International | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for the ‘International’ Category

RUAG International Enters into Sales Agreement with Beretta Holding on Ammotec

Tuesday, March 15th, 2022

Zürich, 09.03.2022. RUAG International has concluded an agreement on the sale of its Ammotec business unit to the Beretta Holding. As envisaged by the Swiss Federal Council, the Ammotec division will be divested – with site assurance for Thun and transfer of all employees. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. The parties have agreed not to disclose any financial terms.

As envisaged by the Swiss Federal Council in its divestment strategy, RUAG International’s small-caliber ammunition business will be sold. The decision was made in favor of the Beretta Holding, taking into account all conditions made by the Swiss Federal Council. The Beretta Holding will take over all 2,700 employees at all production and sales sites. The Beretta Holding has committed itself to maintaining the Thun site with around 400 jobs for at least five years.

Next step in the transformation to an agile space provider

For RUAG International, the sales agreement once again confirms its strategy of evolving from a state-owned enterprise into an agile technology provider with a focus on space. André Wall, CEO of RUAG International, says: “We are taking the next step to withdraw from the defense-related business completely. We are pleased to have found a renowned industrial partner for Ammotec in Beretta, who will take over all employees and the Thun site. With its industry experience and global presence, Beretta offers the best conditions to sustainably grow Ammotec’s business activities for the benefit of customers and employees.”

RUAG Ammotec is a leading European supplier of small-caliber ammunition. Ammotec generates around two-thirds of its total sales in the civil sector – with hunting and sporting ammunition or components for industry. Ammotec also supplies small-caliber ammunition for defense and law enforcement. In the parliamentary process, the sale of Ammotec had been confirmed in autumn 2021, as stipulated by the Swss Federal Council.

New home in Italian family business

Pietro Gussalli Beretta, President and CEO of Beretta Holding emphasizes that there is an excellent cultural and strategic fit: “We have the firearms and the optics, RUAG Ammotec high quality ammunition, there is almost no overlap. This is a special moment in the history of our group. We welcome RUAG Ammotec’s employees and we want to grow together.”

Beretta has been family-owned since its founding in 1526 and has become a globally recognized leader in light firearms for hunting, sport and defense. With the acquisition, the Beretta Holding Group will grow to more than 6,000 employees with more than 50 subsidiaries worldwide. The turnover will reach nearly 1.4 billion euros.

Posted in Ammo, Industry, International, Press Release | Comments Off on RUAG International Enters into Sales Agreement with Beretta Holding on Ammotec

HENSOLDT Supplies Complete Mission System Solution for Aerial Training and ISR Services

Friday, March 11th, 2022

Pre-integration of the mission system facilitates installation in aircraft

Immenstaad/Germany, March 9th, 2022 – Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has received an order from aerial services specialist QinetiQ GmbH, Mönchengladbach, to supply two complete systems for electro-optical reconnaissance. The reconnaissance system consists of the ARGOS-II HD electro-optical infrared system (EO/IR) and the EuroNAV control and evaluation software. These core elements will be pre-integrated by HENSOLDT and scaffolded by QinetiQ for ISR Services and training of national and international JTAC customers and operators with the DA62MPP aircraft manufactured by Diamond Aircrafts Industries, Austria.

“The pre-integration of the mission system by HENSOLDT facilitates the functional testing of the system before integration into the aircraft and thereby significantly reduces the risks in such a project at an extremely early stage. In addition, certification activities can be brought forward. These were decisive points for QinetiQ to commission us,” says Frank Martin, Senior Director Sales for Integrated Airborne Solutions.

The mission system with the product name MissionGrid can be used on fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition to air and naval forces, it is used for border protection, search and rescue, maritime patrol, law enforcement and asset protection. The German Federal Police use it to combat smuggling, illicit trafficking and border security operations.

The reconnaissance system covers a range of up to 40 km and can detect ships as well as small inflatable boats or individual swimmers day and night as well as in bad weather. A thermal imaging camera records the images and transmits video and data in real time to base stations on the ground. The MissionGrid mission system can also be easily and modularly supplemented with the PrecISR reconnaissance radar, as well as the HENSOLDT self-protection equipment AMPS.

A virtual training facility also allows users on the installation to be trained “remotely” on the mission system via a secure internet connection.

Posted in Aviation, International, Press Release | Comments Off on HENSOLDT Supplies Complete Mission System Solution for Aerial Training and ISR Services

Norlite USK-G

Thursday, March 10th, 2022

The USK-G was another one of those gems I ran across at IWA. A local company to IWA’s hometown of Nürnberg, NORLITE e.K. was founded in 2018 by the former managing director of Oberland-Arms KG, Frank Satzinger.

It is a direct blowback carbine which was designed from the outset to withstand the rigors of 10mm ammunition, although its is currently intended for use with 9mm. However, they plan future exchange systems in .22 LR, .40S&W, .357 SIG, .45ACP and 10mm. They also plan on a left-handed model.

The top of the chassis features a picatinny rail and there are M-Lok rails at the 3 and 9 o’clock position of the chassis.

Compatible with Gen 3, 4, and 5 GLOCK 17/22 & 19/23 pistols, the USK-G is offered in three versions.

• Standard: Overall length 465 mm, 294 mm running length, approx. 2,950 g

• Compact: Total length 420 mm, 254 mm running length, approx. 2,780 g

• Sub-Compact: Total length 380 mm, 214 mm barrel length, approx. 2,650 g

The grip and magazine are the only GLOCK components. Everything else comes from Norlite.

www.norlite.de

Posted in International, IWA, weapons | 4 Comments »

4-14 Factory Adaptive Plate Carrier

Thursday, March 10th, 2022

Italy’s 4-14 Factory is a relatively new company founded by former Italian SOF.

I am quite impressed with their Adaptive Plate Carrier developed based on mission requirements. It is a modular and scalable system which relies on their CAGES system of Tegris panels. These can be preconfigured and attached to the front and back carriers which carry the armor.

The Adaptive Plate Carrier system consists of:

Front Carrier – Made from Durastretch, it accommodates a wide variety of soft and/or hard armor. It presents a slick appearance.

Back Carrier – Made from Durastretch, it accommodates a wide variety of soft and/or hard armor. It presents a slick appearance.

Harness – It can be used in conjunction with the Front Carrier to suspend the weight of armor. Used while parachuting or when a rear plate isn’t warranted.

Front CAGES – Very easy to attach to Front Carrier. Made from Tegris, it can be configured for a variety of loads.

Back CAGES – Very easy to attach to Back Carrier. Made from Tegris, it can be configured for a variety of loads.

MOLLE Front Flap – PALs compatible, we would call it a placard in the US.

The different components can be used together to create the right configuration for different missions.

4-14factory.com

Posted in Armor, International, IWA | 1 Comment »

Carinthia Introduces Combat Clothing

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

Granted, I saw a lot of cool things at Enforce Tac and IWA, but this is one of the most surprising, and most welcome. In what is an obvious evolution of Carinthia’s successful line of outdoor and tactical clothing.

May I introduce Carinthia Combat Clothing. Carinthia told me that the uniforms were developed in cooperation with special operations forces and have already seen operational use. The line consists of four pieces:

Carinthia Combat Shirt -> CCS

Carinthia Combat Trousers -> CCT

Carinthia Combat Jacket-> CCJ

Carinthia Combat Hood-> CCH

Manufactured from fast drying material, they will also be offered in flame retardant and/or equipped with vector protection. There are slots for both elbow and knee pads which will accept many currently available as well Carinthia’s new pads developed in conjunction with Komperdell.

They will be offered in three colors: MultiCam Pattern, 5 color Flecktarn, and Olive Green.

Coming autumn/winter 2022 from www.carinthia.eu.

Posted in Clothing, Enforce Tac, International, IWA | 1 Comment »

NATO Allies Train in Poland for Exercise Saber Strike

Wednesday, March 9th, 2022

BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland — The United States and Polish militaries held a closing ceremony for the Polish phase of exercise Saber Strike on Feb. 26.

Including approximately 13,000 participants from 13 nations, exercise Saber Strike is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa multinational training exercise in Eastern Europe held bi-annually since 2010. Saber Strike demonstrates how U.S. Army Europe and Africa can deploy combat-credible European-based units to Poland, the Baltics and Central Europe. Saber Strike provides training in a winter environment and increases air defense-interoperability within the Baltic Region, while increasing the host-nations’ ability to integrate U.S. capabilities and reinforces the alliance.

“During Saber Strike we’re conducting air and missile defense training with our NATO Allies,” said U.S. Army Col. Patrick Thompson, 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade commander. “This training helps build inoperability among our NATO Allies and partners.”

U.S. presence in Europe and the relationships built throughout the past 70 years provide the U.S. strategic access critical to meet NATO commitments. Saber Strike is designed to ensure that U.S. forces and participating allied forces are trained, able to operate together and are ready to respond to any threat from any direction.

Saber Strike 22 was also the exercise debut of four prototype Maneuver Short Range Air Defense platforms. The M-SHORAD defends maneuvering forces against unmanned aircraft systems, rotary-wing, and residual fixed-wing threats.

“The unit is conducting combined arms training strategy tied with their new equipment training to ensure the system is fielded as fast as it can to get it out to the force,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Greg Brady, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command commanding general.

The 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, a part of 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, is the first unit in the U.S. Army to field, test and receive the M-SHORAD weapons system.

“We’ve been testing the capabilities of the M-SHORAD and U.S. link capabilities to be able to transmit data from our systems and sharing that to the Polish Army,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Anthony, a vehicle commander assigned to 5-4 ADA.

“We’re sending data links back and forth with the Polish so we can get air pictures and be able to track aircrafts in the sky,” said Jack Potter, a gunner for 5-4 ADA.

On March 10, 5-4 ADA is scheduled to conduct a live fire exercise demonstration on the Baltic Sea coast of Estonia.

Training events like Saber Strike 22 are planned well in advance and are not connected to any current or ongoing operations.

Follow all Saber Strike content on the Saber Strike DVIDS page.

Follow U.S. Army Europe and Africa on Facebook.

Story by SPC Olivia Gum

Photos by SSG Clinton Thompson

Posted in Army, Guest Post, International | 3 Comments »

IWA 22 – Durabo

Saturday, March 5th, 2022

Durabo is a Polish company that specializes in work and casual wear with military design cues like this Super 65 Field Jacket they launched awhile back. They also use Cordura fabrics in their clothing.

At IWA they gave is a sneak peek of their upcoming Combat Uniform.

It’s an interesting design with more of a field or Recce-style jacket than a combat shirt. As you can see, they anticipate use of Crye Precision knee pads.

Posted in Clothing, International, IWA | Comments Off on IWA 22 – Durabo

IWA 22 – GLOCK French Army Pistol System

Friday, March 4th, 2022

So far GLOCK has delivered around 80% of the almost 75,000 Pistolet Semi-Automatique examples of the new which the French military selected in 2019 to replace their aging MAC 50 and MAS G1 9mm NATO pistols.