Tactical Product Evaluation for Modular Battlefield Communication Device

A European hardware startup had developed a rugged, wearable modular comms system intended for use by infantry squads and special forces units. The system included voice, data, and mapping capabilities, designed to integrate into helmets or tactical vests.
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The product had passed lab testing and was being marketed to defense procurement units but had never been tested under live, high-stress field conditions.

Key Facts :

Stage: MVP

Team: Hardware engineers + ex-telecom CTO

Target User: Infantry & special operations units

Capital Raised: €1.1M seed

No field validation; founders had no military or tactical background

Objectives :

The startup approached RedForge with the following mission:

• Evaluate the usability, durability, and speed of the system under tactical conditions
• Test system response to stress, water, temperature, and friction
• Identify failure points not visible in lab conditions
• Provide a RedForge Tactical Evaluation Report to support future procurement & VC pitches

RedForge Intervention :

RedForge designed a 3-day simulation to evaluate the system as it would be used by combat troops during:

• Reconnaissance night movements
• Urban combat sweeps

We deployed :

• 2 RedForge operators with combat experience
• Tactical scenario: low-light, GPS-denied, wet terrain, and physical movement with full gear

Findings & Metrics :

• Interface delay : Voice comms lag exceeded 1.3s under high interference
• Glove usability : 5 out of 5 operators failed to access nav mode with gloves
• Battery lifespan : Battery drained 32% faster than lab test during cold ops
• Stress compatibility : 3 out of 5 operators removed device due to discomfort under gear compression

Operator feedback score: 5.2/10 — not field-ready
Tactical fragility index (TFI): 68%(>60% = high risk under operational stress)
Mission Compliance Rating: 40% (Below operational threshold)

Outcomes :

Following the RedForge evaluation:

• The startup redesigned the mounting system for better helmet integration
• UI was redesigned for one-touch glove compatibility
• Battery system upgraded to match 12h cold weather ops
• Operators helped rewrite in-field usage doctrine and setup guide
• RedForge provided a mission-fragility report and tactical checklist

Results :

• Startup secured €600K in bridge funding from dual-use VC
• Integrated RedForge’s operator feedback directly into Gen2 prototype

Key Takeaway :

Your product is only as strong as it is under pressure.

This client learned where it breaks, before procurement did.