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Archive for October, 2011

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PPE Purchases Paraclete

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Protective Products Enterprises, Inc. (PPE) has completed the purchase of Paraclete from Mine Safety Appliances (MSA). MSA purchased the company from Tim D’Anunzio in 2006. D’Anunzio himself has recently come back to the industry, launching XPX Armor & Equipment last month.

“This sale of our ballistic vest business is something we have seriously considered for some time,” said Joseph A. Bigler, President of MSA North America in a press release. “The decision to move in this direction came down to two factors: alignment with MSA’s long-term business strategy to focus on those products that provide us with the greatest growth opportunities; and pursuing a course of action that we believe provides Paraclete Armor with the best opportunity for future success.”

It is important to note that the sale does not include MSA’s lucrative helmet business purchased from CGF Gallet in 2001.

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USAF SF Updates DF-LCS

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

We’ve written about the Defensor Fortis Load Carrying System (DF-LCS) in the past. Love it or hate it, it was designed specifically for USAF Security Forces (AF SF). But, like other equipment, it has evolved to better suit the needs of the careerfield.

Beginning in late November, AF SF will begin receiving an improved version of their gear harness commonly referred to as (HGEAR) as part of the 5-Year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Garrett Container Systems (GCS).

Over a year ago, the AF Security Forces Center (AFSFC), surveyed the careerfield for suggested improvements to DF-LCS. The majority of the recommendations from users included: a better fit to size, improved padding, and web management.

The latest version, dubbed GEN 3 will incorporate those major recommendations. For example, padding was added to the shoulder area and the neck yoke was altered to improve wear comfort. Remember, this is the same system being worn by our Defenders both deployed as well as at home station. When working the gate, AF SF rarely wear heavy armor, rather relying on concealable, soft armor. Consequently, the harness can chafe the neck. Additionally, Velcro straps and additional management buckles were added to the design to help police loose straps. They also changed the front height adjuster to allow the user to pull down to adjust rather than pull up. It’s a more natural movement and mimics strap adjustments on packs.

Finally, each harness in the rifleman kit will now include a tear/water resistant guide on adjustment, wear and care of the DF-LCS as well as an instructions on how to use PALS. Odd as it seems in this day and age, there are some folks that don’t know how to weave. But, better safe than sorry.

For those not allowed to buy from AFSFC’s IDIQ (and that’s a lot of folks), the GEN3 in both Air Force Digital Tigerstripe as well as Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP) or, more popularly known as MultiCam, will soon be available at www.GCSwarrior.com or through one of their sales reps.

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Posted in Air Force, Load Carrying, Multicam | 42 Comments »

Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Sponsored by the Department of Public Works, the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program is designed to allow companies to present new technologies to the Government without a requirement. While the program is open to solutions for use by all of Government, there are areas that can also find defense applications. Take for example the company Inversa. They have developed a system using the Deep Backscatter Tomography (DBT) technique that scans culverts and tunnels for maintenance problems so that waste water personnel won’t have to excavate pipes. It’s basically non-destructive inspection for sewers. Now, imagine using such technology to inspect culverts for IEDs.

Innovation often comes from small companies. Unfortunately, they often lack the expertise or staff to present their capabilities to the Government. Oftentimes, they are preyed upon by those who take their money, promising to open doors and grant Government access. In most cases, such access is readily accessible without the cost of a “consultant.” Another issue is that the Government’s procurement system is requirements based. If those writing requirements don’t know a capability exists, they can’t ask for it and may continue to do things the same old way.

It’s good to see the Canadian Government cut some of the red tape so that they can see the latest in technology and open opportunities to small business. It can be a win-win situation.

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Aramark Sells Galls

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Recently Aramark sold Galls to CI Capital Partners, a North American private investment firm. Galls is a major player in outfitting LE and First Responders featuring an online presence, a great catalog and six retail outlets.

In a press release, Joseph Neubauer, Chairman and CEO of ARAMARK had this to say about the deal, “Galls has earned its excellent reputation of providing public safety and emergency medical personnel with quality equipment and apparel and outstanding service. It has succeeded by continually anticipating the needs of customers and clients and by being dedicated to their success. This opportunity with CI Capital Partners enables Galls to pursue accelerated expansion and better positioning on which to grow and build its brand.”

Additionally, Galls President Larry Dismukes commented, “We are very thrilled to complete a transaction that will provide Galls with the ability to continue its internal growth as well as pursue attractive acquisition opportunities. CI Capital has a long track record of growing distribution businesses and we are excited to build significant value at Galls.”

Galls has been outfitting LE and First Responders for 40 years. Congratulations to CI Capital Partners. You’ve picked a great company.

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Remember Today – 2002 Nord-Ost Siege

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

The average man on the street won’t remember today, but I want our readers to. Today marks the date of the culmination of the 2002 Nord-Ost Siege. A splinter group of Chechen separatists attacked and held around 800 members of the audience and theater troupe for two-and-a-half days. Around 90 of the hostages were able to take advantage of the chaos surrounding initial stages of the siege to escape. Another 150 – 200 hostages were released by the terrorists hours after taking the theater. Over the next two days more groups of hostages were released including children.

Just miles from the Kremlin, the attack to retake the theater consisted of decisive action by Russian SOF. While they were successful in defeating the 50 terrorists, unfortunately, part of the course of action was to pump an unknown chemical agent into the theater which contributed to the ultimate hostage death toll of 170. Unfortunately, the fate and whereabouts of 12 terrorists is still unknown.

Interestingly, many of the explosives brandished by the terrorists were in fact training dummies and the detonators for the actual devices contained drained batteries sabotaged in the terrorist logistics network by undercover agents Additionally, hostages retained their cell phones and were able to pass information on the siege to authorities.

US military, Law Enforcement and First Responders should study the Nord-Ost Siege in greater detail to consider the possibility of similar situations and how they can effectively be dealt with. Many already consider the September, 2004 tragedy at Beslan where Chechen terrorists held a school on opening day, killing 334. However, the conflict is much larger in scope and provides further insight into how terrorists may operate in a homeland. These incidents as well as the 1995 deployment of a radiological dispersion device by Chechens in Moscow’s Izmaylovsky Park bear close study.

Please remember the innocent hostages lost in 2002’s Nord-Ost Siege and those Russian troops killed in the raid to retake the theater. They all died in this international war on terrorism.

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Warrior Expo 2011 – iRobot

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

A great overview of iRobot’s line brought to you by Warrior Expo 2011.

adsinc.com/irobot

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Osprey – Special Operations Patrol Vehicles Afghanistan and Iraq

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

The new title from Osprey Publishing, “Special Operations Patrol Vehicles Afghanistan and Iraq” (New Vanguard 179) is a great companion to author Leigh Neville’s other Osprey titles focusing on Coalition SOF in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The work does a good job of covering almost all of the vehicles used by SOF in the modern era. Unfortunately, it’s only in the text and not with photos. However, the book gives a great basic overview of the vehicles and serves to help the reader understand why there is a requirement for a purpose built SOF Ground Vehicle the so-called Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1. Additionally, the artwork by Richard Chasemore is fantastic and should be sold as prints to men in the units who use these vehicles. They are very detailed and very accurate.

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TF Checks Out the SureFire MAG5-100 HCM

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Our very own Tactical Fanboy gave the SureFire 100 round MAG 5-100 high-capacity magazine a go during a training course conducted by 914 Consulting at C2 Shooting Center on his birthday. While not a comprehensive test, he shared it with several other students who used it in a variety of rifles by various manufactured with no problems noted.

The SureFire 100-round High-Capacity Magazine is constructed from Mil-Spec hard-anodized aluminum. It weights 3.3 lbs. (!) fully loaded, and has a length of 12.2 inches, so have fun trying to go prone. It features reliable functioning thanks to mechanical simplicity and high-quality, non-binding springs coated with cadmium for low friction and corrosion resistance. Any weapon that can accept STANAG 4179 compliant magazines can accept one of these. Specifications aside, can a magazine with this high a capacity actually work reliably?


The rifle is a Blackheart International BHI-15 with a Lucid LLC HD7 Red Dot Sight.

My initial analysis: yeah, it can. See, I was at a training class yesterday (more on that later) and I happened to bring a hi-cap mag along. Not for the class, mind you, but because I was at the range and I finally had a chance to test it out. It took a long time to load, and it was heavy [said Captain Obvious], but it seated just fine and I had no feeding failures. I had a few of the other students try it out as well, so it went through multiple AR-15s from many different manufacturers, and still had no issues. I’d have to use it a few more times, and in different weapons, to be completely sure, but as it stands it’s my full belief that SureFire made a great product in this magazine.

http://www.surefire.com/MAG5-100

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Posted in TFB, Training, weapons | 13 Comments »

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