According to our friends at the German language blog, “Strategie & Technik” the Seebataillon der Deutschen Marine has awarded the Boarding Specialist (Bordeinsatzsoldat) Qualification Badge for the first time since its creation in 2015. It is meant to designate fully qualified boarding team leaders.
Read the full details here.
LAAD 2019, Rio, Brazil, April 2-5, Hall 4, Stand P.60
March 28, 2019. Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), an SK Group member and a leader in the production of combat-proven small arms for law enforcement agencies, governments, and armies around the world – will showcase, at LAAD 2019, its full portfolio of advanced, well known and successfully deployed world-wide weapons. In focus will be the leading NEGEV NG7- 7.62mm caliber Light Machine Gun (LMG) with semi-automatic mode and the advanced TAVOR-X95 bullpup rifle.
“Both the military and law-enforcement markets in Brazil are important to IWI. We are looking at soon introducing both these markets with our latest, most advanced developments, specifically suited to the Brazilian forces’ needs”, says Mr. Ronen Hamudot, SK Group and IWI’s V.P. Marketing and Sales. “IWI provides military and police forces (Policia Militar) worldwide with a wide selection of weaponry solutions for various challenges and missions-range of the modern battlefield.)”, he says. “The Latin American market is one in focus for us. We are looking forward to reinforcing IWI’s ties with this market and expand our activities in the region providing it with new and improved products”.
The NEGEV NG7 is deployed in dozens of countries around the world including Israel, and has been combat-proven in a number of battle arenas. It is based on the NEGEV 5.56mm LMG and designed to meet the modern battlefields requirements. The NEGEV NG7 includes a semi-automatic firing mode that enables accurate fire in combat situations, including ambush and Close Quarter Battle (CQB), when shooting via telescope and is the only 7.62 LMG caliber with single bullet firing capability. In automatic mode, its rate of fire is over 700 rounds per minute. Exceptionally lightweight (weighing less than 8 kg), it can be fired from a variety of mounts, including special mounts on helicopters, land vehicles, and naval vessels. Features include a gas regulator for additional power in harsh conditions such as mud and dirt, tritium night sights, Picatinny rails for optical and other devices, and four safety mechanisms to minimize unwanted fire. The NEGEV NG7 – which delivers remarkable MTBF and a long service life – is drum or belt-chain fed, fires from an open bolt position, and is easily dismantled for maintenance in the field.
The TAVOR-X95 rifle is an innovative firearm that was created and developed in close collaboration with elite units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). As the standard IDF assault rifle it is exceptionally reliable in even the harshest weather conditions, and complies with the most stringent NATO standards for small arms. The TAVOR-X95 is offered in three calibers – 5.56mm, 300 BLK and 9mm – with an option for a 9mm conversion kit. The TAVOR-X95 platform incorporates a tri-rail forearm covered by three removable vented rail covers. The TAVOR-style grip is modular and can be easily converted to a pistol grip as well. The charging handle has also been relocated closer to the shooter’s center mass and the ambidextrous magazine release, which enables a firing hand magazine release.
Available in Black, FDE, and OD Green, the TAVOR-X95 features a lightweight trigger pull, weighing around 3 kilos. The rifle can be purchased with compatible sights from Meprolight – either the MEPRO M21 Day/Night Self-Illuminated Reflex Sight or the MEPRO RDS or RDS PRO Electronic Weapon Red Dot Sight.
The Government of Canada has recently awarded Rheinmetall Canada a major support contract pertaining to Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR). The frame contract is currently worth up to CAD 57 million. The contract will take place over the next five years and will be expensed using a task mechanism over this period. The contract is part of the sustainment of the Land Command, Control, Communication, Computing, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) program and as the prime contractor, Rheinmetall Canada is to provide ISTAR in-service support services (ISS).
“At Rheinmetall Canada, we are delighted to provide an important part of the ISTAR program” said Mr. Ste?phane Oehrli, President and CEO of Rheinmetall Canada. “This contract represents a great opportunity to showcase our knowledge and capabilities in this high-end area of advanced technology”, he added. The ISTAR capabilities of the Rheinmetall Group are well established around the world.
The goal of the ISTAR ISS contract is to provide the Canadian Armed Forces with an ISTAR Command and Control Information System (C2IS) capability. Rheinmetall Canada will maintain and enhance the specialized capability through the support contract.
Rheinmetall Canada was selected under a competitive process where Value Proposition and the Industrial and Technological Benefit Policy (ITB) were applied. As one of the few companies to have reached over 1 billion dollars in ITB transactions since the inception of the policy, Rheinmetall Canada has put forward an outstanding Value Proposition. The Canadian supply chain of Rheinmetall Canada will benefit from this contract over the next years.
CAMP AQUINO, Philippines — The U.S Army and Soldiers from the Philippine Army’s K9 Battalion trained together on March 6, 2019 during exercise Salaknib to learn each other’s military working dog training techniques. Training together like this allows U.S. forces and host countries to build lasting partnerships and prepare to work together on real missions.
“The Subject Matter Experts allow us to exchange ideas and some best practices as to how the programs are managed,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ivan Alvira, the plans section Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge with the 8th Military Police Brigade. “We can compare notes on how they manage their programs and how we manage ours and then take back those suggestions and maybe make adjustments in the way that we do things.”
Each team has been open to new ideas and training tools in learning ways to make their programs better. Even with language barriers and time constraints, everyone involved has benefited by working together.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Holmes, the plans NCO with the 520th Military Working Dog Detachment explained how good it has been working with the Philippine military. “I have absorbed their information as well and I’m going to be able to take that back to my counterparts back in the states.”
The Philippine army enjoyed working alongside the U.S. Army and was happy with the lessons they received.
“We are lucky to have Sgt. 1st Class Alvira and Staff Sgt. Holmes conducting lectures pertaining to canine operations,” said Philippine Army Maj. Christopher C. Manimtim with the K9 Battalion. “And also to share some of the best practices not only for the U.S. army but for the Philippine soldiers.”
Sharing ideas and training tools does not just benefit the canine programs, but also the military as a whole. It creates a familiarity with another’s branch of service which helps in times of need. Working together to share tips on how to better military programs, helps everyone by creating and strengthening bonds.
“Anytime that you’re interacting with a partner, your building on readiness; you’re building on interoperability,” Alvira added. “It’s allowing us to build trust and confidence in the abilities of both nations. So anytime that you can interact with another nation in an exercise such as Salakinib or Balikatan, it allows us to get better as a joint force.”
Both sides become strengthened as a team in many ways. Everyone has shared a lot of new concepts and methods; and hope to expand their training and work together for many years.
By SPC Elizabeth Johnson
12 March 2019
Following a comprehensive evaluation by armasuisse, one of Switzerland’s four federal-level procurement agencies, Rheinmetall has won an order to supply a new command simulator for training the nation’s military leaders. The contract has been signed in February 2019.
The new command simulator will be located at the Swiss General Staff School (Gst S) in Kriens in Canton Lucerne. For years, this training centre has been successfully using simulator-based technology to school Swiss Army officers in every aspect of military leadership. Military commanders and staff officers at operational and tactical level can sharpen their leadership and situation management skills, including in cooperation with federal, cantonal and local-level civilian officials.
During the course of an intensive evaluation process, Rheinmetall’s forward-looking concept for the new command simulator eventually won the day, thanks in large measure to the company’s long track record as a system supplier and system integrator. The centrepiece of the solution is the integration and coupling of the C2I and peripheral systems with the newly structured Osiris simulation system.
Among other things, the Swiss procurement authorities wanted to see a significant reduction in the number of operating personnel required to run the system. This proved possible thanks to the Osiris software, which is designed to enable maximum automatization. Rounding out the planned scope of delivery and performance, Rheinmetall will operate and maintain the system throughout its service life, establishing a “material excellence centre” in order to facilitate this.
Osiris makes inter-disciplinary models possible that enable the depiction of training for all three branches of the military at tactical and operational levels, whether on land, at sea and in the air, including related capabilities.
The system can generate highly realistic leadership scenarios ranging from disaster relief to national defence and peacekeeping missions, specifically tailored to real-world Swiss requirements and current operational planning. Civilian officials at federal, cantonal and local level can also be brought into these scenarios. This enhances even further the value of simulator-supported staff exercises.
The command simulator can be operated at various echelons of Switzerland’s military hierarchy, with highly automated control possible at levels ranging from individual entities all the way up to brigade level. Here, Osiris supports the simultaneous entry of aggregate orders at multiple levels. This assures maximum freedom when controlling the simulated entities while simultaneously enabling a broad range of training levels.
Rheinmetall’s pioneering solution for the new command simulator in Kriens meets the Swiss government’s full range of specifications. A company with longstanding experience in the field of simulation and training, Rheinmetall – acting in its capacity as supplier and system integrator – now assumes responsibility for the successful implementation of all requirements and complete integration of the system.
For over forty years, Rheinmetall has numbered among the world’s foremost developers and producers of high-performance simulation technology. The spectrum ranges from computer- supported learning to air, sea and land vehicle simulators for crew training operations, right through to major training facilities where entire formations can hold full-scale tactical exercises with their original equipment.
Since the last IWA, Lindnerhof experienced twelve truly exciting months: new products were developed and proven products were optimized further. In perfect time for the IWA 2019, Lindnerhof presents the novelties in the product portfolio of the provider of tactical gear.
New flagship: the plate carrier 25 with quick-release system
The new plate carrier is the further development of the proven plate carrier of the VI generation and combines the models L1 Evo and H1 Evo. It is made of the reliable outer fabric Cordura 500. The most important novelty here is the downsizing of the quick release system in the shoulder straps from 40mm to 25mm. This provides more wearing comfort in the everyday use. In addition, the width of the sewn strap was reduced to 20mm. In this way it is possible to achieve a weight reduction of approximately 20%.
With the new model Lindnerhof responds to a customer’s request: the possibility to convert the plate carrier H1 Evo to a heavy protective vest and making it available also for classical plate carriers made of Cordura. Hanging the soft ballistics in the front and back is just as possible as adding shields for the neck and the upper arms.
As first of its kind, the new plate carrier comprises a reversible zip on its back. In this manner it is possible to attach various modular back panels, thus enabling the fast exchange of the panel, depending on the type of activity.
Quickly exchangeable: modular back panel
In conjunction with the new plate carrier, practiced users can attach the back panel within only five seconds.
Thanks to the individual configuration, it is possible to quickly and appropriately react to the different tasks. The upper opening allows the take-up of a breaching tool. The fold-out extension allows the take-up of a bolt cutter.
Available again: Double magazine pouch G36, attachable with Velcro
Because of the continuous high customer demand last year, the double magazine pouch attachable with Velcro is available again. The pouch has the advantage that it is possible to transport additional magazines without having to use up the MOLLE surfaces at the plate carriers or the vest. This ensures enough space for bags and other equipment.
The pouch can be attached in the conventional way in the front or rear lower area of the plate carrier. At the sides, two G36 magazines can be introduced. A rubber with puller serves as safety mechanism. The laterally provided rubber woven band serves for compression in case of non-use.
More space thanks to Velcro: Diagonal multi-purpose pouch, attachable with Velcro
The advantages of the double magazine pouch with Velcro back were also used in another novelty. The diagonal multi-purpose pouch attachable with Velcro can particularly be attached at the front in the lower area of the plate carrier, which enables simple access to the pouch – even without looking.
By means of a zipper extending across the entire width, the pouch is opened and offers enough space for various parts of equipment and operating resources. At the contact surface of the inside, a large fleecy surface is provided, which facilitates both the affixing of equipment by means of Velcro panels as well as the organization of equipment and the targeted access. In addition, the outside is compatible with Velcro patches that can be affixed for identification tags. A discharge eyelet prevents that fluids collect in the bag.
Mature concept: Weapon fixation straps with hooks
The new fixation strap for long firearms went through a long development process and an extensive testing phase. As a small supporting piece of equipment in the overall structure of tactical gear, however, it comprises very innovative novelties.
Contrary to its predecessor, the new version can be operated with only one hand. A buckle closure is provided at the end for a strong connection.
At the other end a small ball is provided, which Lindnerhof also refers to as “pineapple” and which – thanks to its characteristic form and grip – can be operated with gloves as well. In conjunction with a hook that is usually positioned at the front part of the plate carrier the strap can be opened and closed fast, one-handedly and without looking, which helps fixing or loosening the weapon easily. The ball was developed in such a manner that the bond is not loosened even in the event of extreme movements, such as jumping or crawling.
LINDNERHOF-TAKTIK GmbH: www.lindnerhof-taktik.de
A couple of years ago, Andres Industries first introduced the TILO series of thermal imagers. At the time, the TILO-3 was the smallest thermal imager in the world. They continue to innovate, and this year, they’ve introduced an afocal lens which extends the detection range of the latest TILO-6Z+ to 2.5km.
Durabo is Latin for “I will endure” and is the commercial brand of the Kreator Company which manufactures dress uniforms for the Polish Military.
Here are a few of my favorite pieces.
They’ve combined retro military design with work wear and introduced new fabric blends using Cordura nylon to increase durability. Colors on the final products will differ.
Look for the commercial release of this clothing later this year.
