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The Serenity Payload is an acoustic threat detection system deployed in the Middle East. Jointly developed by U.S. Army Aviation Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), research on the technology began 2013. The system provides 360-degree hemispherical surveillance coverage, has self-contained power and is mounted on Lockheed Martin’s Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS). Other features include the FireFly acoustic sensor coupled with an array of cameras, which detect rocket and mortar flash-boom events at launch and detonation. Serenity Payload’s predecessors have undergone development since the Department of Defense’s request for an acoustic threat detection system in 2004. A typical configuration for the Serenity system costs around $400,000.
Typically mounted on a blimp-like aerostat, Serenity Payload’s flash-detection system pinpoints the origin of heavy weapons fire and explosive detonations from up to 10 kilometers away in any direction. This enables a friendly response force to rapidly react to, and potentially deter, further enemy attack. Serenity Payload is also integrated with an RWS (Remote Weapons System) turret that is linked to the sensors and uses special software to quickly locate the source of the fire (rifle, machine-gun, mortar, rocket) and point the cameras and RWS weapon (usually a 12.7mm machine-gun) at the source of the fire, enabling the human operator to immediately open fire before the enemy (especially a sniper) escapes. Building upon technology developed for the FireFly ground system, the Serenity Payload features a six-microphone array and eight-sensor camera pod. The product is designed to be installed around the perimeter of a contingency operating base (COB), or forward operating base (FOB), where troops have limited situational awareness.<ref name=military/>
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