DARPA chooses Cubic to move One Shot sniper targeting technology to the next level

ARLINGTON, Va., 14 Aug. 2012. Scientists at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., are moving forward with the agency's initiative to enable military marksmen to hit targets at extreme ranges with only one rifle shot with a $6 million contract awarded this month to Cubic Corp. in San Diego.

DARPA awarded the contract to Cubic on 1 Aug. for the One Shot XG program, which seeks to develop a compact observation, measurement, and ballistic calculation system mountable to combat rifles or spotting scopes that will enable snipers to hit targets with the first round, under crosswind conditions, at the maximum effective range of current and future weapons.

The One Shot XG program, first advertised last November, is an extension of the DARPA One Shot project that began in 2006 to design an advanced sniper rifle targeting scope that enables military snipers to hit the target with his first shot by compensating for crosswinds.

DARPA hired electro-optics experts at the Lockheed Martin Corp. Mission Systems & Sensors (MS2) segment in Akron, Ohio,, not only for the initial One Shot program, but also for the program's follow-up One Shot Phase 2E to develop a field-testable prototype observation, measurement, and ballistic calculation system for hitting targets with the first round in crosswinds.

Phase 2E asked Lockheed Martin experts to reduce the size, weight, and power of One Shot prototypes, as well as to extend the system's engagement range while improving the eye safety. This effort is coming to an end.

Now DARPA experts are looking to new kinds of One Shot technology packaged in a significantly smaller system that military snipers can clip directly to their rifles and eliminate the need for a spotter-observer. This is where experts from Cubic come in.

Cubic engineers will develop a sniper system that measures physical phenomena that influence a bullet's ballistic trajectory, and then calculates and displays the correct offset aim point and confidence metric in the shooter's rifle scope.

Cubic will develop the One Shot XG system that enables the sniper to see the aim point on the target in daylight or at night to help the sniper identify the target quickly, aim his rifle accurately, and measure the range to target and crosswinds.

Compared to the previous One Shot Phase 2E program, the One Shot XG system will be substantially smaller, can be boresighted in the field, and will survive the shock from several weapon firings and temperature changes for prolonged accurate field operations, DARPA officials say.

Cubic will build 10 field-ready One Shot XG prototype systems by fall 2013 that have three subsystems; an integrated measurement scope (IMS), rifle display assembly (RDA), and handheld control device.

Cubic will design the One Shot XG prototypes to be mountable on the sniper rifle without impeding normal operation; to support using current rifle scopes with first focal plane reticles; and that works at the maximum effective range of the weapon. The system also will be able to operate while mounted to a current spotting scope.

For more information contact Cubic online at www.cubic.com, or DARPA at www.darpa.mil.

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