When seconds on a battlefield seem like hours and danger lies in what can’t be seen, communication is everything. A local military technology startup aims to aid in the fight with an innovative line of products that enhance communication and rescue capabilities.
Battle Sight Technologies, a research and development innovation company, is finalizing its current product line as it works steadily toward a new set of products, all to be commercialized prior to the end of 2024.
"Shoot, move and communicate" is how you win wars. That phrase is something soldiers and veterans, such as Battle Sight Technologies President Nick Ripplinger, know well. With a wide range of manufacturers covering the shoot-and-move sections, Ripplinger said Battle Sight set its focus on communication, opting for an innovative approach to low-tech solutions with high impact.
Ripplinger said first responders and soldiers will always need ways to effectively communicate, sometimes without sound or while avoiding detection. He said tech savvy communication devices have chances for failure due to battery life, jammed signals or potential water logging.
In an effort to bridge the gap in communication with high impact, low-tech solutions, Battle Sight’s research and development team have worked on safer and simpler products. The product line — focused on search and rescue — utilizes night vision capabilities.
Here are some of Battle Sight Technologies current products:
- CrayTac – This writing device is the world’s only reusable infrared writing appliance. The lightweight device allows operators to covertly write in low-light and no-light situations for effective communication. CrayTac is Battle Sight’s first commercialized product, launched earlier this year.
- ColdFIRE – A photo-luminescent powder that provides a bright infrared glow, lasting over 12 hours. Intended to be easily incorporated into films, plastics, plaints, coatings, other materials to make clothes, equipment and machinery night vision optimized to support no-light/low-light missions. It's set for release later this summer.
- NightFall – An infrared maritime marker, designed for rescue planes to spot a downed pilot from up to 10,000 feet away during a full night cycle. Anticipated for release in quarter one of 2023. The team is currently working on a water activated self-deployment capability for isolated soldiers in water.
- Beacon – This in-development, increased detection capability product helps to identify personnel on the ground from the air up to 10 miles away, whether behind enemy lines or in isolation. Anticipated quarter three of 2022 release.
While the pandemic delayed the release of CrayTac for two years, Ripplinger said his team turned disappointment into additional product development, bringing the company from one product to multiple.
“I think everything kind of happens for a reason,” Ripplinger said. “It wasn't ideal and financially hurt us a little bit, but ... I think it led to a lot of great ideas, and a lot of those ideas turned into products during those two years.”
The Battle Sight team is also designing and developing a pipeline of five new products, anticipated for release by the end of 2023 and 2024. Ripplinger said quick turnaround is a result of the company’s rapid innovation focus with an ideal timeline of 24 months per product.
“We're really focused on that,” Ripplinger said. “Get it in the hands of the warfighter. Make changes if need be down the road, but really that rapid part I can't stress enough.”
Battle Sight Technologies products are intended for military usage as well as first responder and emergency maintenance teams. The company works closely with every branch of the U.S. military and other NATO partners when developing and producing products.
Battle Sight Technologies
Address: 601 E. 3rd St. at the Manhattan Building in Dayton
Employees: 7
Services: Innovative products to enhance communication for warfighters and first responders
Website: https://battlesighttech.com/
