Defense Review has published some additional information on Orion Design Group’s new ODTDM-2 (Orion Designs Tradition Digital Mimicry-2) pattern. You’ve seen a couple of teasers. For example, it is featured on the cover of SureFire’s “Combat Tactics” magazine and OTTE Gear offered us a picture of their water bottle sitting atop a swatch of the pattern.
Check it out…
At 1200 EST today, A-TACS will simultaneously update their website, Facebook fan page and officially release the highly anticipated FG (Forest/Green) pattern.
This might be an overused word, but when I saw these photos I literally said to myself, “Awesome.” When Digital Concealment Systems went about developing a new woodland pattern, they didn’t just adjust the color palette of their existing A-TACS AU (Arid/Urban) but rather developed a completely new pattern from the ground up based on the shapes found in dense biomass environments. Starting with their “pattern within a pattern†concept they added simulated depth to further break up the human silhouette. According to DCS, “the organic pixels in the micro patterns are grouped into larger, more defined “macro†shapes creating larger more defined patterns. The larger organic shapes and strategically placed shadow elements within the macro pattern help to create a unique three-dimensional effect never before seen in a tactical concealment system.”
Look for more information at a-tacs.com
782 Gear is increasing their presence on Facebook with product giveaways every week. Available exclusively for their Facebook fans, 782 Gear will be offering their most popular products including their ultra-cool, ultra-warm Grid Lids, Skid Lids, and even the Velocity jackets and heavy-duty Firebase Duffels.
To participate in these drawings, you’ve got to be a fan! Visit their Facebook page and “Like†them. It’s that simple.
From the most recent issue of the UK magazine G3 Defence, some background on the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition.
The Marine Corps has issued a Request for Information from industry for a USMC Corpsman Assault Pack to possible be manufactured sometime in 2012-2013.
Like all contracts Marine, the timeline is aggressive. A total of 10,000 complete USMC Corpsman Assault Systems at a rate of 1,000 complete USMC Corpsman Assault Systems delivered NLT 60 calendar days post First Article Test (FAT) approval and a sustained rate of 2,500 complete USMC Corpsman Assault Systems per month with delivery beginning NLT 90 day calendar days post FAT approval.
According to the RFI, the USMC Corpsman Assault System includes the following:
Qty Item
(1) Corpsman Assault Pack (22″ x 14″ x 4″) similar to the USMC Assault Pack
(18) Medical Inserts of varying dimensions to be mounted inside of the Corpsman Assault Pack
(1) Sustainment bag (20″ x 14″ x 4″)
(1) Trauma pouch similar to USMC combat trauma bag, NSN 8465-01-571-5231
(1) Thigh rig similar to the Advanced Life Support (ALS) leg kit, NSN 6515-01-531-6535
Like the new Marine Corps Pack System (originally called FILBE), it looks to be a Government owned design. They aren’t looking for industry’s good ideas. They’ve already seen those at trade shows and site visits. Instead, they’re looking for companies to tell them how they’ll build them and for how much.
Bravo to the Marines for updating the Corpsman pack. However, RFIs like this don’t make much sense, at least for their intended purpose. They’re still building Marine Corps Pack System and know what is out there manufacturing-wise and what it costs. All it serves to do is to cost a company money to answer the RFI. And, the RFI even admits:
“THE SUBMISSION OF THIS INFORMATION IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEMS/SERVICES, NOR FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT EXISTS.”
Rather, look at this as a warning order that something is coming down the pipe. Interested companies have until 1 December. Good luck!
A couple of weeks ago we told you about the Spirit of Blue campaign and Blue Force Gear’s participation.
Now they’ve been joined by Leupold Tactical, A-TACS camo, L3-EOtech, and Combat Medical Systems as Safety Grant Sponsors.
Five non-profit organizations actively supporting the law enforcement community have already teamed up with the Spirit of Blue Foundation for the 2011 holiday campaign that launched in October. Those organizations – The National Troopers Coalition, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Sheriff’s Association, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the Jeffrey S. Parola Foundation – represent roughly 125,000 officers, deputies and agents nationwide.
As partners they are promoting the sale of the Spirit of Blue’s blue ribbon holiday wreath honoring and benefiting the law enforcement community. Consumers who purchase the product during the Campaign will be allowed to select which non-profit they would like to see benefited from the sale and the Foundation will donate a portion of the proceeds accordingly. At the same time, consumers will be asked to nominate a law enforcement agency that they would like to be considered to receive a Safety Grant award. At the end of the Campaign, the Spirit of Blue Safety Grant Program randomly selects nominated law enforcement agencies to receive a safety grant award. The safety grants will be redeemable exclusively through the consortium of Safety Grant Partners made up of law enforcement equipment brands.
Sometimes you have to just sit on a good story until it’s time. About a week-and-a-half ago we posted an article about Chris Costa running a couple of courses solo for Falcon Ops Group. We had to play it off that it seemed “interesting” that he was doing it. The reality is that we knew he was leaving Magpul Dynamics to do his own thing somewhere around the beginning of the year.
Yesterday, Magpul Industries announced Chris Costa’s departure:
Chris Costa to Branch Out On His Own in 2012
Since 2007, Magpul Dynamics has trained thousands of professional and civilian shooters, and reached countless more through a comprehensive collection of instructional DVDs. With an emphasis on real world techniques, consistency, and efficiency, Magpul Dynamics has brought tactical instruction to the forefront of the shooting community. The application of these philosophies to high quality multimedia productions has helped propel the entire firearms training industry to new heights, garnering the attention of a larger audience than ever before.
The entire instructor cadre has been instrumental in the success of these endeavors, not the least of which has been Chris Costa. Chris will be moving on in early 2012 to pursue new projects within the industry, including his own training company. Magpul will continue to explore future opportunities to work with Chris, and looks forward to these projects. It has been a privilege to work with Chris for the last five years, and Magpul wishes him the best of luck in the future. The fundamentals of Reality, Consistency, and Efficiency that Chris helped instill are central to the entire Magpul Dynamics instructor cadre, and will continue to drive their training philosophy and mindset.
He will be moving on to run Costa Ludus. Ludus is the Latin word used in ancient Rome for a training school of Gladiators.
Updated: While the word Ludus is used to refer to a “gladiator school,” in Latin it is also used to refer to a school for learning the basics of a craft.
Military Times Gear Scout spoke to Costa about his new venture.
Chances are good that if you’ve got any time around MRAPs you know Force Protection, Inc. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has agreed to pay $5.52 per share of common stock for a total of about $360 million to purchase FPI. This move isn’t really that surprising as for the last five years GDLS and FPI have partnered in the production of the Cougar. However, considering that both the Army and Marine Corps have discussed curtailing their MRAP buys, the timing seems somewhat late.
Conversely, this move does help GD further corner the US armored vehicle market. Already, they manufacture both the Abrams main battle tank and Stryker infantry combat vehicle. Additionally, as you may recall, FPI developed the JAMMA for use as a SOF Internally Transportable Vehicle. With GMVS 1.1 in full swing, this move may help strengthen the case for the JAMMA.
“Force Protection complements and strategically expands General Dynamics’ armored vehicle business, adding new products to the expansive portfolio of combat vehicles that we currently manufacture and support,” said Mark C. Roualet, president of General Dynamics Land Systems. “In addition, Force Protection’s skilled workforce provides high-quality support and sustainment services to an installed fleet of approximately 3,000 vehicles, strengthening our ability to support assets deployed with U.S. forces around the world. With this acquisition, we will create new opportunities to serve domestic and international customers alike.”
Michael Moody, chairman and chief executive officer of Force Protection, Inc., commented, “After careful consideration of the strategic direction of Force Protection, our board decided that a sale to General Dynamics would maximize value for our stockholders. With their armored vehicle business, General Dynamics will be able to pursue opportunities that we could not have pursued as a stand-alone company. As part of the General Dynamics family, our innovative products and offerings will continue to provide militaries worldwide critical assets that save troops’ lives.”
