Maritime and Ground-based Targets Are Biodegradable Over Time

Australia’s Greentide Target Solutions is helping defence and other law enforcement agencies move into a new era in mission readiness and sustainable practices – replacing the typically less environmentally friendly military targets with sustainable alternatives for navies, armies and air forces alike.

Shaun Fisk, company founder, told MON his background in the Australian Army as an artilleryman and helicopter pilot – as well as being an environmentally conscience citizen – generated the idea for more environmentally responsible targets. “We didn’t have a dedicated target to shoot at. We were often having to use make-shift targets – often not the most environmentally friendly – and then you weren’t in a position to retrieve it,” he recalled from his days on active duty.

As the SHOT Show convened in Las Vegas this week, Greentide’s Small Arms Maritime (SAM) targets were undergoing evaluation and testing with the Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Airforce, “and I’m looking for the opportunity to get into the US market,” Fisk commented. To enhance that strategy in the US, Greentide has obtained an in-country manufacturer, Pratt Industries (Lewisburg, OH). “This is a big thing, especially for the supply of the US military, which values ‘Buy American’. This opens up a lot of business possibilities, not only with the DoD but other contractors.”

The company’s SAM, Small Arms Land, Full Scale 3-D Vehicle, Modular Target System and Infrared Compatible targets are reported to be “transport flat-packed, biodegradable and environmentally responsible.” And while these targets are available off-the-shelf, Greentide is able to quickly customize other varieties.

In the case of the SAM target, the product is lightweight (about 2.5kg – confirmed by MON at the company’s booth in Las Vegas) and able to float for about two hours. “This is designed to be environmentally friendly, allowing the military force to not only say, but actually do, the right thing by the environment. You can deploy it from the back of a helicopter or from the side of a vessel to support currency or requalification training – and then you simply leave the target behind.” The SAM targets are built to support the small arms typically found on maritime force ships, i.e. 5.56mm, .50cal and others. Addressing the issue of other target types which are used on land, Fisk further emphasized the products are constructed of starch-based adhesives and other materials which help them to be biodegradable over time.

Beyond the military sector, the Australian entrepreneur was at SHOT Show promoting the expansion of his core portfolio into the adjacent small-arms recreational and sport shooting sector.

Marty Kauchak in Las Vegas for MON