USAF Battlefield Airmen SPO SELECTS BDATech COTS APEx Predator System as OCS Solution

Black Diamond Advanced Technology (BDATech) is proud to announce the selection of our Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) APEx Predator System by the United States Air Force Battlefield Airmen Special Projects Office (SPO) as their Operational Control System (OCS) solution. BDATech received the $48.1M, 5 year IDIQ contract on 6 July 2015 along with an initial order of 22 APEx Predator System kits for Operational Testing.

BDATech's APEx Predator System is planned to be fielded to all USAF Battlefield Airmen to include Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Combat Control Teams (CCT), Para Rescue (PJ) and Combat Weatherman. Once fielded, these Airmen will have the APEx Predator System embedded alongside every US Army Combat Maneuver Element from Heavy Armor to Tier 1 SOF units. BDATech is putting the most technologically advanced tactical computing and power management system ever developed into the hands of the most lethal force multipliers in the world.

The APEx Predator System (APS) is a modular, wearable system which consists of the Agile Port Expander (APEx) Controller for POWER + DATA distribution, a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) tablet computer, and system cabling optimized for tactical plate carrier use in dismounted operations. APEx provides connections for multiple peripheral cables, a system power cable and a tactical computer, or end user device (EUD). As a recognized leader in dismounted fires solutions BDATech applied years of lessons-learned to create the APS, which leverages combat-proven features of the Modular Tactical System (MTS), for flexible and reliable power management, human factors design and world-class environmental performance.

The APS is a ruggedized wearable system that provides tactical communications on commercial tablets / computers to enable C4ISR, DACAS operations, SUAS control and much more for the dismounted operator. BDATech customers are using the APS globally in various theatres of conflict. The combat-proven APS has been demonstrated as an effective enabler of precision targeting and other mission sets. The system is comprised of multiple elements, each offered a-la-carte to meet the needs of each customer's unique requirements. These system elements include a ruggedized tablet computer, the APEx controller, power cables and battery charger, a large number of peripheral equipment cable options and tactical soft-goods such as plate carriers, assault packs and pouches.

At the heart of the APS is the Agile Port Expander (APEx) Controller which intelligently distributes power to connected devices and enables data communication of tactical data radios, video downlink, targeting and many other devices to the computer. The APEx Controller employs 5Gbps SuperSpeed USB (3.0) on four sealed circular military-grade universal peripheral ports that allows the user to connect multiple tactical peripherals to any computer, tablet or smartphone. The APEx Controller provides a unique human factors design that facilitates cable routing of connected interfaces in one-direction from the controller. This has been shown to greatly simplify cable routing to accommodate mounting the APEx Controller both vertically or horizontally, whether directly attached to PALS webbing on MOLLE-compatible vests/packs or stowed inside a pouch.