December 2019 | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for December, 2019

Colorado Company, Liteye Systems Expands Manufacturing, Opens 55K Sq Ft Facility

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

US Manufacture of AUDS (Anti-UAV Defense System) Experiences Rapid Growth in Counter Drone Market

Centennial Colorado — Liteye Systems, Inc. the US leader in Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems, announced the opening of a new 55,000 square foot facility in Highfield Business Park, near Centennial Airport, CO to accommodate rapid growth and support increasing manufacturing demands.

In addition to the corporate headquarters in Centennial, CO and UK office, the new facility will bring the company’s office and manufacturing footprint to over 80,000 square feet and supports the company’s growth strategy. Liteye added 21 jobs in 2019 and plans an additional 20 jobs next year.

Liteye, founded by Kenneth Geyer and Tom Scott in January of 2000, is now ranked as one of the leading privately held companies in Colorado. Liteye has over $70M in counter drone contracts with the US DoD and is Combat Proven with over 1000 defeats against enemy drones by ISIS, Taliban and others.

“When Liteye started we designed and manufactured small products, such as Head Mounted Displays and covert thermal cameras,” stated Kenneth Geyer, CEO. “As the company grew and evolved into the counter unmanned systems market, the need for square footage and taller ceilings to house multiple vehicles, trailers and shipping containers on a production line to meet customer demands became necessary.”

“Like most companies, in the beginning we focused mainly on the engineering portion, subcontracting the manufacturing and assembly of our products outside the company. As our military business grew, we brought both those capabilities inside the company to meet MIL-STD requirements and fast delivery times.” Said Thomas Scott, CTO “It started with just one CNC machine and has been growing ever since, where today we have a state-of-the-art machine shop and full production floor.”

www.liteye.com

Posted in Industry, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Colorado Company, Liteye Systems Expands Manufacturing, Opens 55K Sq Ft Facility

PEO Soldier Supports Big Red One Leader Professional Development

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

FORT BELVOIR— Members of Program Executive Officer Soldier (PEO Soldier) and Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team (SL CFT) supported a 1st Infantry Division Leadership Professional Development (LPD) session at Fort Riley, Kan. on Dec. 11, 2019.

The LPD offered a rare opportunity for senior leaders to receive a hands-on capability set brief on the U.S. Army’s most advanced night vision goggle, the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B), Family of Weapon Site-Individual (FWS-I), Nett Warrior, and Next Generation Improved Head Protection System, as well as an overview of PEO Soldier.

The ENVG-B provides the U.S. Army’s close combat forces with the capability to observe and maneuver in all weather conditions, through obscurants, during limited visibility, and under all lighting conditions. This system signifies an evolution in technology that stems from innovative and collaborative efforts between PEO Soldier, Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team (SL-CFT), and Army Futures Command (AFC).

Additionally, it successfully demonstrates the rapid prototyping process to meet the Army’s modernization priorities and is the first program to deliver an AFC capability set.

“We received a lot of interest during the initial fielding of the ENVG-B in September,” said Maj. John Nikiforakis, Assistant Program Manager, ENVG-B, PEO Soldier, “1st Infantry Division leadership requested that we return and provide a capabilities demonstration to senior leaders from across the division.”

Following the brief, leaders were able to engage in a hands-on demonstration of the ENVG-B and FWS-I. Each leader was given a 30-round magazine and an ENVG-B and FWS-I equipped rifle to become familiarized with the capability set.

They were able to execute Rapid Target Acquisition (RTA) through the synergistic capability derived from ENVG-B and FWS-I via the Intra-Soldier Wireless (ISW) connection to quickly acquire and engage thermal targets.

ISW is a short-range encrypted wireless technology that enables wireless interoperability amongst devices worn by a Soldier. Employed with the ENVG-B and FWS-I, it enables the two devices to interface with each other in order to obtain RTA.

Events like this LPD session with the 1st Infantry Division are an important element of capability set fielding as they provide leaders a firsthand look at the equipment and capabilities that their Soldiers use to plan and execute their missions.

“This is instrumental to capability set fielding because it provides a very different experience than reading or receiving a brief on the ENVG-B and RTA,” said Nikiforakis, “They actually get to handle the equipment and experience RTA by firing rounds downrange.”

Fielded to them earlier this year, 1st Infantry Division Soldiers will be taking this capability set with them on an upcoming deployment to Korea in 2020.

Sgt. Adam Rieger of B Co., 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, deploying to Korea, described the many advantages of the ENVG-B compared to legacy night vision systems.

“The white phosphorous and dual tubes give us a better depth perception than previous goggles,” said Rieger, “We ran with them at the range and found that we navigate hazards much easier.”

Rieger also noted increased picture clarity when zooming and a much longer battery life than previous systems.

“This capability is going to be amazing in Korea,” said Rieger, “Being able to use thermal in tunnels and to see around a corner without having to physically turn it will be a huge advantage.”

Program Manager Soldier Maneuver and Precision Targeting’s mission is to equip the Soldier with sensors, lasers, and precision targeting devices to dominate the battlefield through improved lethality, mobility, situational awareness, and survivability in all operational environments.

PEO Soldier rapidly delivers agile and adaptive, leading edge Soldier capabilities in order to provide combat overmatch today and be more lethal tomorrow.

Story by Timothy Ahearn, PEO Soldier

Posted in Guest Post, PEO-Soldier | 2 Comments »

Australia’s Victoria Police Select Daniel Defense Carbines

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

This release is from Huntsman, the company who will fulfill the contract.

VICTORIA POLICE AWARDS CONTRACT TO SUPPLY 300 DANIEL DEFENSE COMPLETE RIFLE SYSTEMS

Townsville, QLD – December 2019 – Huntsman Aus Pty Ltd (Huntsman) is pleased to confirm the award of a contract to supply 300 semi-automatic Daniel Defense rifle systems to be used by Victoria Police throughout the state from mid-2020.

The new contract followed a comprehensive tender process and the Daniel Defense rifle systems, supplied by Huntsman, were selected to expand Victoria Police’s capability to respond to critical incidents.

Huntsman managing director Rob Woods said it was an honour to be selected to supply the Daniel Defense rifle systems to Victoria Police.

“To be given the opportunity to play a small role in the broader Victorian Government investment in the Community Safety Statement 2018/19 is significant,” Mr Woods said.

“To have the complete system that we submitted extensively assessed against other companies within the Australian Defence industry is always a great test.”

“The contract win acknowledges the reliability, durability and accuracy of the Daniel Defense rifle and demonstrates the exceptional value for money of the assembled package.”

“Each component within the package is world class and most importantly proven through operational use.”

“The delivery of these rifles marks the continued growth of the national Daniel Defense fleet that Huntsman supports.”

“I am confident that officers who are issued the rifle now have the very best tool for the protection of the community and their own life.”

Recently the Australian Federal Police announced that the Daniel Defense rifle was selected for employment by first responders at designated Australian Airports. Other state police agencies also have Daniel Defense carbines in service.

Mr Woods said all Daniel Defense rifles were built using the latest in design and manufacturing processes.

“We are confident the police officers who will carry the new rifles will appreciate working with such a lightweight, reliable and accurate rifle,” he said.

“The rifle functions flawlessly with a broad range of ammunition, which will provide a degree of future proofing as law enforcement ammunition technology continues to develop.

“We are conscious of the enormous responsibility that the supply of equipment to law enforcement represents, especially when that equipment will be employed for the protection of life.

“We look forward to continuing a strong relationship with Victoria Police and supporting them into the future.”

Huntsman will provide Victoria Police Armourers with certified Daniel Defense Armourer training.

Huntsman will also provide Instructor Training through our partner Nexus Training Solutions, an Australian-owned training provider delivering world class equipment integration training to global government end-users.

www.huntsmandefence.com

-———

This release is from the Victoria Police:

Following a comprehensive tender process, Victoria Police has signed a new contract that will deliver 300 semi-automatic rifles to be used by uniform and frontline support police throughout the state from mid-2020.

The new weapons will be supplied by Huntsman Aus and will expand Victoria Police’s capability to respond to active armed offender and terrorist attacks outside of Melbourne.

More than 700 police officers from the Public Order Response Team (PORT) and four 24-hour regional uniform stations – Geelong, Ballarat, Morwell and Shepparton – will be trained to use the rifles in response to critical incidents.

PORT have been selected to receive the semi-automatic rifles as they are a frontline support unit which can be deployed anywhere in Victoria in response to major events, issues and high-risk times. The four regional stations have been selected to ensure there is a strengthened response in key regional areas

The rifles will not be personally issued and will instead be assigned to the relevant areas to be delegated each shift.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton, Regional Operations, said the introduction of the new weapons follows the rollout of active armed offender training to all police officers and the release of the new hostile vehicle policy; all of which are designed to uplift officer capability when responding to critical incidents.

“Let me be clear, it will be a very sad day if the rifles are used, but the reality is we need to be prepared if an active armed offender or terrorist attack was to occur in regional Victoria,” Deputy Commissioner Patton said.

“By expanding this capability to four key regional hubs and PORT the community can be reassured we have trained officers who can respond to these incidents in a timely manner.

“I also want to reassure the community that police officers will not be patrolling the streets with the rifles as part of general duties. Unless they are responding to a critical incident, the rifles will be securely stored at the police station or in vehicles and the community won’t see them.”

All members across the organisation will be provided with awareness training specific to the deployment of semi-automatic rifles from March 2020. The training of more than 700 officers will then progressively be rolled out from June next year until the end of 2021.

The rollout of the semi-automatic rifles is due to a $25 million investment from the Victorian Government as part of the Community Safety Statement 2018/19

– ends –

Beck Angel

Victoria Police Media Unit

Posted in Black Rifle, Contracts, Guest Post, LE | 14 Comments »

Wndsn Universal Moon Clock

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

Wndsn universal moon clock; the view from the northern hemisphere from the front, and the view from the southern hemisphere from the reverse side. Yes, it’s one and the same device, seen from the transparent, and hence mirrored, backside. Up is down.

A visual aid in determining Moon phase, we introduce a simple universal equatorium predicting cardinal direction, and approximate time (in unequal hours) from observed shape and altitude in either hemisphere. Made in Germany.

This is a teaching tool showing average (equinox) conditions; the directions and times throughout the rest of the year have to be extrapolated.

store.wndsn.com/products/wndsn-moon-clock-acrylic

Posted in Gadgets | Comments Off on Wndsn Universal Moon Clock

New Customer Within the US Department of Defense Selects INVISIO and Places a First Order of SEK 28 Million

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

A new customer within the US Department of Defense, has selected INVISIO to provide a suite of hearing enhancement devices that will enable users to communicate in critical situations while at the same time protecting their hearing. The order is valued at approximately SEK 28 million, and deliveries will take place in the first half of 2020.

“We are very proud to be selected by another unit within the US Department of Defense. It is an important reference win for us, as the rest of the world closely studies what solutions the US forces use,” says Lars Højgård Hansen, CEO of INVISIO.

Posted in Advertiser, Comms, Contracts, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Draft Top Can Opener Now On Kickstarter

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

The Draft Can Opener removes the entire top from an aluminum beverage can, in a similar manner to a can opener for canned goods. Except, the edge is left smooth so you won’t cut yourself.