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Friday, March 29, 2024

DHS S&T Successfully Transitions ‘Virtual Shooter’ Technology to ICE

After the successful completion of a robotic device that tests multiple types of handguns and ammunition, the technology was transferred to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs (OFTP) Armory Operations Branch (AOB), allowing agents to use the device to supplement manual testing of weapons by laboratory staff, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced Tuesday.

“The OFTP AOB tests and evaluates most of the department’s ammunition and firearms before they are approved for use in the field. This repetitive firing takes a toll on the shooters and results in stressed joints, debilitating pain and other physical injuries,” explained S&T First Responder Group (FRG) program manager John Price. “The Virtual Shooter will go a long way in reducing, if not eliminating, those injuries.”

OFTP AOB assists ICE and other DHS agencies by providing firearms, ammunition, intermediate force weapons, protective equipment, training, guidance and tactical and logistical support. The unit provides armory services to the Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Protective Service under shared service agreements.

DHS said, “OFTP AOB increases safety and improves the tactical proficiency of DHS law enforcement, while maintaining accountability for property.”

“The OFTP AOB mission is to improve the safety of the armed DHS agent or officer,” explained ICE OFTP AOB Supervisory Engineer Lowell Johnson. “The Virtual Shooter will benefit us by reducing debilitating injuries to our employees, as well as being an instrument to give us consistent data on firearm and ammunition performance.”

DHS said the Virtual Shooter project began in June 2012, and that FRG developed the Virtual Shooter as part of the Small Business Innovation Research Program initiative and began working to develop a device with designs that simulated the movements and reactions of humans firing, while responding to feedback provided by OFTP AOB throughout the development process.

“The intent is to ultimately make Virtual Shooter commercially available to other law enforcement agencies and industry,” DHS said, noting that, “OFTP AOB will begin to integrate the Virtual Shooter into its testing process in the near future.”

DHS S&T Successfully Transitions 'Virtual Shooter' Technology to ICE Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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