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Archive for April, 2020

VORTEX Optics to Offer 40% Off to Medical Staff

Tuesday, April 28th, 2020

BARNEVELD, Wis. Before COVID-19, doctors, nurses, and frontline medical personnel were already heroes. After the outbreak, their bravery has been what we need to find hope in a troubling time.

Vortex Optics would like to honor their courage and their commitment. For the next 60 days, from April 27 to June 26, frontline medical personnel get 40% off on up to two optics, up to two optics accessories, and up to five items of Vortex Wear apparel. They will also receive free shipping.

As America isolates at home, medical professionals have pushed to the frontlines to battle this unprecedented threat. Thank you for being the heroes we need.

To receive the discount, simply create an account on ExpertVoice.

University, Army Collaborate on Face Masks for Soldiers

Monday, April 27th, 2020

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. –Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will soon have a new defense against the COVID-19 virus thanks to a collaboration between the U.S. Army and North Carolina State University that will result in the production of more than 100,000 face masks for the Army.

The partnership between North Carolina State and the 82nd Airborne Division Innovations Council at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was initiated by the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory at Research Triangle Park.

In response to the pandemic, researchers at NC State’s Nonwoven Institute developed a unique filtration material for face masks that can protect medical workers and Soldiers fighting the effects of COVID-19. The material is effective in filtering out viruses and bacteria and can still be cut and sewn using traditional techniques.

NC State donated 4,725 meters of its newly developed filtration material to the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.

“As a neighbor and member of the North Carolina community, the Army Research Office has endeavored to partner North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina System with Army operations at Fort Bragg,” said Dr. Stephen Lee, an ARO senior scientist. “This is a special example where those relationships are paying off during the COVID-19 events.”

The XVIII Airborne Corps, the parent organization of the 82nd Airborne Division, specializes in parachute missions. Its parachute riggers already have the skillset, equipment and facilities needed to sew the masks.

The donated materials will make about 100,000 face masks for Soldiers.

“That is what the spirit of this partnership is – to build a deeper understanding and collaboration between academia and military personnel,” said Capt. Colby Miller, 82nd Airborne Division innovation officer, who helped instigate this collaboration.

The NC State Nonwovens Institute can manufacture more than 2,000 meters of the material an hour and intends to donate up to 1,000 meters per week to the Army on an ongoing basis during the pandemic.

By US Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs

H&K SL8 to XM8 Conversion from TommyBuilt Tactical LLC

Monday, April 27th, 2020

TommyBuilt Tactical will take that old SL8 in the back of your gun safe and convert it to an XM8 replica.

The SL8 was discontinued around 2011 and is now only found on the used market. TommyBuilt makes a conversion kit and converts the receiver to accept double stack mags along with all the bodywork and laser engraved markings to look more like an XM8.

They tell us it’s an expensive conversion with the market price of a used SL8 along with the parts and labor you typically end up with a $5k to $6k project.

This one has the Spuhr AB STANAG magwell. They chopped the barrel and pinned and welded an AAC QD and then finished in Tactical OD green with Magpul FDE accents. Optic is the Steiner Optics DRS1X.

Full details at www.tommybuilttactical.com/tactical/sl8-to-xm8-conversion.

Leupold and L3 Team Awarded Contract to Deliver Prototypes to U.S. Army For Next-Gen Squad Weapon Fire Control Solution

Monday, April 27th, 2020

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear riflescopes, is pleased to announce that L3Harris has been awarded a contract in partnership with Leupold to deliver 115 production prototypes to the United States Army for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Fire Control (NGSW-FC) Program. The NGSW-FC will replace traditional direct view optics currently fielded by the Army.

“Leupold is excited to be teaming with L3Harris to deliver the highest-quality optical solution to the U.S. Army. We are the top manufacturers in our respective fields,” said Bruce Pettet, President and Chief Executive Officer for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “Leupold brings more than a century of optical expertise and unrivaled domestic manufacturing capacity to the table, and L3 has a proven track record of performance with high-volume government contracts for night vision, electro-optics, and laser aiming devices. The U.S. military requires the very best, and this partnership will deliver it – with optics that are designed, machined, and assembled in the United States.”

The NSGW-FC provides an integrated approach to targeting by combining range-finding capability, ballistic computation, and environmental sensors that increase the probability of accurate targeting while decreasing the time to engage a threat. Leupold and L3 have partnered to deliver a game-changing solution to the United States military. The optic ultimately selected for the NGSW-FC will support many of the current and future weapon platforms utilized by the Army. Both Leupold and L3Harris have held numerous military contracts in the past.

“L3Harris is proud to offer the U.S. Army a revolutionary fire control solution that will increase soldier lethality and enhance situational awareness,” Lynn Bollengier, President, Integrated Vision Solutions, L3Harris said in a press release, “Our solution leverages nearly 30 years of expertise in fire control technology, enabling faster identification and target acquisition, ensuring soldiers achieve overmatch capability on the battlefield. Additionally, we have teamed with Leupold & Stevens to integrate their superior optical assemblies and high volume, domestic manufacturing capabilities to ensure we meet the high quality and capacity requirements set forth by the Army to field this technology alongside the Next Generation Squad Weapons program.”

For more information on Leupold products, please visit us at Leupold.com.

Redesigned Arctic Tab Now Authorized for Wear in US Army Pacific

Monday, April 27th, 2020

The Arctic Tab, a visual representation of a Soldier’s ability to train and thrive in cold environments, just got an upgrade.

Not only does the tab have a new look, it can now be worn outside the confines of the Last Frontier thanks to a new U.S. Army Pacific policy.

According to the policy, approved in February 2020 by USARPAC Commander, Gen. Paul J. LaCamera, Arctic Operations-qualified Soldiers assigned to USARPAC units, including major subordinate commands and direct-reporting units, can now wear the Arctic Tab while serving at USARPAC installations throughout its areas of operation. However, wear is not authorized when Soldiers are on temporary duty or deployment status outside the USARPAC theatre.

The new policy does more than expand where and how the Arctic Tab is worn. It reflects the importance of the U.S. Army’s ability to train and fight in an arctic environment.

“I think what makes U.S. Army Alaska and our units unique is that we are the Army’s proponent for cold weather training,” said Maj. Gen. Peter B. Andrysiak Jr., U.S. Army Alaska commander. “We not only live here; we thrive here, and I want to make sure the tab properly recognizes our unique expertise.”

Originally worn below a Soldier’s unit patch, the Arctic Tab now rests above the patch, joining other prominent skills tabs such as the Ranger or Sapper Tabs. The previously rectangular-shaped tab was redesigned in November 2019 and now also sports the familiar rainbow arc of similar tabs.


The original version of the Arctic tab can be seen above, worn by COL Adam Lange, Deputy Commander, Sustainment, US Army Alaska.

A group of Soldiers who graduated the Northern Warfare Training Center’s Cold Weather Leaders Course, Jan. 17, 2020, became the first to wear the redesigned tab. The NWTC trains units and leaders in cold weather and mountain operations to increase warfighting capabilities. Learning those skills is vital for USARAK leaders at every level.

“As a leader, it is important I know and understand the harsh, arctic conditions and the impact it can have on Soldiers and equipment,” said Capt. Robin Furrer, a recent graduate of CWLC, “Soldiers operate and move differently when it is minus 25 out, and our equipment does as well. So it is important for us to have the knowledge to plan, make decisions, and adapt to these conditions.”

Although the look and placement of the tab has changed, what it takes to earn it remains the same.

Soldiers earn the Arctic Tab after completing either the CWLC or the Cold Weather Orientation Course held at the Black Rapids Training Site run by USARAK’s NWTC instructors. Upon graduating either course, Soldiers are qualified to implement basic, cold weather and ski training programs within their units to help mitigate the unique challenges they face while operating in harsh conditions.

“Anything can fail, even on the coldest days,” Steve Decker, an NWTC instructor, explained. “Soldiers attending these cold-weather courses are taught ways to get around those failures.”

CWLC is a 15-day course where squad- and platoon-level leaders hone the knowledge and skills required to perform small-unit operations in cold, snow-covered terrain. Soldiers learn everything from the basics of standing and moving on skis and snowshoes to a full range of arctic survival skills.

CWOC is a four-day course for commanders and staff officers to become more familiar with the knowledge and skills required in successfully planning and conducting operations in an arctic environment. Emphasis is placed on the effects of cold on personnel and material, the effects of a winter environment on operations, and planning considerations unique to the winter battlefield and cold regions. Cold weather risk-management procedures are stressed throughout the course.

“From jumping into minus 100, bitter, cold, exiting the aircraft over Prudhoe Bay, to conducting live-fire exercises at minus 30 in the Donnelly Training Area, the Northern Warfare Training Center’s team of professionals ensure our Soldiers are ready to deploy, fight, and win in any arctic environment,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Dillingham, USARAK’s senior enlisted leader. “We are the first line of defense in the West and the last line of defense in the Pacific. We are ready, we are arctic warriors, and we are arctic tough.”

Story by Spc. DeMarco Wills, US Army Alaska

Photos by US Army

US Army Issues Leader’s Book for Mountain Warfare And Cold Weather Operations

Monday, April 27th, 2020

The newly issued “Mountain Warfare and Cold Weather Operations Leader’s Book” was developed in conjunction with the Asymmetric Warfare Group.

Mountain operations present leaders and units with unique challenges that compound existing difficult combat realities. This handbook addresses the principal gap of informing leaders and staff of the considerations necessary to plan, operate, fight, and win in mountainous terrain at the company level and above. Leaders will find this handbook valuable in prioritizing tasks for training and pre-deployment planning for any military operations in the mountains. No previous mountain training or expertise is required to understand and practice most tactics, techniques, and procedures contained in this publication. Users who have experience operating in a mountainous environment can use this handbook to assist them in learning what veterans of mountain operations already know: vertical environments are among the most challenging in which to conduct and sustain combat operations.

usacac.army.mil

MATBOCK Monday Tarsier Eclipse

Monday, April 27th, 2020

Good morning and Happy MATBOCK Monday, The Tarsier Eclipse ™ has been a staple on the battlefield for years, but now is the time to see it in action! Check in Monday at 4:30 PM EST to see it live. Please bring questions as we will be conducting a live Q&A.

Click below for a quick overview. We will also be conducting a live demonstration Monday night at 4:30 PM EST!

More Great Images

Remember to tune in Monday at 4:30 PM EST as we do a live demo of the Tarsier Eclipse and answer your questions!

MATBOCK Monday link: zoom.us

DroneShield Releases RfPatrol MKII

Monday, April 27th, 2020

DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (“DroneShield” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the release of the next generation version of its body-worn drone detection device, RfPatrol MKIITM.

The original RfPatrolTM was released in May 2019, having proven to be a well-regarded product, with purchases by a number of high profile customers around the world.

The device is completely passive (non-emitting), substantially broadening the range of customers to whom the product is lawfully available, and also appealing to use cases where the device cannot be detectable to the enermy forces due to having no emissions.

The next generation of the product is approximately 40% smaller in size, with a reduced weight of 800g (including battery), further ruddedization, as well as a range of further enhancements requested by the end users following last 12 months of in-field deployments.

Image: RfPatrol MKII

The product summary is available here.

The product is available for purchase now to qualified customers.

The device also enables to determine direction of the incoming threat, though the Directional Antenna Unit (DAUTM) an optional accessory:

Image: RfPatrol DAU optional direction-finding accessory

DroneShield’s CEO Oleg Vornik commented, “RfPatrol MKIITM continues our successful RfPatrolTM product line, providing dismounted personnel a lightweight drone detection device. The product is future-proof, being compatible with additional drone frequency channels which will be enabled with future software releases. As with our other counterdrone products, customers receive regular software updates of threat databases which can be deployed on the devices remotely in the field in a secure manner. Further, in addition to being able to be used as a stand-alone, it is a perfect companion to our DroneGunTM product”.

For enquiries, please contact info@droneshield.com.