If you’re at AUSA, make sure you visit ADS Inc in booth # 2413 and throw your business card in the bowl for a chance to win one of 10 CamelBak Urban Assault packs in the OCIE pattern of the US4CES family of camouflage.
Archive for 2012
AUSA – ADS US4CES
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012AUSA – Gerber Gear
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012First off an update on the Downrange Tomahawk we showed you during OR. the sheath is now ready and is designed for a wide variety of mounting solutions. It is a skeletonized design to allow you to configure your breaching tool so that it is easily accessible.
Next is the Propel series of automatic knives. There is an automatic version as well as assisted opening variant. Unlike the 06 auto knife, the metal liner is recessed into the handle making it lower profile. Additionally, they feature three different, easily reconfigurable positions for the pocket clip. The blade is a modified Tanto design of S30V steel.
So you know, Downrange denotes Gerber Gear’s Tan coloration. Additionally, everything in the Downrange a series is American made.
January for the Tomahawk and February for the knives.
AUSA – Team Wendy
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012
Both the Team Wendy EXFIL Bump Helmet and the CAM-FIT Retention System are shipping. In fact, the USMC LWH version of the CAM-FIT is ready.
AUSA – Blueye Eyewear
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012Blueye Eyewear brings over 16 years of eye protection experience to the market. Based in Australia, they focus on individual market segments. Their latest thrust is in defense.
The SOS Super Cell answers the problem Soldiers have with moving quickly in and out of the sun. This goggle is built to US Mil Spec and in addition to an anti-fog coating features a removable photochromatic lens. This allows the wearer to strip away the darkened lens when they go into darkened areas. It also serves as a sacrificial lens to prevent scratching of the SOS Super Cell’s primary lens.
Additionally, there is a silicon nonslip head strap with integrated goggle sleeve.
Visit www.blueyetactical.com to download the entire catalog.
AUSA – Cyalume Technologies
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012Developed by the Combat Training Solutions division of Cyalume Technologies, the HG1 is a programmable hand grenade simulator. It gives immediate feedback through direct impact training.
After programming the HG1 for 3 second, 5 second or random detonation, it is configured with a charge that provides both audible (140db @5 ft) and visible (smoke) signatures.
Additionally, it can be used over and over and is easily recovered from the training area thanks to a light and sound report.
They also now have a MILES compatible version that talks directly to your harness to signify both near miss and kill.
The HG1 is already in use with NSW and USMC elements.
AUSA – Ops-Core
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012I ran by the Gentex booth and picked up their new catalog interested in seeing if they had integrated any of Ops-Core’s products into their offerings. As most of you will remember, Gentex purchased Ops-Core early this year. Sure enough, a small sampling of Ops-Core products was in the back of the catalog. But, they were some interesting surprises.
From the photos and the description in the catalog, you attach the VAS shroud and ARC rails to Mission Configurable Helmet Cover and put it on the helmet when you need those capabilities. Otherwise, you ACH remains stock. I must admit, I do wonder how the cover will handle the stress if you start hanging lots on it.
Additionally, it appears that they have refined the visor system they have been working on over the years. The Moto Visor and Mandible work alone or in concert to protect the face of those wearing helmets configured with an ARC rail set up.
AUSA – Christini Motorcycles
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012
Christini All Wheel Drive Motorcycles is working in tangent with High Ground Gear to provide a militarized version of their Christini AWD 450. They have added a wide variety of enhancements to the bike including the skid plate as well as other reinforcements around vulnerable components.
In addition to Christini’s special subdued color package, High Ground provides camouflage and PALS fields to the bike on the fender, tanks and body.
The Combat Recession
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012This Spring I was attending a training program with some military and government folks. One of the guys mentioned the impending Combat Recession. It was the terminology he used to describe the shrinkage we are all experiencing in defense. As the war comes to a close, spending is getting tight. If the budget tsunami that is sequestration hits, I don’t know if ‘recession’ will be a strong enough word.
Seems like a lot of folks have forgotten about those antebellum days when there wasn’t nearly as much money in defense. For the defense industry, these past ten years haven’t been just shooting fish in a barrel, the fish would literally jump into the boat, ask you to eat them and then clean themselves. But, those days are over. Some will adapt, others will fall.
One of the topics I will be exploring during these next two days at the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting is how industry is adapting to this Combat Recession my friend spoke of.
Yesterday, another industry friend sent me a text from the show floor. It said in part, “What is happening at AUSA today is the Conventional Industry’s Zombie Apocalypse…” The floor is bereft of green suiters and it is leaving many vendors uneasy. Unfortunately, this year’s annual meeting is victim to a perfect storm of an Army weary of fighting in Afghanistan, impending budget sequestration and worst of all, fallout from the recent excesses by GSA. By all accounts, travel to AUSA on orders was severely restricted. No wonder it was so easy to find a hotel near the convention center.
I look forward to getting even more insight as I walk the floor today and tomorrow.
