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SOFEX Announced

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Planning for SOFEX is in full swing. In its eighth year, SOFEX will be held at the King Abdullah I Airbase in Amman in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. SOFEX is held biennially under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Chairmanship of HRH Prince Feisal Bin Al Hussein and with the full support of the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF).

SOFEX 2010 is a four-day event that kicks off with a one day conference that includes a series of comprehensive and topical seminars delivered by top military officials from around the world, tackling a wide range of issues pertinent to current counter terrorism and homeland security issues. It also features a great trade show. For more information visit www.sofexjordan.com

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L-3 to Acquire Insight Technology

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

L-3 Communications announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Insight Technology Incorporated (Insight). Insight develops and manufactures night vision and laser aiming and illumination devices. Headquartered in Londonderry, New Hampshire, Insight employs approximately 1,100 people. The purchase price was not disclosed and will be funded with cash on hand. However, according to Business Wire, “Insight is expected to generate approximately $290 million of sales for the twelve months ending December 31, 2010. Before giving effect to the present value of tax related benefits of the transaction and expected synergies, the purchase price represents a multiple of approximately nine times estimated 2010 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).”

It is anticipated that Ken Solinsky, Insightâ€™s founder and president, will become president of L-3â€™s newly created Warrior Systems Sector. He will report to James W. Dunn, senior vice president and president of L-3â€™s Sensors and Simulation Group. The Warrior Systems Sector will include Insight as well as L-3â€™s existing electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) businesses currently addressing the warrior systems market and will be reported in L-3â€™s Electronic Systems segment. As you may remember, in 2007 L-3 purchased Eotech, producers of holograraphic gunsights. Based on this information it is a safe bet that the Eotech line will be moved into the Warrior Systems Sector. It will be interesting to see how this affects Insight’s line of Red Dot Sights.

www.L-3com.com
www.insightlights.com

Tags: Insight Technologies, L3
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DRIFIRE Donates FR Shirts and Blankets to Haiti

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Responding to a call for aid to earthquake damaged Haiti from the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), DRIFIRE has assisted the Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) organization by shipping approximately 1,650 comfortable FR shirts to be distributed to two orphanages.

“We’ve worked with the AAFA and K.I.D.S. in the past, donating more than 500 garments during the relief effort after Hurricane Katrina. We’re happy to join them in supporting orphans in Haiti with our products. Our donations may be a tiny piece of the overall relief effort, but we wanted to be involved and we’re excited for our chance to directly impact these orphanages,” says Kim Scarbrough, Executive Assistant at DRIFIRE, who is leading the company’s efforts in Haiti.

The flame retardant shirts sent in DRIFIRE’s first shipment feature moisture wicking and antimicrobial technology that is crucial for staying dry and comfortable in humid, warm climates. The second shipment will include rolls of raw fabric made of soft, comfortable material in response to the strong need for blankets. The fabric also features antimicrobial technology, cutting down on germs and odor. In addition to blankets, the fabric can be used to make clothes, tents and other garments to help keep the children protected and comfortable.

DRIFIRE isn’t stopping there. They plan to continue helping the orphanages on a long-term basis as more products become available for shipment in the coming weeks. Additional aid will be spread among the communities in Haiti as needed.

“Everyone at DRIFIRE is eager to contribute to helping the people in Haiti. From warehouse employees working overtime to get products shipped, to the executive team coordinating with AAFA and K.I.D.S. to make this all happen, we’re thankful and proud to be part of such a generous, hard-working company. Working together is crucial in these times of need, and we hope that our efforts will encourage and inspire others in the FR apparel and safety industry to donate high quality, life-saving products to those who need them,” says Scarbrough.

Tags: Drifire
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Tactical Gear Digest Sports a New Look

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

If you are looking for one stop shopping to quench your thirst for nylon gear news from a variety of sources, then head over to Tactical Gear Digest where the reader drives content. Readers post stories and content from different source sites and are encouraged to vote and comment on the content.

They have been around for some time but recently updated their site to make it more user friendly. Additionally, they are running a new member drive and are giving away a Blackwater Gear Rifle Case.

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Global Spear – Where Credibility is King

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

There’s a new forum in town and it’s not quite like anything we have ever seen before. In addition to free general memberships, the staff at Global Spear will offer special consideration to those members who choose to disclose their backgrounds. Such information will be kept confidential but will add considerable weight to a poster’s contributions. The goal is to avoid having the unqualified dispense advice that could get a forum member injured or killed.

Additionally, Global Spear seeks to provide unbiased product evaluations free from the influence of corporate shills. Evaluators must disclose how they obtained the product and any affiliations they might have with the product’s producer. The establishment of a poster’s credibility will also help to temper the voice of fan boys as they rush to defend the object of their affection’s latest turd polisher.

Global Spear also envisions a forum where small business owners can go and exchange information on how to better serve the market as well as themselves.

I am very excited about the possibilities being offered here. Visit www.GlobalSpear.com to learn more.

Tags: Global Spear
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Crye Precision Granted Combat Shirt Patent

Monday, February 15th, 2010

On 29 December, 2009, Crye Precision was granted 7,636,948 patent for their “Combat Shirt and Armor System” and this may prove to be just as important as when Crye unleashed their combat uniform on an unsuspecting market. It’s not often when you see a new concept fundamentally change the way we look at something but that is exactly how it worked out. I don’t think Crye even believed it would take off like it did. Even if you consider that the idea was radical at the time, when you saw it, you “got it”. It just made sense. Thinner, wicking material where you wear armor, built in knee and elbow pads. Everyone wanted one and that was the problem. Demand soon outpaced capacity and just like nature, the market place abhors a vacuum. Soon everyone had their own version of a combat shirt. Eventually, Crye caught up with demand, but the genie was out of the bottle so to speak.

Crye Combat Shirt Patent

The patent is very specific in many areas, almost too much so, and in others like so many patents, it’s virtually obtuse. No idea whether Crye will attempt to defend their intellectual property but at this point with so many versions out there, including the issue Army Combat Shirt and Airman Battle Shirt it would almost be Crye vs everybody. Read it and weep.

Tags: Crye Precision
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RIP Adam Stevens

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Adam Stevens Adam, owner of the Israeli tactical gear maker Smamit passed away January 31st of lung cancer. He will be missed by freedom loving warriors the world over who used his gear. Smamit had been around for years and have even graced Soldier Systems Daily with an article on his PaLoop. A veteran of the IDF, he is survived by a wife and two daughters.

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Blackhawk for Sale

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Rumors have swirled for some time that Blackhawk Products Group has been for sale. A recent article by “The Deal Pipeline” confirms this. Brazos Private Equity Partners LLC was seeking to purchase the company but Blackhawk withdrew from negotiations over pricing issues last Thursday. The deal was to be financed with an estimated $80 million debt package provided by GE Capital Corp and Chicago’s Madison Capital Funding LLC, with a $20 million mezzanine debt piece from Golub Capital. Wachovia Securities (owned by Wells Fargo) has been serving as Blackhawk’s financial adviser and seeking buyers for the company.

This indicates two things about Blackhawk; how much the market feels the company is worth and the fact that Blackhawk doesn’t agree with this assessment. Over the last year the soldier systems industry has experienced numerous buyouts with manufacturers such as Eagle Industries, Tactical Assault Gear, and OTB Boots going to larger companies who are using the purchases to foray into this market.

Tags: Blackhawk
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