Page 21 - Australian Defence Magazine Sep-Oct 2022

Visit us at Land Forces Australia Indo Asia Pacific 4th - 6th of October 2022, Brisbane QLD, Stand 2M13.
South Australian defence manufacturer Force Ordnance has significantly advanced its reputation as a designer, manufacturer, and supplier of solutions for military and law enforcement clients.
Force Ordnance was officially launched at Land Forces 2018 as an exciting new entrant in the Australian defence manufacturing sector and last year showcased its APRS QTD1 Long Range Rifle at Land Forces Expo 2021 – a one hundred percent Australian-designed, tested and manufactured product, born in Adelaide. This year, Force Ordnance has had several high-quality small arms solutions under consideration in Australian Defence and Law Enforcement tenders such as LAND 159. While Force Ordnance is hopeful of a positive outcome, there is much more that it can talk about at this year’s Land Forces Expo.
In 2021/22 Force Ordnance was able to leverage parent company Lightforce’s world-leading lighting products in both local and international defence and law enforcement sectors. The business has made further inroads into the ADF, which is trialling its Lightforce infrared lights on AEV patrol vehicles, and it is also delivering customised lighting solutions for ADF specialist vehicles. Meanwhile, Australian Customs & Border Protection’s 41-foot MMI Interceptor boats as well as a number of state police agency vehicles, have been fitted with infrared Striker lights
Internationally, the company has entered into a trial with the armed forces of the Philippines for the provision of driving lights on military vehicles whilst in the US, several defence and police bodies are shining a brighter light on suspects thanks to the Adelaide-based manufacturer. These include the Maryland Police, the US Marshall Service and the Georgia State Patrol who are all using Lightforce IR lights on their respective patrol and SWAT vehicles. The 1st Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment are also in final testing phase of Lightforce’s 850nM LED Striker for their Stryker Fighting Vehicles and General Dynamics Flier. In this particular instance, Lightforce has demonstrated its bespoke manufacturing prowess by designing an adaptor that can retrofit its LED Striker light onto the 1st Ranger Battalion’s armoured personnel carriers without modifying or changing its existing vehicle harness.
Lightforce Group founder and owner Dr. Ray Dennis said Force Ordnance is as committed as ever to making a major contribution to Australia’s sovereign industrial capability priorities and invited Land Force Expo 2022 attendees to understand the breadth and depth of the company’s offerings.
“We believe that a partnership with Force Ordnance represents smart and reliable sovereign investment in local design, manufacturing and maintenance capabilities on the part of the ADF, law enforcement and others.”
“We are also particularly keen to create awareness of our Klondyke Testing Range Complex which creates unrivalled access to a diverse and multifaceted military-grade testing facility,” added Dr. Dennis.
Originally developed for Force Ordnance’s exclusive use, the range, located on Dr. Dennis’s Klondyke Station in rural New South Wales has recently been expanded to assist Australian sovereign capability. The range has been used by the Australian Defence Force and many private Australian companies such as EOS to support Australian military capability.
A further feather in Force Ordnance’s cap has been its selection on the Australian Federal Police’s munition’s panel as an approved provider of ammunition to the Australian Federal Police and wider law enforcement community of Australia.
As a group, Lightforce has more than 250 staff between Australia and the US, with 85 in Australia and the balance in the US (employed by Nightforce and Horus).
“This year we significantly expanded our team to include an extra half dozen electronic and mechatronic engineers and machinists as well as strengthening our business development team,” added Dr. Dennis.
Lightforce has a long and successful track record in the manufacture of small arms and related components through its wholly owned subsidiary Ace Precision Rifle Systems which has been building premium rifles in Adelaide, South Australia, for the past 10 years.
Force Ordnance is also supported by a strong international supply chain that includes Lewis Machine and Tool Company, CADEX rifles, Nightforce Optics, Theon Sensors, Horus reticles, and body armour.
Force Ordnance is a part of the RLD Group of Companies and offers products from these key business partners.