Amid war in Israel, Agilite just launched its extraordinarily versatile MicroMAP back panel that fits onto any plate carrier with rear MOLLE-Check out the features here:
A lot of units had a hand in developing this and there are many of them in the Gaza war right now.
See more at www.agilitegear.com.
StarWin and Avanti Communications welcome new era of mobility with successful testing of COTM Solution on HYLAS 4 Satellite
LONDON, 17 OCTOBER 2023 – StarWin, today announces that it has successfully tested its Electronically Steered Phased Array Antenna (ESA) terminal for Communications on the Move (COTM) on Avanti Communications’ (“Avanti”) high-speed HYLAS 4 Ka-band satellite.
This ground-breaking achievement is a significant milestone for mobile satellite communications that will provide seamless broadband connectivity for government, military, and enterprise customers across Africa. During testing, StarWin’s ESA terminal demonstrated impressive capabilities, ensuring high-speed data and reliable communications while on the move.
The successful partnership sets a new standard of quality and efficiency for satellite communications, opening up new possibilities to users in motion. The Ka-band ESA terminal’s compact size, lightweight design, and easy and quick mounting process make it a versatile and practical solution for a wide range of applications that require mobility.
“We are thrilled to have joined forces with Avanti for this revolutionary project,” stated Mrs. Amelia Liu, COO and Co-founder of StarWin. “The successful testing of our Ka-band ESA terminal is just the beginning of a new era, we look forward to further advancements in the industry. The future of mobile connectivity in Africa looks brighter than ever.”
Donald Walker, Senior Vice President of Government and Defence added, “At Avanti, we are committed to delivering the very best service to our customers and users, and this latest partnership with StarWin will allow us to expand our offering in Africa’s defence and security sector, by providing greater on the move capabilities. This new chapter will further our mission to deliver secure and reliable connectivity to those who need it most.”
Avanti has a long history supporting government and defence customers and is a trusted provider of Satellite Communications (SATCOM) to US, UK and global government agencies. The company’s fleet of four HYLAS Ka-band satellites offer 50GHz capacity and cover more than 1.7 billion people in 118 countries.
Both companies are dedicated to serving the needs of customers in the region, empowering them with reliable and efficient satellite connectivity solutions.
The Maritime Plate Carrier from the UK’s Luminae is so new, it’s not even on the website yet.
Features:
•Light Weight
•Hydrophobic Fabric doesn’t gain any additional weight when wet
•Rigid Modular Cummerbund System
•Built-in Radio / Knife Wings
•Internal Cable Routing
•Quick Release FirstSpear Tubes
ANOKA, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) (“Vista Outdoor”), the parent company of 41 renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products to consumers around the globe, today announced a definitive agreement to sell its Sporting Products business to Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”) for an enterprise value of $1.91 billion in an all-cash transaction subject to customary closing conditions. This transaction represents the next step in Vista Outdoor’s plan to split the company into separate entities, which was previously announced on May 5, 2022.
CSG is a leading industrial technology holding company, operating within five strategic business segments, including defense, aerospace, ammunition, mobility and business. CSG is 100% owned and led by Michal Strnad, who has transformed it into a leading Czech industrial group with a strong international footprint. CSG employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and it owns and manages a diverse portfolio of industrial and trade companies across the defense and civil sectors.
“This is an important strategic step for our company in creating value through separating our Outdoor Products and Sporting Products segments,” said Gary McArthur, interim CEO of Vista Outdoor. “The previously announced plan to separate our businesses has positioned us to execute seamlessly on this transaction, which we believe is the best path to maximize value for our stockholders, while better positioning Sporting Products and Outdoor Products for future success.”
“We are confident that CSG is a great home for our leading ammunition brands,” said Jason Vanderbrink, CEO of Sporting Products. “The company is fully committed to our iconic American brands and expanding our legacy of U.S. manufacturing, support for military and law enforcement customers, and investments in conservation and our hunting and shooting heritage. We are excited to work closely with the CSG team as we enter this next phase and position our brands for long-term success.”
Added Michal Strnad, CEO of CSG, “Jason and the Sporting Products leadership team have a strong heritage of delivering high quality products, and we are pleased to welcome them to the CSG family of companies as we partner to support their next chapter. We look forward to building on the company’s success in delivering innovative, quality products and are confident in the long-term value we can create together. We are committed to expanding their legacy of U.S. manufacturing and providing resources to accelerate their growth.”
Transaction Details
The transaction values the Sporting Products business at an enterprise value of $1.91 billion, on a cash-free, debt-free basis with a normalized level of working capital, and is supported by $1.11 billion of fully committed debt financing with the remaining amount funded by CSG. The valuation is approximately 5x enterprise value to Sporting Products FY24 EBITDA, including estimated standalone costs. To effect the transaction, Vista Outdoor will separate its Outdoor Products business from its Sporting Products business, and CSG will merge one of its subsidiaries with Vista Outdoor (holding only the Sporting Products business), with current public stockholders of Vista Outdoor receiving shares of Outdoor Products (recently rebranded as Revelyst) and approximately $750 million in cash in the aggregate. This will be treated as a taxable sale of a stockholder’s Vista Outdoor shares for the Outdoor Products shares and cash consideration they receive in the merger, allowing stockholders to recover tax basis and recognize built-in gain and loss in their Vista Outdoor shares. Relative to a divestiture of Sporting Products as an asset sale, this structure has corporate level tax of approximately $50 million versus approximately $380 million for a divestiture as an asset sale and allows for the tax-efficient return of cash to stockholders.
The transaction is expected to close in calendar year 2024, subject to approval of our stockholders, receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Upon closing, Vanderbrink will remain CEO of the Sporting Products business and the U.S. headquarters will remain in Anoka, Minnesota. In connection with the transaction, the company’s approximately 4,000 employees who represent four factories and the consumer brands CCI, Federal, HEVI-Shot, Remington and Speer will continue their heritage of community and conservation support through local and national organizations.
Outdoor Products
Upon completion of the sale of the Sporting Products business to CSG, Vista Outdoor’s Outdoor Products business will become Revelyst, Inc. (“Revelyst”), an independent publicly traded company trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “GEAR.” Revelyst will leverage meticulous craftsmanship and cross-collaboration across its portfolio of category-defining brands. Brands include Fox, Bell, Giro, CamelBak, Camp Chef, Bushnell, Simms Fishing, Foresight Sports, Bushnell Golf and more. Eric Nyman will continue as CEO of Outdoor Products and become the CEO of Revelyst upon transaction close.
Leadership Update
Joining Vanderbrink on the leadership team at Sporting Products will be Al Kerfeld, CFO; Jeff Ehrich, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; and Mark Kowalski, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. Andy Keegan, currently vice president and interim CFO of Vista Outdoor, plans to join Revelyst as CFO.
For full financial disclosure, visit news.vistaoutdoor.com/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2023/Vista-Outdoor-Enters-into-Definitive-Agreement-to-Sell-Sporting-Products-Business-to-Czechoslovak-Group-for-1.91-Billion
NIOA has begun ammunition production for the Army’s next-generation armoured Boxer vehicle, marking a significant milestone for munitions manufacturing in Australia.
The company will produce 40,000 rounds of medium calibre training ammunition at the Commonwealth Government-owned NIOA-operated plant in Benalla, Victoria for the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) which is being made in Queensland by Rheinmetall.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy (centre) with GWEO Chief AVM Leon Phillips (left) and members of the NIOA team at the Benalla facility…and (below) the 30mm projectiles coming off the line, bound for testing in the Boxer combat vehicle’s cannon.
It comes as the Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy announced a $220 million investment in munitions production at Benalla and another government-owned contractor-operated (GOCO) factory at Mulwala in regional New South Wales.
Minister Conroy and Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise Chief AVM Leon Phillips OAM toured NIOA’s Benalla operation last Friday (Eds: October 6) as the first batch of 30mm projectiles was being prepared to roll off the line.
A key recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review was to replenish GWEO stocks and to establish sovereign missile and munition manufacturing facilities in Australia.
“Improving Australia’s ability to manufacture the munitions our defence force needs is not only critical to meeting the strategic challenges we face as a nation, it will also support local industry and well-paid, skilled local jobs,” Minister Conroy said.
“The Mulwala and Benalla munition factories underpin Australia’s ability to develop critical propellants, explosives and munitions for the Australian Defence Force.”
NIOA Australia and New Zealand CEO Ben James welcomed the Government’s investment in domestic munitions production.
“This will further support Australia’s growing defence industrial base and comes at an exciting time as we ramp up production of the Boxer ammunition at Benalla,” he said.
“NIOA’s $12m investment at Benalla reflects our commitment to work with Government and Defence in delivering sovereign capability and local jobs.
“We have a highly qualified and professional team at Benalla who have worked exceptionally hard to reach this key milestone in sovereign munitions manufacture.”
The NIOA tenancy at Benalla maintains the Commonwealth’s capabilities for the manufacture of primary energetics, pyrotechnics, medium calibre, mortar and tank ammunition, hand grenades, fuzes, primers, along with various laboratory test facilities.
The company recently completed work recapitalising 120mm tank ammunition for the Australian Army’s M1A1 Abrams tank fleet.
DNS Alpha exhibited with Mountain Horse Solutions which is a division of Global Ordnance. In addition to their clothing systems, they showed us their Vapor Barrier Sock system which was recently adopted by a NATO SOF unit.
It comes in 6 sizes with the VBL made from silicon treated 30D nylon and fully taped. The liner sock is manufactured by CEP from Merino wool.
Rheinmetall has booked a major order for 155mm artillery ammunition following a second call-off under an existing framework order with the German government. The latter has contracted with the Düsseldorf-based tech group to supply the Ukrainian armed forces with tens of thousands of L15 rounds as well as conventional 155mm Assegai shells for the German military. The order is worth a figure in the lower three-digit million-euro range. Delivery is scheduled to take place in 2024.
As recently as July 2023, Rheinmetall announced the signing of a new framework agreement for artillery ammunition with the Bundeswehr and the expansion of an existing agreement. The contracts encompass the delivery of several hundred thousand shells, fuses and propelling charges.
The war in Ukraine has compelled the armed forces of numerous nations to replenish their ammunition stocks. In this context, Rheinmetall has already booked several large orders for artillery ammunition.
The recently concluded framework agreement for 155mm artillery ammunition runs until 2029 and represents gross potential order volume of around €1.2 billion. The first orders of service and practice ammunition came directly after the contract was signed.
Among other products, Rheinmetall’s family of artillery ammunition includes the high-explosive DM121 shell, the DM125 smoke/obscurant projectile and (jointly developed with Diehl) the DM702 SMArt sensor fuse munition, plus the RH68 practice round and the range-optimized RH1901 an RH1902 smoke/obscurant projectiles.
The Group’s portfolio also includes the versatile 155mm Assegai family from Rheinmetall Denel Munition, which encompasses insensitive ammunition and conventional HE shells as well as smoke/obscurant, illumination, infrared illumination and other projectiles. All Assegai artillery ammunition types have a maximum range of approximately 40 kilometres. Under the latest framework agreement, the tried-and-tested Assegai ammunition family will now be entering service with the Bundeswehr.
