Electronic decoy product advances to sponsorship and evaluation with U.S. military and another NATO nation
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 20, 2021) - KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (TSXV: KWE) (OTCQB: KWEMF) ("KWESST" or "the Company") today announced the award of U.S. patent 10,969,467 B1 for Programmable Multi-Waveform RF Generator for Use as Battlefield Decoy. This patent is one of the core technologies of the Company's PhantomTM electronic decoy, as described in the press releases of October 5th and December 30th, 2020.
In conjunction with the patent award, the Company confirmed that the PhantomTM system has just been selected in defence and innovation programs for evaluation, including a U.S. Special Operations Command program, and has been prequalified for government funding with an estimated initial value of approximately $1 million once approved.
"Apart from the potential near-term dollars involved, this qualification and invitation to participate in trials with key agencies in the U.S. and another NATO country signals serious interest in the PhantomTM system," said Jeff MacLeod, KWESST Founder, President and CEO. He adds that, "These concurrent developments also appear likely to accelerate the pace of market uptake. Accordingly, with the upcoming close of our $4 million financing announced April 9, 2021 we will be prioritizing the productization of PhantomTM to be in the market sooner than originally planned."
The Company stated that there is growing interest among NATO and partner countries for a tactical electronic decoy to prevent adversaries from locating and targeting friendly forces. This growing interest stems from incidents like one publicly reported in the 2016 where two full Ukrainian mechanized battalions were annihilated by Russian adversaries in three minutes with precision mass fire after locating them based on their electronic signal emissions.
About the PhantomTM electronic decoy
PhantomTM is a compact, lightweight electromagnetic transmitter capable of mimicking the electromagnetic signature of a tactical military unit, fooling adversaries as to the location of NATO and partner nation forces. Recent interest from NATO agencies and defence contractors for this product has resulted in KWESST moving up the scheduled production of demonstration samples of PhantomTM in the Company's priorities. An earlier prototype version of PhantomTM was procured and successfully trialed in military exercises. The latest version is more compact, with greater capability, and is soldier-portable or can be deployed by Unmanned Aerial Systems ("UAVs" or "drones"). Based on internal research the Company estimates the market for a system like PhantomTM to be worth several hundred million dollars in the U.S. alone.
About KWESST
KWESST develops and commercializes high-value ultra-miniaturized technology applications that make a critical difference to the safety and operational effectiveness of personnel in the defence and security industries. The company's current portfolio of unique proprietary offerings include: its signature TASCSTM (Tactical Awareness and Situational Control System) for real-time awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users' smart devices and weapons; the autonomous GreyGhostTM soldier-portable micro drone missile system that defends against small hostile drones including swarms using high-speed kinetic impact; a Ground Laser Defence system to counter the emerging threat of weaponized lasers against personnel; and, the PhantomTM electronic battlefield decoy system to mask the electromagnetic signature of friendly forces with decoy signatures at false locations to deceive and confuse adversaries. All systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems including Frontline, Edge, Killswitch and ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit) among others. KWESST also has developmental "smart ordnance" projects including its "Shot Counter" system, which records the number and type of rounds fired, for optimized firearms maintenance and performance. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with representative offices in Washington, DC, London, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE. KWESST trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KWE and on the U.S. OTCQB under the symbol KWEMF.
Contact: Jason Frame, Investor Relations: frame@kwesst.com
For more information, please visit https://kwesst.com/
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing for the commencement of trading and the plans and operations of KWESST after giving effect to the Qualifying Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. KWESST disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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