The Effect of Muzzle Flashes on Air-To-Ground Target Acquisition

Two laboratory experiments were conducted on a terrain model to evaluate the effect of muzzle flashes on visual, air-to-ground target acquisition. Observers were 'flown' over the model at simulated altitudes of 1, 000 and 3,000 ft and a velocity of 300 knots. They were required to search for single tanks or mobile air defense units. The guns on some of these vehicles were firing on half of the runs (simulated by flashing fiber optic extensions on the barrels-but no smoke). There was no significant difference between the number of targets detected from 1,000 ft altitude when they were flashing or when they were not flashing; the flash per se did not greatly improve target acquisition. Significantly more targets (flashing and non-flashing combined) were detected on the runs when some of the targets were flashing, however. Opposite results were obtained from the 3,000 ft altitude condition: significantly more targets were detected when they were flashing than when they were not flashing. There was no difference between total target detections (flashing and non-flashing) on runs when some targets were flashing versus when none flashed. (Author)