Vision Guard is OpenWorks’ smallest and lightest intelligent optics system. It is intended to act as an early warning system, or “trip wire”, for dismounted close combatants.
The system provides rapidly deployable panoramic staring capability for forward observation and covert surveillance, including in low light. It uses OpenWorks’ proprietary artificial intelligence and data fusion software to detect, track and identify class 1 UAS at long range.
OpenWorks said Vision Guard can be configured with combinations of active and passive wide-area sensors. These can include radar and acoustic panels, depending on mission requirements.
The system has been designed with minimal Size, Weight and Power requirements. Vision Guard and its ancillary sensors can be carried in a standard military backpack and deployed in under two minutes.
The company said this enables distributed counter-UAS capability and reduces reliance on strategic assets. It also supports freedom of manoeuvre for troops operating in dispersed conditions.
Vision Guard has already been proven among a number of European and U.S. customers. It has also been used as part of Project Vanaheim, a joint UK and U.S. experimentation programme exploring the future of interoperable counter-UAS capability.
OpenWorks said Project Vanaheim addresses a threat that is rapidly evolving into one of today’s most prolific battlefield challenges. The programme has focused on countering small UAS in operational environments where interoperability is increasingly important.
James Cross, Chief Commercial Officer at OpenWorks, said, “We don’t take lightly the trust placed in us by the Australian Defence Force to support enhanced situational awareness and operational intelligence as part of their Land 156 programme. Vision Guard is a small but mighty system that makes a real difference to dispersed troops and we’re proud to support the Commonwealth in their fast-tracked efforts to enhance C-UAS capability.”
The contract places OpenWorks within Australia’s effort to accelerate counter-UAS capability for close combat forces. The company said Vision Guard is designed to provide deployable intelligence and warning functions for troops facing small drone threats.
