Shaun Fisk, CEO, GreenTide Target Solutions

Greentide Target Solutions CEO, Shaun Fisk sits down with Asian Defence Journal at IMDEX Asia 2025.

ADJ: Being a prime example for environmentally friendly target systems, can you tell us more on the idea behind it and how it performs?

SF: Greentide Target Solutions is an Australian business focused on providing biodegradable and environmentally responsible targets to meet specific military capability requirements.  Depending on these requirements our floating and static targets are designed to degrade over a period of hours or weeks and subsequently decompose. This unique design feature eliminates the need for retrieval or recovery and provides enormous savings in regards to resources, time and the environment.

It was during one of several deployments with the Australian Army as an Air Medical Evacuation (AME) pilot, that I identified a significant need for environmentally responsible targets.  On numerous occasions we were required to conduct helicopter door-gunnery training over both land and water without access to a dedicated target; consequently, we were required to source make-shift targets that were generally not the most environmentally responsible, and due to the nature of the training, these targets were then often left in the ocean or on the training range. 

I was uncomfortable with this situation and so I decided to design a target that met our capability needs whilst also being environmentally responsible, and that is how the Biodegradable Small Arms Target (BSAT) was developed and the business “Greentide Target Solutions” was born.

Since then, we have developed a number of other target types that provide a sustainable alternative to existing military target types such as the Killer Tomato, Marker Marine and other plastic corflute style targets.

ADJ: What are some of the environmentally friendly initiatives has the company come up with?

SF: All of our targets are manufactured from a unique combination of materials that ensure minimal impact on the environment. This includes the use of recycled and sustainably sourced cardboards, starch-based adhesives, specialised coatings and soluble inks. These unique and innovative features of our Biodegradable Small Arms Target (BSAT) have received the ultimate validation by way of being awarded a Patent and other associated Registered Designs (pending).

It is these features that make our BSAT’s ideal for applications such as helicopter and naval gunnery, armoured vehicle engagements or any other live fire training activity over both land or water where retrieval is not feasible or not possible.

When used in the marine environment the targets provide effective targetry for between two and six hours and when used on land are effective for three to 30 days. These timeframes are dependent upon prevailing weather conditions, particularly sea-state and precipitation levels, however it has been proven that the minimal effective duration is more than adequate for the majority of applications. 

The targets are compact, light-weight, highly visible and can be assembled quickly and easily from the flat-packed state. This makes them ideal for transportation/stowage and easily deployed by hand from either helicopter, vessel or vehicle.

The BSATs are delivered flat packed with either a maritime graphic which is vivid orange or a land graphic which is yellow with a black silhouetted soldier figurine. When required, the targets are opened into their triangular pyramid shape providing a contrasting omni directional point-of-aim. Our website www.greentide.com.au can give you a much better idea on our products.

ADJ: How have prospective clients responded to the products?

SF: We have received very positive feedback from prospective clients. This has been the case particularly over recent months as militaries and other government agencies are complying with tighter environmental compliance standards and with greater weight being given to sustainable products and practices.

To date, the Republic of Singapore Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Australian Army are using our targets.  Of particular note, the Singapore Ministry of Defence showcased our targets during their 2023 IGNITE Innovation Symposium and also featured on YouTube.

In line with this, we are excited to meet with other country delegates and industry members at the upcoming IMDEX to further promote our veteran owned business and the value of our sustainable targetry solutions.