February 2021 | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for February, 2021

AMMO, Inc Executes Letter of Intent to Acquire GunBroker.com

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 11, 2021 — AMMO, Inc. (Nasdaq: POWW ) (“AMMO” or the “Company”), a premier American ammunition and munition components manufacturer and technology leader, is pleased to announce it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI”) dated February 9, 2021 with IA Tech LLC for its GunBroker.com business (GunBroker.com), the world’s largest on-line auction marketplace dedicated to firearms, hunting, shooting and related products. The Transaction will involve a merger or business combination resulting in GunBroker.com becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMMO (the “Transaction”).

GunBroker.com Transaction

• GunBroker.com is the world’s leading online marketplace for the legal sale of firearms, ammunition and accessories with over 6.0 million registered users

• GunBroker.com’s estimated 2020 revenue of approximately $60 million, over $40 million of EBITDA, positive net income and strong free cash flow

• Purchase price of approximately $240 million, representing a purchase price to EBITDA multiple of less than 6.0x

• Transaction further expands upon AMMO’s vertical integration strategy

• Current AMMO shareholders will own the majority of the combined company

“This Transaction is accretive to our shareholders and will be another vertical integration milestone for the Company which diversifies our revenue base with high profit-margin business offered through a premier brand deploying best-in-class secure transactional technology,” said Fred Wagenhals, AMMO’s Chairman and CEO.

Mr. Wagenhals noted that “we founded AMMO to be a disruptive technology-based company that could serve the shooting community with cutting-edge ammunition offerings, whether that be for the military, law enforcement, hunting or recreational shooting communities. GunBroker.com is a perfect fit and supports AMMO’s mission across many levels. Steve Urvan had the foresight and entrepreneurial drive to start GunBrokers.com more than 20 years ago with the same spirit and vision. With his drive and intimate understanding of how to serve our collective market, Steve created the world’s largest online marketplace for the purchase and sale of firearms, ammunition, and accessories.” Mr. Wagenhals explained that “the combination made sense to our management team and Board as it expands our ability to best ensure the retail market continues to be served at the highest level while affording AMMO with an opportunity to enhance its sales channels, operating margins and drive increased shareholder value.”

Steve Urvan commented: “I am excited at the prospect of bringing the GunBroker.com technology platform, marketplace, and my world-class team to the AMMO family of companies. GunBroker.com has long been the technology leader in the industry and we look forward to continuing to build innovative products and solutions for our expanding and loyal customer base.”

Pursuant to the terms of the LOI, the parties intend to sign a definitive agreement (the “Definitive Agreement”) and work expeditiously to close the Transaction on or before March 31, 2021. The final structure of the Transaction will be determined by the parties following the receipt of tax, corporate, and securities law advice. GunBroker.com’s enterprise value in the Transaction has been valued at approximately $240 million, which will be paid by the Company via a combination of cash and shares of common stock.

The completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to the following: completion of mutually satisfactory due diligence, execution of the Definitive Agreement, successful completion of a capital raise, and receipt of all required corporate and third-party approvals, including fulfillment of all applicable regulatory requirements and conditions necessary to complete the Transaction.

No assurances can be made that the parties will successfully negotiate and enter into a Definitive Agreement, or that the proposed Transaction will be closed on the terms and/or timeframe currently contemplated, or at all. As noted above, the Transaction remains subject to a regulatory and Board approval, along with other customary conditions.

Maxim Group LLC served as sell side advisor to IA Tech LLC for its GunBroker.com business.

Posted in Industry, Press Release | 2 Comments »

Blue Force Gear Expands Laser Cutting Capacity to Meet Industry Demand

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

BFG is poised to immediately license and produce patented Helium Whisper™ attachment technology to manufacturers with increased laser cutting capacity.

Savannah, GA – 11 February 2021

Customers and Industry Partners have spoken, BFG listened. In response to overwhelming demand from military, first responder, commercial and third-party manufacturers Blue Force Gear has invested to expand laser cutting operations. Not only have more cutting machines been purchased but additional team members have been brought on staff to support 24-hour seven day a week operations. Since 2012, Blue Force Gear has been licensing Helium Whisper technology to industry partners like Velocity Systems, Safariland and other premium brands.

With multiple US and International patents and patents pending, the Helium Whisper® Attachment System is recognized across the globe by manufacturers and end users alike. The design and materials of the Helium Whisper Attachment System allows for up to a 70% weight savings over traditional MOLLE systems with the same or greater strength. The system also allows for significantly less bulk over legacy pouches.

“Laser cutting is the future. We’re able to cut patterns for gear, like the one-piece Helium Whisper backer, that were never before possible.”
-Alec Coin, Laser Production Manager

The Helium Whisper Attachment System was designed and commercially released in 2011 by Blue Force Gear. Since then, Blue Force Gear has been revolutionizing how MOLLE pouches and accessories were previously imagined with the introduction of ULTRAcomp®, a radical new laminate with numerous innovative characteristics like increased strength, superior abrasion resistance and immunity to staining and liquid absorption. Manufacturers who take advantage of this technology receive the benefits of simplified manufacturing, less material waste, less production time per piece and greater piece to piece precision. These benefits can be easily obtained through Blue Force Gear’s streamlined, simple licensing process.

“As ‘Lighten The Load” has received focus from DoD and Congress, more and more equipment manufacturers are adopting Helium Whisper to meet stringent weight reduction requirements. Helium Whisper is increasingly mentioned by name as the go-to solution and our licensing program is making it easy for other gear makers to remain competitive.”
– Doug Duggan, Director, OEM & International Sales.

Contact Blue Force Gear today to start producing pouches with the lightest, most elegant MOLLE attachment system in the industry.

Posted in Advertiser, Industry, Materials, Press Release | Comments Off on Blue Force Gear Expands Laser Cutting Capacity to Meet Industry Demand

The Luminae Running Rifle

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

I once worked for a guy at Fort Bragg who wanted everyone in our Det to buy a 4×4 fence post and attach a sling to it for road marches and local training. Although we had perfectly good rifles in the arms room we could check out any time we needed them, he always failed to plan and would pull stuff out of his ass rather than create a training schedule.

Had it been available at the time, the Luminae Running Rifle would have been much preferable to walking around with a big chunk of wood.

These days, it makes even more sense due to the sensitivities over open carry, even on military installations.

The Luminae Running Rifle is a military training aid that simulates carrying a rifle but can be used in public places and does not need signed in and out of an armoury. Perfect for training or keeping fit.

The only drawback for American users is that it’s based on a bullpup, the British issue L85, but it makes sense as Luminae Designs is a British company.

Posted in International, Training, weapons | 19 Comments »

Improving Military Electronic Devices with WattUp RF Wireless Charging Technology

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

Photo: U.S. Army. Use of this image is for informational purposes only – the appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

As military forces become more technologically enabled, optimizing the size, weight and power requirements (SWAPO) for tactical electronic devices continues to provide opportunities for improvement. WattUp wireless charging is one innovative technology that program offices could implement to enhance battery and device designs.

WattUp is an embedded charging technology which eliminates the dependence on charging cables, open ports or battery doors that reduce the physical integrity and ruggedness of a device. This delivers the dual benefit of reducing the complexity of product design – which can lower both manufacturing and build of materials (BOM) costs – as well as increase a device’s durability and dependability.

WattUp uses radio frequency (RF) technology to establish a link between a transmitter and a receiver, sending power via antennas. It does not use magnetic coils, which require precise alignment or physical contact with the device for charging to take place. This new technology enables both at-contact and over-the-air wireless charging. WattUp also offers improvements in the orientation, placement and interference issues that can occur with coil-based charging. Support for different sized and shaped devices, along with foreign object detection and enhanced thermal performance round out the benefits of WattUp wireless charging from Energous.

WattUp® Mid Field and Far Field Transmitters sense and communicate to authorized receiver devices via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), but do not interfere with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, as a different frequency band is used for the transmission of power. WattUp is also software-controlled, intelligently determining which devices receive power, when and in what priority. A WattUp transmitter can also charge several devices simultaneously, contributing to a complete wireless power ecosystem with interoperability across multiple receivers and transmitters. If there are no WattUp-enabled devices within range, the WattUp transmitter becomes idle so no power is wasted.

The WattUp receiver ASIC is a microchip embedded within the circuit board of the device that converts the transmitter’s radio waves into DC power to charge the device’s battery. WattUp receiver technology can be scaled to fit a variety of different electronic devices, including very small systems as small as in-ear communications and hearing protection.

The WattUp technology is FCC-approved for power to be transmitted at near field (0 – 5mm distance) and through the air at mid field ranges (up to 1m distance) – with distances of up to 5 meters being in the works.

Finally, the WattUp ecosystem features secure, cloud-based, management software, which enables users to track and manage multiple WattUp-enabled devices within a single environment. Users can set priorities and other alerts to maintain oversight of the health and power consumption of their devices and batteries – and get advance notice when they need recharging.

Military units need to have confidence in their equipment and the assurance that it will perform effectively when needed. Dead or defective batteries can be as unwelcome as non-serviceable weapon. With no need to manually check batteries or to physically connect devices to chargers, WattUp RF wireless charging technology gives leaders and soldiers the confidence that their batteries and devices will be charged and ready when needed.

To find out more about how WattUp® RF wireless charging technology can be applied to military applications, visit energous.com/military, or contact us at military@energous.com.

Posted in Guest Post, Power | 7 Comments »

USAF Updates AFI 36-2903 “Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel”

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

In a new release of AFI 36-2903 Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel dated 7 Feb 2021, the service formally enters a new era of hair braids for female personnel.

As for items that affect every Airman, you’ll be pleased to know that morale patches are once again authorized for wear on ACUs on Fridays, pending approval by commanders.

Here’s a list of changes of note:

1) updates female hair standards to allow braid and ponytail hairstyles to be worn below the collar and bangs to touch eyebrows;

2) clarifies blues belt wear policy, the command insignia pin policy, coyote brown boot laces policy, and that current subdued version of unit/organizational patches may be worn until the patch color conversion has been completed by the Institute of Heraldry

3) incorporates previously approved policy language allowing higher headquarters units to purchase flight suit name tags for standardization within their units;

4) incorporates previously approved permanent wear of awarded recruiting badges by Airmen with an 8R special duty identifier in their records;

5) incorporates previously approved additional color options with flight attendant uniform;

6) incorporates previously approved updates to Airmen’s hair bulk standard, shaving waivers, clarification of male straight line hair part, nametapes/tags, grooming and appearance standards, removal of the terms “faddish,” “complexion” and combat boot height requirements.

Posted in Air Force, Clothing, Profession of Arms | 2 Comments »

Gentex Announces Ops-Core FAST Helmet System Passes US Government First Article Testing for Higher Level Threat

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

CARBONDALE, PA February 10, 2021 – Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel, announced that one of its Ops-Core® FAST Helmet Systems passed U.S. Government First Article Testing (FAT), a first for a helmet providing protection against a prevalent higher level threat.

The helmet utilizes the most advanced protective shell ever produced by Gentex, providing a level of protection that could previously only be achieved with the addition of a ballistic applique. The FAST Helmet System features the same total headborne system solutions as the Ops-Core FAST SF Helmet, the preferred helmet of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), global special operations forces, and elite law enforcement. Maintaining the Ops-Core modular design approach, it is compatible with products including the STEP-IN® Visor, AMP® Communication Headset, and FAST ballistic mandibles.

“For over 75 years, Gentex has built a proud history of protective headborne system innovations and a series of firsts,” said LP Frieder, Chief Executive Officer at Gentex Corporation. “With this significant achievement, we are proud to continue leading the way in ballistic protection solutions.”

Since the introduction of the first aramid-based PASGT helmet in the late 1970s to the first ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) FAST XP helmet in 2008, Gentex has been on the forefront of ballistic innovation for over 50 years. Part of Gentex Corporation’s portfolio for defense, emergency response, and security forces, the focus and dedication of the company’s Ops-Core brand remains the same – protecting elite forces. The modular, scalable, open-architecture design of Ops-Core products allows for seamless integration and true system level performance.

www.gentexcorp.com

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, Helmets, Press Release | Comments Off on Gentex Announces Ops-Core FAST Helmet System Passes US Government First Article Testing for Higher Level Threat

24th SOW Launches Special Operations Center For Medical Integration And Development

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

The 24th Special Operations Wing launched the Special Operations Center for Medical Integration and Development, a program designed in cooperation between the U.S. Air Force and the University of Alabama-Birmingham to develop and provide advanced standardized training to special operations medics. The training used realistic and innovative techniques including virtual reality, field training exercises and clinical hospital rotations to maintain readiness of Special Operations Surgical Team members, pararescuemen and independent duty medical technicians.

By SSgt Ridge Shan, 24th Special Operations Wing

Posted in AFSW, Air Force, Guest Post, Medical, SOF | 1 Comment »

Blade Show West Moving to Orange County, California

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

BLADE Show, the world’s largest knife show, has announced a major venue upgrade for its BLADE Show West exhibition. The 2021 event will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center in Orange County, California, on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 8-9.

After months of searching for the best possible location for BLADE Show West, the BLADE Show staff unanimously concluded that Long Beach is the place to be.

“Many exhibitors and attendees who joined us in Portland, Oregon, for the past two West shows suggested ways we could improve on the experience. We listened and started looking for alternative locations. The Long Beach area has so much going for it that this was an easy decision,” said Alicia Newton, BLADE Show director.

“Foremost in our decision is the fact that Orange County is knife-friendly in ways that many of the other venues we considered are not. Management at the Long Beach Convention Center has been easy to work with and is genuinely excited about adding our event to their calendar. Exhibitors can expect great show traffic and hassle-free transactions.”

Long Beach has all the amenities that show attendees and exhibitors value. It’s easy to navigate, there are plenty of hotel options, and a huge variety of dining and entertainment options can be found within walking distance of the convention center. Further, the size and layout of the convention center lends itself to expansion in future years.

Additional details, including lodging information, will be posted regularly at bladeshowwest.com during the coming weeks, so check back often.

Posted in Blade Show, Press Release | 5 Comments »