SIG MMG 338 Program Series

Archive for March, 2022

IWA 22 – Helikon-Tex

Friday, March 4th, 2022

This is a sneak peek of Helikon-Tex‘s upcoming take on the Claymore Bag.

It’s a nice design with a carry strap and top carry handle. The front flap covers two external pockets with elasticized tops to keep your gear inside. At the rear is a zippered pocket.

Right now it’s up in the air whether that’ll make it in Tigerstripe so let’s let them know it will be worth their while.

IWA 22 – GLOCK French Army Pistol System

Friday, March 4th, 2022

So far GLOCK has delivered around 80% of the almost 75,000 Pistolet Semi-Automatique examples of the new which the French military selected in 2019 to replace their aging MAC 50 and MAS G1 9mm NATO pistols.

At IWA they showed us what the package looks like.

As you can see the system consists of a G17 with three extra magazines, an extra upper with mounted Aimpoint ACRO RDS, and B&T suppressor.

The French Army, Navy and Air Force are included in the contract along with some other French agencies.

FN Announces Free FN 509 Magazines Promotion

Friday, March 4th, 2022

(McLean, VA – March 4, 2022) FN America, LLC is pleased to announce the FN 509® Free Magazines Promotion for all FN 509 models, valid on purchases made between March 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022. Consumers who purchase a new FN 509 are eligible to receive either two or three magazines through this offer depending on the model.

Qualifying purchases of any new FN 509 Standard or MRD model are eligible to redeem for two 24- or 10-round magazines; purchases of new FN 509 Tactical models are eligible to redeem for three 24- or 10-round magazines; and purchases of any new FN 509 LS EDGE™ are eligible to redeem for three 17- or three 10-round FN 509 LS EDGE magazines.

To review the program’s full terms and conditions, eligible models list or to redeem purchases for this offer, please visit www.fnamerica.com/promotions. To learn more about the FN 509 series of pistols, please visit fnamerica.com.

FirstSpear Friday Focus: The Sherpa

Friday, March 4th, 2022

Looking for the perfect item to get your gear squared away? The FirstSpear Sherpa has you covered.

• Versatile range / equipment / travel bag
• Two padded pistol pockets
• Large main compartment with removable interior organizer panels
• Loop interior for hook backed Ragnar™ pockets and storing cell tags
• Removable padded shoulder strap with HK hooks
• Discreet appearance
• Made in the USA
• Available exclusively at FirstSpear

Designed in conjunction with FS professional users, the Sherpa is a hard use day bag that can be put to work across a wide variety of environments and situations. Whether you are going to the range, relaxing on the boat, or heading to a call out, this bag is the perfect size for those on the move. It comes standard with full 500D construction and premium hardware. 

Available in manatee, black, manatee/kryptek and rust/khaki.

For more information check out: www.first-spear.com/sherpa-bundle.

2022 IWA Outdoor Classics

Friday, March 4th, 2022

The Nürnberg Messe hasn’t hosted an IWA Outdoor Classics since 2019. It’s nice to catch up with old friends and make new acquaintances but unfortunately many companies and attendees didn’t make it this year.

Halls which in previous years had been packed with stands and visitors alike sat partially empty like you see here, while others still were outright closed.

Companies which are exhibiting have some new stuff which I’ll share over the next few days.

Despite lower attendance to this civilian oriented show, business looks to be booming, at least for the brands in the soldier systems sector. I am hearing reports that PPE is in high demand due to the conflict in Ukraine. Apparently, there are no helmets, armor/carriers, and tourniquets to be had in Europe right now.

Barksdale AFB First to Implement Upgrade to Nuclear Enterprise ‘In More Than 30 Years’

Friday, March 4th, 2022

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) —  

Air Force Global Strike Command is modernizing older infrastructure by implementing the largest upgrade to its Nuclear Command, Control and Communication systems in more than 30 years. 

In January, Barksdale Air Force Base became the first of two AFGSC bases to receive and implement the Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal — a new, innovative NC3 system that provides assured, survivable, fixed and transportable communications to wing command posts, munitions support squadrons and mobile support teams. Global ASNT provides the nuclear enterprise a new two-way reliable, redundant and robust communication path capable of connecting forces anytime, anywhere — allowing AFGSC greater agility and lethality than ever before. 

“This system streamlines our NC3 capabilities and allows our team to deliver winning combat power,” said Senior Master Sgt. Katrina Strother, 2nd Bomb Wing Command Post senior enlisted leader. “It virtually provides commanders a standardized ‘command post in a box,’ replacing a single use system with a multi-use communication package that can talk on a multitude of networks and provides a modular design for future upgrades as opposed to costly replacements. Additionally, Global ASNT is survivable in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosives; and High-altitude Electromagnetic Pulse environments — allowing operators the ability to work through a conflict without fail.” 

Upgrading NC3 

NC3 refers to an integrated weapons system comprised of facilities, equipment, communications, procedures and personnel. Ultimately, NC3 is what the National Military Command System uses to exercise and conduct continuous, survivable and secure Nuclear Command and Control. 

Given the demands of a new era of command and control technology and processes, Global ASNT provides a new wave of capabilities to meet those modern demands head on. 

“Global ASNT is a transformational new system that replaces Cold War era communications equipment with the intent of enhancing the warfighters capability as we transition to the command post of the future,” said Capt. Tony Scott, AFGSC Command Post NC3 ground requirements manager. 

The acquisition of Global ASNT brings to bear years of research, planning and development. 

“This acquisition is comparable to rolling out the new KC-46 or B-21 Raider,” said Chief Master Sgt. O’Shea Rhodes, AFGSC Command and Control Operations functional manager. “Similar to the KC-46 or B-21, this new weapons system increases force lethality and nuclear command and control capabilities. The idea is that all these acquisitions are designed to be interoperable—an important feat given the demands of today’s strategic environment.” 

The new system, with acquisition costs in development and procurement ranging nearly $1.3 billion, will roll out across active duty, Guard and Reserve units in phased increments. The first phase consists of development, upgrading and installation; and the second phase consists of implementation. Specifically, the system implementation includes terminal replacement and providing communications for aircrew alert. 

Total costs also factor in an estimated $82 million in enterprise-wide facility preparations, to include facility power modifications and upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning units. However, Global ASNT transcends beyond the AFGSC mission and is forecasted for installation at 43 locations, across seven commands, in seven countries, on three continents, to include four major commands and the U.S. Space Force. 

The introduction of Global ASNT is a high priority for the NC3 community. Directly getting after Department of Defense priorities with the aim of building a more lethal force and modernizing and recapitalizing NC3, the new terminal will equip forces with the needed tools to address future challenges in an era of strategic competition. 

“This is a huge victory for the Department of the Air Force and AFGSC as we continue to modernize key NC3 systems critical to the successful management of the nuclear force at the tactical level,” Scott said. 

By Keefer Patterson

2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DroneShield – Teledyne FLIR Collaboration and First Marquee Customer

Thursday, March 3rd, 2022

DroneShield Limited (ASX:DRO) (“DroneShield” or the “Company”), a global leader in artificial intelligence solutions for advanced unmanned threats, and Teledyne FLIR, a world leader in intelligent sensing solutions for defense and industrial applications, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, have announced a collaboration to offer a joint sensing and mitigation solution for unmanned aerial threats.

As part of the collaboration, Teledyne FLIR is extending its counter-UAS thermal imaging sensing technology to the DroneShield platform, which has developed and applied its powerful AI and machine learning software algorithms via radiofrequency (RF) sensing and computer vision technologies. The addition of Teledyne FLIR thermal camera hardware and expertise will enable military customers to improve detection, including identifying and tracking numerous unmanned threats in the thermal and RF spectrums at considerable range, providing a unique and ground-breaking capability offered within a single system.

The combined sensor offering has secured an initial marquee customer, a major Western military agency, which will be deploying the combined system at one of the best-known military testing ranges in the world. 


Image: DroneShield DroneSentry-C2 command-and-control system with Teledyne FLIR thermal imaging sensing technology

Oleg Vornik, DroneShield CEO, commented, “With the ability to detect, identify, and track threats in the thermal and RF spectrums via powerful artificial intelligence algorithms, DroneShield and Teledyne FLIR offer a unique and differentiated capability, poised to augment a substantial number of multi-sensor C-UAS systems globally. We are thrilled to enter this collaboration. We are already working together on multiple tier-one global opportunities, including having jointly secured the initial marquee DoD customer for our combined offering, which incorporates our radiofrequency sensors and DroneSentry-C2 command-and-control system. The joint system’s capability, plus the combination of Teledyne FLIR and DroneShield channels to market, strongly positions the combined system for a meaningful-scale rollout with Five Eyes partners and approved allies globally.”

“The unmatched Teledyne FLIR thermal imaging hardware and analytics for counter UAS, along with DroneShield’s RF sensors and unique AI software algorithms, provide a differentiated and substantial value-add to allied defence departments,” said Kai Moncino, Director of Global Business Development – Solutions, Teledyne FLIR. “Teledyne FLIR is thrilled to work closely with DroneShield to secure our first marquee proof-of-concept DoD customer at the iconic deployment location, and we look forward to expanding on our collaboration with DroneShield globally.”


Image: Teledyne FLIR thermal image sensor at a DroneShield facility

Further Information
Oleg Vornik
CEO and Managing Director 

Email: oleg.vornik@droneshield.com

Tulster’s New Holster Is Changing People’s Minds About OWB Carry

Thursday, March 3rd, 2022

The Tulster Contour has just been expanding to include both right and left handed orientations, and people love it.

Jenks, OK – Tulster recently introduced an innovative new holster. With it, they showed many skeptical people that OWB, or Outside-the-Waistband carry does not have to mean “Open Carry”. The Tulster Contour, made this clear with it’s ultra-concealable, incredibly comfortable design. One customer said “I thought an OWB setup would print much more than an IWB setup, but I was wrong! Printing (or lack thereof) is very minimal.”

This ultra-concealability was achieved with “molded-in” asymmetrical wings of the Contour’s kydex shell that angle the firearm’s grip towards the body, eliminating visible print. It functions similarly to a wing or claw, but requires none of the extra clunky hardware or hassle of installation. Multiple reviews call out how the Contour is “comfortable and conceals the gun snug against the body.”

Quickly after launch, Tulster rolled out each model of the Contour to include left handed variants, making this their third holster series to be available for left and right handed shooters. All future models released for the Contour will launch in both orientations.

Tulster’s flagship product for many years was an Inside-the-Waistband holster, the Profile Holster. The focus being simplicity and maintaining the profile of the firearm, the Profile has remained the go-to choice for many seeking a simple and comfortable IWB solution. Quickly, it became evident that many people who wish to carry concealed have been unable to find any IWB solutions that work for them. Sometimes this is merely due to personal preference, but for some, their body type or certain disabilities may prevent them from comfortably carrying inside their pantline. Hence, the Contour, with the concealability of Inside-the-Waistband with the added comfort of an Outside-the-Waistband holster, making the Contour the perfect fit for those who have been searching for the perfect concealed carry solution.

There are more innovations aside from the level of concealment that can be achieved with an OWB holster. The Contour also features the innovative R.A.S., or, Retention Adjustment Slot. Unlike other adjustable retention holsters that need to be occasionally re-tightened, the Contour’s R.A.S. delivers peace of mind, and maximum security with a clever and incredibly effective system. With the R.A.S, the retention tag can be vertically adjusted and fully tightened to allow for on-the-fly retention adjustment while offering a rock-solid fit. Like all other Tulster holsters, it features a trigger-guard based retention system with the same positive click.

Some of the other features of the Contour are present in all other Tulster holsters, like the raised sight channel for aftermarket sights, and an open ended muzzle for threaded barrels to pass-through. It is Optic-Ready, just like Tulster’s previous IWB offering, the OATH. The Contour features custom, ultra-secure stainless steel hardware, patched, self locking screws, and belt loops that can be easily adjusted to customize your cant and ride height. The belt loops that the Contour arrives with will fit any belt from 1.5 inches to 2 inches.

The Contour is unobtrusive, easy to access, and provides the most comfortable and concealable OWB carry experience on the market. It is currently available for 12 firearm models, such as incredibly popular microcompacts like the Glock 43X MOS, the Sig Sauer P365 and P365XL, the Springfield Hellcat, and the Shield Plus. Since it is OWB, it also accommodates some larger firearms, like the Glock 19, Glock 17, the M&P 2.0 4/4.25”, and the P320 X-Full.

The Contour launched in black and black carbon fiber, as well as a new, highly requested color offering for Tulster, Black Multicam. Black Multicam has also been rolled out for their other IWB Holster, the OATH. For those who wish to carry a matching magazine carrier, Tulster has rolled out the Black Multicam color for all of their innovative universal carriers, the Echo series.