MSI's broadband piezocomposite transducer technology has been selected for inclusion in the development of a unique hand-held sonar scheduled to be demonstrated to the Australian Department of Defence in late 2007.

Daronmont Technologies Pty Ltd, of Adelaide, Australia, has been awarded a contract for the development and demonstration of the diver hand-held sonar as part of the Australian Government's $26M Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) program, administered by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). The new imaging sonar, which has the potential to significantly change the way Navy Clearance Divers operate, is one of twelve technology projects being funded under Round 9 of the CTD program. MSI was selected as an OEM supplier to the CTD project team following meetings between the companies and their mutual Australian technology partner (Mostyn Enterprises) during the Pacific 2006 Conference, which was held at Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia

According to a recent Daronmont Technologies press announcement, "The project faces the real challenge in finding ways to help divers to detect and classify underwater objects. Producing a device, as small as possible, that will generate high resolution sonar images, with minimal power consumption, is a big ask. However the team confidently expects to demonstrate their solution by later next year."

More information on Daronmont Technologies can be found at www.daronmont.com.au