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Steadicopter Reports Winning Yet Another Significant Tender With Its Black Eagle Electric systems, For The Israeli Navy

Monday, August 1st, 2022

The Black Eagle Electric are the first unmanned helicopters to be powered by an electric motor and have a MTOW of up to 50 kg, adapted for use in advanced maritime missions, and many other applications.

27 July, 2022. Steadicopter – a leader in the Rotary Unmanned Aerial Systems (RUAS) industry – announces another win in a significant tender, this time for the Israeli Navy, for its Black Eagle Electric systems. The Black Eagle Electric family is the first family of unmanned helicopters that are powered by an electric motor, are capable of carrying several payloads and sensors, and can be adapted to diverse applications, including complex maritime missions. Just recently, the company announced the signing of a contract to supply the systems to another Naval customer.

The Black Eagle 5O Electric helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of 50 kg, a useful load weight of 30 kg – including payload and batteries, and a flight time of two hours. These capabilities enable high performance as well as maximum operational flexibility for military applications such as intelligence, coastal security, search & rescue, and advanced maritime missions.

The electrically-powered engine significantly reduces the weight of the platform, thereby enabling the installation of additional payloads that are required for a variety of missions. Weighing just 20kg as a platform, the helicopter can carry additional batteries for longer flights, heavier mission payloads, and more. As such, the system enables the widest variety of missions, including covert operations.

The dual-electric propulsion helicopter is economical, simple to operate, easy to maintain, and needs no fuel storage, making it environmentally friendly and safe. It is based on the proven capabilities of the gasoline-powered Black Eagle, including vertical take-off and land, long hover durations, and advanced mission sensors for any mission scenario, whether day or night. In addition, like other Steadicopter platforms, it is adapted to high-altitude flights.

“In the past year, we have expanded the Black Eagle family with the addition of a hybrid and electric system of up to 50kg,” says Noam Lidor, VP Sales, Marketing & Business Development at Steadicopter. “We are proud that just one year after the launch, we have already announced the winning of several significant contracts, for both systems, the latest of which is for the Israeli Navy – considered one of the most advanced forces in the world. There is a growing global need for unmanned systems with vertical landing and takeoff capabilities. The Black Eagle family meets this need with a unique low-weight technology, which enables it to carry several payloads, for flexibility and mission success. We expect that the company will be reporting further deals in the near future.”

www.steadicopter.com

Posted in Contracts, International, Navy, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Steadicopter Reports Winning Yet Another Significant Tender With Its Black Eagle Electric systems, For The Israeli Navy

DroneShield to Partner with Australian Missile Corporation

Monday, August 1st, 2022

DroneShield is pleased to announce that it has signed a collaboration agreement with The Australian Missile Corporation (AMC), as the $1bn Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) enterprise enters the next phase.

The AMC was one of the Australian-based GWEO enterprise panel partners invited by the Commonwealth Government in April to work with global missile manufacturing giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon in establishing a local industry.

Considered areas of cooperation between AMC and DroneShield include counterdrone security, prevalent in current battlefield as seen with the Ukraine war, as well as Electronic Warfare and associated Artificial Intelligence work.

Rear Admiral Lee Goddard (Ret.), AMC’s CEO, commented “We are pleased to cooperate with DroneShield, with its Australian sovereign capability, as we progress our GWEO program. Its world-leading technologies combined with its expertise in engineering and physics would be critical to the development of guided weapons in Australia.”

DroneShield CEO, Oleg Vornik, added, “We are thrilled to work with AMC and its network of partners, to assist in delivering of this iconic Australian defence program.”

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on DroneShield to Partner with Australian Missile Corporation

The Agilite Laptop Carrier (LTC)

Thursday, July 21st, 2022

Agilite just launched the new Laptop Carrier (LTC), a laptop bag for industry professionals with an added important feature.

Watch the video to learn more.

agilitegear.com/products/laptop-carrier

Posted in Grey Man, International, Load Carrying | 1 Comment »

Graveyard Designs Skull Stand

Thursday, July 21st, 2022

Graveyard Designs is a 100% Australian forces veteran owned business. Their products take inspiration from service in the Australian Special Forces and life lived on the edge with one foot in the grave.

Platatac is proud to team up with Graveyard Designs with an exclusive collaboration and launch a special edition of their highly sought after Skull Stand, a perfect mix of modern abstract geometry and skeletal remains to proudly display your hard earned beret, slouch hat or cap.

Available now in Black, White and luminous blue and green…if you dare.

Posted in Guest Post, International, Morale, Veterans | 2 Comments »

Climate-Neutral by 2035: Rheinmetall South Africa Makes Further Progress on the Path to Climate Neutrality

Tuesday, July 19th, 2022

The tech enterprise Rheinmetall has set itself the goal of attaining CO2 neutrality by 2035. The Group’s South African subsidiary Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) has taken the first steps toward improving its climate footprint, thus supporting Rheinmetall’s global goals. At the company’s Somerset West location, Rheinmetall has introduced e-vehicles and off-grid, solar-powered charging stations.

As Armin Papperger, chairman of the executive board of Rheinmetall AG, explains, “Around the world, we’re focusing a lot of attention on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals. All over the Group, we’re committed to taking visible steps that demonstrate our sense of responsibility for the environment and society. The initiative in South Africa is just one example.”

The new vehicles were unveiled by Jan Patrick Helmsen, CEO of RDM, at Somerset West, the company’s main location in South Africa. They will operate there as well at Rheinmetall’s Boskop plant in Potchefstroom.

“As part of the Rheinmetall organization, which has set itself the goal of being climate neutral by 2035, RDM is supporting this ambitious objective with a masterplan that involves implementation of solar energy and green hydrogen, which, along with other projects in the renewable energy domain, are intended to lead to climate neutrality. An important step here is our move away from the internal combustion engine in our fleet of vehicles, with a completely new mobility concept at all four RDM locations in South Africa”, declares Helmsen.

To kickstart the process of eliminating more than 350 internal combustion vehicles from the RDM fleet, the company has introduced the first electrically powered buses at its Somerset West and Boskop plants. Electric cars, new “E-Bakkies”, and a new mobility concept based on e-scooters and e-bikes for getting around the plants also form part of the package.

RDM’s locations occupy a total of 5,000 hectares, meaning that large distances have to be covered not only between plants but also when onsite. The company already had an app-based system that let employees book a ride in a bus or car from individual locations. This system has now been expanded to include e-scooters and e-bikes. The result? Enhanced employee mobility and less impact on the environment.

The e-scooters and e-bikes will operate along much the same lines as a rent-a-bike system in large European cities and elsewhere, where a bicycle can be booked and picked up at specific station, and then dropped off afterwards at any other charging station. Solar-powered electronic charging stations of this type have been installed at various locations around RDM plants.

In 2021 Rheinmetall signed the United Nations Global Compact, which fosters responsible, sustainable, and transparent corporate governance.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release | Comments Off on Climate-Neutral by 2035: Rheinmetall South Africa Makes Further Progress on the Path to Climate Neutrality

Further Successes for 40mm Ammunition from Rheinmetall: Supply orders from Asia for Rheinmetall Denel Munition – Expansion of the Customer Base

Tuesday, July 12th, 2022

Rheinmetall has scored further contract successes in the field of 40mm ammunition. The South African subsidiary Rheinmetall Denel Munition has been awarded contracts for the supply of 40mm ammunition by two customers in Asia. In one case, this is a new customer who has ordered 400,000 40mm low-velocity grenades. These are to be delivered by December 2022. In the other case, an existing customer ordered 100,000 rounds of medium velocity grenades. These are to be delivered between December 2022 and February 2023. In total, the order is worth about 25 million euros.
“With these two contracts, we are expanding our customer base in Asia,” says Jan-Patrick Helmsen, CEO Rheinmetall Denel Munition. Negotiations are already underway to increase the quantities.

Rheinmetall Denel Munition offers a comprehensive range of high-quality 40mm ammunition, including. 40x46mm Low Velocity (LV), 40x53mm High Velocity (HV) and 40x51mm Medium Velocity (MV).

The 40mm MV ammunition has a range of up to 800 metres – 200 metres more than comparable products on the market. The 40mm LV ammunition has a range of up to 400 metres. Both types of ammunition use a High Explosive Dual Purpose projectile. This combines fragmentation and shaped charge, which has a high penetrating power. It can be used against bunkers and armoured targets and can penetrate 50 mm rolled homogenous armour (RHA).

The ammunition is manufactured in accordance with international standards and is suitable for use with suitably qualified grenade launchers of the latest generation.

Posted in Advertiser, Ammo, Contracts, International, Press Release | 1 Comment »

US and Finnish Soldiers Kick Off Summer Exercise

Tuesday, July 12th, 2022

HELSINKI – Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; and the Guard Jaeger Regiment of the Finnish Army, conducted bilateral training in Santahamina Island, Finland, June 28, 2022.

Over 200 U.S. Soldiers conducted urban operations training alongside Finnish soldiers, learning tactical skills from each other in order to operate seamlessly with partner nations.

The training is part of the Finnish Summer Exercise, a training exercise conducted in various bases throughout Finland, running from the end of June to September.

“Finland has been great. We appreciate the hospitality. From a military standpoint, the training has been exceptional. The Guard Jaeger Regiment has been very accommodating for anything we need,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jacob Teplesky, commander of the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

During the exercise, U.S. engineers and sappers conducted training on breaching, demolitions, and have learned how to use Finnish type charges they’ve never experienced before, said Teplesky

The Guard Jaeger Regiment’s primary mission is to train soldiers for urban operations. These soldiers would defend the capital as part of wartime units formed by the regiment.

“It’s very important, the cooperation between Finnish and U.S. forces. I think you will continue to see, as we continue to expand these exercises, throughout the summer as … we move from squad and platoon level, to a battalion command post exercise, we fly our unmanned aerial systems and we shoot a mechanized gunnery,” said Teplesky.

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division is among other units assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, proudly working alongside regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s forward deployed corps in Europe.

SPC Hassani Ribera Soto

Posted in Army, Guest Post, International, Training | Comments Off on US and Finnish Soldiers Kick Off Summer Exercise

CANSOF Begins Formal Fielding of SIG P320

Monday, July 11th, 2022

In November 2020 a Canadian Special Operator had a negligent discharge with a SIG P320 pistol variant and suffered a wound. The pistol was just beginning fielding at the time but withdrawn from further service pending an investigation into the incident.

Shown is a SIG SAUER P320 X Carry. No details have been released regarding the exact model adopted by CANSOF.

In July 2021 CANSOF released the findings of that investigation exonerating the pistol.

Late last month the command issued a statement that they were once again moving forward with fielding the pistol. Interestingly, they don’t name the manufacturer or model.

Here is their statement:

Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Statement on Bringing Weapon Fleet into Service Following the Unintended Discharge of a Holstered Pistol During Training

June 29, 2022 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) will bring into service a newly procured pistol. This decision is based on the outcomes of deliberate investigative and administrative processes examining the factors that led to the unintended discharge of a holstered pistol during a range training event on November 5, 2020.

Central to leadership’s decision to proceed with bringing the weapon fleet into service was ensuring members’ utmost confidence in the effectiveness and safety of their equipment and weapons.

The decision is based on the following factors:

• The investigation into the November 2020 incident concluded the weapon is technically sound and functioned according to the technical requirements.

• Weapons technical experts trialed thousands of rounds without an incident reoccurrence.

• The investigation concluded the probability of this same incident reoccurring is assessed to be extremely low.

• Following the investigation, the Command assembled a working group consisting of operators, weapons experts and procurement specialists to develop and assess a number of options on the way ahead. The working group presented those options and analysis. The working group provided the recommendation to CANSOFCOM leadership to carry on with the process of bringing the pistol into service. Before a final decision was taken on the recommended way forward, leadership directed a third party safety/risk assessment occur.

• The third party safety/risk assessment provided additional information pertaining to the recommended way forward to the chain of command that assisted in informing the final decision.

Next steps

Bringing the weapon fleet with ancillary equipment into service will be conducted methodically and will adhere to the new Command implementation and fielding policies being introduced. Introducing these new policies is a direct result of implementing the investigation report’s recommendations. The safety of our members remains our top priority.

Posted in Advertiser, International, weapons | 1 Comment »