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Archive for the ‘Digitization’ Category

SIMEG from Digital Force Technologies

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

For those of you who are “new” readers, as in having begun reading since we ran this article in June of 2008, we thought you might be interested in a great piece of kit that has been upgraded a couple of times since we published this. They have been providing capabilities for years that other companies are just now beginning to offer. DFT has our highest recommendation for small unit ISR capabilities.

DFT SIMEG

Satellite Imagery Enhanced GPS (SIMEG) Receiver is a rugged, handheld GPS receiver that correlates the receiver’s position and displays it on satellite imagery as a geo-rectified moving-map. What makes the SIMEG so unique is that it supports all National Geospatial Agency digital imagery and map products down to 1-meter CIB imagery. Upgrades are being worked for NGA’s Vector Product Format and specialty products developed by NGA and terrain teams as well as commercial products such as USGS Digital Ortho Quads for work back here in CONUS. While a few new commercial receivers show commercial imagery, no commercial GPS receiver displays NGA products. That alone would make the SIMEG worth pursuing but the team at DFT has also made the SIMEG compatible with PFPS route and threat overlay files. This means you can plan a mission on a Mission Planning terminal and export overlays to the SIMEG. They will show up on the imagery just like they do on FalconView. Top that!

The SIMEG has been under development for about four years and in use by specialized forces. I say development, because as I stated earlier, DFT is constantly updating software to support new requirements and emerging digital geospatial products. DFT is also looking at ways to improve the form and fit of the capability but I’ll leave it up to them to tell you more.

In addition to the SIMEG, DFT has a range of ISR technologies aimed at the small unit.

For more information contact Digital Force Technologies

Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS) is the Indian Army’s Soldier modernization program planned to from 2012 to 2020. In the first phase, to be completed by 2012, they plan to begin fielding of a multi-caliber (5.56mm, 7.62mm, and purportedly 6.8mm) modular weapon system along with a detachable grenade launcher with airbursting grenades. By programs end in 2020, the Indian Army plans to complete fielding to all of its 465 infantry and paramilitary battalions of the complete system which includes helmet with visor, uniform with integrated armor and NBC protection as ell as a palmtop computer. F-INFAS follows the pattern of western Soldier modernization efforts with heavy emphasis on C4I2 (Command, Control, Communications Computers, Information and Intelligence). The goal is to turn the Soldier into “a self-contained fighting machine”. In addition to fielding all of this capability they also want to reduce the Soldier’s load by 50%.

While initially subsystem development has been outsourced to a variety of international concerns, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is serving as the prime and system integrator. Within India, both Tata Advanced Systems and Rolta Thales Ltd have a hand in F-INSAS’s development.

Russian Future Soldier System Update

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Yes, the Russians are working on a Future Soldier System program but it appears that their near-term plan is to purchase FELIN systems (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés or Integrated Equipment and Communications Infantryman) from France, perhaps as a means to kick start their effort and get caught up. Cats and Dogs living together. While the deal still has not been inked, the purchase would only be for test articles of an as yet undetermined number. “The Voice of Russia” has a gallery of FELIN photos, so check them out.

FELIN

However, we have read several reports over the last two weeks that indicate that the Russian military intends to eventually begin a domestic effort to digitize the Soldier. However, according to First Deputy Defense Ministry Vladimir Popovkin the system won’t be ready until 2020.

This isn’t the first modernization program that Russia is outsourcing to foreign concerns. They have also contracted to purchase two Mistral helicopter carriers from France as well as Iveco armored cars from Italy. In both cases, the initial systems will be produced in the originating countries and future examples will be built under license in Russia.

Mammut iPhone App

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Swiss outdoor manufacturer Mammut Sports Group AG has developed an iOS app primarily for recreational use called the Packing List. Best of all it’s free.

The Packing List app is designed to help you pack for a variety of high adventure activities like climbing, mountaineering and snowshoeing. Although each list template is assembled by the pros, you can customize it or even create new packing lists. What’s more, you can invite team members to share your list for collaborative trip planning and add new items not already loaded into the app.

basecamp.mammut.ch

Tactical NAV

Monday, March 7th, 2011

In what may well be the ultimate expression of the DIY ethos, Army CPT Jonathan Springer developed the Tactical NAV app for iPhone. In fact, he invested a considerable amount of his own money in the concept. Based on service as a Battalion Fire Support Officer in the 101st, he spend months developing the app which uses the phone’s inherent GPS to track the user’s location and correlate in a number of ways with other elements of information. For example, using compass and map data, photos can be not only date-time stamped but with geo-location as well. Another unique feature for this app is that it uses the Military Grid Reference System and is designed to geolocate within 24 feet. CPT Springer engineered a couple of other great features into Tactical NAV such as a compass lock function and one-button night-mode function for low light conditions. Finally, it makes sharing of route tracking and waypoint plotting as simple as sending an email.

Please be aware that there is another app that was released a few days after this one with the similar name of Tactical Navigator. It is NOT the same thing at all.

For more info visit www.tacticalnav.com. It is available on iTunes for the iPhone.

Cassidian Wins Big with Euro Future Soldier Programs

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

Over the past two days, Cassidian (EADS Defence & Security) has announced two separate awards to deliver Future Soldier technologies to European Armies.

First, they were awarded a 20 million Swiss franc contract by the Swiss defence procurement authority Armasuisse for advanced production engineering of the IMESS programme (Integrated and Modular Engagement System for the Swiss Soldier). Cassidian’s Warrior21â„¢ system has been undergoing testing with Swiss forces since 2007. Interestingly, the contract also calls for the installation of IMESS network into Swiss Duro and Piranha vehicles.

On the 2nd of March, Cassidian announced that they had been commissioned by Germany’s Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) to deliver a further 400 units of the Future Soldier System (Infanterist der Zukunft) in its basic version (IdZ BS) for use by troops heading to Afghanistan as part of ISAF. This new delivery will raise the Bundeswehr’s total number of IdZ BS equipment sets to 2,900.

According to Cassidian:

An IdZ BS system for equipping an infantry squad (ten soldiers) consists of an identical basic configuration for all soldiers (including modular bullet-proof vest in protection class I to IV, C4I equipment including NaviPad for situational awareness and transmitting messages, target data and images, night vision device, tactical radio) and various special items (such as laser range finder, camera, thermal image sighting device).

www.cassidian.com

TacPad from c2rfast

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Late last year, Level Peaks Associates was gracious enough to let us check out a couple of products from c2rfast.

We shot this quick look video of the TacPad Chest in order to give you an idea of how the technology works. We’ve seen other products in the past that rely on chemlights or even powered light but they don’t illuminate the entire surface like this. Powered by a CR123 battery, it provides a back lit writing surface for tactical applications. c2rfast has taken great care to develop multiple products to accommodate various applications of the technology.

To learn more follow the jump. (more…)

CamoScience App Coming in April

Sunday, February 27th, 2011

Released at last week’s AUSA Winter Symposium in Orlando, FL, the CamoScience(tm) App from MW Research and Development, Inc will be relased in April. It is designed for use with smartphones and mobile touchscreens (including the upcoming iPad 2) and converts photos into camouflage designs.

CamoScienceâ„¢ is a photo application that turns site-specific photography into what its inventor calls “Photographic Camouflage.”

“‘Photographic Camouflage’ is the term I coined four years ago to describe any ‘camera-derived’ camo design,” said K. Dominic Cincotti, MW Research and Development President.

“Right now, we’re focused on special ops and first responders Apps,” Cincotti said. “They know what challenges they face and how quickly they want their problems solved. We also have our eyes on app developers who, like us, are interested in innovative problem solving. “If you’re in one of those categories, get in touch,” he said.

CamoScienceâ„¢ will also let users design Photographic Camouflage into a touch-screen grip for the iPad 2. Touchscreen grips provide functional, hand-traction grip to keep your iPad 2 safely in your grasp while mobile. This is accomplished with an extremely thin, adhesive graphic “skin,” with a unique frictional, micro-terrain.

We have almost no details about this technology other than their press release. We will update you as we get additional information.

HD@militarywraps.com or alternate for App Dev: CamoScience@gmail.comwww.militarywraps.com