Gird Your Loins: eMagin Corporation Third Quarter 2013 Earnings Conference Call to be Held on Tuesday, November 12, 2013

 http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20131104-904455.html?dsk=y

Product Du Jour (Not Made in Belarus) SAFRAN-SAGEM Sword Multi-Function TWS

http://www.sagem-ds.com/IMG/pdf/D1364E-Sword_Sniper.pdf

"The Military Interest Is Certainly There"

http://tbo.com/news/business/mullins-trackingpoint-introduces-a-rifle-with-nearly-foolproof-accuracy-20131103/

RAF pilots left ‘blinded’ at 1000 mph by helmet technical glitch

These Helmet Mounted Displays are proving to be a prickly problem for the Joint Strike Fighter. The "Green Glow" is caused by insufficient contrast. Giving a little more credence to the rumor I heard that a much higher contrast display is waiting "in the wings" or the cockpit or somewhere.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/raf-pilots-left-blinded-at-1000-mph-by-helmet-technical-glitch-8919504.html

Here's Kopin's Entry Into the HMD Wars: "Future Lens" Martian Goggles -98" 2D/3D Hi-Tech HMD Unit! NEW 2013 RELEASE! $699.99

From the Asian Syntho-Pop Promo I believe the target demographic is Young and Eastern, everything but Pokemon and Anime Cats. eMagin Management waiting for General McClellan's Input as to when to seriously confront opponents in HMD Wars.

http://digitalmartians.storenvy.com/products/1728683-future-lens-martian-goggles-98-2d-3d-hi-tech-hmd-unit-new-2013-release

http://www.youtube.com/v/HchwB4Dts9o?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=D7yQHy0mc3R9Up7bpibPYA&autoplay=1&feature=share&autohide=1&showinfo=1

Marines Robotic Moving Targets

My little conspiracy theory. The Marines are testing this robotic system to hone the accuracy of the Devil Dog when engaging moving targets. Nice little robot there, robots, robots everywhere. This sort of thing is nothing new. Eddie Rickenbacker, the WWI Ace used to polish his marksmanship while standing in a boat to acclimate to firing a weapon at a non-stationary target.

It worked as Captain Rickenbacker shot down over 25 of the Fokkers. It is yet to be seen how the Marines will fare but those cartridges cost money and what if there was a system available that automatically performed all the calculus for you and promised a plus 80% success rate. (See The Future of War Video here http://www.shotmade.com/futureofwar/ )

Jason Schauble CEO of TrackingPoint,  developer of the Precision Guided Firearm (eMagin Inside) happens to have pretty much started from scratch the Marine Corps Spec Ops Command. MARSOC is the Marines arm of the Joint Spec Ops Command. After mustering out due to getting shot in Iraq he became VP of Remington Defense. Subsequently he left Remington to start TrackingPoint. Last June Mr. Schauble took one of his TrackingPoint PGFs to The Marine Corps Base at Quantico Virginia, where the Marine Corps Research Center is located and put it through the gun through it's paces. The on-lookers were impressed. The FBI did not find fault with it nor did Homeland Security. The Marine Corps was predisposed to liking it.My conspiracy is based on the premise that this Whack-a-Robot Program is just a way for somebody to say "why go through all this rigamarole when we can..."

We Own the Night -Training with U.S. and Australian Special Operations Forces

                                          "We Own The Night"

Mix of "Legacy" NVGs and "Newer" NVGs

More Detail on Exelis "Newer NVG" Sales

Now the Direct View Night Vision Goggles are "Legacy".  Interesting.


"Segment operating income for the quarter was $69 million, versus $84 million for the third quarter of 2012, primarily driven by volume declines and increased pension expense partially offset by cost cutting initiatives. "

"C4ISR Electronics and Systems third-quarter 2013 revenue was $498 million, compared to $611 million during the same period in 2012, mainly due to decreased domestic sales of counter-IED products and legacy night vision equipment, partially offset by sales of Spiral (eMagin Inside) Enhanced Night Vision Goggles and classified programs.


http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20131101005058/en/XLS/Exelis/earnings

I have to back off on my previous contention that Armasight

was using eMagin AMOLED in their Thermal Systems, this is a new one the Drone Pro with a Resolution of 752X582, that, coupled with the low price of the scope leads me to believe that they are buying that displays from Olightek and consequently tells me that the SVGA in the Zeus is likely Olightek SVGA. As it turns out, HQ in San Francisco, OLEDs from China, made in Belarus. I wonder if the customers ask about the Displays Lifetime? Olightek's Red display is showing up in low end Thermal Imagers like Leupold's cheapie. At least it's shows an Across -the-Board migration away from LCDs but Belarus? Why that's downright Unamurican.

https://www.armasight.com/night-vision/night-vision-weapon-sights/armasight-drone-pro-5x/

Exelis 3Q profit drops as Afghanistan work slows

but miserable wretches who are inhabitants of that God Forsaken Blowfly infested 4th World Failed State called eManistan, all is not lost. GENIII PVS-14 no effect, Enhanced NVG and 20's and the New Data Friendly NVGs,  salutary effect.

DETAILS: The former defense unit of manufacturer ITT Corp. makes night-vision goggles, anti-bomb products and does technical work for the government. Much of that work has been slowing down as the U.S. military's presence in Afghanistan has shrunk. Some of the declines were offset by increased sales of newer night-vision goggles and work the company is doing for the Federal Aviation Administration.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-11-01/exelis-3q-profit-drops-as-afghanistan-work-slows

Armed ground drones to take over battlefields in 5 years

http://rt.com/usa/robotics-rodeo-ground-drones-512/

Ender’s Game is Already a Reality for the U.S. Military

Troops are being trained with military technology inspired by an iconic science fiction novel

By David Kushner Posted 31 Oct 2013 



“We don’t give them a manual, we don’t send them home for three weeks to study,” says James Blake, head of the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation. “We just put them in the environment, put the device on them, and exercise.”

Enders Game, who knew? Does this mean I have to go see this thing? Caramba. Straight line though from the Book to Dismounted Soldier (eMagin Inside) Training System. Drone, UAVs of all types, Weaponized Semi-Autonomous Bots,  Ships without Sailors, Remote Sentries and millions of people playing COD Ghosts and Battlefield 4, CryEngine, Bohemia supplying  the software, makes perfect sense, the other Future of War is a Video Game by other means.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/software/enders-game-is-already-a-reality-for-the-us-military

A Scary True Story

The weight of the HMDS System + the weight of the NVGs were a contributing factor in the death of an F-16 Pilot while ejecting. Airspeed plus the weight of his helmet broke his neck. Have to get smaller, lighter with better optics.

http://www.stripes.com/news/report-into-f-16-crash-cites-spatial-disorientation-by-pilot-1.250013

Kopin Corporation Reports Third-Quarter 2013 Operating Results and To Drive Home His Commitment to "Wearable Computing"...

Dr. John "CC Rider" Fan donned his own creation for Halloween, a costume that celebrates the Spirit of Wearable Computing.  John has alerted Taunton Residents that instead of Candy or Pennies or Apples with foreign objects embedded in them he would prefer Stock Options when he raises his pillow case and exclaims, "Trick or Treat!"

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kopin-corporation-reports-third-quarter-2013-operating-results-2013-10-31?reflink=MW_news_stmp

The Scariest Time of the Year!!!

Yes, it's almost time for an eMagin Corporation 
CONFERENCE CALL!

Yuval Boger Blowing Hot and Cold Again

Previously he proposed that low cost optical systems like the LCD Screens in the Nausea Inducing Brainchild of an idiot savant, not my characterization, somebody else, might be "good enough" for many applications precluding the need for higher quality optics. Now having given it some thought he is able to see the problem of cost related to reducing distortion in the cheapo optics, so in HMDs as in Life there is no free lunch. These HMDs with their maniacal following will find their devotees less maniacal when the MSRP is not much different than systems they sneer at like the Zeiss, the Sony and yes the eMagin Z800.

http://vrguy.blogspot.com/2013/10/can-gpu-compensate-for-all-optical.html

Product Du Jour: Aselsan Guard

http://www.aselsan.com/magmain/pdf/en/Guard_ENG.pdf

"Halo Military Supplier Denies That The New US Military Helmet Is Based On 'Halo!'" Of Course It's Not Based on "Halo". It's Based on The Oculus Rift

Any idiot could see that. There is a potentially pertinent part. Yes, just like Google Glass. No, not like Google Glass. like ENVGs integrated into the Individual Soldier System's Helmet that's coming down the pike. Pictured on Right. Boy, this Amanda Marcus is quite a wordsmith, eyeball, HEaDs-UP.

Integrate electronics: A 'HEaDS-UP display (similar to Google glass) can be flipped down in front of a soldier's eyeball to give mission status updates, battlefield maps, GPS locations of squadron leader, Medevac, etc ... Basically, updating, integrating and enhancing the already developed 'Land Warrior System'.


http://www.businessinsider.com/new-military-helmets-based-on-halo-2013-10

Sony HMZ-T3W Head Mounted Display Review.

Hyper-Kinetic Review of Sony's New HMD by a Member of the Church of Oculus. It is available at the Sony Store, $999.00 as we await eMagin's rumored Digital Z800 while not holding our breath.

http://store.sony.com/gsi/webstore/WFS/SNYNA-SNYUS-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewData-Start/330718038?JumpTarget=ViewCart-View

Canon MixedReality : Getting a little closer...

They actually call it a Microdisplay on their revised MREAL page. It's commonly believed by me that this Mixed Reality HMD contains microdisplays made by eMagin Corporation. The smaller form factor is accomplished by the positioning and design of the free form prism. Developers take not, in the future it won't have to look like a Motorcycle Helmet or Dive Mask.

http://www.canon.com/technology/approach/special/mr.html

Product Du Jour: SVGA+ Rev2 OLED-XL Thermal Camera from Comnav

http://www.comnavmarine.com/

Only a Month In and I'm Contemplating

a Major Change. I'm thinking of Re-Branding, MIW&PBMW may morph into OLED-Disinfo. The thrust of the new site would be to highlight as much Dis-Information as I can about the OLED Industry. Possible Headlines:

AUO to Partner with Hanes on Development of OLED Undergarments

Flexible OLED, Fad, Gimmick or Both?

eMagin Develops Microdisplay so Small Can't Be Seen with Naked Eye

LG Opens First OLED Fabrication Facility in Somalia

Bomb Destroys LG OLED Fabrication Facility in Somalia

Or maybe I'll put it in a Newsletter and see if there are any sucker... er, customers out there.

Could it be that eMagin's real goal all along was to monopolize the Virtual Welding Market?

First Lincoln VRTEX, now Fronius?

 http://www.fronius.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-F4DC1770-61DFFCBE/fronius_international/hs.xsl/79_11193_ENG_HTML.htm#.Um-nfSQl2Hk

ADEX about to open in Seoul SK

and here's a couple of sharp dressed Uniformed  mannequins both referred to as
Korea's "Soldier Of The Future",the one on the right ain't happening but the guy on the Left looks to be wearing an L-3 Insight Fused Goggle with an eMagin Display in the Thermal Monocle he's looking through.

Jobs at eMagin Corp.

Equipment Maintenance Technician

Job Number:109986810

Company Name:eMagin Corporation

Location:Hopewell Junction, NY

Career Focus:Manufacturing & Production

Description:

The role of the equipment maintenance technician is to support manufacturing in front and back end operations. Service and repair tools and provide periodic maintenance of production tools on respective shift

Temporary Manufacturing Operator

Job Number:109986812

Company Name:eMagin Corporation

Location:Hopewell Junction, NY

Career Focus:Construction & Extraction

Immediate opening for Temporary Operators for approximately 6 weeks on 1st and 2nd shifts. Must have manufacturing background

eMagin is an EOE M/F/D/V
MslashF

PEO Equipment Piece of the Week: Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (ENVG), AN/PSQ-20 By ddawson – October 28, 2013

eMagin still inside after all these hours.

All this pub for ENVGs what next?, Exelis Ads on the Jumbotrons in Times Square? Might come in very handy in the City That Never Sleeps.

http://peosoldier.armylive.dodlive.mil/2013/10/28/equipment-piece-of-the-week-enhanced-night-vision-goggle-envg-anpsq-20-3/

TrackingPoint, Future of War,This makes more sense now.

Cubic Corporation a few ago developed and tried to sell a through-the-scope system wherein Friendlies in a War Zone could wear a Sensor that the scope would recognize with a particular type of icon and color which would preclude the possibility of a Friendly Fire miscue. I remember asking the guy if they could figure out a way to tag the enemy so from that point they would be recognized as such. He laughed, I blushed, I was embarrassed to have proposed something so outlandish. But this concept is just what the folks at TP are working on with Image Recognition Technology, really interesting stuff. The Heads Up Display Screen is from eMagin.

TP CEO Speaks:
Smart rifles have embedded wifi and USB ports to enable hardline connections with other smart devices, including communications gear. Smart rifles currently do not have native GPS, but can have GPS plug in via USB that enables geolocation of the rifles themselves and of tagged targets via onboard sensor arrays (compass direction and range input from laser rangefinder). This will enable the tracking of targets after they are taken down, targets that are tagged and then leave the scope’s field of view, rifles lost in combat, positions of soldiers and more.

And more:

http://www.shotmade.com/futureofwar/

Oculus Rift Hands On Made Scott PUKE!

Don't look at the whole thing, the last minute tells the story.

How Gauche is This? Color organic light-emitting diode display device USPTO Patent

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=4&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=197&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=20131022.PD.&s2=%28NY.ASST.%29&OS=ISD/10/22/2013+AND+AS/NY&RS=ISD/10/22/2013+AND+AS/NY

CNBC:Night (vision) shift: Exelis adapts to new US realities

The Real Future of War

TheNight Vision Goggles described and pictured here contain eMagin Displays.

"Can high-tech night vision goggles help change the nature of global warfare?
Defense contractor Exelis is certainly betting on it. At a minimum, the company thinks advanced tech devices—such as night vision goggles—will help improve military intelligence in a world where less money will be spent on bullets and tanks. Surveillance and intelligence gathering are expected to be linchpins of U.S. military research and development activities, amid the winding-down of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan."

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101141579

"Because In Space Nobody Can Hear You Barf- Redux"

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/around-533108-virtual-rift.html

No wonder Yuval Boger is freaking out if a result of sequestration is NASA using a $300 Dive Mask rather than a $20K Sensics zSight. Of course, NASA should consider the potential liability for Nausea related Lawsuits.

Javelin, Raytheon, Indian Bureaucracy, the Omnishambles of it All.

'E carried me away
To where a dooli lay,
An' a bullet come an' drilled the beggar clean.
'E put me safe inside,
An' just before 'e died,
"I 'ope you liked your drink" sez Gunga Din.

Why Terry Gilliam called his Epic Anti-Bureaucracy Film"Brazil" and not "India" is a mystery what with Britain's history with the Raj and all but there it is Indian Leviathan feeds on itself. Never a done deal. Probably only because eMagin is tangentially involved. And the Strategic context makes it all the weirder as the Taliban is withdrawing as well from Afghan to Kashmir, it's going to get very hot in there very soon. Pakistan will encourage them as surrogates. How bright a red is that on the Pentagon's Digital Map?

"
The fallout from the AgustaWestland case can also be seen in the services’ procurement plans. In April the MoD delayed the army’s plans to spend 150 billion rupee ($2.3 billion) on Rafael Spike non-line-of-sight anti-tank missiles because of sensitivities at sole-sourcing such a big contract.
It is also impeding recent attempts by the U.S. to kick start the military-industrial relationship with Delhi. The Pentagon – in the form of outgoing Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter – has promised to co-develop at least two systems with India: a successor to the Javelin anti-tank guided missile and the next-generation EMALS catapult for launching aircraft off carriers.
The chances of either of these joint developments getting off the ground are severely compromised by India’s inability to sort out its basic procurement relationships with foreign vendors, as the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) noted in a September letter to the Pentagon that was provided to IHS Jane’s.
The USIBC letter complained that India was imposing "unfeasible delays" on signing defense contracts and that foreign defense companies had little post-delivery liability protection. It pointed to the M777 deal as a key example of the problems being faced."
http://thediplomat.com/2013/10/27/indias-defense-procurement-bungles-2/ 

I wish I could have summed this up as well as Rob Curtis Gearscout Blogger at Military.com

Rob Curtis writes:

"The system has the ability to make nearly anyone a 1,000-yard marksman in the right conditions, and presents the possibility of a one-man sniper team.
Before anyone goes off on the “batteries will fail” or “technology like this will never be reliable” rantpath, just look at the vast amount of electronic gear our troops are already deploying with. Night vision, GPS, communications … these are all examples of electronics that were made to work on the battlefield.
TrackingPoint will be no different. The issues this system faces are cost, night vision compatibility and wind detection technology. If any two of those three issues are addressed, I can see TrackingPoint’s tech, or that of it’s competitors, taking it’s place on the battlefield."

Proposing the TP Scope as a key component in Battlefield connectivity I thought was a bridge a little to far. The idea that a soldier would raise a rifle, look through a scope in a war zone to look at data is, um, strange particularly when a chief concern of the military is Green on Blue, Blue on Blue Friendly Fire Incidents, it makes no sense. Sudden gusts of wind, lack of thermal or NV capability and cost sums it up pretty well. Would this be useful in the kit of one soldier in the squad, absolutely. No reason it could not be carried by the Squad's Designated  Marksman and be a very useful tool when called upon. The Military is pretty far down the road on comprehensive systems like the Individual Soldier System that can do a hell of a lot more in a much smaller package.

CASTar, new HMD looking for Kickstarter Funding

and their presentation asserts less nausea than great unnamed company with Quasi Goth-Latin name. Nice little nerd war kicking up between these nascent HMD developers, nasty tweets and all.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system

Intelligent Decisions Recognized with William C. Schwartz Industry Innovation Award : Simulation & training pioneer receives honor as a leading tech company in central Florida

"Intelligent Decisions recently relocated its Orlando office to 3050 Technology Parkway to accommodate the space and locale requirements of its growing Simulation & Training Division. The Dismounted Soldier Training System (DSTS), a Program of Record with the U.S. Army, simulates a high fidelity training environment to prepare warfighters for combat. These game changing technologies are also making an impact in an expanding range of markets including law enforcement and healthcare."

DSTS uses a ruggedized eMagin Z800 in their training.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131021006332/en/Intelligent-Decisions-Recognized-William-C.-Schwartz-Industry 

AUSA: Helmet of the Future? | Military.com

Revision's new "Halo" Style Helmet dedicates a port to the "New Enhanced Night Vision Goggle", ENVG is made by Exelis and L-3 at the moment and utilize an eMagin Display in each.

 AUSA: Helmet of the Future? | Military.com

Microsoft drops AR/VR Hint

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-really-exciting-things-for-xbox-one-planned-post-launch/1100-6415744/

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Microsoft is developing wearable technology similar to Google Glass, backing up a report from last summer. In the Egde interview today, Harrison was asked outright if Microsoft is working on virtual reality or augmented reality technology.

"We wouldn’t make any specific announcements here but we've put USB 3.0 ports on Xbox One for a reason, which is that we want high bandwidth communication with other accessory or companion devices," Harrison said. "I'm not going to speculate but we definitely designed the platform to extend over time."

Samsung patents design of smartphone-connected 'sports glasses'

http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/24/samsung-sports-glasses-design-patent/

Oculus Rift DevKit hands on & impressions! The Monkey Exits The Church of Oculus and Asks "Where's the Bathroom?"

The Next Army Tech Evaluation Delayed, But Leaders Insist All is Well

A dirty little secret is that at present there is no NETT Warrior Program fielded or functioning, no budget, no plans to attempt to implement it, it is Tactical Vaporware. The search for that seamless battlefield is still going on in the Desert Southwest and it well may be that the System our Exelis friend presented last night, the Individual Soldier System will be the one that wins out.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131023/SHOWSCOUT/310230014/The-Next-Army-Tech-Evaluation-Delayed-Leaders-Insist-All-Well?odyssey=nav|head

Helmet-mounted displays to improve pilot situation awareness: Patrizia Knabl

Somewhat academic at this point. SPIE academic, mais no! The Elbit HMDS for Rotary Winged Aircraft for example, the one they recently sold to Korea already can do this, maybe this green lights the system for widespread proliferation Stateside. I think an eMagin WUXGA could handle all this conformal symbology in a walk. Don't you?


"A sample of 62 helicopter pilots provided ratings and suggestions for improvement. The biographical data obtained in the survey revealed that 59% of pilots had experienced severe spatial disorientation at least once and 75% reported having encountered at least one brownout during flight. Given the rather high occurrence of spatial disorientation, and the fact that a NATO study revealed that brownout is responsible for about 75% of helicopter mishaps,¹ the results clearly endorse the importance of augmented visual support."

http://spie.org/x104005.xml

OLED Pioneers and Present?, Erstwhile?, eMagin Research Partner Elected to HOF

http://rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=7522

http://www.osadirect.com/news/article/533/

"Tang and Van Slyke invented the OLED, which now is commonly used in electronics display screens."

Not commonly enough!

Exelis Individual Soldier System at AUSA 2013

This is the NVG that won the Italian Design Award, the Goggles do Data Reception and Transmission all networked to Spearnet, the Tactically Seamless Networked Battlefield, eMagin display in the NVG.

I've Followed and been a Shareholder of eMagin (EMAN on the AMEX)

for a long time, as the old canard goes, longer than I care to remember. It's funny, eMagin has had an unusual trajectory in it's relatively short existence. Of course, it participated in the insanity of the dot.com bubble, that was way before my time. I found it when it was struggling for existence but I found the technology so compelling I felt that it would have to win out over it's competitors in time. But I've noticed the industry wide phenomenon, OLED anything is difficult to make and very difficult to make economically. And eMagin has certainly shared the difficultly that any number of OLED manufacturers have encountered.
 There was a shared expectation among investors that the new machinery that eMagin installed would overcome the challenges of producing microdisplays in yields high enough and economically enough that could grow the market and the company and do so profitably.  But it's pretty clear that as a pioneer and we know it's pioneers that always get arrows in their ass that it has been and is a rocky road. So, as the Quarterly approaches I expect the usual, manufacturing progress slow but measurable, no earthshaking customer announcements, hopefully the naming of a competent, effective new Director of Manufacturing but there will be something, something will be amiss, I don't know what that will be, big problem, small problem, medium sized problem, made up problem, but whatever it is it will read like this the next morning :

         Seventh Cavalry!!!  
     Disaster in Montana
     All Feared Loss, 10,000 
     Sioux!!! Custer Dead!

Aselsan Scout, A Prize Winner, eMagin OLED Inside

http://www.aselsan.com/Content.aspx?mid=375&oid=464

Impressions, VR Sickness, & Dev Kit 2 - Oculus Rift Review : Just in time for Halloween, A High Priest of The Church of Oculus Explains It All to You. Don't watch it. Please don't watch it.

Virtual training opens for the dismounted Soldier

Intelligent Decisions' DSTS has seemingly overwhelmed the competition in simulation and training. Quantum3D another eMagin customer was always at the Army's Annual Meeting, conspicuous by their absence this year.  The DSTS system is at the facilities below and they are adding new sites every month. The optics are a ruggedized eMagin Z800.

http://ncojournal.dodlive.mil/2013/10/22/virtual-training-opens-up-for-the-dismounted-soldier/

• Fort Benning, Ga. — Two systems
• Fort Bragg, N.C. — Three systems
• Fort Bliss, Texas — Two systems
• Fort Campbell, Ky. — Three systems
• Fort Hood, Texas — Two systems
• Fort Lewis, Wash. — Three systems
• Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
• Fort Pickett, Va.
• Fort McCoy, Wis.
• Camp Casey, Korea
• Fort Stewart, Ga.
• Fort Carson, Colo.
• Fort Riley, Kan.
• Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.
• Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
• Camp Grayling, Mich.
• Fort Drum, N.Y.
• Camp Atterbury, Ind.
• Fort Knox, Ky.
• Fort Dix, N.J.
• Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.
• Fort Wainwright, Alaska
• Fort Richardson, Alaska
• Camp Shelby, Miss.
• Grafenwöhr, Germany
• Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Product Du Jour: Rockwell MicroView™ 35T with eMagin SVGA-XL See-Through

http://www.rockwellcollins.com/~/media/Files/Unsecure/Products/Product%20Brochures/Displays/HMD/MV35T%20data%20sheet.aspx

(FT4) Full Panasonic GH 4K camera specs : Another OLED EVF enters the market.

http://www.43rumors.com/ft4-full-panasonic-gh-4k-camera-specs/

Remington 2020 test fire

Remington 2020 Training part 2

Remington 2020 training Part 1

TrackingPoint ShotMade Tour Heads to Houston, Phoenix, Tampa and Dallas

Speaking to Former Army Snipers they are, shall we say, skeptical as to the Military Applications of the TP System, concerns are System failure, relying on batteries, ruggedness and I think their pride. Things change, they'll change. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Coming to Your City but you have to be Big & Rich to buy one. eMagin display in the HUD.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1541198

If There was an Emergent Theme at AUSA this Year it Was This:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Armed_ground_drones_to_take_over_battlefields_in_five_years_999.html
 

 General Dynamics has Semi-Autonomous Weaponized Robots with Chain Guns, Northrup too, Drones Everywhere, palm-sized to Cessna Sized, iRobot is working with DARPA to build hands for TITAN, CROWS, BOOMERANG, all sensor based weapons systems. The Koreans had a Sentry Robot on display that patrols the NK border, science fiction, science fact.

Oculus Rift Calls It What It is: Virtual Vertigo

that's it Luckey, Play To Your Strength, it will appeal to the Bulimics in the Game-o-Sphere. Although, it's a little more real than virtual.

http://www.sanctionone.com/extreme-vr-oculus-rift-virtual-vertigo-challenge/

Vuzix Develops and Ships Next-Generation Holographic Optical Systems to U.S. Military

Vuzix JTAC vs Raytheon JETS, winner TBD

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20131023-905718.html

Javelin

When Raytheon exhibits you can't call it a Booth, it's more like a Zip Code. You could fit 30 or more conventional booths into the space they occupy. I went over there however, to check out Air Warrior, their new system for Helicopter Pilots for increased Situational Awareness in flight and on the ground. They had even sent out a little PR to note it's presence at AUSA. It's presence amounted to a video giving an overview of the program and it's goals. Oh well. There was an eMaginocentric device though on the floor as the picture above can testify. I got to fire the Javelin Trainer pictured above (I got it Yuval, it's a "simulated weapon") and in doing so managed to learn some interesting things about the FGM-148 Program. They are convinced that the deal with India is fait accompli so that will take up the slack created by the withdrawal from Central Asia. BTW Javelin's mode of departure from Afghanistan is a new and experimental one. All the Systems will leave together and arrive together at a central depot where not the missiles but the CLUs will be sent to their destination by private carrier. The military is actually using some common sense in recognizing that the CLU although classified as a munition is harmless and unusable without the ability to unlock it. Anyway that's beside the point. Saving $ is a good thing.
   Raytheon had bought 3 different eMagin Displays to try in the Launcher and have settled on the new XGA. As near as I could tell that will be the only design change for the Next Gen Javelin. So, in real terms India  will not have much to do in terms of development.  I'm trying to get a handle on numbers but no can't do. The Indian Army is huge. Javelin seems destined for the mountainous border areas with Pakistan and China to be deployed with what India is calling a Mountain Strike Corps.  Javelin's surveilling ability plus better performance in high altitude & cold temperatures, is why it won out over it's competition. India has talked about thousands of systems but we'll see. Generally the Javelin is designated 2 per platoon. The trainer they had at AUSA was an original one from long ago but it certainly gave the flavor of firing one. The CRT display looked like a primitive video game but the new trainers have identical optics to the fielded ones. The Trainer is sold with the package and it takes a week of training to get soldiers proficient.  I was hoping to see a Raytheon Clip-On Thermal for light weapons but they were only showing the old clunkers. The most impressive Clip-On there had to be the Vectoronix (eMagin Inside) Clip-On. They have shrunk it to extent that if in your pocket you might forget it was there. It was good to visit the FLIR Booth as I heard the bracing statement, "We buy a lot of displays from eMagin." I thought, please buy more. The eMagin booth was pretty busy yesterday, I thought, please sell more.
 Yes, Burris is working on a new Smart Scope and Barrett is sticking with their Computer served scope for the time being. Oh, Raytheon is working a Joint Project with Kongsberg for a vehicle mounted Javelin. I'll take one.

This has to be from the Tech Version of the Onion and yet it is not...

Microsoft Co-Hosting a Virtual Reality Event For Oculus Rift in November  

http://siliconangle.com/blog/2013/10/22/microsoft-co-hosting-a-virtual-reality-event-for-oculus-rift-in-november/

 

Microsoft reportedly testing its own Google Glass-like eyewear

http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/22/4865678/microsoft-reportedly-testing-its-own-google-glass-like-eyewear

Dave Melcher Exelis CEO Talks to Vago

http://bcove.me/18m2w2er

Russia to start future soldier system mass purchase in 2014

Alrighty, we'll see what happens:

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to start mass procurement of the locally manufactured future high-tech soldier system in 2014, the country's defence minister Sergei Shoigu has announced.
Shoigu was quoted by RIA Novosti, saying: ''We have practically finished work on the Ratnik gear and will start purchases of series-produced equipment for our army next year.''
Developed as part of the soldier military equipment (BES) programme, the Ratnik infantry soldier kit comprises more than 40 components, including firearms, body armour, optic, communication and navigation devices, life support and power supply systems, as well as knee and elbow pads.

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_10_20/Russian-Armed-Forces-to-begin-Ratnik-upgrades-in-2014-8964/