shot required to disable or destroy the target. Without a rangefinder to assure the effective range of your weapon, firing too early simply reveals your position not only to that drone but to the follow on units looking for whoever fired.
The main problem with laser ranging a fast moving target is hitting the small drone with the laser to achieve a range, with the range of all targets constantly changing in flight. Drones come in all sizes and shape, so known size object reticles would not work to the degree desired. So without direct firing or passive ranging methods, the risk of firing on a moving drone exceeds the effect.
Bearing:
While shotguns, fragmenting centerfire and even ball rounds for counter drone use ARE effective on hovering and incoming threats in range, the minute the target presents at a crossing angle less than 90 degrees the range begins to constantly change either closer or farther away than a moment before. The effect of distance already being an issue with limited range ammunition, angled bearings further complicate the fire control solution.
Angle:
Similarly to range and bearing, the angle to the target altitude apparently changes sharply upward when approaching directly, making the tendency to shoot under the target when the most effective (very close) range for the ammunition is reached. A lead reticle for angle would be vertical rather than horizontal, but that is never discussed.
Conclusion:
Anti-aircraft sights for rifles and machine guns have always historically enabled chance rather than deliberate hits, particularly because speed, range, bearing and angle of the target are never addressed simultaneously. Drones represent smaller and more maneuverable targets than aircraft, so the low effectiveness of “Lead Reticles” becomes even lower to the point that a standard red dot is best. A different theory is required for short range direct fire with disbursing projectiles; what you need is a specialized laser pointer instead.
Recommendation:
The easiest shots with shotguns are typically directly incoming or running straight away, providing the most effective shot patterns. Directly incoming targets have a high probability of detecting the observer as opposed to passing drones, so these must be addressed by direct fire. If not directly targeted, troops should remain hidden or they will be directly targeted. But how then should they aim and fire?
Similarly to rifle laser pointers like the MFAL devices, a laser which directly illuminates the target with the beam covering the exact spread of the shot or fragments at every effective range. For example, a cone shaped laser which makes a 40 inch circle at 40 yards matches the full choke shotgun pellet spread at 0-40 yards…so the incoming target method is “Illuminate, Fire” without “Aiming”.
Additionally, a laser dazzler of the correct three frequencies (Visible, IR, Thermal) would provide day and night pointing solutions AND degrade the video guidance of either remotely guided or AI seeking drones.It would be possible to first blind and then destroy drones when they approach directly.
Finally, if the lens of the drone is illuminated by a shotgun or rifle mounted laser dazzler it glows brightly to the naked eye or augmented vision. This effect at ranges exceeding the capability of the shot or fragments can help determine the intent of a loitering drone; if the lens is not illuminated it is not looking at you.
-NDAI Robotics
Correction...National Defense Industry Association Robotics Division