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Archive for the ‘Recce’ 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

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…)

TNVC’s New WASP

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

We just wrote that Tactical Night Vision Company would have a new scope in their SHOT Show booth (#6502) and sure enough they revealed the new Weapon-Mounted Advanced Sighting Platform (WASP) to us today. This is a production prototype and has been banged around in repeated field tests, so the fit and finish in delivery models will be a little more polished. For example, the final production version will include hard anodized coatings, battery cap tethers, a knurled ring for the diopter focus, along with many other refinements.

In fact, TNVC President Victor Di Cosola related to us that, “because of the tremendous glass and optic resolution, the NV Intensifier tube is now the only limiting factor for resolution. A true 64 or 72 Line Pair of intensifier tube resolution can be easily achieved through the WASP’s optic at its fixed 8x magnification.” TNVC is now taking pre-orders for a spring release.

www.tnvc.com

TNVC Introducing New Products at SHOT Show

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

Not only has Tactical Night Vision Company completely revamped their website but they are also introducing several new products in booth #6502 at SHOT Show. Additionally, TNVC is now the U.S. Distributor for Sensor Technology Systems’ (STS), AN/PVS-21 Low Profile Night Vision Goggle and they will also have a new scope on hand. Their booth also features specialized lighting that mimics what NV looks like through the tube.

www.tnvc.com

Expedition Series Masts

Sunday, October 17th, 2010

Many of our readers use portable masts for a variety of tasks, and with the proliferation of more and more electronics systems incorporating communications as well as sensor technologies, the need for additional masting capability continues to grow. With the new Expedition series of masts from Will-Burt a single man can extend 4 foot (1.2 m) sections to heights from 8 feet (2.5 m) to 60 feet (18.3 m) with lightweight payloads such as cameras or antennas. The mast system features two bubble levels as well as a center guide tube to provide a smooth guide path when raising and lowering tube sections as well as a tube lifter to give the user an ergonomic advantage when raising heavy payloads.

Additionally, as part of this line, Will-Burt has introduced the Ranger Pack kit which includes a pack that accommodates the 65 lbs system which is capable of lifting up to a 50 pound payload (23 kilograms) to 24 feet (8 meters) above the ground. This system can be deployed guyed or un-guyed and is designed to be operated by one or two man elements.

www.willburt.com

EmFX Pouches from NEMO Equipment Now Available ADS

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

The EmFX Pouches from NEMO Equipment that we wrote about back in July are finally available both for unit orders through ADS and individual purchase with Tactical Distributors. Essentially, the pouch creates a mini Faraday Cage blocking all incoming and outgoing Radio Frequency signals. This means, you can’t pocket dial someone and no one can remotely query the data stored on your cell phone. Unfortunately, bad guys can query this data, so as you stroll along on business or vacation, criminals (or worse) can collect your info, all without your knowledge. The only way to protect this data is to store it in a safe place. If you are someone who travels frequently overseas this pouch is a good investment.

Interestingly, in Chapter 4 of William Gibson‘s new book, “Zero History” the story mentions a Faraday Cage pouch for passports and what nastiness can happen to unsuspecting passport holders. In case you didn’t realize it, new passports include a Radio Frequency ID tag that contains information on you and allows customs to more quickly process you. NEMO Equipment is currently working on just such a model for passports.

BAE Systems to Acquire OASYS Technology

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

BAE Systems announced yesterday it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire OASYS Technology, a privately owned company specializing in the design and manufacture of electro-optical systems and subassemblies for aerospace, defense, industrial and commercial markets. For those of you unfamiliar with OASYS Technologies, they build some fantastic thermal sights such as the SkeetIR Thermal Mono-Sight.

“OASYS Technology’s talented workforce and technologies will enhance BAE Systems’ ability to serve its customers as a leader in day/night surveillance and targeting systems as well as precision guidance,” commented Bob Murphy, executive vice president of BAE Systems, Inc. product sectors.

OASYS Technology employs 65 people at its 40,000 square foot design and manufacturing facility in Manchester, New Hampshire. Upon successful closing, OASYS Technology’s operations are expected to be integrated with the BAE Systems business headquartered in Nashua, New Hampshire.

OASYS Technology Chief Executive Officer Mike Couture stated, “We look forward to the opportunity to become part of the BAE Systems family. We will be better positioned to serve our current customer base and broaden both the market and potential applications for our expertise, technologies, and products.”

The proposed acquisition is conditional, among other things, upon receiving certain U.S. regulatory approvals, and it is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2010. The purchase price is said to be up to $55 Million.

A Low Cost UAS?

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Strike Hold! caught wind of a $15k vertical lift Unmanned Aerial System manufactured in China. Amazingly, this product was designed for airsoft. It is controlled by GPS, and features electric motors for quiet flight and delivers streaming video back to the hand-held remote unit.

This is the same kind of stuff we were alluding to in our recent article on Disruptive Technologies. However, since both good and bad guys have been modifying what are essentially remote control toys for some time to conduct reconnaissance then this new product doesn’t really fit the definition of a true disruptive capability. What it does mean, is that a lot more folks will have access to low-cost, purpose built unmanned aerial systems. Aside from the obvious issue of having an enemy with similar reconnaissance capabilities as us, there are also airspace issues to consider. And as these commercial systems become more pervasive, the issue will be more prevalent. Think about being on a patrol and trying to figure out if it is one of ours. Think about safety of flight issues.