Wilcox Industries

AFWERX, NASA Collaborate to Develop Digital Advanced Air Mobility Operations Center

December 3rd, 2023

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —  

AFWERX is partnering with NASA to develop a digital operations center for future Advanced Air Mobility efforts through the Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program awardee, ResilienX.   

With the fast-growing field of AAM technology, AFWERX’s Airspace Innovation and Prime Partnerships program has partnered with NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration to fill in technological and administrative gaps that present themselves. Earlier in 2023, AFWERX formalized these partnerships with a Memorandum of Understanding and participation in the AAM Interagency Working Group to plot the future of AAM. 

The CCRPP is a NASA Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer program which takes mission-relevant technologies in development and infuses them with funding intended to foster commercialization. 

This system is intended to enhance base security, special forces efforts, emergency disaster response, and passenger and cargo transportation planning. It is further being developed to include other technologies necessary for air domain awareness. 

“CCRPP is a true example of public-private partnership where government stakeholders and an industry consortium are working together on the airspace efforts,” said Darshan Divakaran, AFWERX Airspace Innovation and Prime Partnerships program manager. 

ResilienX is a company focused on the holistic safety assurance of AAM ecosystems and is leading the way with an industry consortium to create a digital system for AAM operations. The project intends to define and perform initial integration of an AAM Operations Center that is scalable, tactical and enables verification and validation of the various systems and sensors involved in uncrewed aerial systems, electric vertical take-off and landing operations, and other advanced aviation technologies. The initial AAM Operations Center will be built out in collaboration with NUAIR at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, with an aim to test and transition it to additional locations by 2025. 

Each company in the consortium contributes their industry expertise and technological advancements to create the most robust system possible. As additional requirements are included by military and other government stakeholders, AFWERX plans to bring in additional industry partners in the next phase. 

“We are thrilled with the trust AFWERX has put in us to lead this consortium,” said Ryan Pleskach, CEO of ResilienX. “Through a dedicated systems engineering approach, we intend to develop a dual-use solution to the core digital infrastructure needed for advanced air mobility that is inherently scalable and extensible. Through this pioneering effort and with support of all the federal stakeholders that AFWERX is bringing to the table, we believe this solution will be turnkey and available to government and commercial markets in late 2024.” 

Utilizing the research expertise of NASA and AFWERX’s subject matter experts, this collaborative project will attempt to meet the needs of the emerging field of AAM operations. It is informed by the U.S. Air Force AAM Operations Center requirements through testing and operator interactions. 

“Agility Prime helped pave the way for government and industry to work together on aircraft certification,” Divakaran said. “The Airspace Innovation team is taking it a step forward with airspace integration, management and security efforts focused on emerging aviation technologies.” 

The first phase of development will include a detailed need and task assessment, feature development with user interviews and observations, initial integration of baseline technologies, and testing. The second phase will see user testing of human factors, safety development, prototype testing, and a live demonstration of the system. 

For this project, ResilienX has received $4.8 million in AFWERX and NASA funding through the CCRPP. The program is planned to progress through October 2025.

By Kristen Dennis, AFWERX

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post | No Comments »

Gun Tote’n Mamas Announces Expansion into Sportsman’s Warehouse

December 2nd, 2023

NORTHBROOK, Illinois – November 29, 2023 – Gun Tote’n Mamas™, the leading provider of women’s protection solutions, is excited to announce its expansion into Sportsman’s Warehouse, making its high-quality concealed carry products more accessible to customers nationwide.

When it comes to personal safety, purchasing a reliable and durable concealed carry product is essential. Gun Tote’n Mamas (GTM) bags provide customers with the tools they need to confidently carry their firearms, ensuring peace of mind in any situation. With a wide range of thoughtfully made and rigorously tested CCW products, GTM is the perfect choice for anyone looking to prioritize personal safety without compromising on style.

Made from curated leather, these bags are not only stylish but also low maintenance and built to last. Each purse is meticulously crafted by the founder, who handpicks hides, determines construction, based on years in Luggage manufacturing, and creates structure to ensure that every bag meets the highest standards.

“At GTM, we prioritize the safety and satisfaction of our customers. Our bags are designed to provide a seamless and secure carrying experience, empowering women to protect themselves with confidence, and can trust that they are investing in the highest rated product in the market.” said Claudia Chisholm, President of GTM.

To guarantee the utmost reliability and safety, GTM bags undergo thorough testing by experienced firearm training professionals. Contrary to common misconceptions, we have successfully developed a system that allows for left, right and top drawability. This ambidextrous design ensures quick and easy access to your firearm when you need it most.

With over 40 years of experience in luggage construction, GTM understands the importance of durability. These bags have a remarkable 0.01% return rate, a testament to their exceptional quality standards. By choosing a GTM bag, Sportsman’s Warehouse customers can trust that they are investing in a product that has undergone peak construction and testing.

“With this rapidly growing market, we are offering essential needs of female firearm owners. We’re thrilled to be selling in Sportsman’s Warehouse, one of America’s top Outdoors retailers,” said Chisholm.

GTM bags are designed with security in mind. The shoulder straps are reinforced with 11 individual wires twisted together, making them slash-resistant and capable of carrying the weight of the purse, including a firearm, an extra magazine, and other self-defense essentials. The gun compartments feature only nylon coil zippers, ensuring reliable and quick access to your firearm in critical moments.

One customer shared their experience, stating, “I picked up this purse to go along with my GLOCK 43 as well as a revolver. Both guns fit nicely. I like how you can POSITION the holster at any angle that is comfortable for the user. The gun compartment has a zipper that gives you full access so you can easily position the holster and gun. This bag has lots of room to fit all of your everyday needs, along with your weapon. Everything stays SECURELY in the bag!”

Visit the GTM Dealer Locator to explore the wide range of GTM concealed carry handbags. With their exceptional quality, functionality and stylish designs, GTM bags are the perfect choice for anyone looking to prioritize personal safety without compromising on style.

Gun Tote’n Mamas remains committed to prioritizing women’s protection and providing a practical and reliable way to step out in style. For more information about GTM Original and its services, visit gtmoriginal.com or call 847-446-0700 Ext. 105.

Posted in For the Ladies, Industry, Press Release | No Comments »

HOIST IV Level Hydration Announces Partnership with Melissa Bachman

December 2nd, 2023

Cincinnati, OHIO (November 28, 2023) – HOIST® one of the fastest growing hydration beverages in the U.S., is thrilled to announce its latest partnership with Melissa Bachman.

Bachman is a prominent force in the outdoors industry, renowned for her hunting skills, her passion for conservation, and her role as host of the television program, Winchester Deadly Passion. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as both Bachman and HOIST join forces to promote hydration and maximize success within the outdoors community.

“We are beyond excited to partner with Melissa,” said HOIST Director of Marketing Taryn Lawson. “Melissa’s dedication to the outdoors industry and commitment to empowering others to lead an active and fulfilling lifestyle perfectly complements the HOIST mission.”

Winchester Deadly Passions documents Bachman’s hunting experiences and shares her insider tips as she hunts a variety of species from around the world, including thunderous bull elk and thousand-pound gators. Through her authentic portrayal of the outdoors lifestyle across her social channels, Bachman has amassed a following on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and television. Today, Bachman’s fast-paced content has built a community that shares in her passion for the outdoors and promotes adventure.

HOIST is dedicated to providing high-quality hydration solutions for those that push physical boundaries to its limits, making this community the perfect match. With a range of refreshing bottled beverages, as well as replenishing powder sticks and pouches, HOIST is made to support the performance levels that’s required of hunters who take to the outdoors for any extreme adventure. 

For more information about HOIST, visit www.drinkhoist.com. 

For more information about Melissa Bachman, visit www.melissabachman.com or find and follow Melissa on social platforms @melissa_bachman. 

Posted in For the Ladies, Industry, Press Release | No Comments »

Task Force Marne Troops Train Alongside NATO Allies During Strong Griffin Exercise in Lithuania

December 2nd, 2023

By SGT Cesar Salazar, Jr.

PABRADE, Lithuania — Task Force Marne Soldiers and their Lithuanian Allies honed their combat skills during a force-on-force training exercise at Pabrade Training Area, Nov. 16-17.

Known as Strong Griffin 2023, the exercise saw U.S. Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, serve as an opposing fighting force for the Griffin Brigade of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, which provided the NATO Allies an opportunity to share each other’s defensive and offensive tactics, strategies, and standard operating procedures.

“Strong Griffin is an opportunity for us to train together and build towards interoperability procedurally, technically, and the human domain,” U.S. Army Lt. Col. David W. Griffith, commander of 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, said. “It allows us to train tactics, techniques, and procedures so we can operate better with each other.”

Task Force Marne Soldiers conducted infantry and armored offensive operations against Lithuanian Armed Forces partners in a series of training exercises across rural and urban environments to test their combat readiness. Lithuanians, in turn, prepared a defense to counter the American attacks. In the training scenario, the American forces worked their way through a forest environment in an effort to seize a town, while the Lithuanians defended the territory.

Both armies were able to adapt and adjust to their situations which allowed them to learn how each other operated as well as their respective strengths and weaknesses in real time.

“The end goal, of course from the tactical perspective… we check the abilities and the gaps we have within the training cycle,” Lithuanian Army Col. Aurelijus Alasauskas, commander of the Griffin Brigade, said. “So if we see that everything goes so well, I don’t think we’re really organizing our exercise the proper way. We happened to see some gaps already, which might be training points for the next year.”

Lithuanian Soldiers trained on their light and anti-tank infantry tactics against an armored force with the help of Task Force Marne tanks.

“We have tanks. We have larger vehicles than they do [in the exercise],” U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jaden Brown, a tank commander with Alpha “Ares” Company, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, said. “Bringing in all that heavy machinery against a much lighter force allows them to develop how they would act against a much better equipped, much larger force,”

In turn, Task Force Marne tank crews adapted their tactics to the forested terrain, which meant tankers stayed vigilant by looking out for smaller, light infantry in the tree lines versus much more visible larger vehicles, according to Brown.

Having the opportunity to face each other in a force-on-force exercise during Strong Griffin ultimately made the two NATO allies stronger together. The exercise also allowed the two allies to familiarize themselves with the tactics and techniques they’d employ together as well as similar terrain and environments they might encounter one day on the battlefield together.

“It’s not about fighting [against] each other, it’s about fighting together with a purpose,” Alasauskas said. “So with the U.S. providing offensive capabilities, and Lithuania providing defense capabilities — when you combine those two into one — you have a very mobile, aggressive defense, which is not letting the forces penetrate you or to maneuver in front of you. So you’re leading even in the defense position. This is the main purpose: To lead the battle the way you want to.”

“It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience working with the Lithuanians,” Griffith said. “They’ve been a great partner here in Pabrade. We’ve worked together to define each other’s training objectives. We built an exercise that allowed us both to reach them.”

The 3rd Infantry Division’s mission in Europe is to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent, working alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s forward deployed corps in Europe.

Posted in Army, Guest Post | 1 Comment »

WhiteFox Defense Introduces Scorpion 3: Light Weight Man-Portable C-UAS Solution for Airspace Security

December 1st, 2023

Scorpion 3 Hand-Held Drone Detection Solution is Designed for Reliable Situational Awareness


WhiteFox Defense Scorpion 3 is a lightweight, portable drone detection solution.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., – As regional conflicts such as in Ukraine and Israel continue to pose significant challenges to security and stability, the demand for advanced solutions to mitigate the threats posed by drones has reached a critical juncture.  WhiteFox Defense Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge counter-drone solutions, announces the release of Scorpion 3, a lightweight, portable drone detection solution. Customer testing has shown that Scorpion 3 offers efficient and reliable situational awareness in any dynamic environment and can be coupled with WhiteFox mitigation solutions. The Scorpion 3 hand-held drone detection system is designed for security forces to protect personnel and critical infrastructure and preserve airspace sovereignty.

“After personally seeing Scorpion 3 used in Ukraine, I can confidently say that it is a game-changer in the world of Counter UAS solutions,” said Luke Fox, CEO of WhiteFox Defense.  “It not only provides robust protection from unauthorized drones but does so in a manner that is simple to use, cost-effective, and remarkably portable. We’re committed to securing the skies, and Scorpion 3 is a testament to that dedication.”

With an intuitive user interface and an array of specialized features, Scorpion 3 ensures comprehensive airspace awareness and security, making it the go-to Portable Counter UAS solution.

“Scorpion 3’s capability to swiftly and accurately detect unauthorized drones in any environment is a critical advancement in airspace security,” said Manu Srivastava, Chief Revenue Officer of WhiteFox Defense. “By introducing this innovative solution, we provide our customers with the most powerful and adaptable tool for safeguarding their operations.”

Unwanted drone intrusions can disrupt critical mission operations and pose significant security risks. Scorpion 3 automatically detects drone threats by creating a protective dome around the user. If an unauthorized drone enters this space, Scorpion 3 promptly detects, identifies, locates, and tracks the drone location and the precise location of the drone operator for immediate situational awareness and threat assessment. This empowers law enforcement, tactical units, and security personnel to focus on defending critical assets without delay.

For further information on Scorpion 3 and how it can elevate your organization’s airspace security, please visit our website at www.whitefoxdefense.com.

Posted in Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

Magpul x Ten Thousand Tactical Clothing in FDE

December 1st, 2023

Magpul has partnered with Ten Thousand Tactical to offer four of their most popular items in FDE: The 5″ Short, 7″ Short, Shirt and Utility Pant. All four use comfortable, high performance fabrics.

Due to the popularity of both brands, this limited collaboration will sell out fast.

magpul.com/apparel/magpul-x-ten-thousand

Posted in Advertiser, Clothing | No Comments »

Sneak Peek – Pohl Force Prepper S.E.R.E.

December 1st, 2023

With the Prepper One series, Pohl Force introduced a completely new knife concept for bushcrafters and outdoor enthusiasts in 2016: Compact in overall size, a blade length that complies with German weapons regulations (below 12 cm) and a hollow handle for storing survival utensils. After just a short time, Dietmar Pohl’s design became a real classic among outdoor fans.

In 2023, the Prepper One formed the basis for the further development of a completely new generation, which now focuses on the needs of crew members of civilian and, in particular, military aircraft. The term S.E.R.E. refers to the ability to survive, evade, resist and escape. The Prepper S.E.R.E. was developed with this application profile in mind.

Coming this month from www.pohlforce.de.

Posted in International, Knives | No Comments »

Barrett Introduces New MRADELR Rifle

December 1st, 2023

December 1, 2023

MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE — Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc., the leader in long range, is pleased to announce the commercial release of their newest, award-winning firearm, the MRADELR.

The MRADELR is a high quality, military tested, off-the-shelf, extreme long-range system with user changeable barrels and calibers.  Designed to deliver precision typically achieved only by custom-built rifles, this rifle expands the bolt-action, magazine-fed MRAD family to include 416 Barrett with additional large-caliber options to be available in the future. Boasting innovative technology, precision engineering, and exceptional materials, the MRADELR is yet another example of Barrett Firearms’ dedication to excellence.

Recently crowned the “Ballistic Best Editor’s Select” for the Best ELR Rifle, the MRADELR has demonstrated excellent precision and accuracy with its remarkable performance at the global King of 2 Miles competition earning a remarkable 2nd place finish as a production rifle competing primarily against custom builds. This rifle is poised to redefine the standards of long-range shooting, combining cutting-edge technology with precision engineering. With Barrett’s proven track record and recognition among the industry’s elite, their new MRADELR stands as a symbol of innovation and excellence, offering shooters an unrivaled experience in the world of extreme long-range marksmanship.

Bryan James, President of Barrett Firearms, commented on this momentous occasion stating, “This rifle is a testament to our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in long-range shooting. We look forward to sharing this innovation with the world at the 2024 SHOT Show and bringing the same capability to the hands of marksmen who demand nothing but the best.”

Barrett Firearms invites media, industry professionals, and shooting enthusiasts to visit their booth #10344 or Industry Day at the Range during the 2024 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, from January 23–26, 2024, where they can experience the new product firsthand and learn more about this revolutionary rifle’s specifications and capabilities.

For more information please visit www.barrett.net/mradelr.

Posted in Firearms, Press Release | No Comments »

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