Ghost Robotics will be exhibiting their Vision 60 Quadraped Unmanned Ground Vehicles in the Raven Advisory booth #1453 during this week’s SOF Week at the Tampa Convention Center, May 6-8.
Archive for May, 2025
Learn About Ghost Robotics During SOF Week
Monday, May 5th, 2025Adventure Tactical Announces IR Sensor Upgrade for Its VIP Light and Trilobyte Beacon Products at SOF Week 2025
Monday, May 5th, 2025Adventure Tactical, the defence arm of Adventure Lights Inc, is a premier manufacturer of durable safety and signalling beacons for use where positive visual ID is vital, in the most extreme of environments. Adventure Tactical has announced an upgrade to their IR sensor for the next generation of VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products which significantly increases the range of detection and early warning for their users. This announcement coincides with SOF Week 2025, where you can find out more about this and their wide range of complementary products, by visiting their booth (Level 3, Booth #255) at the Tampa Convention Centre, from the 6th-8th May 2025.
Adventure Tactical has been designing and manufacturing highly durable, easy to use and often bespoke safety lights and signalling beacons for the US military, NATO, global security forces and extreme adventurers for over 30 years. Renowned for their excellent quality and robust multi-use designs, and packed with innovative technologies such as Mockingbird®, AutoSync™ and self-healing mesh networks for S.M.A.R.T. Beacons®, they are the provider of choice for special forces, regular combat troops and homeland security teams, globally. Adventure Tactical has strategic partnerships in place with Galvion and Robotics Centre. With customer needs and end user requirements at the heart of their ethos, Adventure Tactical identified a need for users to have increased protection from a wider array of Laser Range Finder and IR detection devices that have become far more prevalent, when facing an asymmetric threat.
Adventure Tactical has been leading the way in integrating Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and early warning detection systems into their light and beacon products for over 15 years. Their products have been proven operationally with US, European, Scandinavian and Middle East customers and are in use with 24 NATO countries. The IR sensor upgrade announced today, combined with other technologies, ensures that the next generation of VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products offer the widest possible range of early warning and detection capabilities. This upgrade helps to protect those operating in the most extreme of environments by increasing their survivability, enhancing command and control and delivering real-time situational awareness.
Tim Ford, Founder and President of Adventure Tactical said: “Our mission is to deliver an extreme product for extreme situations and central to our ethos is to meet our customers’ unique demands.
This IR sensor upgrade is a perfect example of that ethos in action. Front line troops identified an emerging risk when facing an asymmetric enemy threat that we have responded to by delivering an increased range of detection capability to enhance the users early warning and ability to respond.
This enhancement, combined with all our existing innovative technologies and design quality, ensures we offer a cost-effective but superior product compared to alternatives. We are very excited to announce this significant upgrade to our long-standing VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products at SOF Week, and we will be incorporating this enhanced capability into our other products as soon as possible.” Tim added, “Our products are designed and manufactured in Canada, Europe and the US. Therefore, we are able to offer export license and tariff free access to our full range of products.”
Gentex Corporation Launches the Next Generation Ops-Core FAST SF Helmet System: Setting a New Standard in Lightweight Ballistic Performance
Monday, May 5th, 2025
CARBONDALE, PA, May 5, 2025 – Gentex Corporation announced at SOF Week in Tampa, FL the public release of its next-generation Ops-Core® FAST® SF Helmet System. A global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel, Gentex first introduced the FAST SF helmet in 2017, setting the standard for lightweight, comfort, stability, and protection. Adopted as the USSOCOM FTHS helmet system, it quickly became the choice of top-tier customers worldwide. This latest version establishes a new benchmark for lightweight ballistic protection, delivering exceptional performance and enhanced comfort for the most elite SOF and LE forces.
The new FAST SF Helmet System incorporates majoradvancements through three innovative sub-systems:
• Lighter System Weight: This system achieves the same ballistic performance as the legacy FAST SF helmet systemwhile reducing system weight by 10-15% (depending on size). The new ballistic shell boasts a thinner, lighter design for enhanced wearability. The reduced weight has users questioning the need for a separate bump helmet.
• Universal LockDownTM Liner System: A universal suspension solution backward compatible with all FAST Helmet Systems that enhances comfort, airflow, and stability for heavy VAS and NVG setups. Featuring LockDown Fit Shims and a Cable Occ-Dial® with a conformal nape pad, this liner ensures a secure, customizable fit for any head shape, eliminating interference with communications headbands and delivering unmatched performance in the most demanding conditions.
• Versatile Head-Loc® Flex Retention System: Featuring a convertible chin cup design, the Head-Loc Flex retention system can be worn over or under the chin, offering unprecedented user flexibility. Optimized buckles and sliders improve usability and eliminate the need for mask extenders in most cases. The patented Ops-Core Head-Loc sliders continue to offer market leading one handed adjustment.
“These advancements represent a significant step forward in functionality and comfort for the end user,” said Peter Harbeck, SOF Segment Director at Gentex Corporation. “The FAST SF Helmet System delivers the protection our customers expect while addressing critical needs for weight reduction, fit, and adaptability. With its new liner system, the helmet provides a tailored, secure fit that conforms to the user’s head shape, enhancing stability and long-term wearability in demanding environments.”
Designed with the end-user at its core, the next-generation FAST SF Helmet System represents a significant step forward in headborne protection. This lighter, more comfortable, and ultimately more effective solution underscores Gentex’s ongoing commitment to providing cutting-edge protection for those that demand the absolute best. With the new FAST SF Helmet System, Gentex builds on its position as the exclusive provider of USSOCOM’s FTHS helmet system, delivering unmatchedperformance, uncompromising protection, and a proven track record that elite forces rely on when failure is not an option.
To learn more about the next-generation FAST SF Helmet System, visit shop.gentexcorp.com/introducing-the-fast-sf-next-generation-headborne-system
Victory First Assumes Daily Operations of Ares Gear, Expanding Capabilities in Premium Tactical Equipment
Monday, May 5th, 2025
Fredericksburg, Virginia – May 5, 2025 – Victory First, a leader in firearms training, consulting, and product development, is proud to announce that it has officially agreed to assume all day-to-day operations of Ares Gear, the Ohio-based soft goods manufacturer renowned for its flagship product, the Aegis belt. The transfer of operations is set to begin June 1, 2025.
Ares Gear has long been a respected name in the tactical gear industry, known for producing rugged, high-quality belts and accessories tailored for military, law enforcement, and civilian use. The Aegis belt, in particular, has become a trusted staple in the everyday carry and tactical communities for its innovative design, durability, and functionality.
With this transition, Victory First will oversee all aspects of Ares Gear’s operations, including production, logistics, customer service, and product development. The partnership will allow
Ares Gear to maintain its commitment to craftsmanship and reliability, while leveraging Victory First’s industry expertise, expanded infrastructure, and proven leadership in product innovation.
“We’re excited to bring the Ares Gear brand under the Victory First umbrella,” said Matt Jacques, founder of Victory First. “I have known Jake and used Ares Gear products for years.
Our goal is to not only maintain the legacy and quality Ares Gear customers expect, but to enhance operations and product offerings as we move forward.”
“After nearly twenty years in this field, I can count on one hand the number of people I know who I would trust to carry Ares Gear forward with the same emphasis on quality products and the same level of service that we’ve been able to provide our customers,” said Jake Sebens, owner of Ares Gear. “I’m glad to be working even more closely with Victory First and Matt Jacques; there’s not a doubt in my mind that it’s the best choice for our customers and for our future.”
Current and future customers can expect uninterrupted service, with the same high standards of quality and customer support that Ares Gear is known for. Victory First plans to expand on Ares Gear’s product lines and explore new design innovations while continuing to support and grow the existing catalog.
For more information, visit www.victory-first.com and www.aresgear.com
Valid Eval Powers xTech Competition at Special Operations Forces Week
Monday, May 5th, 2025Valid Eval is powering the evaluation process for the U.S. Army xTechLive: a live pitch competition at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week designed to bring non-traditional innovators into the defense ecosystem powered by Valid Eval’s evaluation and feedback technology. Eligible small and mid-sized businesses will pitch sensing-focused technologies on-site at SOF Week, where the Army will make on-the-spot decisions and award up to $100,000 in cash prizes over two days.
Registration begins at 10:30 am ET on May 6, 2025. The competition is May 6-7, 2025, and winners will be announced on May 7, 2025.
Registration will take place onsite at the U.S. Army xTech Program booth, number 5024, in the JW Marriott H.B Plant Foyer.
xtech.army.mil/competition/xtechlive-at-sof-week
GA-ASI Statement on USAF CCA Program Updates
Monday, May 5th, 2025SAN DIEGO – 01 May 2025 – The CCA program represents a groundbreaking new era in combat aviation, and we remain on schedule to test and fly YFQ-42 in the coming months. Over the past three decades, GA-ASI has pioneered more than two dozen different unmanned aircraft types for the U.S. and its allies, including multiple unmanned combat jets flying today, and logged nearly 9 million total flight hours. Our work on YFQ-42 will further expand the field of unmanned aviation, and we remain excited for the future.
We congratulate the Beale AFB community on its selection to support this new era of air dominance, and we look forward to partnering with you as the program progresses. To that end, I’m pleased to announce that GA-ASI will give the Beale community a sneak peek later this summer, with an exhibition of our full-scale YFQ-42 model on display at the Beale Air and Space Expo beginning June 7.
David R. Alexander
President
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
EOTECH Partners with ForumPay to offer Cryptocurrency Payments on Website
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
Plymouth, MI (May 2025) – In an effort to enhance the shopping experience with its customers, EOTECH has partnered with ForumPay, a leader in cryptocurrency payment solutions for both online and PoS systems, to seamlessly accept crypto payments on its ecommerce site.
“With the number of crypto consumers expected to reach one billion by the end of 2025, crypto payment acceptance is fast becoming an essential requirement for ecommerce retailers across the globe,” said ForumPay CEO, Josh Tate. “We are excited to be working with EOTECH to provide our next generation payment solution to its customers and further enhance their buying experience.”
Advantages EOTECH customers will recognize are reduced transactional costs compared to typical credit cards, as well as secure, private, and transparent transactions. EOTECH benefits by tapping into a new demographic of consumers who prefer using cryptocurrencies for their purchases, as well as improving the overall purchasing experience of its customers.
“Our goal here is to remove any barriers that customers may have in purchasing our products,” said Jacob Wolfrum, Digital & E-Commerce Manager for EOTECH. “ForumPay offers simple APIs and plugins that easily integrated into our platform providing a simple process, useful dashboard and great customer service. This was a simple decision that mutually benefits our customers and business.”
The crypto purchasing option is live on the EOTECH website now and can be selected at checkout.
For more information, please visit www.eotechinc.com
New from SPARTANAT Books: New Book Reveals the Incredible World of Service Dogs on the Front Lines
Sunday, May 4th, 2025From Tracking Criminals to Rescuing Disaster Victims – Meet the Heroes on Four Legs
Service dogs are more than companions — they are lifesaving heroes on the front lines of the world’s most dangerous and demanding missions. From locating missing persons, to apprehending criminals, detecting narcotics, uncovering contraband at airports, and even supporting soldiers in combat zones, these extraordinary canines work side by side with their human partners under the most challenging conditions imaginable.
In K9 – Dogs for Service, author Karl-Heinz Klöppner pulls back the curtain on the elite world of service dogs in military, police, customs, and rescue operations. Drawing on over 40 years of hands-on experience, the book offers a rare, in-depth look at how K9s are selected, trained, and cared for, and how they are mentally and physically prepared to face intense, high-stakes environments.
Packed with real-world insights, expert training techniques, and behind-the-scenes knowledge, K9 – Dogs for Service is a must-read for dog lovers, professionals in the field, and anyone fascinated by the incredible bond between humans and their canine counterparts.
Discover what it takes to turn an ordinary dog into an extraordinary hero.
“K9 – Dogs for Service” is available now on Amazon.com for $19.99, plus taxes and shipping.
Meet the Expert Behind the Training: Karl-Heinz Klöppner
With a career spanning several decades, Karl-Heinz Klöppner is one of the most respected figures in the world of service dog training. He has collaborated with dozens of government agencies and trained hundreds of dogs for high-stakes operations — from tracking fugitives to saving lives in disaster zones. A best-selling author of professional K9 training manuals, Klöppner now distills his lifetime of knowledge into this accessible, action-packed edition.
His latest book, K9 – Dogs for Service, goes far beyond the mechanics of training. In this book, Klöppner shines a light on the powerful, often unspoken bond between handler and K9 — a relationship built on trust, instinct, and mutual respect. It’s not just about building elite service dogs — it’s about forging unbreakable partnerships between extraordinary animals and the humans who rely on them.
Other books from SPARTANAT:
