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Archive for the ‘Press Release’ Category

S.O.Tech Gorilla Cleaning Case

Friday, December 8th, 2023

S.O.Tech builds utility into our designs.  In the field environment, you have two concerns when servicing your weapons – getting them clean AND doing so without losing any of the parts!  So we designed our Gorilla Cleaning Case with both a well organized cleaning tool slots and pockets area and a side-walled disassembly field.  These webbing walls are folded up so pesky little pins and springs don’t roll off to be lost forever, and the field is bright grey for provide easy identification.  A large flat pocket is included behind the organizer slots of bottles of cleaner and the outside has a female Velcro field to accept a patch identifying what weapons the kit supports.

 

Cases go live Friday 12/8 12pm PST. Ships immediately.

specopstech.com

Spartan Blades Releases Their First Collaboration with Ondrej Nemec as Part of Their Bronze Grade Line of Knives

Friday, December 8th, 2023

Spartan Blades of Southern Pines, NC announce a new collaboration with knife Maker and Designer Ondrej Nemec of the Czech Republic.

Ondrej Nemec is a Czech designer, the co-founder of ANV Knives, and a consultant in the Knife Making Industry. His journey in this field began during his early years, growing up in his father’s workshop. His father’s dedication to craftsmanship ignited Ondrej’s appreciation for high-quality tools, regardless of their purpose. Ondrej’s profound fascination with knives, recognizing them as tools that have significantly contributed to human evolution, led him to establish ACTA NON VERBA KNIVES. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Ondrej is dedicated to creating innovative designs that stand the test of time, ensuring proven and trusted functionality.

AFCEA Announces New Intelligence Community Award

Thursday, December 7th, 2023

Excellence in Scientific and Technical Intelligence Award

To address the need for—and recognize the value of—innovation in intelligence, AFCEA International recently announced a new Award for Excellence in Defense Scientific & Technical Intelligence S&TI). Sponsored by AFCEA’s Intelligence Committee, the award recognizes and promotes achievement within the DoD’s S&TI enterprise. 

Submissions are open and will be accepted through Friday, January 19, 2024. 

Under the broad umbrella of S&TI there are three primary subcategories: Foundational Military Intelligence, Intelligence Analysis and Intelligence Innovation. 

“This unique award shines a light on the ever-impressive achievements of our S&TI workforce and how they tirelessly work to maintain a competitive advantage,” said Lewis Shepherd, the committee chair. AFCEA’s Intelligence Committee is well-positioned to encourage achievement and increase awareness about S&TI accomplishments that are not often publicized. 

Individuals and teams will be recognized. The individual award is open to active duty and Reserve military members and federal government employees. The team award is open to those categories as well as civilian contractors. Awardees will be selected from nominations received from individual commands or agencies that are subordinate to one of the 18 intelligence community organizations.   

Nominees must have made a specific, demonstrable contribution to the advancement of scientific and technical intelligence in one or more of the following categories: Foundational Military Intelligence, Intelligence Analysis or Intelligence Innovation. The selection panel will consider submissions that recognize the doctrinal, financial, organizational or other dimensions of these categories, as well as initiative, leadership and professional insight.  

A selection panel of current and former intelligence community leaders—including representatives from the private sector and academia—will select the awardees. Winners will be announced approximately one month in advance of the award presentations at the annual AFCEA International Spring Intelligence Symposium on March 12-13, 2024, at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Campus East Conference Center in Springfield, Virginia. 

Elbit America Wins $500 Million Contract to Continue Supplying Night Vision to USMC

Thursday, December 7th, 2023

The Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle is lightweight, provides critical advantages on the modern battlefield

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – DEC. 7, 2023 – Elbit America received a five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to continue producing the Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle (SBNVG). The competitive contract is worth up to $500 million, with an initial delivery order for nearly $127 million. The goggles will be produced in Roanoke, Virginia. The company has delivered more than 15,000 SBNVG systems to the USMC since 2019.

The SBNVG has proven to be a game-changer in modern warfare, as it is lightweight without compromising capability. The goggles currently provide image intensification, with an enhanced clip-on thermal imager. The set-up allows Marines to operate at night, or in dark buildings and tunnels where one’s situational awareness is challenged.

The SBNVG is a helmet-mounted system that provides Marines with increased depth perception, enhanced clarity through high-performance white phosphor image intensifier tubes, a thermal-imaging capability, and more. These features, along with extra-long run times, provide Marines an added edge on the battlefield.

“No matter the light conditions or environment, Marines are tapped for challenging missions. Equipped with Elbit America’s Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggles, Marines can quickly understand their surroundings and act,” said Erik Fox, Vice President of Warfighter Systems at Elbit America.

“Elbit America is proud of our long history supplying Marines with night vision and electro-optic innovations,” said Raanan Horowitz, the company’s president and CEO. “We continue to refine our portfolio, offering solutions that enable the networked Warfighter of the future with sophisticated decision aids and display systems that work in all operational environments.”

More details about Elbit America Night Vision are available at  www.elbitamerica.com/night-vision.

Italian Air Force Flies New MQ-9A Block 5 RPA from GA-ASI

Wednesday, December 6th, 2023

Delivery of New Block 5 and GCS Part of Mid-Life Modernization of ItAF’s RPA Fleet

SAN DIEGO – 05 December 2023 – On Nov. 9, 2023, the Italian Air Force (ItAF) made its first flight of a new MQ-9A Block 5 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). The new RPA was delivered to the ItAF, along with a new Mobile Ground Control Station (MGCS), as part of a Mid-Life Modernization (MLM) update to the ItAF fleet of RPAs from GA-ASI. The aircraft and MGCS are part of a Foreign Military Sale.

The Block 5 RPA provides a significant increase in electrical power generation, auto takeoff and landing capability with improved landing gear and datalinks, and the latest version of the GA-ASI Lynx® Multi-mode Radar.

“The Italian Air Force has long been a leader in using the MQ-9 Reaper to support a wide range of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Italy, over the Mediterranean, and in support of NATO operations,” said GA-ASI Vice President of International Strategic Development Jaime Walters. “The delivery of this new Block 5 and MGCS will help to update the Italian Air Force’s existing fleet.”

The ItAF’s current fleet of RPAs from GA-ASI consists of four Block 1s and two Block 15 MGCSs.

Armasight Announces Handheld Sidekick 640 Mini Thermal Monocular

Wednesday, December 6th, 2023

For Immediate Release – Northbrook IL – Trailblazer and Category Leader in Thermal and Night Vision, Armasight announces the release of the Sidekick 640 handheld Thermal Monocular. The Sidekick is available immediately online and in select retail outlets.

The Sidekick 640 is the smallest fully multi-functional 12-micron 640 thermal imaging monocular on the market. This unit boasts a fast 60Hz frame rate for smooth operation and industry-best, outstanding visual acuity, based on Armasight’s Iron Wolf thermal technology platform. Weighing under 384 grams, the Sidekick can be used as a handheld mini-monocular or can be headset/helmet mounted utilizing the built-in mini-rail for hands- free operation. The high definition 1024 × 768 OLED display provides a crisp image, with iconography providing key information. The Sidekick utilizes simplified 3 button controls that allow for easy manipulation in the field and offers one-touch in-unit video recording.

The Sidekick 640 offers an extensive suite of features including video and image capture, USB video stream, USB-C interface for viewing your recordings and photos on external devices such as computers or televisions. Users will enjoy the functionality of multiple color palettes, intuitive simple 3 button controls, and compatibility with the Rayvn Rail Bridge Mount for helmet mounting with PVS-14, MNVD, or second Sidekick (sold separately).

Package Includes: Thermal Monocular, 2 × CR123A Battery, USB-C Cable, Battery Extender, Product Manual, Lens Cloth, Soft Case  Designed and Assembled in the USA.

The Armasight Sidekick 640 is available for purchase at Armasight.com as well as through select dealers now.

Features:

-Multiple color palettes

-Intuitive 3-button control

-Dovetail Mini-Rail included for Helmet Mounting

-Works with Rayvn Rail Bridge Mount for helmet mounting with PVS-14, MNVD, or second Sidekick (sold separately)

-Video Recording & Image Capture

-USB-C Interface for External Devices

-Works with External Power Banks via USB-C

-Compass

-ULTEM Composite Body and Ergonomic Design

MSRP: Armasight Sidekick 640 – $3,299

www.Armasight.com

Jankel Launches New Armoured Toyota Land Cruiser LC300

Wednesday, December 6th, 2023

Jankel, a world-leader in the design and manufacture of high-specification defence, security and NGO protection systems, has announced the formal product launch of their new armoured Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 vehicle. Jankel is an exceedingly well-established supplier in the world of Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAVs) and this new armoured variant of the latest Toyota Land Cruiser 300 model is claimed to be a “best in class” product.

Delivering unprecedented levels of protection, functionality and reliability based upon many years of user feedback, the new Jankel LC300 is already being sought after by a multitude of global defence ministries and Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s).

Having qualified the LC300 to the latest edition 3 of the international VPAM BRV and ERV (VR7) standards, Jankel has invested to ensure the developed platform provides the very best protection to its UK home market customers and maximises its export potential to the wider international user groups. Jankel is proud to be the very first to certify their VR7 vehicle with a 2m side blast in accordance with Edition 3 which uses biofidelic dummies to understand the true impacts to the vehicle occupants. The Jankel LC300 has been designed with a bolt in armour solution, electric systems modularity, and unique patented technologies to provide customers with a 10-year service life.

The formal product launch comes as a comprehensive development programme draws to a close.

Understanding the requirement to deliver a future-proofed design from the outset inclusive of customer options, Jankel has taken time to develop and test their design with key differentiators, not wishing to rush to enter the market until absolutely ready to do so. As a result, Jankel’s new LC300 delivers ‘best in class’ protection, safety, capability and functionality including a protection certified for a third row of seats, allowing for 7 people.

Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel Group said: “I’m very proud to be able to formally launch our new LC300 – it’s an exciting product that I have every confidence will meet our customers ever growing needs and expectations. Our development and testing programme has been careful, exacting and supremely comprehensive, delivering a vehicle that benefits from many years of user feedback leading to detailed and innovative product design. We have not rushed this, we’ve taken our time to get it absolutely right and provide a long lasting differentiated product offering”. He added: “As well as the more obvious targets of compliance, protection and safety, our new product is also very focused on through-life reliability and maintainability – essential for fleet managers and operators across the globe. We’ve not just aimed at passing the international standard protection tests, we’ve reached beyond that to enhance the overall performance and operability in every way possible. Our combination of production price and service life offer excellent value for money. I’m very pleased indeed with the team’s efforts and obvious results as we now present our new LC300 to the global markets”.

www.jankel.com/products/civilian-armoured-vehicles/vr7-armoured-toyota-lc300

Rheinmetall Wins Major Artillery Ammunition Order for Ukraine Worth Over €140 Million

Tuesday, December 5th, 2023

Rheinmetall has won a large-volume order for supporting Ukraine with artillery ammunition. The Düsseldorf-based tech enterprise has been tasked with supplying Kyiv with artillery rounds worth around €142 million. The order encompasses tens of thousands of complete 155mm artillery shells, including the projectile, fuse (for the explosive charge), propellant and primer (for igniting the propellant). The customer is a NATO partner nation whose declared intention is to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle with effective long-term military aid.

The shells will be produced by Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, the Group’s newly acquired Spanish subsidiary. The current contract highlights Rheinmetall’s role as the world’s largest producer of ammunition, especially in the large calibre domain. The ammunition will be delivered in 2025. Production and delivery of around 40,000 rounds for Ukraine from an earlier order is already due to take place in 2024.

As recently as mid-October 2023, the German government placed an order with Rheinmetall for over 100,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition earmarked for Ukraine – once again from Rheinmetall Expal Munitions – as well as additional DM 121 high explosive shells. The order is worth a figure in the mid-three-digit million-euro range.

Demand for artillery ammunition is currently very high, due not just to Ukraine’s requirements but also the need to replenish the largely empty ammunition depots of Germany and other NATO and EU countries. Rheinmetall plans a massive increase in ammunition production capacity in 2024 at its plants in Germany, Spain, South Africa and Australia, bringing annual output capacity to around 700,000 artillery rounds.

Rheinmetall currently has multiyear framework contracts for supplying the German Bundeswehr with several hundred rounds of artillery ammunition worth over €1 billion.