Dominion Dynamics tests technology during Operation ‘Nanook'

Dominion Dynamics' Flint secure handheld communications device. (Dominion Dynamics)

Dominion Dynamics deployed its AuraNet pan-domain command-and-control (PDC2) network with Canadian soldiers during Operation Nanook-Nunalivut earlier this year, Eliot Pence, CEO of Dominion Dynamics, told Janes on 28 April.

Operation Nanook-Nunalivut ran from 4 February to 18 April and was “supported by nearly 1,300 members, and 200 vehicles and pieces of equipment, including two M777 howitzers, conducting land, air, and joint operations across the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba”, according to the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND).

Dominion Dynamics also deployed its Taku sensor tower during the final leg of the operation, he said, noting that Taku is a “base defense/C-UAS [counter-unmanned aircraft system] tower that ties into AuraNet”.

Thirty-four Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members “used AuraNet for mission planning, logistics, communications, and operations” during the event, according to Dominion Dynamics briefing slides provided to Janes . The system “provided awareness [and] route planning for 5,200 km (3,231 miles)”, the slide said.

Lessons

“What we learned is the Arctic is hard,” Pence said. “User design really matters … building technology that can interface with somebody that doesn't necessarily want to take off their gloves or where exposing skin exposes you to real danger” is an important consideration, he said.

“On the tactical comms side … [there] was a product design problem [with a handheld system] that prevented it from being useful. What that forced us to do is to build out the common operating picture (COP),” he said.