Today, Smarter Technologies Group (STG) and KPMG UK (“KPMG”) have signed a strategic alliance agreement that will enable clients to uncover new business opportunities through one of the leading asset tracking and condition monitoring technologies on the market. KPMG will have exclusive access among the big four accountancy firms in the UK to Smarter Technologies’ real-time asset tracking, monitoring, and recovery capabilities.

Through this new alliance, KPMG and STG will collaborate to capture, host, and analyse real-time big data from STG’s proprietary Orion IoT network and sensors primary data. This will provide operators and managers with on-going and up-to-the-minute data from their business.

The evidence-based insight gained will inform strategic and tactical decisions and unlock cost reduction and performance improvement opportunities not previously possible. For example, an operations manager could predict where equipment is going to be unavailable faster than ever before, to eliminate any impact on the customer.

Ian West, Head of Alliances, KPMG UK, commented, “STG’s Orion IoT network allows us to identify a host of new ways to transform our clients’ operations. We can now make data-based decisions with conviction, where in the past a lack of good quality data often held our customers back from making advances and exploring new business lines.”

Mark Read, Chief Executive at Smarter Technologies, said, “This is an important agreement for us. We’ve been working with KPMG for some time, on a range of fascinating projects where our respective expertise has made a real difference and highlighted significant savings for Defence. With this agreement in place, we can explore more opportunities to bring this expertise to bear, enabled by big data from our Orion IoT network and sensors.”

The SISCAP system, a key element for integrating soldiers into the new digitalized and multidomain environments, has been put to the test in an operational demonstration at the maneuver field at the Toledo Infantry Academy

The modular, flexible, and scalable solution will equip the soldier with the most advanced information, communications and fire effectiveness technologies and enhanced situational awareness

This system will be vital in moving towards a complete digitalization of the Army edge to edge, from the strategic level down to the soldier deployed in the field

Indra and GMV have taken a decisive step forward in the development of the Future Soldier System (SISCAP, in Spanish), after carrying out an operational demonstration at the Toledo Infantry Academy with this solution, which boosts the soldier’s communication, information, and fire efficiency capabilities.

As a result of an R&D program funded by the Ministry of Defence through the Sub-Directorate General for Planning, Technology and Innovation (SDG PLATIN), the progress of this new development is being supervised by the Directorate General for Armaments and Material (DGAM).

Indra and GMV’s aim is to equip combatants with advanced technologies for use in digitalized theaters of operations, where they will have to operate in network operations with systems adapted to the new Spanish Army combat cloud concept. 

Each of these soldiers will have a vision system attached to their helmet that, using augmented reality, will allow them to visualize the route to follow and the position of their companions and to receive different tactical indications about threats and identified targets. They will also have both day and night vision, personal cameras (visible and thermal) to gather images and an advanced radio that will position them by satellite and allow them to transmit voice and data, as well as setting up different groups for improved coordination. 

The assault rifle will incorporate its own viewfinders and cameras that extend the range and accuracy of fire and allow the possibility of non-line-og-sight fire, so that the image captured by the weapon’s viewfinder can also be seen in the helmet’s vision systme, thus avoiding being exposed when turning a corner or entering an enclosed area. It will also incorporate controls to handle communications without having to release the rifle or to prevent friendly fire. 

The platoon leader will have a tablet connected to the battlefield management system (BMS) used in the rest of the Army, thus integrating the unit into the chain of command.

In a group of exercises held last month at the Toledo Infantry Academy, a platoon evaluated the system by simulating a reconnaissance mission and other day and night surveillance missions. They also conducted various day and night shooting tests. The next and final test that SISCAP will undergo in the coming months will add to this equation the presence of the 8×8 Dragon armored vehicle, which will act as a communications node between the unit and its headquarters. 
 
The manager of the UTE at Indra, Gregorio González, explains that “the system will provide soldiers with the most advanced digital capabilities and will provide them with a situational awareness of the highest level, by giving them a vision capacity enriched with the information collected by all their colleagues and other deployed means” and adds that “one of the great advantages of the system is that it is modular and scalable, which allows it to be adapted to the mission being carried out, ensuring maximum ergonomics and minimum weight”.

This modularity allows, for example, the addition of electronic aids to distinguish between friendly and enemy forces, infrared cameras, laser designators or image magnifiers, as appropriate, to the fire effectiveness system. In the case of more complex missions, soldiers can even be equipped with palm-sized micro-drones to reconnoiter the area and minimize risks. SISCAP’s open architecture will allow the incorporation of new functionalities in the future, such as the use of artificial intelligence for target discrimination, checking the status of combatants and facilitating system maintenance.

Indra and GMV’s goal is to close this first development phase this year, delivering the first seven functional prototypes in platoon-leader configuration. In subsequent phases, the possibility of manufacturing an initial pre-series of 40 or 50 systems will be studied for evaluation in real operations, and then, from 2030 onwards, for larger-scale production. 

The work of Indra and GMV in European projects such as ACHILE and GOSSRA, funded by the European Commission, has generated significant synergies and contributed to the development of this solution. At the same time, SISCAP is part of the Army’s Force 35 initiative, which places the soldier at the center of its modernization strategy.

The NIOA Group has announced the appointment of leading international defence industry executive Andrew Crickenberger.

Mr Crickenberger, formerly Vice President of Strategy for L3Harris Technologies’  Aerojet Rocketdyne Segment, joins NIOA as Chief Growth Officer.

With a career spanning more than three decades as a senior executive with multi-national defence companies, Mr Crickenberger brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to this new position.

As Chief Growth Officer, United States-based Mr Crickenberger will spearhead the NIOA Group’s efforts to capitalise on emerging opportunities in the global allied guided weapons and munitions sector.

His appointment follows NIOA’s strategic agreement with L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne, announced last November, to explore the co-production of critical guided weapons components under the Australian Government’s $4.1 billion Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.

NIOA has also recently taken up residency at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey – the US Army’s Joint Centre of Excellence for ammunition and weapons.

NIOA Group CEO Rob Nioa said Mr Crickenberger’s appointment marked an exciting new chapter for NIOA.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to our executive team at a pivotal time in the next phase of our evolution as a global munitions company,” he said.

“Andrew brings vast experience in strategy development and execution which aligns perfectly with our company’s vision and global growth objectives.

“With Andrew’s leadership and deep understanding of missile systems we are confident in our ambition to accelerate a broad range of critical munitions priorities for Australia and allied partners while also strengthening our domestic defence industrial base.”

Mr Crickenberger is respected internationally in defence and aerospace circles having created strategic business partnerships in multiple countries.

Most recently, he was a founding member of the L3Harris team that led the US$4.7b acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Before joining L3Harris, Mr Crickenberger had a distinguished 25-year career at Northrop Grumman where his last role was VP Strategy and Business Development for the Missile Products business unit.

He holds a MS in Engineering Mechanics and a BS in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech as well as multiple executive leadership certificates.

“Having worked in partnership with Rob and the NIOA team for nearly 15 years, it has been great to see the growth trajectory for the company,” Mr Crickenberger said.

“I am excited to join the team and lead the efforts to accelerate that growth in Australia, the US and into new markets such as the UK and Canada.”

Mr Crickenberger’s appointment follows the appointment earlier this year of Dan Olson, the former VP of Northrop Grumman’s Weapon Systems Division, to the NIOA Group Advisory Board.

About the NIOA Group…

• The NIOA Group includes NIOA Inc [USA], NIOA Australia, NIOA New Zealand, the Australian Missile Corporation, Barrett Firearms [USA)] and joint venture company Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions.

• Established in 1973, NIOA is a global firearms, weapons and munitions company with operations in the USA, Australia and New Zealand with a distribution network covering 75 US State department approved countries.

• NIOA is a major tenant at the Australian government owned, contractor operated (GOCO) munitions facility at Benalla in Victoria where it is currently manufacturing 120mm munitions for the Abrams tank along with 30mm and 35mm cannon ammunition.

• The company is a joint venture partner with Rheinmetall of Germany in the Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions 155mm artillery forging facility in Maryborough, Queensland, delivering key munitions for US allied nations.

• NIOA has a strategic agreement with Aerojet Rocketdyne, a L3Harris Technologies company, to explore the manufacturing of key munitions and components within Australia’s sovereign guided weapons enterprise.