• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Innovative Technology for Soldier Modernisation Programs

23 July 2007

Thales is proud to announce the signing of a collaborative agreement with Kord Defence to develop an innovative Rifle Input Control (RIC).

RIC is a weapon-mounted, push button controller which attaches to the front grip of the rifle, enabling soldiers to operate a range of electronic devices by pressing single or multiple buttons, called chords.

The RIC can control a range of battlefield electronic equipment from the one device, including thermal weapon sights, infra-red sensors, night-aiming devices, torches, radios and computers.

Norman Gray, Managing Director of Thales Australia said, "We are pleased to be partnered with Kord Defence in developing this exciting and innovative technology which will be of great benefit to soldiers on operations.

"The Rifle Input Control increases security for soldiers by enabling them to operate a range of devices without taking their hands off the weapon or their eyes off the task."

Thales and Kord Defence (previously Wet PC) agreed in 2005 to initially develop a prototype for trial on the Austeyr rifle.

During laboratory trials in 2006, the RIC was found to be much more accurate and at least 50% faster than touch screens and 'up, down, select' (UDS) systems. Most importantly, users were able to operate the RIC virtually eyes-free, with less than 1% head-down time.

The core of the technology, the Chordic Graphical User Interface (CGUI), is protected by global patents held by Kord Defence and was originally developed for use by divers to control underwater computers.

Kord Defence and Thales Australia are currently researching the development of other applications of this technology.

About Thales

Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales's leading-edge technology supported by 22 000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. To this end, the group's civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with forecast 2007 revenues in excess of € 12 billion.