Thales Partnership Selected for Department of Defense Testing Program
19 January 2011
ARLINGTON, Va., January 19, 2011 – Thales USA Defense & Security announced today that a Thales partnership between Thales Australia and Kord Defence has been selected to participate in the 2011 U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Comparative Testing Program. The companies’ participation in the program will focus on testing and evaluation of Thales Australia and Kord’s Rifle Input Control (RIC) concerning its suitability for use as a Rifle Accessory Control Unit by the US Marine Corps (USMC).
The request for a foreign comparative test (FCT) of the RIC was the only project the USMC selected for review in 2010.
“DoD’s selection of the RIC for test funding is a success in Thales’s broader plan in the U.S., to source the best technologies from the global Thales network,” said Brad Foreman, vice president of Thales USA’s defense business. “We’re very confident this product will be found to have immediate benefits to the warfighter.”
“We are proud to have been selected for the Foreign Comparative Testing Program and will remain fully committed to demonstrating the value of the RIC to the U.S. Marine Corps and other services throughout the course of testing,” said Dr. Peter Moran, managing director at Kord.
The RIC is a programmable soldier system control and integration technology. The developed five-button controller is designed for use by dismounted close combat soldiers and provides a fast and simple way of remotely controlling devices attached to their weapon, body or helmet, without the need to take their eyes off the task or their hands off the weapon.
Nearly fifty projects were submitted for the 2011 FCT program. Thales’ RIC is among the 18 projects that were selected to enter the program. The mission of the FCT is to test items and technologies in order to satisfy valid defense requirements more quickly and economically. In the last six years, 82% of all Foreign Comparative Tests (FCT) have lead to procurement programs.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defense, Security and Transportation markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of 12.9 billion Euros (equivalent of $18 billion) with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.
About Kord Defence
Kord Defence is part of a privately owned group of companies, comprising KordTech Pty Ltd and WetPC Pty Ltd, that is commercializing a new interface technology for controlling mobile devices; with one hand, under any condition and without always having to look at a screen. Based in Canberra, Australia, Kord’s goal is to provide frontline soldiers with a better, faster, and safer way of accessing and controlling mobile computing and electronic devices – any time and anywhere.
Thales Contacts
Katie Fitzgerald
Thales USA
Phone: +1 703 838 5678
Mobile: +1 571 243 6593
Katie.fitzgerald@us.thalesgroup.com
Julian Elliott
Thales Australia
Phone: +61 (2) 9562 3716
Mobile: +61 (401) 134 415
Julian.Elliott@thalesgroup.com.au
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