Through its VR technology division Kinetic XR, Kinetic Fighting has joined forces with another Australian-based company, Chiron Global Technologies, a developer of highly protective combat armour. Together, they will combine state-of-the-art technologies to simulate real combat with unprecedented accuracy and safety.

In an industry first, Kinetic XR will augment Kinetic Fighting’s globally proven combative training programs with customised virtual-reality (VR) and Chiron’s world-leading combat training armour. The armour is designed to withstand high-impact forces and real, high-speed strikes to vital body targets, while maximising manoeuvrability.

World-renowned Army Combatives Program (ACP) creator and Kinetic Fighting/Kinetic XR CEO, Paul Cale, said he was excited to partner with Chiron to offer an innovative training capability that will also enhance safety. “We’re constantly seeking ways to further improve training outcomes, and this unique combination will do just that,” he said. Cale, a former Special Forces team leader, has designed and delivered combative and tactical training across Australia and internationally for over a decade.

“With Chiron’s advanced armour capability, we are able to make our training as close to real combat as it gets. The armour is designed to withstand heavy impacts from blunt-force weapons and man-marking rounds, allowing us to simultaneously train personnel in both kinetic and non-kinetic techniques at extremely close quarters without causing injury,” said Cale.

“There is currently no other training armour that offers everything Chiron does. Add Kinetic XR’s immersive VR capabilities, and we can deliver an unparalleled level of realism. As a complete training package, this combination will reduce injuries in training and make personnel more effective in the field. Ultimately, it will save lives and resources down the line.”

Chiron Global Technologies has spent the last five years developing its armour platform and testing it in high-impact combat scenarios. Among those to have tested the armour are the Australian Army, NZ Navy, NZ Military Police and various law-enforcement agencies. In conjunction with Kinetic’s extensive experience and expertise, it offers a compelling solution to the issues facing front-line personnel and training staff.

“The partnership with Kinetic is a great fit for Chiron. Paul and his team are extremely experienced in training for high-risk operations across all branches of Defence and Law Enforcement, and are the ideal partner to utilise our armour to improve current training outcomes. We have had significant feedback regarding the limitations of available training armour and have designed the Chiron-X1™ to address these issues,” said Chiron Co-Founder Justin Forsell.

Chiron’s next generation of armour is also in development. The company has created and patented force-measurement sensor technology that can be embedded into its suits, recording the anatomical location of strikes and damage that would result from each blow. This data is captured for immediate analysis, allowing trainers to assess the most and least effective training techniques over time. This enables them to adapt the training accordingly for individuals and groups. Chiron and Kinetic XR also plan to gradually introduce the upgraded Chiron-X2™ model to end-users interested in the enhanced training and learning advantages that the advanced technology will afford.

Kinetic XR and Chiron exhibited at Pacific 2019 on 8–10 October and held live demonstrations of their joint training capability throughout the event. With Kinetic Fighting’s former Special Forces operators battling Chiron-suited trainers in full-contact scenarios, it attracted attention from media crews and delegates alike. Among them were ABC News, Australian Defence Magazine and Mr Dean Spence, Associate Director, Major Projects for Defence NSW.