FOOTPRINT from RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd is a navigation system for dismounted soldiers operating in GPS-denied environments.
The system fuses data from multiple sensors like the one seen mounted to Soldier’s leg above to analyze movements, estimate errors, and provide a highly accurate, and continuous RT self-positioning.
Look, Crossfire Australia calls it a GP jacket, but it’s a smock. It features eight pockets and is made from Nextex’s encapsulated material technology. That’s the same stuff used in SOCOM’s Protective Combat Uniform. It also features a removable thermal liner and pit zips.
Small – XXXLarge in Coyote
Visit www.crossfire.com.au
The REVOLUTION NAV package makes locating, tracking and operating an ROV easier than ever before.
August 18, 2020 – Kitchener, Ontario – Taking a big step towards developing a hybrid autonomous vehicle, submersible robotics company Deep Trekker is proud to announce that they are launching a new ROV package, the REVOLUTION NAV. Offering advanced navigation and stabilization, this new package is leading the way in semi-autonomous vehicles. The REVOLUTION NAV package provides pilots with a Google map showing their ROV’s position on screen, allowing users to see where they are, leave a trail to show where they have been and set points of interest to where they want to return to. Furthermore, advanced stabilization features allow operators to station hold against currents, enable auto altitude and pilot their vehicle precisely and accurately through varying water conditions.
Solving harsh environmental situations with fully assembled, tested and ready to use remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), Deep Trekker gets eyes underwater in minutes. With applications in aquaculture, energy, shipping, defense, infrastructure and search and rescue among others, Deep Trekker’s underwater drones are on the leading edge of submersible technology.
“We are thrilled to be launching the REVOLUTION NAV,” shared Deep Trekker President Sam Macdonald. “With this new package, users will be able to know where they are in real time. This advanced navigational tool allows for more complex missions to be successfully carried out by ROV pilots.”
The REVOLUTION NAV’s capabilities are especially useful for applications in open, murky water or when there is significant current. The state-of-the-art features provide benefits across numerous applications for missions requiring precise navigation, location tracking and reporting. Search and recovery teams, for example, will be able to easily see and track what areas have been covered as part of the search.
“The REVOLUTION NAV uses our BRIDGE technology and sensor fusion to provide station keeping, location tracking and intelligent navigation in addition to real time location data,” explained Macdonald. “We aim for constant innovation and the REVOLUTION NAV allows us to continue to provide advancements to our customers and pave the way towards autonomy.”
The pairing of USBL and DVL with Deep Trekker’s BRIDGE technology and sensor fusion bring this intelligent navigation system to life. USBL systems utilize sonar beacons to triangulate the position of the ROV. A GPS chip inside the Deep Trekker BRIDGE Controller allows the system to correlate the data and provide real time latitude and longitude. DVL offers users an enhanced navigational system by providing pilots with the ability to accurately and conveniently determine velocity relative to the seafloor, allowing for easy navigation through the most complex of operations.
STERLING, VA – Qore Performance has partnered with European distributors, Brownells Deutschland and Terräng MP-Sec, to facilitate access to their thermoregulation technologies for customers throughout Europe. Brownells has a network of retail and mail order locations across Europe, making order fulfillment and shipping costs far more efficient for Qore Performance customers on the far side of the Atlantic. Along with their close relationship with French Special Operations and Law Enforcement organizations, MP-Sec distributes to customers in France, Belgium, Italy, and North Africa.
Louis Tidey, Director of Commercial Sales for MP-Sec said, “We are very excited to represent Qore Performance products in France and to introduce these great products to the French MIL/LEO forces. We believe it’s the next stage for soldier hydration management.”
Qore Performance Director of Sales and Business Development, Doug Burr added, “Qore Performance is proud to facilitate access of our products to our friends and allies in Europe. We look forward to building our relationship with these two great companies. Brownells Deutschland and MP-Sec were both specifically chosen as our distributors due to their established records of excellence in supplying and serving customers across Europe.”
Both MP-Sec and Brownells Deutschland will carry many elements of the Qore Performance IceAge Ecosystem, including IcePlate Curve and IcePlate Sleeve Combo, as well as IceVents Aero and IceVents Classic padding solutions. The IceAge Ecosystem is focused on thermoregulation to enhance human performance in any environment through lightweight, durable, multi-use products that provide multiple modes of heating, cooling, and hydration. The IceAge Ecosystem is compatible with almost every tactical load carriage system on the market today.
Guelph, Ontario, Canada, September 2020 – HumanSystems® Incorporated has been awarded $1,000,000 through the Department of National Defence’s (DND) Innovation For Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program to continue its development of the CitadelTM (Pat. Pending) respirator designed to better protect soldiers in hazardous chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) environments.
This project follows a previous IDEaS contract to HumanSystems® Incorporated in 2019 to develop a proof of concept design. Working with the DND’s science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the goal of this twelve-month project is to further develop the CitadelTM respirator design to the point where it can be tested in realistic operational environments.
“Recent changes to Canadian Armed Forces policies allow for short beards and longer hairstyles. This funding will bring the novel CitadelTM respirator concept closer to commercialization and to providing a more protective CBRN Respirator/Mask for individuals with various face/head shapes, hairstyles, and/or facial hair,” says Harry Angel, the HSI® CitadelTM project technical lead.
The proof of concept CitadelTM respirator was designed to mitigate any leakage of contaminants into the respirator mask caused by various face shapes and/or beards or facial stubble. In preliminary user testing, individuals with beards or facial stubble could not achieve an acceptable fit factor with the standard protective mask, meaning that they were susceptible to contaminants entering the mask. The CitadelTM respirator design was able to achieve an acceptable fit factor well above the minimum acceptable standard. These promising results showed that people with beards and facial stubble would be significantly less vulnerable to contaminants entering the respirator mask.
The HSI® technical team, Harry Angel and Jordan Bray-Miners, bring over 30 years of experience in human factors for personal protective equipment, biomechanics and instrumentation design.
“The HSI® team is proud to work with DRDC and to advance the HSI® CitadelTM respirator concept to better protect people in the armed forces and wherever such protection might be needed,” says Jordan Bray-Miners, Senior Consultant at HSI .
For more than 35 years, with clients in Canada, the U.S. and other countries, HSI® has been a leader in human factors and human system integration support. We work in sectors including defence, emergency responders, health care, occupational safety and utilities. Individually and for teams, HSI® helps integrate people, performance and technology so systems work effectively, efficiently and safely. HSI® services include research, design, validation and training management. We focus on user fit between the abilities of the people and the technologies that together make up any system. In this way, HSI® supports product and system developers as well as procurement decision makers to reduce risks, lower life cycle costs and benefit return on investment.
IDEaS supports the development of solutions from their conceptual stage, through prototype testing and capability development. The program includes several elements that promote collaboration between innovators, provides developmental resources and provides opportunities to interact with DND’s science and military members. Through which all innovators are on an even playing field to solve specific defence and security challenges. For more about the program, see here: www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas
According to the German language publication Soldat und Technik, the German Army has selected the CG Haenel MK556 carbine to replace the G36. The MK556 is a short-stroke piston design in 5.56mm NATO.
This ends the service’s multi-year search for a G36 replacement. The program to purchase around 120,000 new rifles began in 2017 and suffered a slight set back in 2019 when testing had to be reaccomplished. The G36 entered service in 1997 and underwent two upgrades during its service.
The MK556 beat out the new Heckler & Koch HK433 which was developed specifically for this tender after the German government told H&K that their existing HK416 (adopted by the German Kommando Spezialkräfte or, Special Forces) was too expensive.
Interestingly enough, Haenel part of the Merkel Group, which is under Tawazun Holding (United Arab Emirates) (Caracal). So the Bundeswehr is essentially getting a lower cost HK416.
Tectonica is pleased to announce that it has secured a major contract with Rheinmetall Defence Australia for the manufacture of sophisticated camera technology for Army’s new Boxer 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) delivered under the Commonwealth of Australia’s Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability project (LAND 400 Phase 2).
Under this contract, Tectonica will deliver its ALTERA Local Situation Awareness System (LSAS) on all BOXER 8×8 CRVs to be manufactured at Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) from 2021.
The LSAS uses visual technologies to provide vehicle crews and operators with improved situational awareness by enabling them to see their surrounding environment by day and by night while remaining protected under armour.
This is the second LAND 400 Phase 2 contract awarded to Tectonica, following on from the September 2019 award to install LSAS on vehicles on the early capability delivery fleet of BOXER 8×8 CRVs currently being built in Europe.
Contributing to the Australian Government’s focus on becoming one of the world’s top 10 defence exporters, Tectonica has also secured a significant export contract to design, develop, manufacture, and export its BANTAM data and power distribution system to the German Army under a contract with Rheinmetall Electronics. The technology will be deployed through the Bundeswehr’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) and is fitted to every soldier wearing a computerised backpack.
Developed in Australia, with the support of the Defence Science Technology and Australian Defence Force to reduce the bulk and weight carried by soldiers, the BANTAM power system distributes power from a central source and gives the dismounted soldier the freedom to concentrate on their mission, confident that the modular high-tech power management device will last the duration of their mission.
The total value of these contracts awarded to Tectonica is over $25 million.
Tectonica’s Managing Director, David Levy said, “Our partnership with Rheinmetall is a great example of industry working together to strengthen the Australian Defence Force and build sovereign industry capability”.
Vienna, 28 August 2020 – Schiebel, together with partner Nordic Unmanned, successfully demonstrated to Norwegian energy company Equinor the cargo delivery capability of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) CAMCOPTER® S-100 to offshore platform Troll A. This is a world’s first in terms of full-scale offshore UAV delivery from shore to an active oil and gas installation.
The exercise simulated the scenario of an urgent requirement for specific essential spare parts at the gas production platform Troll A. The CAMCOPTER® S-100 successfully carried out the long-range delivery flight from Mongstad, where the spare parts were 3D-printed, to the offshore platform Troll A located in the North Sea. The unmanned delivery distance was 100 km (55 nm). After the UAV supplied the spare parts, it carried out a close inspection around the platform before it headed back to Mongstad.
The flight trials also included a successful Search and Rescue (SAR) mission, where a “man over board” dummy was quickly located by the UAV, transmitting the positioning data and live images using the L3 Harris Wescam real-time Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) camera and an Automatic Identification System (AIS).
Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group, said: “This was the perfect trial to show off the exceptional maritime capabilities of the S-100 for the oil and gas industry. We have extensive experience in long-range unmanned flights, especially in the maritime domain and under adverse weather conditions. The S-100 was able to show off its outstanding capabilities and we have proven once again that the S-100 UAV is the superior choice.”
