General Dynamics, BBN help Army counter snipers

General Dynamics Corp.'s C4 Systems unit will integrate BBN Technologies Inc.'s Boomerang sniper-detection system into its Land Warrior system.

The Land Warrior system is a 7.3-pound system that soldiers on foot can wear. It has sensors and other technologies that feed information to the soldier.

The Boomerang system uses small microphones and a digital display to detect and analyze the muzzle blast and shock wave of a speeding round. Distance and direction of the sniper is then displayed to the soldier, General Dynamics said.

The technology is being integrated under a $250,000 task order under the Land Warrior contract. Six sniper-detection systems will be delivered to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Iraq before the end of the year, the company said.

BBN Technologies is based in Cambridge, Mass. General Dynamics of Falls Church, Va., ranks No. 7 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.