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NEXTORCH UT61 Tactical Helmet Light with Smart Link Technology

July 12th, 2025

Cleveland, TN – (July 8th, 2025) – NEXTORCH North America, the primary U.S. distributor of global manufacturer NEXTORCH Industries, is proud to announce the UT61 Tactical Helmet Lightutilizing Smart-Link™ encrypted communication where multiple devices can be interconnected to synchronize color and strobe pattern for coordinated operations.

The NEXTORCH UT61 helmet light is equipped with five color light sources red, blue, green, white and infrared (IR). It also offers various strobe and constant-on modes, along with a red-blue flashing signal mode. The UT61 is ideal for tactical operations, patrol, search & rescue etc. and more. This incredible helmet light provides 3600 visibility and a range of up to 1,093 yards. With an eye-catching translucent frosted shell, the UT61 has 8 multi-light source LED’s and three independent switches providing precise one-handed operation, even with gloves on.

Designed and engineered for extreme use, the UT61 is robust with an IP67 dustproof and a IPX7 waterproof rating this durable helmet light can withstand a drop impact of 6.5 ft. Its three independent switches provide tactile and auditory confirmation for precise one-hand operation, even with gloves on, in the darkness. The UT61 Helmet light offers flexible mounting options: Velcro for optimized helmet attaching and a detachable clip allowing for various mounting applications.Equipped with a USB-C rechargeable 16340 Li-ion battery, the tactical helmet light provides up to 74 hours of runtime. It’s also compatible with CR123A batteries. There is a battery status indicator for the 16340 batteries only. The UT61 is backed by a 10-year warranty.

Technical Specifications:

– Construction: Polycarbonate

– Runtime: Up to 74 hrs.

– Dimensions: 2.7” x 12.4” x .78”  

– Weight: 1.5 oz.

MSRP: $69.99

To learn more about the complete product offerings from NEXTORCH, please visit www.nextorch.com and follow them on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

Lawmen’s First Annual Rodeo

July 12th, 2025

Join us Sept 19 & 20 for our annual open house. This a FREE EVENT featuring tours, free classes, music, food trucks and industry factory representatives. Details for the attending vendors, classes & speakers at lawmens.net. We hope to see you here!

First Army, Army Reserve and National Guard Team Up in Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Fight

July 12th, 2025

FORT BLISS, Texas — First Army has assumed a crucial role in countering the threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems. It is working with Army Reserve and Army National Guard units to ensure that Component 2 and 3 Soldiers have the tools and skills to win on an emerging battlefield.

Being able to neutralize these threats is an obligation First Army takes seriously, said Col. Douglas Serie, 5th Armored Brigade commander.

“As the Army’s Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Center of Excellence, we’re the tip of the spear when it comes to developing, validating and delivering the most up-to-date effective training available,” he said. “We’re shaping doctrine, informing procurement and ensuring that the force is equipped not just with the right gear, but the right mindset and tactics to counter drone threats.”

Doing this successfully means working closely and regularly with partnered units, added Maj. Jason Sierakowski, 2-289 Field Artillery executive officer: “We train the First Army OCs in the brigade and then we train the partnered organizations in Compos 2 and 3.”

Sierakowski has seen the mission grow and adapt over the years.

“In 2019, we mobilized the first battery for counter-UAS for compo 2,” he recalled, “2020 was when we mobilized the first unit, where we didn’t have any METS at all.”

That has changed substantially, and as the mission has grown more complex and crucial.

“The biggest thing is coming up with a solid uniform training strategy,” Sierakowksi said. “There are always new things coming out, new tools and techniques, so this just gets added onto it. The biggest success has been the evolution of the training timeline.”

Of note, many of the Soldiers being trained are going beyond their normal areas of expertise.

“The learning curve is very unique because these are troops that can be any MOS,” Sierakowksi said. “They can be anything from a mechanic to a Military Police to anything that you can imagine, and now we tell them, ‘You’re not going to do that role, you’re going to do counter-UAS and you’re going to work in a base defense operations center.’ So they start from the beginning and the learning curve is very steep.”

But they adapt and carry on with the mission, he added: “As we get into repetitions, they become a subject matter expert very quickly, especially when they go forward and deploy on these systems, and that just inherently makes them better.”

Meanwhile, First Army continually adapts and refines its C-UAS role and mission.

“First Army … has become extremely evolutionary and revolutionary within the past two to three years,” Sierakowski said. “Division East has been developing and acquiring different UAS, even 3D printing. The support from the top has been nothing but positive and how can we support the OC/T at the battalion level.”

This success is important on the battlefield, because as Serie noted, the drone threat continues to grow.

“It’s no longer theoretical. It’s real, it’s persistent, and it’s evolving rapidly,” he said. “There are adversaries that are using not only commercial but military grade UAVs to gather intelligence, disrupt our operations, and even deliver kinetic effects. Counter-UAS training is critical to staying ahead of that threat.”

That’s where the continual work and refinement with Reserve Component units pays off.

“It’s a team effort. Our partners are preparing, even before they come to Fort Bliss in a post-mobilization…on how they are going to set up their teams and task-organize their formations so when they get to the center of excellence for counter-UAS, we can go right into training,” Serie said. “We replicate real-world drone threats so our Soldiers face the same challenges in training that they’ll encounter on the battlefield. It’s not just about knowing how to push buttons. It’s about understanding the threat landscape, ROE considerations, and how to integrate C-UAS into a layered defense strategy.”

One reason the threat continually adapts and evolves is because drones are readily available and can be used in a variety of ways.

“These are things being bought off Amazon and used,” Serie said. “You can use it in an observation mode, you can use it in intelligence gathering, you can use it to disrupt operations just by flying it over, because how are you supposed to know what is on that drone? And it can be used to deliver kinetic effects.”

As such, Serie said that the center of excellence does more than react to drones, it trains “to deter, deny and defeat them before they can impact a mission. The UAS threat changes monthly, sometimes even faster. That means our training has to evolve constantly. We’re constantly refining our curriculum based on threat trends, feedback from the field, and lessons learned from combat theaters. Being a center of excellence doesn’t mean we have all the answers. It means we’re constantly asking the right questions and staying agile in our approach to training counter-UAS operations and in getting Soldiers the repetitions to build confidence to go forward.”

The stakes are enormous, Serie added: “This is the future of warfare and if we don’t figure it out know and get it right, Soldiers are going to get hurt.”

As such, the precision approach and attention to detail are paying big dividends. “We’ve trained thousands of warfighters, from infantry squads to brigade staffs, on how to detect, track, and neutralize UAS threats,” Serie said. “Units that come through our pipeline deploy with confidence and a proven playbook for dealing with UAS.”

By Warren W. Marlow

O2X VI Performance Provides Expanded Human Performance Solutions for Military and Law Enforcement Communities

July 11th, 2025

Covington, LA –Valletta Industries and O2X Human Performance, both veteran-owned companies led by former Navy SEALs, have announced the strategic formulation of O2X VI Performance, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certified joint venture that will deliver comprehensive readiness and performance programs to military and federal agencies. 

Built on a shared legacy of service and a deep commitment to mission readiness, O2X VI Performance will deliver science-backed human performance programs to clients within the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and additional government entities.

“By combining O2X’s proven expertise in human performance with Valletta’s tactical training capabilities, this joint venture creates a uniquely capable partner for government agencies and commercial clients,” said Sam Blair, CEO of Valletta Industries. “O2X VI Performance offers a mission-ready, SDVOSB-certified solution to meet the evolving human performance needs of federal agencies.”

The Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture integrates expertise in strength and conditioning, injury prevention, mental performance, nutrition, and resilience with tactical instruction, field training, and mission-specific skill development. Leveraging both companies’ embedded personnel models and data-driven methodologies, the joint venture will deliver integrated, end-to-end readiness programs tailored to the unique demands of military and federal law enforcement clients.

“O2X VI Performance enhances our delivery while preserving the depth and integrity of our programs,” said Paul McCullough, President & Co-Founder of O2X. “Together with Valletta, we’re offering the most comprehensive readiness solution on the market — for organizations from federal law enforcement to the Department of Defense.”

Cole Engineering Awarded $62M U.S. Army Production Contract for Next-Generation Stinger Training System

July 11th, 2025

CESI is closing the gap in live force-on-force training with innovative Live Training solutions.

ORLANDO, Fla.–Cole Engineering Services, Inc. (CESI), a By Light Company, has been awarded a $62 million production contract by the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) to deliver more than 100 Stinger Training Systems (STS) over the next five years.

This award follows a successful prototyping effort and represents a major step forward in the Army’s modernization under the Synthetic Training Environment (STE). STS is a critical component of the STE’s Live Training Systems (STE-LTS) Increment 1, designed to close live force-on-force training gaps and deliver scalable multi-domain realism.

The STS is part of the CESI Family of Live Training Products, which includes both direct and indirect fire weapons training solutions. Together, these capabilities deliver software-defined, high-fidelity training experiences across a range of operational scenarios, engineered for total situational dominance.

“At the core of our STS solution is CESI’s commercial artificial intelligence and computer vision application that revolutionizes optical tracking and engagement fidelity,” said Thomas Fransson, Senior Vice President, Simulation Products & Services at CESI. “CESI brings battlefield precision to the training range, enabling warfighters to train with greater realism, agility, and trust in their systems.”

The STS replicates guided munition effects and integrates seamlessly with current Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems (TESS) and STE instrumentation. These ruggedized, interoperable systems will be fielded across Brigade Combat Teams and Combat Training Centers, enhancing readiness through next-generation realism and reliability.

This production award includes system delivery, lifecycle support, and planned integration with future STE-LTS capabilities, reinforcing CESI’s commitment to delivering the tip of the spear for modern Air Defense Artillery (ADA) training through AI-enhanced optical targeting.

To support STS and other strategic Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives, By Light has officially launched AI Lab, an innovation hub designed to accelerate the development, testing, and deployment of AI-enabled solutions across defense, cybersecurity, and enterprise domains.

OP Tactical Is Exclusive US Distributor For Perroz Designs

July 11th, 2025

OP Tactical is the exclusive U.S. distributor of Perroz Designs, with select products in stock now. The Ultra Slick Plate Carrier, geared toward concealability, features contoured Tweave stretch plate bags and low-profile Hypalon shoulder straps for a secure, body-conforming fit. Perroz helmet covers for both Team Wendy and Ops-Core helmets offer streamlined and easily accessible NVG mounting and retention solutions, available in multiple colors and patterns.

Shop the full lineup here

Metis Wins Contract to Supply Skyperion Drone Detection Systems to a NATO Ally

July 11th, 2025

Metis, specialists in providing innovative technologies to detect a wide range of Radio Frequency (RF) threats across diverse sectors, has won a contract to supply a number of Skyperion drone detection systems to a NATO customer to provide the drone detect function as part of an integrated Counter Uncrewed Air Systems (C-UAS) capability. This purchase bolsters the customer’s current capabilities helping safeguard their airspace, key installations and critical infrastructure against the threats posed by rogue drones and is the fourth NATO ally to purchase Skyperion. Due to the sensitive nature of the capability, and to maintain operational advantage, it is not possible to disclose the customer or quantity purchased. However, there are now over 80 Skyperion systems in operation with NATO partners, or deployed supporting their national security interests, in current operations globally.

Metis has its roots in sophisticated signals intelligence gathering technology development and operational experience, which more recently has been increasingly focused on countering the rising asymmetric drone threat. For over 10 years, Metis has been at the forefront of C-UAS RF detection capability development, having originally received government backed research funding to help develop their innovative RF detection technologies, including Skyperion. The Skyperion product range captures RF emissions of varying strengths across the spectrum, filtering out background noise and known entities before rapidly analysing them to identify and locate potential threats.

Metis is an ideal choice for the RF drone detect component because not only do they produce technically superior RF detect products, but they also design and manufacture modular systems with an open architecture, enabling seamless integration with other electronic warfare capabilities and systems. This allows sovereign nations, large primes or systems integrators to easily incorporate Metis products with other best in class technologies, to deliver world leading detection, tracking, identification and defeat of rogue drones.

Unlike many systems, Metis has combined an Open ESM AI enhanced waveform analysis algorithm with a more traditional library database to deliver a self-learning comprehensive RF detect function across a vast array of frequencies. The system can detect a drone signature out to 2.5km and depending on the target, environment and other factors successfully identify a rogue drone out to 10km. The customer will be using these systems in a fixed site role, but the Metis Skyperion Rugged version can be easily transported in its military grade rugged cases, can operate in a mobile role if required and is designed and constructed to survive in the most austere of conditions.

Tony Burnell, CEO of Metis said: “I am extremely proud of the unique RF detect capabilities we field. The ability of our products to detect RF signatures beyond that of our competitors has been proven operationally and during various trials with reassuring regularity. We are very pleased to again have been selected by a major prime to deliver the drone detect function and are proud to be supporting a NATO partner nation with enhanced security. Looking to the future, our diverse capabilities have much greater utility beyond just drone detection and because we maintain an agnostic open architecture, seek to be the provider of choice for RF detection across defence and government organisations globally.“

Sons of Liberty Gun Works Announces Midwest Shooting Center as New Platinum Dealer

July 11th, 2025

Launch Day Scheduled for July 12 at multiple locations across Midwest.

San Antonio, TX — July 10, 2025 – Sons of Liberty Gun Works (SOLGW), makers of the World’s Finest Fighting Rifles, is proud to announce the appointment of Midwest Shooting Centers as its newest Platinum Dealer.

Located across multiple mid-western states, Midwest Shooting Centers have earned a reputation for its knowledgeable staff, exceptional service, and commitment to equipping responsible citizens, law enforcement, and professionals with mission-ready equipment. This new partnership solidifies Midwest Shooting Centers’ position as a flagship retail location for the full lineup of SOLGW rifles and components. To celebrate this new partnership, a brand launch will be held across multiple locations on July 12, 2025. Locations to stock SOLGW products include Beavercreek, OH; Cridersville, OH; Fort Wayne, IN; Liberty Township, OH; Pittsburg, PA; Sylvania, OH; and Taylor, MI. Reps from SOLGW will be on-hand at the Cridersville and Ft. Wayne stores.

“Midwest Shooting Centers are terrific stores with knowledgeable staff and shooting ranges that offer a premium customer experience, reflecting everything we look for in a Platinum Dealer,” said Sean Murphy, VP of Sales & Marketing of Sons of Liberty Gun Works. “We’re excited for this launch for our customers and fans across the mid-west.”

As a Platinum Dealer, Midwest Shooting Centers will have inventory of SOLGW rifles, parts, and accessories, as well as provide hands-on support for customers looking to build or upgrade their fighting rifles.

www.sonsoflibertygw.com