FirstSpear TV

Archive for May, 2022

Lynq PRO Is a Rapidly Deployable Peer-To-Peer Network from OTTO Communications That Brings Enhanced Situational Awareness, Navigation, and Communications to the Edge

Thursday, May 12th, 2022

Visit OTTO for a Lynq PRO™ Demonstration: SOFIC Booth 2128


Capable of functioning stand-alone as a next-gen battlefield tracking solution, Lynq PRO™ augments ATAK EUDs with secure LPI/LPD transmissions and the ability to establish a common operating picture in multidomain operations. Personnel and unmanned systems can infiltrate contested environments against near-peer adversaries without detection and locate active or incapacitated teammates.

Need to meet a demand on the fly? Lynq PRO™ Deployment Kits help users create mission profiles to match the requirement. Using the included Raspbery Pi, operators can pair devices in groups, naming devices and groups separately, and deploy mission data en mass. Further, operators can issue secure keys on demand for unbreakable encryption.

Lynq PRO™ Deployment Kits support a multitude of use cases, including remote advise and assist, where operators issue Lynq PRO™ to local forces with selective features enabled — allowing operators to track, navigate, and communicate with locals, while their position remains unknown to the local forces. This provides security and strategic advantage — as well as unprecedented communication, tactics, and performance with local forces.

Operators can also track equipment, like motorcycles and other assets involved in jumps where bundles need their own parachute. Operators can use Lynq PRO™ to find their landed assets in the field by navigating to those devices — i.e., Bravo Six can navigate to “Bravo Six Bike” from within the Lynq PRO™ menu natively, no need to even use an ATAK EUD.

In comms denied or comms dark operations, where other comms are too noisy or unavailable, Lynq PRO’s 1W radio provides extended comms range for persistent positioning, navigation, and timing. Operators can maintain contact with each other via Lynq PRO’s self-forming network over broad areas, allowing for communication and navigation, without the need for ATAK, radio, or GPS.

This makes Lynq PRO™ perfect for remote advise and assist: Operators can issue Lynq PRO™ to local forces with selective features enabled, allowing operators to track, navigate, and communicate with locals, while our operators position remains unknown to the local forces. This provides security and strategic advantage – as well as unprecedented communication, tactics, and performance with local forces.

While deployed, Operators can push new waypoints and objectives to local forces on demand, without the need to regroup or communicate via radio. After issuing new waypoint information and instructions, Operators can monitor the movement of local forces via Lynq PRO™ or a connected ATAK EUD, ensuring locals are performing and increasing coordination and mission success probability.

Training exercises realize significant benefits with the addition of Lynq PRO™ for:

  • Personnel tracking
    • Command can monitor the movement of trainees in the field, without the need for additional radio, GPS, or ATAK devices.
  • Man down
    • An injured trainee in the field, without a radio or cell phone, can use Lynq PRO™’s built-in messaging to alert command to their injury. Command can use the persistent navigation and location of Lynq PRO™ to locate and render aid to trainee.
  • Man unresponsive
    • A non-mobile, non-communicating trainee is a potentially an injured and unresponsive trainee. Lynq PRO™ maintains a persistent messaging channel and location marker for all units. Command can use the messaging feature to attempt communication with the trainee to determine cause of stationary behavior. If unresponsive, command can use the persistent navigation and location of Lynq PRO™ to locate and render aid.
  • Performance evaluation
    • In landnav exercises, command can issue Lynq PRO™ to trainees with trainee navigation feature disabled. This allows command to track trainee performance, while denying the navigational abilities of Lynq PRO™ to the trainee. Command’s ability to communicate and navigate to the trainee remains intact for locating and rendering aid if necessary.

Lynq PRO™ provides hardware redundancy as a single-hardware unit doing the work of what has traditionally been three or more devices: radio, GPS, ATAK EUD. Lynq PRO™ augments these capabilities by extending an ATAK network to individuals that don’t necessarily need a radio or EUD, but can benefit the fighting force with location tracking, navigation, and messaging. These data points and abilities provided by Lynq PRO™ create an enhanced battlefield IQ for fighting forces, without the need and expense of deploying triple the equipment at a massive cost.

Perfect for joint- and multi-agency operations, Lynq PRO helps overcome comms incompatibilities when combining resources from state, local, and federal agencies  – as even neighboring cities and counties often have diverse comms infrastructure. Lynq PRO™ succeeds where others fail bringing messaging features, as well as providing location awareness and navigational capabilities – allowing a diverse group of agencies to be more connected and communicative than ever before, with minimal investment and training.

Lynq PRO™ works outside the military environment, allowing the benefits of persistent position, navigation, and timing to aid in wildland firefighting and search and rescue (SAR) operations. Using these abilities, firefighters and SAR teams can coordinate efforts, assist in man-down and rescue operations, and maintain a constant perspective on personnel position in the field.

Plus, Lynq PRO™ is designed for the future and is firmware upgradeable. As features develop, new capabilities are deployed via firmware update to enhance the capabilities of Lynq PRO™ for your teams. Overall, changing the way teams connect and share secure peer-to-peer location, data, and critical information for miles without networks or infrastructure, Lynq PRO™ is a force multiplier.

Lynq PRO™ Deployment Kits are available now from OTTO Communications. Visit OTTO at SOFIC Booth 2128, or contact OTTO today for more information or a Lynq PRO™ demonstration via www.otto-comm.com or 847-428-7171.

SITKA Arrowhead, 3-Piece Wet Weather Protective System

Thursday, May 12th, 2022

Showcasing at SOFIC 2022 – Booth #1823

Design DNA

SITKA Gear’s purpose-built and engineered approach to design has in the past attracted the SOF community to its Wet Weather Protective solutions, notably the Cloudburst and Dewpoint systems.

SITKA Arrowhead combines proven STIKA Gear engineered designs, with Gore-Tex fabric solutions, to create a Wet Weather Protective (WWP) 3-piece system that can be relied upon to withstand and perform in the harshest environments.

WWP Jacket – MDW

WWP Pant – MDW

WWP Half Bib Pant – MDW

Principle Materials

GORE® GTX 3L 40d Nylon Ripstop with DWR (Durable Waterproof Repellency) is a durable, waterproof and breathable materials solution created for adverse and extreme wet weather conditions. This unique laminate solution keeps the end-user dry and comfortable, thus enabling them to perform effectively during a mission cycle. GORE-TEX fabrics are engineered to meet the highest level of protection, comfort, and durability.

YKK® USA AquaGuard® Water Repellent Zippers have a polyurethane film coating that helps shed water from the zipper opening.  A DWR treatment to the polyester tape side increases the surface tension and adds an extra level of protection to prevent water leaking through.  These no-fail zippers are strong, have a smooth operation and can be relied upon to withstand the harsh environments that our WWP products are designed for.

Trelleborg HANK™ 10oz is a flexible and extremely light weight High Abrasion Neoprene Kevlar (HANK), that belies the fabrics exceptional durability and waterproofness.  Always focused on best-in-class materials to meet SITKA Arrowhead purpose-built design principles, the WWP Pant and Half Bib Pant MDW include reinforced insteps made with HANK™.  

Sourcing & Construction

SITKA Arrowhead is focused on sourcing and developing best-in-class materials, to notably include Berry Compliant fabrics and trims for our WWP products.

SITKA Arrowhead is also committed to investing and up-levelling domestic manufacturing by developing new levels of competency, capability, and competitiveness that result in the production of premium technical apparel solutions for the Global SOF consumer.

SITKA Arrowhead will be at SOFIC (Booth #1823), attendees will have the opportunity to view the current product line – specifically developed for the SOF end-user – to notably include Berry Compliant best-in-class Wet Weather Protective (WWP) technical apparel solutions.

Find your nearest ARROWHEAD dealer here.

SIG SAUER Donates MCX-SPEAR Package to Task Force Dagger SOFIC Auction

Thursday, May 12th, 2022

NEWINGTON, N.H., (May 12, 2022) – SIG SAUER is pleased to support Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation with an exclusive SIG MCX-SPEAR package for the Task Force Dagger SOF Auction and Raffle occurring in conjunction with the upcoming SOFIC (Special Operations Forces International Conference) show.  Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation is a veteran-operated non-profit that aids wounded, ill, or injured US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) members and their families. This exclusive package includes a SIG MCX-SPEAR Rifle in a 6.5 Creedmoor caliber, a TANGO6T riflescope, and a SIG SLX Suppressor. The auction opened on Monday, May 9th and will close on Tuesday, May 17th at 8:00pm.

“It is an honor for SIG SAUER to support the mission and programs of Task Force Dagger year after year in support of the Special Operations Community. This year with the excitement of our selection as the provider of the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons Program (NGSW) and the SOFIC show we are hopeful that our donation of this MCX-SPEAR package will help to increase the success and reach of the Task Force Dagger Foundation programs within the SOF community,” said Jason St. John, Director, Government Products. “The MCX-SPEAR and the SLX Suppressor are the same platform and suppressor as the NGSW rifle. For this auction, the rifle is offered in the soon-to-be-released 6.5 Creedmoor caliber and paired with the popular TANGO6T riflescope currently in use in various set-ups throughout the military. With the excitement and demand of the MCX-SPEAR in the commercial market we are hopeful that this will inspire the bidding to benefit the organization.”

The SIG MCX-SPEAR rifle is an adaptable multi-caliber rifle featuring rear and side non-reciprocating charging handles, 6-position folding stock, ambidextrous fire control, bolt-catch, and mag release, 2-stage match trigger, 2-position adjustable gas piston, a lightened free-float M-LOK™ handguard, a full-length picatinny rail, and ships with (1) 20-round magazine.  

The SIG SAUER SLX Series of suppressors are designed to drastically reduce toxic fume inhalation by the end-user and sound reduction.  The SLX suppressors feature a monolithic core construction in Inconel, an internal multi-flow path to exhaust gases at a higher rate resulting in lower toxic fume inhalation, a sound-reducing baffle design, a flash reducing end cap, and are available with either the new Clutch-Lock QD mounting system for easy install and removal that offers an intuitive tactile locking ring with infinite radial locking positions or direct thread.

The SIG SAUER Electro-Optics TANGO6T optic is currently in use as the Direct View Optic (DVO), Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDMR) and the USSOCOM Squad-Variable Powered Scope (S-VPS).  The SIG SAUER TANGO6T 1-6x24MM riflescope is available in first and second plane, and varying reticles including 5.56/7.62 Horseshoe Dot, HELLFIRE MOA Milling, HELLFIRE FL-6 and the new DWLR6.

The complete details of the SIG SAUER MCX-SPEAR package to benefit the Task Force Dagger SOF Auction are available on the auction website and bidding is open through Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 8:00pm.

Army Futures Command Incorporates International Partners into Annual Demonstration

Thursday, May 12th, 2022

DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah – Army Futures Command’s Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team kicked off its annual Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event, or EDGE, on May 2 to assess new tactics, technologies and interconnecting architectures with more than 16 inter-service organizations and seven international partners.

EDGE 2022 includes progressive efforts connecting Joint All-Domain Command and Control to the lower tier of the air domain by extending the reach and lethality of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Ecosystem to accelerate combined kill chains in all-domain operations. This year seven international partners; to include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and United Kingdom; are participating, some with network and weapons systems. This inclusion advances efforts to ensure integration and interoperability among allied nations.

“The EDGE experimentation is a powerful step in our transformation towards a data-centric Army,” said Lt. Gen. James Richardson, Acting Commanding General of Army Futures Command. “The effort continues our campaign of learning by focusing in on our aviation assets ability to network and utilize data as ammunition.”

EDGE22 objectives include:

Interoperability: Improve ability for allies and partners to coherently, effectively and efficiently act together to achieve tactical, operational and strategic objectives. Achieved across multiple dimensions: technical, procedural, human and information.

Network: Advance data-centric solutions and enable the speed, range and convergence to achieve decision dominance and overmatch.

Interactive Drone Swarm: Technology demonstration within Future Unmanned Aircraft System signature effort. Alters battlefield geometry providing tailored capability for threat overmatch through advanced teaming.

Multi-INT Sensors: Pursue tailorable payloads to include electronic sense, decoy and attack. Advance AI enabled aided target recognition to improve threat detect and identification.

Enhanced Sustainment: Increase systems’ reliability, availability and maintainability. Critical in contested and expeditionary logistic environments.

“We’re doing a couple really big things at EDGE22,” said Maj. Gen. Walter “Wally” Rugen, Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team director. “Pulling in our international allies is an important piece, and the interactive drone swarm, testing how that needs to be fought, seeing how that concept develops and what needs to go into our doctrine. The swarm is tailored to generate overmatch, this concept of outpacing the enemy in a battlefield geometry that breaks them.”

Bottom line, he said, is that our teams are working to innovate and to “execute violently to get after innovation.” The goal is to keep pushing the envelope, working these complex problems hard and taking the risk if it’s going to bring us better knowledge.

EDGE22 is part of AFC’s Project Convergence Campaign of Learning and builds on lessons learned from previous experimentations at our nation’s Western Test Ranges, including EDGE21 at Dugway Proving Ground and Project Convergence 21 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.

By Lisa Ferguson, AFC Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team

Pre-Order the Urban EDC LC

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

Trevor Burger’s first ever production knife, the Urban EDC Light Compact (LC) features a M390 blade with a classic drop point shape and Titanium frame lock topped off with Ti or Micarta handles. The action incorporates both washers and ceramic pivot.

• Overall Length: 6.6in

• Width: 1.125″

• Thickness: 0.45

• Blade Length: 2.8″

• Black Thickness: 3.25mm

• Weight: 2.8oz: Full Ti, Micarta Inlay Ti, 2.3oz: Green Micarta

Pricing:

$289 for Full Titanium

$289 for Green Micarta w/ Black Micarta Inlay

$299 for Titanium w/ Black Micarta Inlay

Available now for pre-order at urbanedcsupply.com.

MDM 22 – ESSTAC 40 Deg Single Mag Pouch with Magnet

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

The 40 Deg Single Mag Pouch with Magnet was designed for competition shooting but may come in handy for duty use as well. As you can see, it configures your magazine at 40 degrees keeping it firmly in place until you need it but the magnet does not retain the mag in the pouch. That’s due to their Kydex Wedge Insert. They also have a 70 degree option.

Sure, you can slap your empty magazines on the magnet but you might it find it more practical for other items.

Also available without a magnet.

MDM 22 – GM Defense

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

GM Defense had a very impressive display which included a non-defense vehicle which may pique your interest of the art of the possible.

Based on the Chevrolet Silverado truck, this Chevy Off-Road Concept Vehicle is an example their ability to design a fully integrated solution leveraging a GM commercial derivative with the ability to scale to any level of production.

The vehicle offers off-road capabilities, control and performance rooted in a production-based foundation and off-the-shelf performance enhancements.

It offers increased payload capacity and capability to hold lightweight armor when compared to the recently adopted Infantry Squad Vehicle which is not armored.

The frame was shortened and a custom-designed, 4130 chromoly tubular safety structure was integrated while the modified chassis was wrapped with a custom, lightweight body.

It is powered by a Chevrolet Performance LT4 crate engine, a 6.2L supercharged V-8 that’s rated at 650 hp. It’s backed by a 10L90 10-speed automatic transmission that sends torque to a two-speed transfer case and distributes it to 37-inch-tall off-road tires mounted on 20-inch beadlock wheels. The vehicle also includes the Chevrolet Performance Big Brake Upgrade System.

MDM 22 – Tomahawk Robotics RAID Plate

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

The RAID Plate is one of the most exciting Mrs pieces of gear I saw at Modern Day Marine.

Designed and manufactured by Tomahawk Robotics, for the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) it is a body-worn edge processing capability with multiple Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. Nvidia based CPU/GPU capabilities leverage best in class commercial technology for offline processing.

It combines everything into a single End-User Device, Controller, and control app for all robotic platforms significantly reduces cognitive burden of operating multiple UXVs. For new operators, this also decreases operator training time for Unmanned Systems to approximately 3-5 days. 

Built with an open Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA), it is scalable and allows for the plug and play of various modules including up to four tactical radios or other controllers for unmanned systems, EW, and so on.

The system lightens the load by over 25 pounds when compared to the legacy equipment required to offer the same capability. It also consolidates that load into a more streamlined, body worn system with fewer cables and redundant batteries. Worn at rear of the body, RAID Plate also doesn’t compete for prime load carriage real estate. A PALs adapter panel can also be configured over the rear of the RAID Plate. It’s approximately 10″ wide and 13″ tall and just under 2″ thick.

It comes with the modules, required antennas, edge computing capabilities, the Grip universal common controller, Kinesis common control software, as well as Nett Warrior compliant power supply via standard GSA tactical radio batteries. The Kinesis common control software mentioned already works with 11 established UxV and growing and is maintained at no additional cost to the Government.

The Marine Corps is currently evaluating RAID Plate to determine where and how it is used to the greatest effect. If you’ve read Gunner Larose’s recent article on how the Marine Corps is making the Marine Infantry more lethal you can envision right where the RAID Plate capability will fit in.