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SNIPOD: a new research project aimed at protection against sniper attacks

• Launched by European Defence Agency
• Lead by EADS Innovation Works

Amsterdam, 23 June 2008

EADS Innovation Works has recently signed a contract with the European Defence Agency to launch a new research project called SNIPOD (SNIper POsitioning and Detection). This project aims at enhancing sniper detection systems.

Recent crisis management operations in urban environment have highlighted the issue of snipers attacks. Urban areas are by nature highly populated, heterogeneous and highly cluttered, offering multiple potential sniping posts. There is therefore a real need of systems that could detect snipers in such complex environments, localise and classify them with accuracy and speed, in order to deter, prevent or react without collateral damage.

The SNIPOD project is an answer to this need; it will improve the capabilities of acoustic and laser-based systems, investigate complementary promising technologies such as infrared imagery and radar and develop signature databases. By combining these different tools, SNIPOD will significantly enhance the performances of detection systems.

SNIPOD is one of the first projects selected under the R&T Joint Investment Programme (JIP) on Force Protection, launched by the European Defence Agency in 2007 with the support of 20 nations: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

The SNIPOD consortium gathers 6 entities from 5 contributing Members States: EADS Innovation Works and CILAS in France, Defence Electronics, an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security in Germany, SNIPOS in Norway, the Military University of Technology im. Jarosława Dąbrowskiego in Poland and the Swedish Defence Research Agency.

EADS Innovation Works will manage this 30 months project and among others, will provide its expertise in the characterisation of Laser signature of optronics systems. Such contract will contribute to EADS Innovation Works strategy to enhance capabilities in Defence and Security, to strengthen partnerships with European key actors and develop innovative operational solutions.

About EADS Innovation Works

EADS Innovation Works is the research & technology production facility of EADS. With sites in France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Singapore, UK and a workforce of more than 600, it provides world-class capabilities in aeronautics, defence and space research topics. Consistent with the EADS research & technology strategy and covering the skills and technology fields that are of critical importance to the EADS group of companies, EADS Innovation Works is organized in six trans-national Technical Capability Centres: Composites Technologies - Metallic Technologies & Surface Engineering - Structures Engineering, Production & Mechatronics - Sensors, Electronics and Systems Integration - Simulation, Information Technologies & Systems Engineering - Innovative Concepts & Scenarios. EADS Innovation Works is an operational and strategic entity for the creation of added value by technology innovation. It fosters technological excellence and business orientation through the sharing of competences and means between the various partners of EADS and it develops and maintain partnerships with worldfamous schools, universities and research centres.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of € 39.1 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division.

EADS Corporate Communications:

Pierre Bayle
Tel.: +33 1 42 24 20 63

Gaëlle Pellerin
Tel.: +33 1 42 24 22 54

Markus Wölfle
Tel.: +49 89 607 34287

José María Palomino
Tel.: +34 91 585 77 89

Jeremy Greaves
Tel.: +44 20 78 45 84 19