Primary Arms

Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category

GALLS Strengthens Commitment to Military and Defense with Strategic Acquisition of LVI

Monday, February 26th, 2024

GALLS®’s recent acquisition of LVI expands its service capabilities into Third Party Logistics (3PL) services with contracts with DLA for U.S. Army OCIE and A3PL, as well as US Navy NECC Rapid Fielding Operation.

Lexington, Ken. (February 2024) – GALLS®, the nation’s leading supplier serving America’s public safety and military professionals, proudly announces the completion of a major acquisition of LVI. LVI, a Galls Company, is a multi-faceted Third Party Logistics (3PL) Partner with over 28 years of experience supporting the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Army, Navy, USMC, and Air Force with clothing and textile functions, military logistics, and supply chain solutions to ensure mission-critical combat readiness. The acquisition marks a significant stride for GALLS as it seeks to expand its foothold in the military and defense sector.

Mike Fadden, CEO of GALLS, explained, “The recent acquisition of LVI aligns seamlessly with our strategic objectives, bolstering our commitment to the men and women in uniform. It provides GALLS with unique opportunities to enter DLA contracts and solidifies our relationships with key branches of the military, including the U.S. Army and Navy.”

GALLS recognizes the value of LVI’s expertise in 3PL military logistics services, enabling the company to broaden its service capabilities. This expansion will enhance GALLS’ ability to offer end-to-end supply chain solutions, further solidifying its position as a comprehensive provider in the public safety and military markets.

GALLS continues its tradition of excellence in serving public safety and military professionals, building on a legacy that dates to 1983. This acquisition follows previous strategic moves, such as the acquisition of Patriot Outfitters in 2017 and U.S. Patriot in 2022, making the combined company the largest distributor in the U.S. Military individual community.

Visit the website for more information at www.galls.com.

Rheinmetall at Enforce Tac 2024 – New Products for Armed Forces and Law Enforcement

Wednesday, February 21st, 2024

The year’s Enforce Tac security tradeshow runs from 26 to 28 February in Nurem-berg. A powerful partner of the armed forces and law enforcement, Rheinmetall AG will once again be on hand at this special show. For users, procurement officials and specialist visitors alike, the Düsseldorf-based technology group has several innovative new products in store as well as additional elements from its tactical portfolio, including items from its Vehicle Systems, Weapon and Ammunition, and Electronic Solutions divisions. New products include:

Ballistic body armour – for the first time, Rheinmetall will be introducing itself at Enforce Tac 2024 as a complete supplier of ballistic body armour solutions. A new VPAM7-class ballistic vest, a protective high-visibility vest developed for traffic stops, and a modular ballistic vest for SWAT-Teams will be on display at the Group’s stand.

Laser/ laser light modules – the LLM-PTAL laser light module for pistols and the MTAL Venom laser module for assault rifles are both celebrating their premiere at this year’s Enforce Tac.

Personal position marker and warning device – the Functional Protection System Beacon (FPS-Beacon) enables visible, non-visible and thermal position marking and warns in dangerous situations and when detected by lasers.
Soldier System Gladius Light – a variant of the Gladius 2.0 soldier system configured for special operations forces. 

Rapid Obscuring System ROSY – the tried-and-tested rapid obscuring system ROSY protects land, air and sea vehicles even when on the move with a spontaneous smoke screen. At Enforce Tac 2024, the ROSY_L variant can be seen on the Fieldranger weapon station of the Survivor R protected special vehicle and on the Caracal airborne vehicle.

Other Rheinmetall highlights at this year’s Enforce Tac include:

Caracal – developed in cooperation with Mercedes-Benz and ACS Armoured Car Systems, Rheinmetall now offers a fast, versatile, powerful and compact 4×4 family of vehicles for airmobile and special forces units. 


Survivor R – highly mobile, superbly protected and versatile, the Survivor R is a special emergency response vehicle for security forces. Based on a 4×4 MAN chassis, it was developed in cooperation with Achleitner, a maker of special vehicles. Germany’s Federal Police and the public order units of several German states have already chosen this state-of-the-art special purpose vehicle.

Squad Support Weapon SSW40 – the world’s first automatic, magazine-fed, shoulder-fired 40mm grenade launcher. In terms of weight, dimensions and handling, the SSW40 closely approximates an assault rifle.


Tactical pyrotechnics – Rheinmetall offers a wide variety of tactical pyrotechnical products, including the 9-Bang stun grenade and the square-shaped Spectac, both of which feature bottom top venting for maximum handling safety. 

Paramir – light and compact, this versatile signalling rocket includes different coloured flares, infrared, smoke and NBC signal variants. It attains an altitude of around 100 metres, with an illumination time of approximately 15 seconds. 
You are cordially invited to visit us at Stand 7-755 at Enforce Tac 2024, where we look forward to familiarizing you with our vehicles, command & control and tactical law enforcement resources. 

Rheinmetall – a powerful partner of the security services 
For many years, Rheinmetall has been a powerful partner of the security forces of Germany and countries around the globe. Among other items, its Public Security product portfolio includes components for ballistic protection equipment, special tactical options for law enforcement operations, optics and optronics for round-the-clock observation and surveillance, systems for detecting and countering drones as well as protected emergency response vehicles. 

Joint Venture with Ukrainian Partner: Rheinmetall to Produce Artillery Ammunition in Ukraine

Monday, February 19th, 2024

Rheinmetall, Europe’s largest ammunition maker, plans to open a new plant in Ukraine. Rheinmetall and a Ukrainian partner company have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint venture which in future will produce ammunition in Ukraine. The MoU was signed in the presence of Alexander Kamyshin, the Ukrainian Minister for Strategic Industries, during the Munich Security Conference.

The “Ukrainian Competence Center for Ammunition” is to produce a six-digit number of 155mm calibre bullets per year in the future, including the corresponding propelling charges. To achieve this, the partners plan to build and jointly operate a new production facility. Rheinmetall will have a 51 percent stake in the new company, with the remaining 49 percent share held by the Ukrainian partner.

Just the other day, on 12 February, Chancellor Scholz took part in the ground-breaking ceremony for a new plant at Unterlüß in Lower Saxony which, along with explosives and rocket artillery components, will also produce artillery ammunition starting in 2025.

“Demand for ammunition in many countries is enormous – first and foremost in Ukraine, of course. Our intention of establishing another joint venture underscores our support for Ukraine. This joint venture will make a vital contribution to the country’s ability to defend itself – and thus to the security of all Europe”, declares Armin Papperger, chairman of the executive board of Rheinmetall AG.

As Mr Papperger puts it, “We want to be an effective partner of Ukraine, to help rebuild the country’s once powerful defence industry, and to assure Ukrainian autonomy in ammunition production. Already today, we are Kyiv’s most important defence industry partner. We are currently processing several billion euros worth of projects on behalf of Ukraine, with more almost daily.”

Rheinmetall is not only the world’s largest producer of artillery ammunition and a defence technology leader. It also has the expertise needed to plan, build and operate facilities for producing ammunition.

In October 2023 Rheinmetall AG and Ukraine’s state-owned enterprise Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC (UDI, the former Ukroboronprom) established a first joint venture in Kyiv – Rheinmetall Ukrainian Defense Industry LLC. In a first step, the company will maintain and repair combat vehicles; later, armored vehicles will also be built in Ukraine.

Shoring Up National Security Preparedness: Rheinmetall to Build New Ammunition Plant

Friday, February 16th, 2024

German Chancellor and Prime Minister of Denmark Take Part in Ground-breaking Ceremony
Rheinmetall is taking an important strategic step to bolster Germany’s national security preparedness. The Düsseldorf-based tech enterprise is building a new factory at its Unterlüß site in the Lüneburg Heath in Lower Saxony, further enhancing the country’s self-reliance in ammunition production. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, and German defence minister Boris Pistorius joined Rheinmetall AG executive board chairman Armin Papperger for the official ground-breaking ceremony of “Werk Niedersachsen”, the Group’s new ammunition factory. Numerous other prominent personalities from the world of politics, administration, the armed forces and industry were present as well.

In future, Werk Niedersachsen will produce artillery ammunition, explosives and rocket artillery components. The factory will eventually manufacture some 200,000 artillery shells a year, along with up to 1,900 tonnes of RDX explosive and, optionally, other components for producing ammunition charges. In addition, production of rocket engines and possibly warheads could take place here, which will be necessary for the planned German rocket artillery project, for example.

“To secure Germany’s strategic sovereignty in the large-calibre ammunition domain, we’re creating a national production facility that sets new standards and will primarily meet the needs of the German Bundeswehr”, declares Armin Papperger, going on to note that “with Werk Niedersachsen, we’re establishing another European centre for producing artillery ammunition and other effectors at our historic Unterlüß site. The move reflects our sense of responsibility and resolve to contribute materially to the ability of our country and our NATO partners to defend itself.”

This company-financed project represents investment volume in the €300 million range. Rheinmetall is therefore shouldering the entire cost of constructing the factory, with no government involvement. The factory will also mean around 500 new jobs in Unterlüß.

Rheinmetall’s new factory will make it possible to meet the Bundeswehr’s own needs through domestic production and – especially in a crisis – to assure unrestricted transfers to partner nations. Previous dependency on export permits issued by other countries will thus be eliminated, giving Germany full sovereignty in this national security-relevant domain. In the process, Rheinmetall will create a complete value-added chain for artillery ammunition in Unterlüß, enabling it to offer the ‘full shot’ from a single source, including the shell, fuse, explosive charge and propelling charge.

Werk Niedersachsen will operate largely autonomously, with all the work steps necessary for producing artillery shells carried out on location. In building this plant, Rheinmetall is pursuing a modular, scalable concept for assuring a secure supply of ammunition, one with the potential for additional growth.

The top priority for the new factory is the earliest possible start of production. Following a construction period of around twelve months – proceeding from the date of the contract – annual capacity will be 50,000 shells a year. Germany’s initial share of value added will come to 50 percent, gradually increasing in the second year of production to 80 percent and to 100 percent in the third. By this point, Germany will have a fully autarkic supply of artillery ammunition, with value added generated entirely at home.

In terms of volume, annual capacity will reach 100,000 shells in the second year of production, later rising to 200,000 a year.

Background
Artillery is a vital capability of land warfare. The war in Ukraine shows how immense the need for ammunition is. The Bundeswehr’s depots are empty; replenishing its stocks will cost an estimated €40 billion. Enormous consumption of ammunition in Ukraine is exacerbating current shortages. The western world’s available production capacity is not structured to meet demand on this scale. Like other countries, Germany therefore plans to procure large amounts of ammunition over an extended period.

Rheinmetall is a leading defence contractor and one of the world’s largest producers of ammunition.  In recent months, the Group has already been investing substantially in its production network. By 2025, Rheinmetall aims to produce up to 700,000 rounds of artillery ammunition at its plants in Germany, Spain, South Africa, Australia and Hungary, as well as 10,000 tonnes of powder.

Wiley X to Assemble All New Products at Frisco Headquarters

Thursday, February 15th, 2024

This move signifies a commitment to creating additional jobs at the company’s Frisco location.

Wiley X, the global pioneer and leader in premium protective eyewear, is proud to announce that the brand will now assemble all new products from its 2024 lineup and beyond in-house at its Frisco, Texas headquarters. This move signifies a commitment to creating additional jobs at the company’s Frisco location, ensuring quality control, and streamlining production processes.

“As a Veteran-founded and second-generation American business, this has been a dream of ours for quite some time,” said Dan Freeman, CEO and Co-Owner of Wiley X. “We are proud and excited to continue building our business by not only designing but also assembling products in Frisco. We look forward to the opportunities it will create for our hardworking teams in the U.S. that made this all possible.”

Wiley X has built a reputation for providing world-class eye protection for those who serve, work, and play in life’s harshest environments. With the decision to assemble its new products at the Frisco headquarters, the company aims to further expand its manufacturing capabilities with additional product options and services for customers. Streamlined U.S. production will lead to quicker response times, faster product availability for customers, and an accelerated warranty and replacement program.

“For over 30 years Wiley X has provided the best possible protection and performance for professionals and outdoor enthusiasts alike,” says Myles Freeman, President and Co-Owner of Wiley X. “By bringing assembly of new products under our own roof we’re taking even greater control of the manufacturing process, guaranteeing the highest quality standards while creating exciting opportunities for our team here in Frisco.”

The decision to assemble new products at the Frisco headquarters also brings economic benefits to the local community. By creating more job opportunities in the area, Wiley X continues to contribute to the growth and development of Frisco, making it an even more vibrant hub for innovation and opportunity.

For more information about Wiley X and its range of eyewear products, visit www.wileyx.com.

Accelerator for the Future Combat Air System Successfully Completed: Start-Ups Selected

Tuesday, February 13th, 2024

Taufkirchen, 12 February 2024 – Thirteen weeks of intensive work lie behind them: In August 2023, HENSOLDT Ventures and Starburst invited start-ups and mentors to apply for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Accelerator. The aim of the accelerator was to create an ecosystem for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to develop dual-use and defence applications for FCAS. The results of the FCAS Accelerator were presented at the closing event in Taufkirchen, with Member of the Bundestag Florian Hahn, HENSOLDT CEO Thomas Müller and HENSOLDT Chief Strategy Officer Celia Pelaz also in attendance.

“For the future-oriented FCAS project, we need new ideas and the courage to implement them – which is why we focused explicitly on players who are not yet firmly anchored in the security and defence industry. With the accelerator, we set ourselves the goal of identifying and selecting first-class innovators,” said Celia Pelaz, Chief Strategy Officer at HENSOLDT. “We have succeeded in doing just that.”

Almost 70 companies responded to the call to apply for the accelerator. HENSOLDT and the CPT selected nine of them for a boot camp with twelve mentors, focusing on the discovery and development of solution concepts for FCAS and examining long-term integration into the FCAS programme. This included an exchange with military leaders, but also a presentation of the NATO Innovation Fund, the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS).

“The three start-ups we will be working with for FCAS are focusing on artificial intelligence, disruptive sensors and electronic materials and components, respectively. More specifically, this involves a new type of chip-based parallel computing cloud platform, the development and production of cooled high-end infrared detectors and new types of metal bonding processes with higher conductivity and efficiency,” explained Moritz Pichler, Executive responsible for HENSOLDT Ventures. There will also be collaboration with two other start-ups.

Member of the German Bundestag Florian Hahn, CSU, paid tribute: “What we are seeing today at the FCAS Accelerator closing event is that start-ups are able to make a decisive contribution to high-tech projects.” He added: “They all represent what we need in Germany and Europe: Courageous people who are pioneers and develop technology that will determine our security in the future.”

A further accelerator programme is currently being planned and could start as early as autumn 2024.

 

Sikorsky Statement on the U.S. Army Announcement Ending the FARA Program

Monday, February 12th, 2024


RAIDER X at Sikorsky’s facility in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Prime contractor on the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program, Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin Company, has issued the following statement on last week’s Army announcement ending the program.

“To provide the U.S. military and its allies a decisive advantage to deter conflict now and in the future, there must be a transformational improvement in rotorcraft systems capabilities – and a strong engineering workforce that can strengthen the nation’s leading edge in rotorcraft innovation. With a $1 billion investment, X2 aircraft offer speed, range and agility that no other helicopter in the world can match. We remain confident in X2 aircraft for U.S. and international mission needs now and in the future. We are disappointed in this decision and will await a U.S. Army debrief to better understand its choice.”

Sikorsky also mentions that the low and high-speed maneuverability of X2 aircraft, at 70-plus degree angles-of-bank, is critical for operating in contested environments. Fly-by-wire controls reduce pilots’ workload so they can focus on the mission. And the ability to fly at high altitudes and hover in hot conditions, common in the INDOPACOM region, is critical to the U.S. Army’s FARA mission.

As for future plans, Sikorsky has set out three focus areas:

Sikorsky will continue to execute on its current programs, seek to capture new business and remain a vibrant part of the rotary wing industrial base and Connecticut economy.

·       Black Hawk in the U.S. and international includes a Multi-Year XI production opportunity and new modernization opportunities that will keep the Black Hawk powerful, ready and relevant for decades to come.

·       The CH-53K Heavy Lift helicopter is a major growth driver for Sikorsky with international interests. MH-60R Romeo continues to see international demand for maritime operations. Our customers continue to depend upon the Combat Rescue Helicopter, VH-92 and S-92 to support their critical missions.

*Please note that the UH-60V cockpit is developed by Northrop Grumman.

Rite in the Rain Announces Expansion of Brand Collaboration with Battle Board in

Saturday, February 10th, 2024

www.riteintherain.com