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Archive for the ‘Press Release’ Category

The Modern Era Of Compensated Carry Is Here – Introducing the FN 509 CC Edge

Tuesday, September 6th, 2022

(McLean, VA – September 6, 2022) FN America, LLC announces the release of the FN 509 CC Edge™, a compact compensated pistol and the newest addition to the FN Edge™ Series of performance-driven products. Featuring a novel quick-detach FN compensator that is self-indexing, the compensator effectively mitigates recoil for faster shot recovery, improving speed to target, accuracy, and overall control of the pistol. The FN Edge Series is comprised of high-performance firearms developed with four key pillars: speed, accuracy, versatility and control. The Edge Series deliver unrivaled firearms performance over standard models, dramatically improving the user’s shooting experience.

“With the FN Edge Series of products, our team of engineers addresses the challenges facing today’s gun enthusiasts in a unique and no-holds-barred way. It’s a combination of aesthetics and performance that have been fine-tuned to perfection directly from the factory and delivered against the promise of FN innovation,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO for FN America, LLC. “The FN 509 CC Edge is a high-performance, premium 9mm carry gun that offers improved sight recovery, shootability and more, all without sacrificing on overall size for concealed carry.”

The FN Compensator

Key to the FN 509 CC Edge’s performance is the FN compensator. Designed to reduce muzzle rise by roughly 25 percent, the compensator significantly decreases felt recoil while preserving the ability to carry concealed. The compensator features v-style ports on either side that vector gases and flash out of the user’s field of view. The result is a shooting experience that is flatter and more controlled, allowing you to maintain a consistent sight picture from shot to shot. Machined from stainless steel and coated with a graphite colored PVD finish, the compensator is extremely durable and is designed to withstand hard use across standard and self-defense loads for the widest degree of compatibility, while still utilizing the factory FN 509 recoil spring.

“The addition of a compensator to a concealed carry pistol is a delicate balance – too small and your compensator can be ineffective. Too big and you aren’t able to conceal as easily along with other possible issues,” noted John Ryan, Director of Commercial Product Management for FN America, LLC, when discussing FN’s methodology in developing this compensator. “Our engineering team took a whole system approach to the design, knowing that this pistol was intended to be a CCW option, and had to perform with as little recoil as possible, but still needed to fit within the styling of the FN Edge Series. The sleek design of the FN compensator compliments the aesthetics of the Edge Series perfectly while meeting performance requirements.”

Unlike most other threaded compensators on the market that require tools to remove and timing shims to align the compensator to the slide, the FN compensator’s quick-detach design allows for easy disassembly for cleaning and maintenance. To field strip, remove the slide, push in on the front of the compensator and rotate 90 degrees to release it from the barrel’s locking lugs. To resecure the compensator, the novel and quick operation is simply reversed. No timing or adjustment is required before use and due to the self-locking lugs machined into the barrel, the compensator won’t loosen over time.

“Even if you have the best comp in the world that results in virtually zero felt recoil, it’s still a simple fact that most compensated guns are difficult to disassemble for routine maintenance. This was top of mind for us as we developed the FN compensator,” said Chris Johnson, Senior Product Manager, Pistols, for FN America, LLC. “Our team evaluated the more traditional attachment methods but opted to explore something new so that customers who purchased a CC Edge pistol would be able to disassemble both the pistol and compensator quickly for easy maintenance. Ultimately, we settled on this quick detach design that uses a compressed spring and lock ring within the compensator that mates to locking lugs cut into the barrel. It’s a future-forward idea and we’re excited about the potential impacts this has for our industry for other barrel attachments.”

In addition to the compensator, the FN 509 CC Edge includes a 12-round and two 15-round magazines with machined aluminum base pads; the extra weight of the base pads ensures an empty magazine drops free of the grip frame for a lightning-fast reload. The 4.2-inch cold hammer-forged barrel with recessed target crown and a new gold-color Titanium Nitride PVD barrel coating provide increased lubricity, hardness and long-wearing performance.

The micro-red-dot-ready pistol includes FN’s patented Low-Profile Optics-Mounting System™, allowing users to mount more than 10 different MRDs, without the need for a gunsmith. A green fiber optic front sight and low glare blacked out rear sights co-witness with the most popular optics.

Concealed carriers also benefit from the signature FN Edge Series fire control group, to dramatically increase speed and accuracy over standard firearms. The flat-faced trigger has a smooth take up and clean, 90-degree break. When paired with the high-endurance striker, this advanced factory-installed fire control group produces an approximated 5-pound trigger pull.

The pistol’s slide lightening cuts and in-mold stippled frame texture, first introduced on the FN 509 LS Edge, allow for superior grip and control for fast and accurate follow up shots. Its low-profile magazine release is reversible for lefthanded users, with a slide release fixed on both sides of the frame. Rounding out the advanced ergonomics package, the interchangeable backstraps further customize fit in hand.

The Edge of Performance

The FN Edge Series™ is a collection of advanced firearms with chosen performance benefits fueled by collaboration with tier one operators intimately familiar with being in harm’s way. They are not “smithed” or custom one-offs.

FN Edge Series firearms stand on a bedrock of unmatched quality standards and exhaustive testing demanded by global militaries and law enforcement where uniform performance is table stakes and only the best examples make the final cut.

To learn more about the FN 509 CC Edge and other FN Edge Series products, please visit fnamerica.com/509ccedge.

Rheinmetall and UVision to Supply HERO Loitering Munitions to a Major European NATO Partner

Monday, September 5th, 2022

Rheinmetall and its partner UVision have won a first order from a major European NATO military force for HERO loitering munitions. The customer, a special forces formation, ordered Hero-30 combat and training munitions, simulator, training courses as well as integrated logistics equipment and support. This first order is worth a figure in the single-digit million-euro range with possible additional orders might be expected in the future. The exact number of munitions to be supplied is classified. The order was placed in July 2022, with delivery scheduled to take place by 2023.

For both Rheinmetall and UVision, the order is of particular importance as it is the first delivery to a major European NATO force. This strengthens the joint presence of both partners in Europe. The contract was awarded under secrecy clauses which limit revealing its full details to the public. However, prior to awarding the contract, the customer conducted a market survey indicating that the HERO family had already proven itself in service with other armed forces such as the United States Marine Corps. In addition, it was noted that due to the high operability of the HERO systems family, there is the possibility that the customer will also introduce the next-in-series HERO loitering munitions into its forces in the future.

Hero loitering munition is a series of operationally proven, widely deployed effectors, manufactured and distributed in Europe as part of a cooperation between UVision Air Ltd. and Rheinmetall’s Italian subsidiary RWM Italia S.p.A. In October 2021, Rheinmetall and the Israeli company UVision entered a strategic partnership in the field of loitering munition. In this partnership, Rheinmetall and UVision are jointly addressing the rapidly growing market for remote-controlled precision ammunition.

Combat power multiplier

Loitering munitions – remote-controlled airborne precision-strike munitions – combine the operational advantages of drones and guided missiles. The systems provide front-line forces with a combination of advanced intelligence gathering and target acquisition capabilities along with extended range firepower, which until now could only be achieved by complex coordination between several units and echelons.

The term loitering munition (“LM” for short) is derived from the munition’s ability to remain undetected in the airspace above the target area for an extended period of time and to strike when the right moment arrives.

Versatile and easy to operate, loitering munitions can be used in national and allied defence as well as in low-intensity conflicts or peace stabilization operations. LM offers the military user considerable cost advantages over guided missiles, delivering comparable effectiveness as well as the ability to reconnoitre, locate and track targets from the air for an extended period. An important tactical advantage of the operationally proven UVision HERO systems lies in their high-precision strike capabilities, which results in minimal risk of collateral damage. Continuous monitoring in accordance with the “human in the loop” principle enables calculated, pinpoint attacks that are precisely tailored to the timing and conditions of a constantly changing situation.

A loitering munition system includes a single or multi-canister launcher, a loitering munition (or multiple LMs if the latter), communication technology, and a ground control module for the operator. The loitering munitions themselves are remote-controlled small air vehicles, each of which can attack ground targets – even beyond the line of sight.

All models are equipped with high-resolution electro-optical sensors and infra-red cameras that enable the operator to locate, monitor and ultimately engage even time-critical low-signature targets. In this way, enemy targets can be located, tracked, and verified to conduct precise strikes. The HERO system can abort an attack in mid-air, return to flight mode and then resume the attack or reassign other targets, giving operators great tactical flexibility on the modern battlefield.

Industry Day at the Range Introduces Taurus USA as 2023 Buyer Lunch Sponsor

Saturday, September 3rd, 2022

LAS VEGAS, N.V. – August 31, 2022 – SHOT Show® Industry Day at the Range Industry Day at the Range is pleased to announce that Taurus USA, manufacturer of premium handguns, will be the exclusive Buyer Lunch Sponsor at the 2023 range day event. Industry Day at the Range will take place at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club in Boulder City, Nevada on Monday, January 16, 2023 from 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.

As the Buyer Lunch Sponsor for the upcoming Industry Day at the Range, Taurus USA will provide lunch tickets to all registered buyers in attendance. Lunch vouchers may be redeemed at any of the food trucks throughout the premises.

“We’re honored to have Taurus USA as our exclusive Buyer Lunch Sponsor next year,” said Kelsey Puryear, Industry Day at the Range Manager. “This sponsorship means more face time with buyers, giving Taurus USA ample opportunities to engage with attendees and promote their brand and products. They will also be able to take advantage of standard sponsorship perks, including an exclusive shooting bay, additional media coverage and more.”

“Taurus USA is honored to be next year’s Buyer Lunch Sponsor and share new products with buyers in our industry,” says Cody Osborn, Marketing Director of Taurus USA. “At Taurus USA, we pride ourselves in our culture of innovation, rugged craftsmanship and next-generation design and engineering. And we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to share that story with Industry Day guests in 2023.”

Every year, several of the industry’s most well-known brands, manufacturers and organizations come together to give media and buyers the opportunity to test and evaluate new products. There are shooting lanes for all firearm types, tents for non-shooting companies and ample space for on and off-road vehicles and other product demonstrations.

Jessie Harrison Claims Back-to-Back Titles with Bushnell First Strike 2.0

Saturday, September 3rd, 2022

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – August 31, 2022 – Bushnell®, an industry leader in performance optics, is celebrating pro shooter Jessie Harrison’s dominant performances at the recent USPSA Area 5 and Area 3 Championships. Harrison, who is also a sponsored Hoppe’s athlete, recorded back-to-back High Lady titles at two of the USPSA’s most competitive championships.

Harrison won the High Lady title at the 2022 Cheely Custom Gunworks Area 5 Championship in Brooklyn, Michigan, and then went on to clinch the High Lady title at the 2022 Hornady Area 3 Championship in Grand Island, Nebraska. Her latest wins add to an already impressive 2022 season, which includes the High Lady title at the Area 1 Championship and the coveted Overall Steel Master award at the 2022 World Speed Shooting Championships held earlier in the year.

Throughout both the Area 5 and Area 3 matches, Harrison relied on her First Strike 2.0 reflex sight. One of Bushnell’s most versatile optics, the First Strike 2.0 features a large objective lens, brighter daylight settings and a rugged design that stands up to the rigors of USPSA competition.

“In any match, I rely heavily on optics and what I can see,” said Harrison. “The Bushnell First Strike 2.0 gives me a bright, clean edged red dot, that allows me to acquire a sight picture as soon as possible and be as precise as needed.”

To learn more about the First Strike 2.0 or to see the full lineup of Bushnell optics, check out Bushnell.com.

NATO Customer Norway Officially Commissions New High-Performance Rheinmetall MAN Logistic Vehicles

Friday, September 2nd, 2022

On 23 August 2022, in the presence of company officials from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, the Norwegian military procurement agency, NDMA, formally transferred over a hundred new HX and TGS-mil military trucks to the Norwegian Army, the end customer. The ceremony took place at Sessvollmoen military base near Oslo. Major General Øyvind Johan Kvalvik, Deputy Director of the NDMA, symbolically handed over the keys to the Norwegian Army’s second in command, Brigadier General Frode Ommundsen.

“We are proud to be able to transfer these state-of-the-art truck systems today to the most important people in the Norwegian armed forces – the troops!”, declared Michael Wittlinger, chairman of the board of management of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) in a speech marking the occasion. “We are certain that these vehicles will satisfy Norway’s soldiers, providing them with the best-possible protection and support.” 

The roots of the project go back to 2008, when a committee of Norwegian military officials drew up a list of specifications for new military logistic vehicles. Norway gave Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) the nod in 2013. Then, on

31 March 2014, NDMA and its Swedish opposite number, the FMV procurement agency in Stockholm, entered a framework agreement with RMMV to supply of military logistic vehicles, which runs through to 2025. Linked to this is an additional agreement encompassing long-term service support from RMMV. Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles is a joint venture owned by Rheinmetall AG, which holds a 51% stake in the company, and MAN Truck & Bus SE, which holds the remaining 49% share. 

The first shipments of trucks earmarked for Norway include 109 vehicles of various types: twenty-four 24 HX 8×8 trucks with hook lift systems; fifty-six TGS 6×6 heavy-duty tractor trailers; and twenty-nine TGS 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles.

Michael Wittlinger went on to note in his speech that “this is RMMV’s most complex project to date. Our contract is not just with Norway but with Sweden, too. Owing to the special challenges of the Scandinavian operating environment, the technical specifications are very complex. Moreover, the order encompasses 38 different truck configurations and trailer variants, making this a very multifaceted programme.”  Furthermore, each individual variant is subject to an extremely rigid and ambitious timetable for reaching milestones, with highly detailed lifecycle support documentation required at every stage. All of this goes way beyond the expectations of our other customers.”

The new vehicles are intended first and foremost to improve the transport capacity of the Norwegian military’s logistics corps, while simultaneously expanding the operational capabilities of its armed forces. This new high-tech family of vehicles fully meets the comprehensive requirements of its military users. Some of these trucks feature an integrated armoured vehicle cab for protecting the crew from ballistic threats and shrapnel. Furthermore, they can also be equipped with state-of-the-art communication and command-and-control systems as well as remote-control weapon stations.

Jankel’s LTTV Production Programme Changes Up a Gear

Friday, September 2nd, 2022

199 British designed and built tactical vehicles based on the Mercedes Benz UNIMOG vehicles to the Belgian Ministry of Defence (BeMOD). Jankel’s LTTV can be viewed at the DVD exhibition at Millbrook, 21-22 September.

In September 2021, Jankel announced the establishment of a new production capability in the UK and in November 2021 it was announced that the programme had passed Preliminary Technical Acceptance (PTA) and had formally entered production. Following a period of LRIP (Low-Rate Initial Production) that coincided with COVID working restrictions, recently, the programme has been gathering pace with vehicle 25 entering production in August. From September onwards, the production rate accelerates further with the delivery of all 199 vehicles set for completion in 2023.

First unveiled at DSEi in September 2019 and also displayed at DSEi in September 2021, Jankel’s LTTV is designed to provide a modular and configurable tactical support vehicle that benefits from unique, removable mission modules that enable the vehicle to be re-roled rapidly for operational platform versatility. The LTTV has 3 core variants for Special Operations support, including an ambulance variant. Alongside a user-configurable, fully integrated suite of military sub-systems that includes a removable ballistic protection kit, a Roll-Over-Protection-System (ROPS), weapon mounts and communications fit, the platform will provide full interoperability with the Fox fleet of tactical vehicles.

Richard Semmens, Operations Director at Jankel said: “I’m very proud indeed of our team and our UK-based supply chain for working so hard to get our LTTV programme where it is today with vehicles coming off the production line at increasing frequency and being delivered to our BeMOD customer.

Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel said: Like anyone else in manufacturing (defence or otherwise) will know, there have been some challenges to face through BREXIT, COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict. Right through that period, here at Jankel we’ve continued to deliver and to export some great UK products and services including our LTTV programme. Indeed, we’re one of a very few UK defence manufacturers that has been continuously delivering and exporting throughout this turbulent period”. He added: “I’d like to thank everyone who has worked with us so closely to help us succeed during this testing period including our suppliers and importantly, our customers. I’ll be the first person to say it’s not been easy but I’m also happy to say we’re succeeding. I’d particularly like to thank our suppliers for their patience, support and agility and I look forward to delivering the rest of the LTTV programme in the coming months.”.

All-Aspect Thermoregulation is the Next Night Vision: Qore Performance Launches All-New IcePlate EXO-SLK Cooling/Heating/Hydration Vest

Friday, September 2nd, 2022

Sterling, VA: In their eternal quest to liberate humans from environmental constraints, Qore Performance, Inc., is excited to launch the newest addition to their cutting-edge IcePlate EXO® line of thermoregulation-enhanced plate carriers and cooling/heating/hydration vests: IcePlate EXO®-SLK. As the name implies, IcePlate EXO®-SLK is designed specifically for non-combat applications, from heavy-duty professional users to weekend warriors to outdoor enthusiasts where conductive thermoregulation provides much needed performance and survivability advantages to the end-user.

“We created IcePlate EXO®-SLK in response to the many requests we received from our varied customer base for an IcePlate-specific carrier that had all of the durability and quality of our IcePlate EXO® Ultralight Ventilated Plate Carrier, but without all of the features designed specifically for military and law enforcement users,” commented Qore Performance Co-Founder and CEO Justin Li, “they wanted something above our IceVest Black, which we designed specifically for Dutch Bros Coffee, but below our IcePlate EXO®. IcePlate EXO®-SLK was born.”

IcePlate EXO®-SLK is the ultimate cooling/heating/hydration vest for anyone working outside. Drone pilots, wedding photographers, maintenance personnel, tradesmen and outdoor enthusiasts can all benefit from the conductive cooling/heating/hydration capabilities of IcePlate EXO®-SLK. Engineered using the exact same IcePlate EXO® laminate found on our eponymous ultralight ventilated plate carrier for military and law enforcement, IcePlate EXO®-SLK bridges the gap between our outgoing IceVest Black and our top of the line IcePlate EXO®. Carrying two IcePlate Curves instead of hard armor plates, IcePlate EXO®-SLK delivers 140 watts of cooling or 104 watts of heating and 100 fluid ounces of hydration in an ultralight form factor optimized for intense athletic movement, yet comfortable for all day wear around the yard. IcePlate EXO®-SLK packs the power and durability found on IcePlate EXO®, but without all of the highly technical features specific to armed combat applications. This trade greatly increases accessibility for everyone: private and professional users alike. IcePlate EXO®-SLK is Building A Superhuman Future® as the next-generation of human thermoregulation and hydration tools designed for everyday use.

As the inventors of specialized and consumable thermoregulation for PPE users, Qore Performance bridges the gap between human and machine. Their IceAge Ecosystem protects over 35,000 daily active users in occupational safety alone. In addition to their military, law enforcement, and prepared civilian customers, dozens of America’s Fortune 1000 companies including Shake Shack, Raising Cane’s, Boeing, Dutch Bros Coffee, Charlotte Area Transit System, America’s Chicken, Marathon Petroleum, Valvoline Instant Oil Change, FedEx, HTeaO, Ziggi’s Coffee, and more depend on Qore Performance to safeguard their teams and their bottom lines. Qore Performance safety customers have worked over 4,500,000 hours since 2017 without a single minute lost to a heat injury.

IcePlate EXO®-SLK:
www.qoreperformance.com/products/icevest-exo-slk

For sales inquiries, contact:
Qore Performance, Inc.
22311 Shaw Rd, STE A2
Sterling, VA 20166

www.qoreperformance.com

info@qoreperformance.com

703.755.0724

AeroVironment’s New Mantis i23 D Multi-Sensor Imaging Payload Delivers Superior Daytime Surveillance Performance

Thursday, September 1st, 2022

• Mantis i23 D is a compact, high-performance daytime imaging payload system for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations at an extended range

• Features 24X digital zoom video for extended ISR without compromising image quality

• Payload provides 50 percent wider HFOV and more than four times the target detection capability over the current Mantis i23 for improved situational awareness


The Mantis i23 D daytime imaging payload system allows operators to capture ISR at a greater aircraft standoff distance without compromising image quality. (Photo: AeroVironment, Inc.)

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 30, 2022 –AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today introduced Mantis™ i23 D, a multi-sensor daytime imaging payload compatible with the Raven® B small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS). An enhanced daylight variant of its predecessor, the Mantis i23, Mantis i23 D maintains its ruggedized design and utilizes the same modular interface to allow for quick and simple swapping between payloads with no software updates required to the avionics or ground control systems.

At 13.4 ounces (380 grams), the ultralight imaging system features dual 18 MP electro-optical sensors and class-leading 24X digital zoom, providing four times improved target detection over the current Mantis i23 payload during daytime missions. Through its advanced suite of sensors, extended zoom capability, onboard processing and digital imaging stabilization, the Mantis i23 D payload allows operators to increase aircraft standoff distance without compromising image quality.

“With the introduction of the next-generation Mantis payload, we have expanded the capabilities and adoption of the combat-proven Raven SUAS,” said Charles Dean, AeroVironment vice president of global business development, sales and marketing. “Customers can now operate their Raven systems at a greater standoff distance than before, enabling eyes-on-target from several kilometers away and reducing the risk of the target detecting or hearing the SUAS overhead.”

To learn more about Mantis i23 D and AeroVironment’s expansive Mantis product line of micro-gimbals, visit: www.avinc.com/uas/payloads.