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Archive for September, 2022

You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up

Sunday, September 25th, 2022

Here, we get a peek into a reader’s “treasure chest.”

Safariland Announces First of Several New In-Waistband Holster Models

Saturday, September 24th, 2022

Jacksonville, Florida – Safariland®, a brand of The Safariland Group®, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets and one of Cadre Holdings, Inc.’s (NYSE: CDRE) (“Cadre”) key brands has announced exciting and much-anticipated news for the concealed carry market. Following the company’s success with retention-rated duty holsters, Safariland is expanding its everyday carry line. Schema™—a new inside the waistband (IWB) holster—is the first of several new models coming in the next few months.

Schema is an optics-ready minimalist holster designed for subcompact firearms. As the namesake implies, the skeletonized outline of the holster frame has a smaller footprint than traditional IWB offerings to optimize concealability. This new model offers superior functionality with a reinforced mouth, allowing for seamless firearm holstering while the holster is worn. The firearm-specific design creates an exacting fit, which is further secured by Schema’s passive trigger guard retention.

“Safariland is thoughtfully expanding on our concealment line to offer consumers unparalleled quality and innovation they’ve come to expect from the brand,” said Eric Gasvoda, VP/GM of Duty Gear for Safariland. “Schema is the beginning of the revitalization of our EDC holster line, and I can’t wait to get it into the hands of our customers.”

Schema and the company’s new EDC line centers solely around responsible concealed carry. New models will incorporate passive retention, up-to-date fits and EDC versatility never before available in Safariland’s lineup. 

Schema is currently available for the Sig Sauer P365, P365XL, Taurus G2C and G3C, Glock 43 and Glock 43X and Springfield Armory Hellcat. For more information on Schema and the inspiration behind its design visit Safariland.com.

What Makes a Good Tactical Flashlight?

Saturday, September 24th, 2022

“Tactical” is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days, used for everything from pens to bacon. In this context though, we mean a light that’s designed specifically for use in high-stress situations and demanding environments, both with and without a firearm.

First and foremost, it needs to produce enough light. There’s a great deal of debate about what constitutes “enough” light, but we can comfortably say a tactical light needs to output at least 300 lumens on its highest setting.

Next, we want to consider the secondary attributes of the beam. The most common metric for this is candela. While lumens measure the total amount of light a flashlight creates, candela measures how much of that light is focused in a single direction. A higher candela means a more focused beam with higher intensity. A light with very high lumens but very low candela is basically going to be a lantern rather than a spotlight.

Candela often gets simplified into “flood” and “throw.” Flood describes a flashlight’s ability to light up a wide area, while throw speaks to how well it can illuminate objects far away.

In a good handheld tactical flashlight, we want a combination of the two. Good flood is important, because you may not know exactly where the suspected threat is, but you also want your light to be able to illuminate objects and figures from a good distance.

After a good beam, we want to look at the control scheme. A tactical flashlight needs to be usable with a pistol, so one-handed operation is important. A push-button tail switch is usually best.

Most firearm/flashlight techniques are designed around flashlights with tail switches, so low-light training will be easier if you’re starting with a tail switch light. There are a few exceptions, though, so a switch located somewhere on the body is not necessarily a deal-breaker if it’s well designed.

Regardless of the activation system, a tactical flashlight must be capable of going straight to high output with a single button press. There’s no time for cycling through modes when you’re trying to decide if a shadow in the darkness is a threat or not.

Other tactical features like crenelated bezels or shielded switches are nice to have, but largely unnecessary. A crenelated bezel can improve the flashlight’s performance as an impact weapon or glass breaker, but that’s not the primary purpose of a tactical flashlight.

Shielded switches, especially tail switches, are convenient in that they make the flashlight less likely to activate unintentionally. Shielded tail caps can make a light easier to balance pointed straight up, which is nice if you need room-wide light for an extended period, such as during a power outage. But again, that’s not the primary purpose of a tactical light, so we file that under convenient rather than necessary.

With all that in mind, let’s look at a few of the most popular tactical lights on the market.

Streamlight ProTac 2L-X

The Streamlight ProTac 2L-X won’t break the bank, but it’s a great example of all the features we look for in a tactical flashlight. It has a full aluminum body and can put out up to 500 lumens with 6,800 max candela. That’s a fairly low candela number for a tactical flashlight, so the ProTac 2L-X is going to have a lot of flood, perfect for an urban or suburban environment. If you want to be able to use your tactical flashlight to light up pastures, though, you may want to opt for one with more throw.

The switch is programmable with several different modes but comes from the factory in a high/strobe/low configuration.

This is good for tactical use, as it allows you to get straight to high output, but users would be wise to practice with it a bit. It’s easy to mash the button too hard and get constant-on when you wanted momentary, especially when you’re swimming in adrenaline.

It’s a multi-fuel light, so you can use your choice of disposable CR123A batteries or a rechargeable 18650. The bezel is lightly crenelated—enough to protect the light and make it effective as an impact weapon or maybe even as a glass breaker, but so much as to chew through your pocket. The tail switch is shielded to help discourage accidental discharge, but not quite enough to allow it to tail stand effectively.

At over five inches long, it’s what we would consider “full-size” for this kind of flashlight: anything larger wouldn’t really fit in a standard pocket and would be more at home on a belt. As such, it’s small enough for everyday carry, but most users are going to notice the extra weight and bulk in their pocket.

SureFire EDCL1-T

For a more pocket-friendly light, we recommend looking at the SureFire EDCL1-T.

The EDCL1-T offers many of the same features of full-size tactical lights, just in a smaller package. It outputs 500 lumens at high and an unobtrusive 5 lumens on its low setting. At 7,600 candela, it’s mostly focused on flood rather than throw, but with 500 lumens it will still reach out far enough for most applications.

It’s also got low-profile crenelation around the bezel but doesn’t feature any significant tail switch shrouding and won’t be able to stand upright on its tail. Not that this is a big deal; it’s a purpose-driven tactical light.

This is most evident in its switch design, which is very well thought-out. A light press activates the low setting, outputting 5 lumens, while a hard press gives you the full 500. This is perfect for high-stress use; just mash the button and see what’s out there. Both options are momentary, so there’s no chance of accidentally hitting constant-on.

Constant-on with this light is achieved by activating the desired mode and then twisting the bezel.

Sadly, the EDCL1-T is not compatible with rechargeable 18350 batteries; it runs on a single CR123A, with no dual-fuel function.

Modlite Systems PLHv2

The Modlite PLHv2 is the most powerful light on our list, kicking out a whopping 1350 lumens: no low mode, no high mode. The beam is potent as well, packing 54,000 candela.

The Modlite is deceptively simple in design; it looks basic, with no crenelations around the head or tail. The tail switch is fully shrouded though, recessed into the body of the light to prevent accidental activation. This full recess also allows the light to stand on the tail cap. The clicky tail switch works similarly to many of the others, offering momentary activation with a light press or constant-on with a full press.

To achieve its prodigious output level, the PLHv2 runs exclusively on 18650 or 18350 rechargeable batteries, depending on the body size you choose. It does not accept CR123A batteries at all; in fact, Modlite states that CR123 lithium batteries can explode if used in Modlite flashlights. Modlite does, however, offer a bundle with the handheld light and an appropriate 18650/18350 battery and charger, so you have nothing to worry about.

Lastly, because of Modlite’s design, popularity, and range of models, their flashlights enjoy a wider range of aftermarket accessories than most on this list. Heads, switches, pocket clips, retention rings; if they make it for a handheld flashlight, they make it for a Modlite. This gives Modlite a much higher range of available customization than the other lights.

The (Tactical) Light at the End of the Tunnel

There you have it: three tactical flashlights for your consideration, from budget to bespoke. Each has its own pros and cons and serves a particular use case. Like handguns, pocket knives, and most other tools, some will serve your individual needs better than others, but the most important thing is to have one on you when you need it.

Whether it’s telling if that thing rummaging through your garbage is a rabid raccoon or the neighbor’s cat, or identifying a figure lurking in an alleyway, a tactical flashlight gives you options a weapon light simply can’t.

Project Convergence 2022 to Demonstrate Futuristic Joint, Multinational Warfighting Technologies

Saturday, September 24th, 2022

AUSTIN, Texas — Several thousand U.S., U.K. and Australian service members, researchers and industry partners will experiment with and assess new technologies at U.S. military installations across the Western U.S. between September and November as part of Project Convergence 2022.

The expansive effort is the newest endeavor of the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence, a flagship modernization learning, experimentation and demonstration campaign. The Army led its first large-scale Project Convergence experiment in 2020, and has continued to grow the scope, scale and complexity of the event annually.

“Project Convergence 2022 is an all-service experiment that includes Special Operations Forces, and our U.K. and Australian partners. Using existing and emerging technologies from space to land and sea, PC22 will experiment with capabilities that protect against air and missile threats as well as those that will allow us to defeat anti-access defenses,” said Lt. Gen. Scott McKean, director of Project Convergence 2022. McKean explained Project Convergence 2022 incorporates service experimentation and learning, like the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System and the Navy’s Project Overmatch, to inform Joint All-Domain Command and Control development. Logistics capabilities will also play a central role in PC22.

Project Convergence 2022 will evaluate approximately 300 technologies, including long-range fires, unmanned aerial systems, autonomous fighting vehicles and next-generation sensors, and focus on advancing Joint and Multinational interoperability in future operational environments.

The event will also encompass the inaugural PC22 Technology Gateway, an industry engagement opportunity hosted by U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command that will kick off experimentation by assessing novel solutions available from the commercial sector.

“Having Tech Gateway as part of the Project Convergence series gives us the opportunity to assess new technologies against operational concepts and see what’s in the realm of the possible; what could be. Such experimentation informs possible future Army requirements, provides valuable feedback and increases the speed of learning as we strive for breakthrough technologies of the future,” said Lt. Gen. Thomas H. Todd III, deputy commanding general for Acquisition & Systems and the chief innovation officer at U.S. Army Futures Command.

The Joint Force and Multinational partners will utilize key learning and experimentation outcomes from Project Convergence 2022 to hone new military technologies, many of which offer state-of-the-art problem solving and network integration capabilities for the future fight.

By Army Futures Command

Point Blank Enterprises and Dyneema are the Proven Choice for Law Enforcement Body Armor

Friday, September 23rd, 2022

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Sept. 23, 2022 — Point Blank Enterprises (“Point Blank”), the worldwide leader in the production of soft body armor and related protective solutions, will be demonstrating its newest innovations in tactical armor systems, carrier designs and hard-armor products at the 2022 National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) Tactical Operations Conference. Point Blank will display its range of innovative offerings at booth (#301) during the expo, which runs from Sept. 25-26 at the Wisconsin Convention Center, Milwaukee.

In 2013, Point Blank introduced the first ballistic systems designed with Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology called Alpha Elite®. This revolutionary ballistic technology was engineered to defeat high-velocity handgun rounds and fragmentation with minimal backface-deformation and superior multi-hit protection. During independent testing, the Alpha Elite ballistic package exceeded all performance requirements.

Since its launch, Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology has been adopted rapidly in armor applications due to its unmatched light weight and high ballistic performance. Using Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™ as a base, fibers are layered in a crisscross pattern at 0 and 90 degrees to create unidirectional material that provides even and rapid distribution of energy. The Dyneema® Force Multiplier technology platform enables protective solutions such as vests, shields, rifle threat plates, and helmets that offer unparalleled performance, weight reduction and comfort due to breakthrough polymer science, next-generation fiber technology and unique unidirectional engineering. These advantages enhance the abilities of law enforcement and armed services personnel to perform demanding job requirements with the confidence that only comes from the unmatched ballistic stopping power of Dyneema®.          

Over the past 8 years, nearly 700,000 Alpha Elite systems have been provided to American law enforcement. “The Alpha Elite ballistic system is clearly the number one choice in America, and we are honored to protect the protectors as we experience what is certain to be one of the dangerous times in law enforcement history,” advised Michael Foreman EVP, Point Blank Enterprises.

Thousands of officers from law enforcement tactical units worldwide, many of them the largest and most prestigious in the world, rely on the Alpha Elite ballistic systems. These include the New York Police Department (NY), Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (CA), Chicago Police Department (IL), Orlando Police Department (FL), Orange County Sheriff’s Office (FL), Washington DC Metro (DC), Baltimore City Police (MD), Virginia State Police (VA) and several other prominent agencies.

NTOA attendees are invited to view the latest capabilities at the Point Blank booth (#301) including the new Paraclete “Origin” elite tactical platform with Alpha Elite ballistic system. All attendees will also have an opportunity to meet representatives from both Point Blank and Dyneema®, as they sponsor the Welcome Reception, held on Monday evening (6:30PM) on September 26th at the Harley Davidson Museum.

United States Army Awards AeroVironment $20.6 Million Switchblade 300 Tactical Missile Systems Contract

Friday, September 23rd, 2022

• Combat-proven Switchblade with patented wave-off and recommit capability provides operators with increased lethality, reach and precision strike capabilities with minimal collateral effects


Designed for use in engaging beyond-line-of-sight targets with lethal effects, Switchblade 300 is deployed via tube-launch from land, sea, mobile or air organic platforms. (Image: AeroVironment, Inc.)

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 22, 2022 –AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced it received a $20,602,464 firm-fixed-price contract award on Aug. 18, 2022 from the U.S. Army Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) project office for the procurement of Switchblade® 300 tactical missile systems (TMS). The contract will be managed by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal and is scheduled to be delivered by July 2023.

“Deployed by the U.S. Army for more than a decade, Switchblade 300 remains a critical force protection and soldier lethality solution for our customers, including Ukraine,” said Brett Hush, AeroVironment vice president and product line general manager for TMS. “It closes the gap between observation and action, giving soldiers the ability to identify threats and engage hostile beyond-line-of-sight targets from a greater distance with minimal collateral damage.”

AeroVironment’s combat-proven Switchblade 300 is back-packable and rapidly deployable from ground platforms, including a multipack launcher, providing warfighters with rapid-response force protection and precision strike capabilities up to six miles (10 kilometers) from its launch location.

ZeroTech Optics Announces the Vengeance 5-25×56 FFP RMG

Friday, September 23rd, 2022

Affordable high magnification precision riflescopes have sparked new demand as ZeroTech Optics announces the Vengeance 5-25×56 FFP RMG to the precision shooting line of riflescopes

ZeroTech Optics is pleased to introduce our newest addition to the Vengeance family, the FFP precision rifle powerhouse 5-25x56mm riflescope!

Designed with PRS and long range enthusiasts in mind, ZeroTech Optics engineered the Vengeance 5-25x56mm riflescope to meet the demands, practicality and budget of the fastest growing shooting sport in recent times.

Each feature of the Vengeance is specifically designed to meet and exceed the expectations of a PRS and long range shooter, providing the shooter the ability to put rounds on target with speed, and most importantly, precision,

The FFP RMG reticle is unique to ZeroTech, designed in-house to meet the demands of the long-range precision and PRS shooters alike. Whether holding elevation and windage for high speed, precision shots or dialing your turrets for long range targets, the RMG reticle is the perfect blend of precision and speed.

• RMG FFP reticle

• 34mm one piece maintube

• Enhanced internal elevation travel (28 MRAD)

• Removable throw lever included

• Zero Stop

• Glass etched reticle

• Weathershield lens coating

• Available in MRAD only

• 5-25 magnification power

• 56mm objective lens

www.zerotechoptics.com

New Vehicle Autonomy System, Indigo Drive, to Revolutionise the Defence Industry

Friday, September 23rd, 2022

• Indigo Drive enables personnel to be removed from highly dangerous scenarios

• Existing vehicles to become driverless quickly and cost-effectively

• One system from a single supplier to provide everything needed to autonomise an entire fleet

Bradford on Avon, UK, 20th September 2022. Leading vehicle automation provider, ABD Solutions, has launched Indigo Drive, a software eco-system that enables any defence vehicle to be quickly and cost-effectively automated.

Indigo Drive can significantly improve the safety of personnel by removing the requirement for drivers in dangerous situations, such as IED route clearance and logistics supply. Research shows that 52% of casualties in combat zones can be attributed to logistics and personnel delivering core supplies and that nearly 50% of US soldiers killed in operation between 2010 and 2020 were caused by IEDs.

“Our solution is unique in that it is vehicle-agnostic and retrofittable, this enables any existing land vehicle to be automated,” said Matthew Price, Managing Director of ABD Solutions. “This allows more personnel to be removed from dangerous situations, significantly increasing safety. On top of this, instead of driving, personnel can focus on much more valuable operational activities, allowing soldiers to be soldiers.”

Secure and certified, as a comprehensive system, Indigo Drive contains everything needed to create driverless fleets. From a user-friendly software interface for route-planning to the technology needed to create movement (such as drive-by-wire and driving robots), to communication (Radio, V2X, GPS/GNSS), obstacle detection (LiDAR, camera, radar) and vehicle health and diagnostics (OBD2, telemetry, sensors), what’s included can be tailored around the specific vehicles and environments.

The modular architecture allows for easy integration with systems already in use, such as fleet management software, meaning creating driverless fleets can be faster and smoother than ever before.

As well as increasing safety, automation reduces emissions and fuel consumption, which has a direct impact on the number of supply operations required. It also provides tactical advantages, such as running in the dark without the use of lights.

Price adds, “We work with our customers to provide tailored solutions for their environment by assessing the level and type of automation required enabling fleet transformation without investment in new vehicles, maximising the return on existing high-value assets.”

The hardware used to provide automation requires only minor modifications to the vehicle and is semi-permanent, allowing it to be moved from one vehicle to another should requirements change or if the vehicle needs maintenance. The equipment is non-intrusive to allow a driver to take control while it is fitted, significantly increasing the vehicle’s operational flexibility.

In a defence environment where tasks are often repetitive, the entire fleet can be synchronised to maximise productivity and efficiency. Task planning software ensures that all the vehicles take the most efficient route, reducing fuel consumption and the time to complete the operation. Vehicles that have the ability to detect obstructions can communicate them to the fleet management system to prevent others from encountering the same issue. Once the obstruction has been flagged the vehicle management system can generate an alternative route or a human can remote into the vehicle to immediately assess the situation.

A critical indirect benefit of vehicle autonomy is the digitisation of information from the vehicle. It creates new data streams that are invaluable to fleet operators. The vehicle’s speed, location, fuel level, diagnostic status, distance to target etc can all be relayed via the vehicle management toolset. Data analytics can automatically process this information to assist with operational decisions, fleet maintenance scheduling and logistics planning.

ABD Solutions used Indigo Drive to create the world’s first automated Wolfhound Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV). It was created in collaboration with NP Aerospace, an engineering authority for the UK MOD protected mobility fleet. The vehicle was demonstrated earlier this year at a defence technology innovation day held at the HORIBA-MIRA proving ground in the UK.

With sales and technical support offices across three continents, ABD Solutions is a global operation. It is a member of the AB Dynamics Group and benefits from its knowledge of developing and supplying thousands of driving robots to the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, proving grounds and regulatory authorities. The Group has decades of experience in vehicle autonomy and simulation.

“The AB Dynamics Group has been automating vehicles in one way or another for development and test purposes for decades,” continues Price. “Now, through ABD Solutions and the development of Indigo Drive, the defence industry can take advantage of this expertise to automate their existing fleets today.”

ABD Solutions will be showcasing Indigo Drive at DVD2022, one of Europe’s leading defence exhibitions, at UTAC Millbrook, UK, on September 21st – 22nd (Stand C3-413).

www.abdsolutions.com