Presented by the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation and Clarion Events, SOF Week is being held 8-11 May at the Tampa Bay Convention Center.
Pre-registration opens today. Registration information is here.
See the full agenda here.
Archive for March, 2023
SOF Week Registration Opens Today
Tuesday, March 14th, 2023Swiss Army Awards Contracts to Six Companies for New Cold Weather Clothing
Tuesday, March 14th, 2023According to a release late last month, the Swiss Procurement Agency (Bundesamt für Rüstung armasuisse) has awarded contracts to six companies to provide new cold and wet weather combat clothing for around 44 million Suisse francs.
The new producers of kit for the Army combat clothing and equipment (Kampfbekleidung und Ausrüstung der Armee or MBAS) program include two Swiss, one Austrian, one German, one Polish and one Indian company. They are: Workfashion.com AG and Cross Fashion Ltd. from Switzerland, Goldeck Textil GmbH from Austria, Ziegler Textil AG from Germany, Unifeq Sp. Z.o.o. from Poland and Qualiance Pvt. Ltd. from India.
All six companies were also checked in advance for the social sustainability of production, such as working conditions and safety standards.
The program began in 2018 with plans to begin fielding later this year. The MBAS project includes the procurement of new combat clothing and carrying systems in a new camouflage pattern as well as a hydration system and ballistic body protection in two versions.
Contracts for headgear have already been awarded to French and a Polish company. The combat uniform portion of the program is still in source selection. A total of 348 million Suisse francs have been budgeted for MBAS.
IVAS’ Production and Fielding Remain on Track
Tuesday, March 14th, 2023Over the past year, the Army tested, evaluated and refined the Integrated Visual Augmentation System’s (IVAS) capabilities in a manner that will result in improved systems being incrementally fielded to Soldiers over the next several years – IVAS 1.0, IVAS 1.1 and IVAS 1.2 variants.
Last June, IVAS completed its Operational Test, during which Soldiers trained on IVAS 1.0 systems in company-level missions and live-fire exercises. The Army determined that IVAS demonstrated several transformational capabilities, but three areas prevented the systems from achieving Soldier acceptance: reliability, low-light sensor performance and form factor.
The Army and its industry partner, Microsoft, used the lessons learned from testing to address concerns and adjust its fielding plan. To specifically address reliability, in November 2022 Microsoft and the Army incorporated a new software release into IVAS 1.0 resulting in a more stable and reliable user experience. Software improvement is a continuous effort that will transcend all current and future versions of IVAS.
IVAS 1.0 systems will be fielded to training and doctrine units next year to support the Army’s Campaign of Learning, an ongoing process that gathers and incorporates user feedback from user studies, user assessments, Soldier Touch Points and operational demonstrations to improve IVAS’ performance.
IVAS 1.1 upgrades reliability and features an improved low-light sensor that performs comparable to the PVS-14 night vision goggles. These systems will be delivered and fielded in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.
The Army awarded an IVAS 1.2 technology insertion effort to Microsoft in December 2022, with the anticipation of moving to production in late FY2024 and fielding to operational units beginning as early as 4Q FY2025. The majority of the close combat force will receive IVAS 1.2; this version features an improved form factor in addition to reliability and low-light sensor upgrades, as well as a lower profile heads-up display (HUD) with distributed counterweight for improved user interface and comfort.
In recent exercises the Army has shown a number of different ways IVAS can be used on the battlefield, ranging from ingesting video and data from small Unmanned Aerial Systems to integrating with ground and air platform sensors to provide Soldiers the ability to see what the platform drivers, commanders and pilots see before dismounting into a hazardous situation.
The Army remains fully committed to IVAS. Despite some revisions to the fielding timeline, the developmental process for IVAS will result in fielding several years ahead of standard acquisition programs.
By PEO Soldier PAO
Nature Is Metal Announces Partnership With Eco Defense Group
Monday, March 13th, 2023
Keep Nature Metal. In a more familiar state, the hashtag I’ve added to the bottom of every upload for as long as I can remember. It means exactly what it says: Keep nature metal, in other words, leave wildlife alone to do that thing they do. It’s a nice sentiment, something to print on a coffee cup to show you care, but hashtags don’t really do anything if there’s no action behind them.
Well, that all changes today.
POACHING IS THE PROBLEM, EDG IS THE SOLUTION
I am very pleased to announce that our commitment to keeping nature metal is stronger than ever before. We have officially partnered with the ECO DEFENSE GROUP, and starting today, we have also pledged to cut them a check for 10% of everything we sell in our store. If you don’t know what EDG does or why they exist, keep reading.
There is a war going on, it’s a war that doesn’t get much press in comparison but it rages every day. The planet loses an estimated 1000 rhinos, 35000 elephants and 100,000 pangolins every year, along with countless others. The illegal animal trade affects 7000 different species of animal annually and shows no signs of slowing down. These animals are on their own against an enemy with superior technology, fueled by an insatiable greed.
THIS IS WHERE EDG STEPS IN
Founded in 2017, South Africa’s ECO Defense Group is a 100% donor supported band of brothers that trains anti-poaching rangers to be the very last line of defence for these targeted species. Their ground team is made up of former US and UK Special Missions Unit experts who operate quietly in the national parks and reserves where our videos are generated, offering specialised training that would otherwise be unattainable without their help. Air/sea training, Fast Roping, Low Light, Intel Fusion-Ops and K9 programs are just a few of the areas where EDG lends their vast amount of expertise.
Without an organisation like Eco Defense Group, and without the unheralded dedication of the Rangers they support, there would be little standing in the way of these well-funded and brazen poaching syndicates, who are quite literally pillaging the natural world of its riches. Nature is Metal is committed to supporting EDG in their plight to protect these vulnerable species and help tip the scales towards the good guys for a change.
Visit the EDG website for more information about their work.
As posted in the Nature Is Metal Blog.
Introducing the ACE Atelier by GiantMouse Knives
Monday, March 13th, 2023East Lansing, Michigan, March 9, 2023 – Today, GiantMouse is excited to introduce the latest addition to our ACE Line of knives – The Atelier. Crafted with the same attention to detail and quality materials as all our knives, the ACE Atelier is a testament to our commitment to excellence. With its stylish design and exceptional craftsmanship, the ACE Atelier is sure to become a favorite among knife enthusiasts and collectors alike, and we can’t wait for you to experience its beauty and performance for yourself.
The Atelier is a design that many of our customers have been asking for; a “mini” version of the ACE Grand. Although the Atelier is influenced by the Grand, we didn’t just shrink the Grand into a “mini” version. To do it right, we redesigned the model to be a culmination of classic design with modern innovations, providing you with a tool that is truly perfect for your everyday cutting needs.
You may know that an Atelier is a workshop or studio, typically used by artists and designers to create their masterpieces. And that’s exactly what we’ve done with the ACE Atelier – crafted a stunning knife that’s sure to impress. What makes this knife extra special is its namesake. What you probably don’t know, is that the “Atelier” is an amazing art-deco inspired bar, located inside of the Grand Hotel for which the ACE Grand was named, and is a favorite watering hole of the GiantMouse Team when staying in Nuremberg, Germany.
Available in both Titanium and Green Canvas Micarta scales, the Atelier sports a Satin-finished Elmax steel blade.
The blade length is 2.875” (73.03mm), measured from tip to forward-most aspect of the frame, and 0.127” (3.24mm) thick. The handle is 4” (101.6mm) long, giving the knife an overall length of 6.81” (173mm). The Titanium weighs in at 4.2oz (120g) and the Green Canvas weighs in at 3.3oz (95g).
For pricing and full specifications on each variant, visit www.giantmouse.com
Brownells Donates $22,222 to National and State Gun Rights Organizations
Monday, March 13th, 2023
GRINNELL, Iowa (March 9, 2023) — Brownells donated $22,222 to three different gun rights organizations as part of the second annual 2A Day celebration held on February 22, 2023.
The organizations receiving a $22,222 check are the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America and the Iowa Firearms Coalition.
“As an advocate for the Second Amendment, Brownells takes great pride in supporting the fundamental right of individuals to own firearms,” said Brownells CEO Pete Brownell. “We believe responsible gun ownership is essential to safeguard the liberties and freedoms of all Americans. That’s why we are honored to contribute $22,222 to the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America and the Iowa Firearms Coalition.”
Recently, the Second Amendment Foundation has been involved in lawsuits against the ATF’s attempts to regulate items that are not firearms as if they were firearms, New York’s attempt to largely ban concealed carry, and bans on semiautomatic firearms in Illinois.
Gun Owners of America filed suit over the ATF’s attempt to ban pistol braces as well as against anti-gun laws in New York and Oregon.
The Iowa Firearms Coalition helped Iowa amend its state constitution with a guarantee of the right to keep and bear arms and is supporting a state bill that would allow gun owners to keep their carry firearms in their cars when parked at locations that ban carry inside.
To learn more about how Brownells advocates for the 2nd Amendment and encourages customers to live a 2A lifestyle visit the Trigger Times page at Brownells.com.
Banner Advertising Added To Make Ready TV
Monday, March 13th, 2023
Columbia, SC, March 13, 2023 – Panteao Productions announces the launch of banner advertising on the Make Ready TV website. Now companies can put their brand in front of the Make Ready TV audience on the homepage of our website. Banners point to your website or your specific landing page. Packages include three, six, and twelve months. To start running your banner on Make Ready TV, visit: panteao.com/payment-for-advertisement
Along with the banner advertising, companies already have the option of running their promotional videos and commercials across all the Make Ready TV platforms. The videos are placed in a dedicated page where all Make Ready TV viewers can watch the videos. That includes watching them on the Make Ready TV website, mobile apps on Apple and Android devices, and on television via Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.
Panteao Productions also offers video production services for companies needing commercials, product profile videos, tutorials, and any other video needed to promote your products.
For information about advertising on Make Ready TV or having your own video content created by Panteao Productions, visit www.panteaomarketing.com for more information.
Tracer Tactical – Viper Adapter Kit for HSP SAW Pouch
Monday, March 13th, 2023
Tracer Tactical has introduced the Viper Adapter Kit for the Haley Strategic Partners GP SAW Pouch now available which silences the closure and adds compression.
