Rheinmetall Defence and Melbourne-based defence systems integrator Tectonica
Australia have announced the development of technology designed to increase awareness and protection for Australian troops in combat.
Tectonica has developed the Local Situational Awareness System (LSAS), called Altera, for Rheinmetall’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) following eight months of design and product development.
The launch will enable project partner Rheinmetall Defence to utilise the technology – an Australian first – for its Land 400 Phase 2 offer to the Commonwealth. The LSAS technology was fitted to the Boxer CRV recently displayed at Land Forces 2016 in Adelaide.
"LSAS brings together a number of critical vehicle functions into a single system by applying the principles of open architecture."
Rheinmetall Defence ANZ managing director Andrew Fletcher said the partnership had commenced with the joint funding of the LSAS project.
“Tectonica is a proven leader in the Australian Defence industry that employs highly skilled engineers and manufacturing workers, invests significantly in research and development and exports its products globally.”
Tectonica will manufacture Altera and Rheinmetall will offer it for export through its global supply chain.
Tectonica managing director David Levy said LSAS brings together a number of critical vehicle functions into a single system by applying the principles of open architecture. It combines a driver camera system, a panoramic viewing system, a video recorder and a means for the driver and passengers to view what is happening on the gunner’s and commander’s displays.
According to Rheinmetall, this creates a much higher level of situational awareness than conventional vehicle camera systems and offers many other operational and training benefits.
Crews can record reconnaissance missions and conduct after action reviews and instructors can supervise trainee crews and safety officers can monitor gunnery training from the comfort and safety of the passenger compartment. The imagery can also be made available to the Battle Management System.