Kord’s ‘centralised point of control’ allows soldiers to easily operate complex body and weapon-worn electronic devices. It was developed with the Australian Army and is now being used on the Ukrainian battlefield.
The Rifle Accessory Control Unit (RACU) is ‘push-button control technology’ that enhances a soldier’s lethality and situational awareness, according to Kord. It gives soldiers an easily accessible and safe way to remotely operate their electronic devices from one central location on their weapon.
“This technology is being used on the frontline by Ukrainian Forces in the war against Russia,” Kord’s Managing Director, Dr Peter Moran, tells Forbes Australia. “We are currently pursuing opportunities in several other East European and NATO countries.”
The RACU device integrates the control of weapon mounted, head mounted and body worn electronic devices so that a soldier can ‘maintain a firing position without having to take his/her eyes off task.’ In the Ukraine, it is being used to control a push-to-talk radio, laser aimer and a flashlight.
Kord was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Canberra. In 2017, Australia’s Defence Innovation Hub issued provided Kord with a $635,000 innovation grant.
“Canberra-based Kord Defence will seek to develop a wireless soldier control system using Bluetooth Low Energy technology that will connect with multiple electronic devices currently in use by the Australian Defence Force (ADF),” a statement released at the time reads. Three years later, the company received another $2.3 million from the Defence Innovation Hub.
RACU has been extensively tested and evaluated by the US Marine Corp, Dr Moran says.
In February, Kord announced it had signed an $11 million deal with U.S. forces, calling it ‘a great reinforcement of the collaboration between Australia and the U.S. across militaries, innovation and industry.’
“Our products are highly unique and we lead the world in this area,” says Moran. “It will allow US soldiers to control a multiplicity of electronic devices, easily and safely, without having to take either their hands off their weapon or their eyes off the target. Currently, there is no other technology that allows them to do this.”
Under the terms of the deal, RACU units will be manufactured at a Kord facility in Ogden, Utah, meaning they will not be subject to the 10 per cent tariff put on goods entering the country.
“The core intellectual property that underpins this technology is developed and owned by our Australian company. This gives us the ability to manufacture anywhere in the world,” says Dr Moran.
The deal speaks to the strong relationship between Australia and the US.
“It says that we are very much a trusted partner – from a military point of view. We have found over the years that Australian companies are very well thought of and are known to be both innovative and agile,” says Dr Moran.
As for whether the Australian Army, which helped develop the technology, is implementing it in their operations, Dr Moran says unfortunately, as of now, no.
“At present, it is not being used by Australian Armed Forces,” says Dr Moran.
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