SPEAR Labs News

SOCOM-X Distribution Agreement with Ultralife Corporation
SPEAR Labs has negotiated a distribution agreement with McDowell Research, a company of Ultralife Corporation, for the SOCOM-X System. This agreement will allow the SOCOM-X system to be marketed to a world-wide audience. We look forward to our future work with Ultralife Corporation.

Press Release

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SOCOM-X at Northern Edge '08 Exercise
SOCOM-X was tested by Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Airmen in Alaska during Northern Edge '08. SOCOM-X was lauded for its ease of use and ability to work with multiple radios without interference problems while also eliminating the need to connect and disconnect the headset from various radios.

News Story from AF Print News

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AFRL Awards B.A.T.M.A.N. Contract
SPEAR Labs was selected along with Alphaport, Inc. and InfoSciTex, Corp. as the working team for Air Force Research Lab's Battlefield Air Targeting Man-Aided Knowledge (BATMAN) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) Contract. The BATMAN team integrates all the ATD components while applying human effectiveness factors to the Battlespace Air Operations (BAO) kit system. The Human Effectiveness Directorate within AFRL has evaluated wearable computers, wearable displays, mission planning software, and TAC ear plugs with integrated microphones and speakers. .

B.A.T.M.A.N. AFRL Poster

NASA Extra-Vehicular Activity Headset Development
SPEAR Labs is part of an evolving NASA development to produce and test the next generation communications headset and hearing protection system for the Constellation program astronauts. Two Proof-of-Concept (POC) systems have been developed that include many of SPEAR's state-of-the-art technologies. Improved speech intelligibility and hearing protection for astronauts has been validated through testing at NASA, Air Force Research Lab, Virginia Tech and SPEAR Labs.

CRADA Agreement with AFRL
SPEAR Labs and the Air Force Research Laboratory have signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) on 22 August 2007. The CRADA creates a partnership between SPEAR and AFRL that will ensure the Air Force gets the latest in hearing protection and communication device technology.

SOCOM-X at Bold Quest
SOCOM-X was evaluated by Air Force Combat Controllers during Bold Quest. Building on the success of Exercise Urgent Quest, US Joint Forces Command J8 conducted additional military utility assessments on non-cooperative combat identification technologies. This event, Exercise Bold Quest, was conducted at the Army’s National Training Center and Nellis Air Force Base in September 2007. The exercise examined 16 cooperative and non-cooperative combat identification technologies and had the able participation of nine NATO/ISAF nations and all four U.S. services (and SOCOM). The exercise included 820 player personnel, 45 ground vehicles, 40 aircraft, and over 1000 additional support personnel. Total cost of the event was $20.8 million in direct investment plus additional U.S. and coalition indirect support.