Page 100 - Australian Defence Magazine September 2018

Mercury-9TM ID Beacons
Active and Passive IR
Mercury-9TM Multi-Purpose Beacon
Wide Illumination coverage makes Mercury-9TM an ideal multi-purpose beacon for a soldier combat ID marking. It’s efficient electronic design results in a small, light, and bright product, powered by single AA battery. There are a total of 6 user selectable illumination modes.
The Mercury-9TM is available in two LED color combinations; Infrared and White, or Infrared and Green.
The Mercury-9TM includes an integrated locking clip for positive attachment to PALS webbing or belts. A Flex Mount is included for attaching the Mercury to helmets or flat surfaces with included Hook and Loop Velcro. Mercury-9TM high impact plastic housing and sealed electronics are engineered to withstand harsh environments as well as chemical exposure.
There is a range of passive and active IR beacons and associated products from the Cejay range available for view at Booth 4Q10 at Land Forces 2018.
To find out more visit
www.cejayengineering.com
www.cejayeng.com www.active-electronics.co.uk
ADM. “RODUMS – Reports on Defec- tive and Unsatisfactory Materiel – from soldiers saying what needs to be improved are also noted carefully and incorporated into the planning for the next iteration.
“The bottom line is the key informa- tion that is provided in looking at the requirements for the close combatants of the future is provided in our cross- disciplinary working groups by subject matter experts coming out of the units.”
Clearly, the focus has now moved on to the SCE after next, a tender for which will be issued in 2020 for delivery in 2023 as part of Tranche Two.
User environment
Work under way includes assessments of the current and future threat environ- ments, liaising on similar developments with coalition partners, and working with a range of agencies to take advan- tage of technological advances.
These seem likely to offer ways of im- proving protection and reducing the weight of the ensemble.
Currently, the Tiered Body Armour System (TBAS) of the SCE weighs around 6.5 kilograms for the Tier 2 Dismounted system issued to close combat troops with- in a dismounted combined arms team, and 7.3 kilograms for the Tier 3 General Combatant design provided to troops whose role is primarily concerned with combat support to combined arms teams.
While outside of the project, one prom- ising development is the latest high-end ballistic armour produced by Adelaide company XTEK, whose Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) plates are cur- rently being evaluated by Diggerworks.
The polyethylene plates produced us- ing the company’s XTEK’s XTclave technology are significantly lighter than ceramic plates, are buoyant in water, and will protect against different threats.
“We’re always seeking to provide the best equipment at the lightest weight and that will apply from Tranche Two onwards, but as we are in the require- ment-setting stage no specific system or platform has been decided,” commented COL Fogarty. “I’m not going to dis- cuss threats or who gets what levels of protection other than the fact that any member of the ADF that goes in harm’s way will get the best protection we have within the Defence Force”.
One feasibility study being under- taken by Diggerworks involves the
94 | September 2018 | www.australiandefence.com.au
VISIT US AT
Land Forces 2018 @ Booth No. 4Q10