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Mehler Protection Delivers the 200,000th MOBAST Ballistic Protection Vest System to BW Bekleidungsmanagement GmbH

Sunday, December 15th, 2024

Fulda/Koblenz, Germany, 12 December 2024

The handover of the 200,000th MOBAST protective vest system from Mehler Protection to BwBekleidungsmanagement GmbH (BwBM) marks another milestone in modernisation of the personal equipment ofthe German Federal Armed Forces. Taking place at the SVS Koblenz site, the delivery underscores the success of a complex procurement process executed amidst global uncertainties.

The MOBAST programme aims to equip the German Federal Armed Forces with modern, modular protective vest systems by the end of 2025. These systems offer a high level of protection, with modular adaptability to different operational scenarios.

Handover attended by senior officials

The ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Colonel Marko Dietzmann, Project Manager for Clothing and Personal Equipment at BAAINBw, Dr Felix Wriggersand Stephan Minz, Managing Directors of BwBM, DrMario Amschlinger, designated CEO of Mehler Systems Group, and Jakob Kolbeck, Managing Director of Lindnerhof Taktik.

“The delivery of the 200,000th MOBAST protective vest system is a significant milestone,” stated Dr. Mario Amschlinger. “This project exemplifies our commitmentas a reliable partner to developing innovative and scalable protective solutions that meet the requirements of the user.”

Reliable supply despite global challenges

Production of the MOBAST protective vest system takes place at a facility built specifically for this program in Fulda, Germany. Deliveries began on schedule in December 2022 with an initial volume of over 4,000 units per month. After just over a year, the 100,000th system was delivered – a milestone that will be followed by the delivery of the 200,000th system in December 2024. The project is currently on track to meet the agreed production targets by the end of 2025.

“At a time of global uncertainty and geopolitical challenges, we have successfully established a robust and reliable supply chain,” explained Dr. Mario Amschlinger. “This ensures that we can deliver on time, even under difficult conditions.”

MOBAST: Combining Protection and Modularity

The MOBAST (short for Modular Ballistic Protection and Carrying Equipment) system integrates both soft and hard ballistic protection and covers central areas of the body such as shoulders, neck, upper arms, abdomen and thighs. The system’s modular design allows for rapid adaption to different threat scenarios. It can be equipped with anything from protection against stabbing, handguns and shrapnel to protection against long-range weapons. The scalability and modularity of the MOBAST system are key factors in meeting the specific requirements of a wide range of missions.

Value creation in Germany and Europe

Mehler Protection attaches great importance to strengthening industrial core competences in Germany. Each MOBAST protective vest system, including itsballistic components, is fully developed in Germany and tested by an independent German ballistic authority.

“The successful cooperation between the Bundeswehr, industry and suppliers shows how innovative protective solutions can be developed and reliably delivered to the end user even in challenging times,” concluded Dr. Amschlinger.

For more information about Mehler Systems, please visit mehler-systems.com

Posted in Armor, International, Press Release | No Comments »

POL-TEC to Supply Bundeswehr with Pepperball TCP Pistols and Ammo

Saturday, December 14th, 2024

POL-TEC recently signed a contract to supply the German Bundeswehr with Pepperball TCP Pistols and Ammo.

The TCP (Tactical Compact Pistol) is a PepperBall launcher that gives offers a multi-shot, non-lethal capability.

The Value of the contract is 3.6 mil Euro.

Posted in Contracts, Industry, International | Comments Off on POL-TEC to Supply Bundeswehr with Pepperball TCP Pistols and Ammo

Introducing Asolo Tactical: Renowned Bootmaker Partners with Military Equipment Specialist to Launch Exclusive Tactical Footwear Range

Friday, December 13th, 2024

The outdoor footwear industry is ever-evolving, with advancements in technology, materials, and construction methods constantly driving new standards in performance. From enhanced cushioning systems to breathable fabrics and waterproofing innovations, the sector propels rapidly, often outpacing the defence sector in terms of technological progress and performance quality.

Whilst outdoor brands certainly deliver high-performance footwear, many leading products are unsuitable for military use, with aesthetic limitations and operation-specific functionality often overlooked in their design and construction. To meet this need, leading military equipment specialist, Brigantes has joined forces with iconic Italian bootmaker, Asolo, to develop a new line of military-specific footwear. By combining Brigantes’ military expertise with Asolo’s rich heritage of traditional craftsmanship and technical innovation, this line will promise to meet and exceed the rigorous demands of military customers operating in complex tactical environments.

Bespoke Military Footwear

The Asolo Tactical footwear line marks a groundbreaking development in the defence industry, but these two companies are not strangers to collaboration. Brigantes and Asolo have enjoyed several years of successful partnership and have already seen significant success with the development of their flagship product, the Fugitive Tactical GTX boot – an adapted take on Asolo’s Fugitive GTX, with some key adjustments made for military customers. The expanded line of tactical footwear will encompass a broad range of environmental needs, offering six bespoke styles from approach shoes to high-altitude mountain boots, each precision-engineered to support military personnel to perform at their best.

Asolo’s Fugitive Tactical GTX boots have already seen huge popularity within the military community

Traditional Craftsmanship

Pioneers of innovation and creators of the very first Gore-Tex lined mountain boots, Asolo are an established brand who have been influential in shaping the outdoor footwear market. Founded in 1975, this family business has since expanded significantly, becoming renowned for their commitment to traditional craftsmanship, quality materials and cutting-edge innovation. A commitment which has earned them a loyal following among outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Military Expertise

Founded in 2014 by ex-military personnel, Brigantes are specialists in on-the-soldier equipment and a trusted supplier to NATO military, government, and elite police units. With a product range spanning apparel, footwear, vertical movement, signature management, technology, mobility, and sustainment, Brignates unite decades of military experience with advanced technical expertise and keen industry awareness to deliver unparalleled solutions to their customers.

This partnership between the two brands, each experts in their field, will mean that military customers can tap into the best of both worlds when it comes to operational footwear requirements. Asolo’s timeless craftsmanship and technical ingenuity uniting with Brigantes’ extensive intelligence on the subject of operational intricacies. More than just a tactical colour change, the two brands are going in depth with the design considerations for the new line of footwear. The Asolo Tactical range will cover the full spectrum of operational capability, from 6000m Arctic boots to cold weather specific footwear, long distance styles and light and fast approach shoes. Each piece will be designed with the unique requirements of military personnel in mind.

Speak to us

The design and development of this exciting new line is well underway, with stock expected to be available as early as Autumn/Winter 2025. Asolo’s Fugitive Tactical GTX boot is already in existence and available to purchase through Brigantes. If you would like to learn more about this or any of their other equipment offerings, get in touch with them: brigantes.com/contact

Posted in Boots, Industry, International, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Ukraine Army Type Classifies Droid TW 12.7, New Robotic Combat Vehicle Armed with M2 MG

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released the following (translated):

The Ministry of Defense codified Droid TW 12.7 — a Ukrainian robotic complex with a Browning 12.7 Machine Gun

The complex confirmed its reliability during combat tests.

Features of Droid TW 12.7:
– machine gun caliber 12.7 mm
– crawler platform for the most difficult conditions
– remote control via tablet
– works on digital communication

“In the conditions of modern warfare, technology plays a crucial role in ensuring superiority on the battlefield. The codification and admission to operation of the Ukrainian robotic complex Droid TW 12.7 is a significant step towards the introduction of innovations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We codify samples that become a reliable tool for our defenders, helping them to perform tasks in the most difficult conditions. Our advantage is a high-tech army capable of confronting modern challenges,” said Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Dmytro Klymenkov.

According to DevDroid, the manufacturer, the TW 12.7 can be manufactured within 45 days at a cost of around $29,000 per unit.

Features according to DevDroid:
– High-precision target recognition using artificial intelligence
– Remote control
– The platform is capable of operating in challenging terrain and various weather conditions
– 12.7 mm Browning machine gun
– Operational range: up to 14 km
– Effective range: up to 1000 m
– Integration with Starlink and LTE

Posted in International, Robotics | No Comments »

Rheinmetall and Auterion are Working Together on Drone Technology and Developing Standard Operating System for Military Industries

Tuesday, December 10th, 2024

Rheinmetall, a leading system supplier for defence technology and Auterion, the leading supplier of drone operating systems, will be working closely together to develop standardised software-based components for unmanned drone systems. The two companies signed an agreement, thereby establishing a long-term co-operation.

The two partners are combining their expertise in order to create a military industry standard for controlling and operating unmanned aerial, land and naval drone systems. The co-operation includes joint product development and sales activities for unmanned platforms. The resulting homogeneous operating system is expected to provide military users with a significant advantage.

As a drone manufacturer, Rheinmetall is drawing on the operational experience gained from the Luna NG and Aladin systems and incorporating it into its work with the customer. Various drone systems from the Düsseldorf-based technology group have already been in service for many years with the German Armed Forces / Bundeswehr and have been deployed in Ukraine for several months.

Dr Timo Haas, Chief Digital Officer at Rheinmetall AG, explains: “We see over two hundred different aerial unmanned systems in Ukraine. This makes military training very costly and time-consuming, and system interoperability is not guaranteed. Co-operation with Auterion and the development of a homogeneous operating system will enable the efficient and scalable deployment of unmanned systems. With our approach, there will be no need for system-dependent user training or system-specific integration into an overall system network in the future”.

Lorenz Meier, CEO of Auterion: “In the future, drones will be used in large quantities and, like computers and smartphones, they need a common operating system to make this happen. AuterionOS allows the customer to combine all drones on a common basis and to integrate different manufacturers into a common architecture. Our software stack has already been tried and tested in operation and thus enables software-defined defence”.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release, Tac Apps, UAS, Unmanned Systems | No Comments »

DEEPRobotics’ Lynx – The Wheeled Quadrupred

Tuesday, December 10th, 2024

Chinese company DEEPRobotics specializes in Quadraped robots. Recently, they invoked a wheeled version called the Lynx.

The Lynx weighs 30 kg and stands 80cm high with a step height of 22 cm. It will carry a 12 kg payload and move at 5 m/s for 3 hours. It is equipped with a 1080P wide-angle EO camera.

Below is a promotional video of it in action and definitely worth a watch for its out of the box thinking. Robots can take any form and aren’t constrained by natural selection. If we can dream it, we can build it.

Posted in International, Robotics | 1 Comment »

Japan Maritime Defense Force Selects SeaGuardians From GA-ASI

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

SAN DIEGO – 03 December 2024 – The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has selected the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) SeaGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems for its Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program. This follows JMSDF use of SeaGuardian since May 2023 as part of its Medium-Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) RPA System Trial Operations Project.
SeaGuardian has been used by JMSDF to conduct various tests including whether unmanned aircraft can supplant some of the missions currently accomplished with manned aircraft. SeaGuardian is a MALE RPA system that can fly for 24 hours or more, depending on the configuration.
GA-ASI has strengthened its Maritime Wide Area Surveillance (MWAS) for Japan with Optix+, which gathers information from the SeaGuardian sensors, as well as other data sources, displaying the full picture of surveillance information for its operator. This functionality makes it easy to task and direct its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) information in real time. GA-ASI’s Optix+ software suite rapidly correlates and exploits collected data into an easily shared common operational picture. Having multi-source correlated data enables automatic detection of anomalous behaviors over waters.
SeaGuardian features two multi-mode maritime surface-search radars with an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) imaging mode, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, and a High-Definition – Full-Motion Video sensor equipped with optical and infrared cameras as well as electronic intelligence receivers. This sensor suite enables real-time detection and identification of surface vessels over thousands of square nautical miles and provides automatic tracking of maritime targets and correlation of AIS transmitters with radar and electronic intelligence tracks.

Posted in International, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

Direct Action SWAGs: Casual Gear, Tactical Edge

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Direct Action® has its roots in the special forces world, and we’re proud to be a part of it. For us, just as for SOF operators, it’s not just a job—it’s a lifestyle. This shared mindset drives everything we do, from designing gear to embracing the challenges of this unique way of life. A life built around mission focus, tackling challenges head-on, and sharing a sharp, sometimes unconventional sense of humor. Our designers live this life as well, which is why they understand what operators truly need. And while Direct Action® is all about crafting top-tier tactical gear, we also know how to have a little fun.

That’s why we’re excited to introduce our latest SWAGs collection—a line of hoodies, T-shirts, patches, and beanies designed for everyday wear. Whether you want to showcase your tactical roots or simply enjoy casual comfort with a touch of tactical style, this gear is designed to meet your expectations.

The SWAGs lineup includes:

Hoodies: Into the Dark, Sunset, Shaka
Long-sleeve shirts: Rope, No Loud!
T-shirts: ART NVG, Shaka, Sunset, Rope, Skeleton
Fan patches: Into the Dark, Shaka, Sunset, No Loud!
Winter beanie: Shaka Merino Beanie in two color variants

The hoodies are made from a cotton and polyester blend (65/35%), complemented with high-quality prints. Meanwhile, the T-shirts and long-sleeve shirts are made from 100% cotton with a weight of 180 g/m2. As for the winter cap, it’s entirely made of merino wool and available in two colors: black and ranger green. For patch collectors – three models from the SWAGs offer are woven in jacquard technology, while the fourth – Patch Shaka – is embroidered.

As always, we maintain our commitment to the highest standards of quality – all products in this series are manufactured in Europe.

Add some Direct Action® style to your everyday wardrobe and #GoLoud!

Posted in Clothing, International, Morale, Press Release | No Comments »