KWESST Announces Completion of Volume Production Ramp-Up for Arwen Cartridges Through Outsourcing with Ammunition Manufacturer to Meet Growing Demand
KWESST Micro Systems has completed its volume production ramp-up for ARWEN cartridges through outsourcing to a Canadian ammunition manufacturer. The company has successfully completed characterization testing of its new 40mm baton round, expanding beyond its historical 37mm cartridge offering. The company is currently shipping evaluation quantities to agencies in the U.S. and Canada.
Additionally, KWESST's subsidiary has secured a receivables facility agreement with a US-based global financing company, providing up to $250,000 CAD in funding. The facility advances 80% upfront with a 2.5% rate for the first thirty days and 1% for each subsequent ten days, to 20% of the funded receivable value.
KWESST Micro Systems ha completato l'aumento della produzione in volumi per i proiettili ARWEN attraverso l'esternalizzazione a un produttore canadese di munizioni. L'azienda ha completato con successo i test di caratterizzazione del suo nuovo proiettile da 40 mm, espandendosi oltre la sua storica offerta di cartucce da 37 mm. Attualmente, l'azienda sta spedendo quantità di valutazione ad agenzie negli Stati Uniti e in Canada.
Inoltre, la sussidiaria di KWESST ha ottenuto un accordo per un finanziamento su crediti con una società di finanziamento globale con sede negli Stati Uniti, che fornisce fino a $250.000 CAD in finanziamenti. Il finanziamento anticipa l'80% in anticipo con un tasso del 2,5% per i primi trenta giorni e dell'1% per ogni successivo periodo di dieci giorni, fino al 20% del valore del credito finanziato.
KWESST Micro Systems ha completado su aumento de producción en volumen para los cartuchos ARWEN a través de la subcontratación a un fabricante canadiense de municiones. La empresa ha completado con éxito las pruebas de caracterización de su nuevo proyectil de 40 mm, ampliando su oferta histórica de cartuchos de 37 mm. Actualmente, la empresa está enviando cantidades de evaluación a agencias en los EE. UU. y Canadá.
Además, la subsidiaria de KWESST ha asegurado un acuerdo de financiamiento de cuentas por cobrar con una empresa global de financiamiento con sede en EE. UU., proporcionando hasta $250,000 CAD en financiación. El fondo avanza el 80% por adelantado con una tasa del 2,5% durante los primeros treinta días y del 1% para cada período subsiguiente de diez días, hasta el 20% del valor de la cuenta por cobrar financiada.
KWESST Micro Systems는 캐나다의 탄약 제조업체에 아우트소싱하여 ARWEN 카트리지의 대량 생산을 완료했습니다. 이 회사는 새로운 40mm 봉 투사체의 특성 테스트를 성공적으로 완료하고, 기존의 37mm 카트리지 제품군을 넘어 확장하고 있습니다. 현재 회사는 미국과 캐나다의 기관에 평가 수량을 배송하고 있습니다.
또한, KWESST의 자회사는 미국에 본사를 둔 글로벌 금융 회사와 채권 시설 계약을 체결하여 최대 $250,000 CAD의 자금을 제공합니다. 이 시설은 최초 30일 동안 2.5%의 비율로 80%를 선불로 제공하며, 이후 10일마다 1%씩, 총 자금 지원된 채권 가치의 20%까지 진행됩니다.
KWESST Micro Systems a terminé son augmentation de production en volume pour les cartouches ARWEN en externalisant à un fabricant de munitions canadien. L'entreprise a réussi à compléter les tests de caractérisation de son nouveau projectile de 40 mm, s'étendant au-delà de son offre historique de cartouches de 37 mm. Actuellement, l'entreprise expédie des quantités d'évaluation à des agences aux États-Unis et au Canada.
De plus, la filiale de KWESST a sécurisé un accord de facilités de créances avec une société de financement mondiale basée aux États-Unis, fournissant jusqu'à $250,000 CAD en financement. La structure avance 80% d'avance avec un taux de 2,5% pour les trente premiers jours et 1% pour chaque période subséquente de dix jours, jusqu'à 20% de la valeur des créances financées.
KWESST Micro Systems hat die Erhöhung der Serienproduktion für ARWEN-Patronen durch Outsourcing an einen kanadischen Munitionshersteller abgeschlossen. Das Unternehmen hat erfolgreich die Charakterisierungstests seiner neuen 40-mm-Gummikugel abgeschlossen und erweitert damit sein historisches Angebot an 37-mm-Patronen. Derzeit versendet das Unternehmen Evaluierungszahlen an Agenturen in den USA und Kanada.
Zusätzlich hat die Tochtergesellschaft von KWESST eine Vereinbarung über einen Forderungsfinanzierungsvertrag mit einem globalen Finanzunternehmen mit Sitz in den USA gesichert, das bis zu $250,000 CAD an Finanzierung bereitstellt. Die Einrichtung gewährt 80% im Voraus mit einem Satz von 2,5% für die ersten dreißig Tage und 1% für jeweils folgende zehn Tage bis zu 20% des finanzierten Forderungswertes.
- Successful completion of volume production ramp-up for ARWEN cartridges
- Expansion of product line with new 40mm baton round
- Secured non-dilutive financing facility up to $250,000 CAD
- High financing costs with 2.5% rate for first 30 days and 1% per 10 days thereafter
- financing facility at only 80% of receivables value
Insights
The announcement reveals two significant operational developments: production scaling through outsourcing and a new
The strategic expansion from 37mm to 40mm ARWEN cartridge production marks a significant market positioning move. The 40mm format's compatibility with existing third-party platforms substantially expands the addressable market. Successful characterization testing by an independent ballistics laboratory adds credibility and could accelerate agency adoption. The outsourcing to a Canadian ammunition manufacturer suggests improved production economics and scalability. Early customer engagement through evaluation shipments to U.S. and Canadian agencies indicates promising market interest. However, the need for receivables financing suggests extended sales cycles typical in government contracting, which could impact near-term revenue recognition.
- Company also establishes financing facility for its programmatic military contracts
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 23, 2024) - KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: KWE) (NASDAQ: KWESW) (TSXV: KWE) ("KWESST" or the "Company") today announced it has completed its plan to ramp up volume production of ARWEN cartridges, including the new 40mm baton round following successful characterization testing by a recognized ballistics laboratory.
The ARWEN system is long-established in the law enforcement community and was designed as an alternative to lethal force for maintaining public order in the event of riots and civil unrest during protests and demonstrations.
Historically, the Company has offered a 37mm cartridge that fires from its ARWEN launchers. In a move to expand the market for ARWEN branded products and to leverage the large installed base of third-party 40mm firing platforms, KWESST announced and showcased a new 40mm baton cartridge at the annual SHOT Show in January, 2024. Live fire demonstrations at the SHOT Show Range Day and other events since then have demonstrated the notable performance of the new 40mm baton cartridge.
On the heels of these demonstrations KWESST initiated formal characterization testing of the new 40mm cartridge as well as field testing with selected agencies and is currently shipping evaluation quantities to a number of agencies in the U.S. and Canada. "We've taken our time to get this right and we are very encouraged at the formal test results and early customer reaction," said Homuth.
"To ramp up for high rate production we have now transitioned outsourced assembly of the 37mm baton cartridge to a Canadian ammunition manufacturer and will shortly do the same with the new 40mm cartridge now that characterization testing has been completed by an independent ballistic test laboratory," said Sean Homuth, KWESST President and CEO.
KWESST Subsidiary Enters into Agreement for Factoring of Government Program Receivables Providing a Non-Dilutive Source of Funding
KWESST's also announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, KWESST Inc., has entered into a receivables facility agreement with a US-based global financing company. The facility provides up to
About KWESST
KWESST (NASDAQ: KWE) (NASDAQ: KWESW) (TSXV: KWE) develops and commercializes breakthrough next-generation tactical systems for military and security forces. The company's current portfolio of offerings includes digitization of tactical forces for real-time shared situational awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users' smart devices and weapons. Other KWESST products include countermeasures against threats such as electronic detection, lasers and drones. These systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems, and all come integrated with TAK. The company also has a new proprietary non-lethal product line branded PARA OPSTM with application across all segments of the non-lethal market, including law enforcement. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada with representative offices in London, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE.
For more information, please visit https://kwesst.com/
Contact:
David Luxton, Executive Chairman: luxton@kwesst.com
Sean Homuth, President and CEO: homuth@kwesst.com
Jason Frame, Investor Relations: frame@kwesst.com 587.225.2599
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its respective Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), which may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "potential", "plans", "is expected", "expects", "scheduled", "intends", "contemplates", "believes", "proposes" or variations (including negative and grammatical variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of KWESST's management and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although KWESST's management believes that the assumptions underlying such statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting KWESST, including KWESST's inability to secure contracts or fulfill staffing requirements, statements of work/taskings on the Canadian government programs, and orders for its products and services in 2024 and onwards for reasons beyond its control (including anticipated increase in demand for Arwen products), the renewal or extension of agreements beyond their original term, the granting of patents applied for by KWESST, inability to finance the scale up to full commercial production levels for its physical products or inability to repay existing credit facilities or loans contracted to finance such activities, inability to secure key partnership agreements to facilitate the outsourcing and logistics for its Arwen and PARA OPS products, ramp-up of the Canadian government defence programs, overall interest in KWESST's products being lower than anticipated or expected; general economic and stock market conditions; adverse industry events; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments in Canada, the United States and elsewhere; the inability of KWESST to implement its business strategies; risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in KWESST's filings with the Canadian Security Administrators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and many other factors beyond the control of KWESST. Although KWESST has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and KWESST undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/227599
FAQ
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