UK troops get acoustic weapon tracker to pinpoint enemy fire faster

The UK Army is deploying a new acoustic weapon locating system called SONUS, developed by Leonardo UK, to enhance battlefield awareness and protection by rapidly pinpointing enemy artillery, mortars, and gunfire. Unlike radar systems, SONUS operates passively by detecting acoustic signatures—such as muzzle blasts, supersonic projectile cracks, and impacts—without emitting electronic signals, thereby reducing the risk of detection and increasing troop safety. The system uses multiple distributed sensors and triangulation to accurately locate hostile fire sources, enabling faster response times. SONUS is significantly lighter and more mobile than its predecessor, weighing 70 percent less and deployable in under three minutes, with lower power requirements that extend operational endurance. SONUS builds on over 25 years of Leonardo UK’s Hostile Artillery Location (HALO) technology and is already in use by 13 international users, including six NATO countries, with combat experience in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded