The DOMINATOR II was developed with a U.S. Naval Special Warfare team in an effort to overcome issues they were having with other communication systems on the market. Prior to the DOMINATOR project, most of the comms systems available forced the operator to have something in, on or over one or both ears to communicate. Many of the systems required earpieces to be worn in both ears to both RX and TX. Furthermore, most of those same systems required the use of batteries inside the push-to-talk coupled with software that required periodic updating via connection to a PC. Other systems required ear cups to be positioned and worn over both ears for radio RX. Our client complained about issues with these various designs including ear fatigue, sweat filling the ear canals, less than clear transmitted comms by systems using an in-the-ear microphone for TX and dissatisfaction with the quality of amplified ambient environment (situational and directional awareness) as compared to SA and DA from natural hearing. The DOMINATOR development project began in May of 2009 and satisfactory completion was not realized until December of 2012 - a project that required nearly 3.5 years of development, design/re-design and test and evaluation in both the U.S. and in theatre.

The DOMINATOR II combines a waterproof/noise canceling boom microphone for TX while utilizing both bone conductors and electronic earpieces for radio RX. The bone conductors and electronic earpieces work independently of one another as well as inconcert when operational requirements call for the implementation of hearing protection. The electronic earpieces are capable of performing three functions: a. Radio/ICS/Smartphone/MP3 Reception b. Electronic Hearing Protection c. User Controlled Ambient Environment Amplification. When hearing protection is not required, the earpieces can be removed from the ears and stowed out of the way via a magnet assembly on each earpiece cable. Radio RX is maintained without the use of the electronic earpieces via twin bone conductors integrated into the headset. Radio transmissions are received via the facial bones directly in front of each ear and passed via bone conduction to each inner ear canal. The DOMINATOR II is available in both single and dual comm radio models and features a broad mix of mission-specific accessory cables as well as connectors for the most fielded military radio platforms. A wireless, gun mount remote push-to-talk control is also available.

The DOMINATOR II met the requirements of the U.S. NSW client, including a simple to use plug and play design, the ability to engage and disengage hearing protection at will, little or no maintenance, no main push-to-talk batteries or software upgrades as well as not having something in, on or over the ears at all times to maintain RX and TX capabilities. A squadron-wide purchase was made in early 2013