The Liteye SHIELD Autonomous Kill Chain with dispersed Command and Control provides robust state of the art protection from small UAS, at Machine Speed.

Photo: The Liteye SHIELD Autonomous Kill Chain payload is a customizable Multi-Mission solution

Centennial, Colorado (February 23, 2021) – Liteye Systems, Inc., a US leader in Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems, announces Liteye SHIELD, the next level in Multi-Mission, Multi-Domain systems and a true advancement in Counter UAS Defense.

Liteye SHIELD incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning techniques with a newly designed SPYGLASS™ 3D radar, EO and IR tracking to increase the speed and confidence of the system.   The SHIELD Command and Control further ensures the full Detect, Track, ID Kill Chain is automated and conducted at machine speed.  SHIELD is the next generation, cutting-edge technology required to defend against the rapid technology maturation and proliferation of small UAS threats worldwide.

“Liteye and our partners are able to present leading edge capability in advanced 3D radars, HD Cameras, and the only US company to provide both narrow band and directional wide band electronic attack for this threat” said Kenneth Allen Geyer, CEO Liteye Systems.  “SHIELD operates as a self-contained system or links multiple SHIELD payloads, but more importantly, it seamlessly integrates into higher-level networks, can cue kinetic and non-kinetic effectors, and can be physically integrated into practically any platform.  I’m proud of what Liteye and our teammates have achieved and confident we can continue to protect US interests around the world.”

Manufacturing and integration of SHIELD critical components are based at Liteye and partner locations in the United States.  Success over the last five years with Liteye’s deployed combat proven Anti-UAS Defense System (AUDS), has earned Liteye unmatched technical experience in this market.  It is this experience that has led to the development of Liteye SHIELD primarily for the C-UAS mission, but significant for additional surveillance and electronic attack missions.  From first combat deployment in Iraq 2016 to today with systems deployed worldwide Liteye’s continually adding to our repertoire of experience with the rapidly evolving threat.

“Liteye has been protecting US Forces, our Allies and Critical Infrastructure for years, and we’ve listened closely to what the US DoD deems important,” said Ryan Hurt, Vice President of Business Development.  “Constructing an autonomous kill chain with artificial intelligence and machine learning for detect, track and identification, so decisions can be made at machine speed, was the starting point for design of this new system. Seamless integration with existing Networks ensures Operators have access to the sensors and effectors they need, when they need them, and lessens the manpower footprint.  This is next generation multi-mission, multi-domain performance.”   

Key performance characteristics of SHIELD are:

Fully Autonomous Kill Chain:  The Autonomous Kill Chain affords machine speed detect, track, identification and classification allowing an Operator to monitor the environment, manage multiple systems and only step in for final Positive ID and trigger pull to fulfill the mission. Key components: Spyglass 3D Radar for Detect & Track, AI based RF Detect, AI Target Prioritization, and Automated Video Track.

Dispersed, Networked Command and Control:  SHIELD utilizes a Man-ON-the-Loop local C2, and is networked, requiring low manpower to operate any system from any console with a distributed common operation picture.  The local C2 provides multi-sensor resource management & Sensor Fusion to an intuitive operating system with Machine Learning principles and 3D targeting for cueing networked effectors.

Multi Domain/Multi Mission with OEM Service and Support:

Multi-Domain – Operation across Air, Ground, Surface, and Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum, SHIELD effectively provides multi-domain critical infrastructure protection.

Multi-Mission – SHIELD provides platform agnostic (mobile, transportable, fixed/semi-fixed) mission essential service for: Integrated air and ground base defense, convoy protection, offensive electronic attack, wildland fires, space launch protection, event security and more. 

OEM Service and Support – Liteye’s mature Service and Support program is operational today.  Qualified and Certified by Liteye, our OEM Service and Support ensures the systems and Operators stay proficient and fully mission capable.

Liteye Systems, Inc, is a world leader in Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), radar and surveillance sensor packages, ruggedized thermal cameras, and helmet mounted displays with over $100M in services and products provided to the US Government. 

For More Information on Liteye SHIELD visit: Liteye.com/shield

DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (“DroneShield” or the “Company”), a global leader in drone detection and mitigation, and M2K Technologies, part of M2K Group with business interests in Defence & Aviation, Biologicals, Real Estate and Entertainment, have entered into an Agreement to collaborate and distribute DroneShield solutions in the Indian market.

Oleg Vornik, DroneShield’s CEO, commented, “M2K Technologies is a strong business partner in the Indian market, which has been seeing a rapid rise in the c-UAS requirements, being driven by non-State (such as criminal and terrorist) and State-based use of UAS, including escalation of the India-China border conflict along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).”

Vikash Bhagchandka, President M2K commented, “We are pleased to partner with DroneShield for addressing the imminent threat emerging from rogue drones faced by forces and security agencies and provide solutions across industries to protect our borders, prisons, airports, petrochemical complexes and other critical infrastructures and VIPs. We are actively engaging in multiple procurement processes in India in the c-UAS space through our partnership.”

The Australia-India defence relationship has been considerably strengthening in recent years, including signing of multiple landmark defence arrangements between the countries in June 2020, as part of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India is already part of “the Quad”, which brings together the US, Australia, India and Japan for naval exercises. DroneShield has participated in DefExpo 2020 in India as part of Team Defence Australia.

For further information, please contact info@droneshield.com

Flare Bright closes its £500,000 seed equity funding round.  The main investors were two cornerstone Venture Capital firms: Britbots, who opened the round, and Highland Venture Capital who closed it.  The company was greatly supported by OION who introduced the company to a number of High Net Worth investors, and together with a few other Angel investors completed the round. This secures the funding for Flare Bright through to 2022 and is complemented with other UK Government grants through its Future Flight competition and contracts, including an MOD Defence and Security Accelerator Rapid Impact award.  

Flare Bright’s Board now consists of Dominic Keen, the CEO of Britbots, who is currently Chairing the Board and Scott Carnegie from Highland Venture Capital who joins as a Non-Executive Director.  The two co-founders, Kelvin Hamilton (CEO) and Conrad Rider (CTO), together with Chief Commercial Officer Chris Daniels, complete the Board.  

CEO Kelvin Hamilton says, “we’re delighted to have such a quality and committed group of investors join the company and help us rapidly scale up and deliver on our cutting-edge technology.”

Experienced Venture Capitalist and Flare Bright’s new Non-Executive Director, Scott Carnegie adds, “When Flare Bright pitched to Highland Venture Capital we immediately recognised its potential and our investment committee were unanimous in backing this company.  I am very much looking forward to joining the Board.”

Flare Bright was founded in November 2015 and after a number of years of experimentation with autonomous drones, accelerated its progress a couple of years ago.  It has grown to twelve staff who are driving the technological boundaries of autonomy in drones.  

Flare Bright is a rapidly growing aerospace company which specialises in its UAS product: SnapShot, designed to be the lightest and simplest way to get aerial images at the single press of a button. 

Flare Bright has three core products:

• The MOD’s Defence and Security Accelerator is funding the ruggedisation of SnapShot for the defence and security market.

• SnapShot is being developed to measure winds accurately at altitudes up to 100m.  This is part of a wider InnovateUK project to create live wind maps of urban, industrial and other difficult environments.

• It is developing a precision air-dropped drone for delivering small items such as medicines, vaccines or critical parts to remote places cheaply and efficiently.

Flare Bright is increasing the endurance, controllability and capability of small drones, and will be introducing thermal imagery into its range soon.

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