November 12, 2021 – KWESST Micro Systems Inc. announced that General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has selected KWESST’s Phantom electronic battlefield decoy as part of its ongoing efforts to develop a next-generation multi-domain mobile capability at the tactical level.

Over the next eighteen months, the KWESST engineering team will be working in close collaboration with GDLS to support readying a prototype vehicle with Phantom on board for trials by their U.S. military customer in the first part of 2023. The Phantom capability will be designed to meet evolving Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) tactics, techniques, and procedures to be employed by vehicle operators in an [radio frequency] contested environment.

KWESST stated that should GDLS be the successful bidder for the planned follow-on production program, and include the Phantom, the potential value to KWESST could be USD $40 million or more, depending on the number of Phantom units per vehicle.

“Today’s announcement represents an important validating milestone and significant potential order flow for KWESST, with multi-year visibility,” said Jeff MacLeod, KWESST founder, president and CEO.

The company added that the U.S. military customer is at the forefront of thinking as it re-aligns to an operating environment in which EMSO capability is critical to operational superiority against peer and near-peer adversaries. “A capability like Phantom is a force multiplier,” said MacLeod. “It is a programmable radio frequency (RF) device that can mimic the electronic communications of NATO forces, thus fooling adversaries as to their location. As well, it can detect and display the RF signatures of both adversaries and friendly forces, thereby enabling reconnaissance patrols to plan and train for EMSO operations for maximum effect.”

On Oct. 4, KWESST announced it was in advanced negotiations with a global defense contractor to provide Phantom units as part of the contractor’s tender for armored vehicles to a large NATO customer. “We are pleased to confirm that these negotiations were with GDLS and that we have now entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with them, lading to today’s announcement,” concluded Mr. MacLeod.

As described in the Oct. 4 press release, the opportunity confirmed today is one of several in progress with NATO customers regarding Phantom as various end users pursue programs to create EMSO capability at the tactical level.