FirstSpear

Archive for the ‘Press Release’ Category

Bifrost Gear Announces the New “Valhalla” and “Ragnarok” Series of Push-to-talk Switches

Thursday, August 25th, 2022

The Bifrost Gear Ragnarok push-to-talk was engineered to be the most rugged Push-To-Talk switch available. Shock, blast and fire resistant, our PTT is designed to survive Ragnarok itself.

Features:
• IP67 Waterproof
• Shock, Blast, and Fire Resistant
• Kevlar reinforced, RF shielded cable
• Downward oriented Nexus TP-120 port prevents rain or accumulated water from accidental intrusion
• Rubber port plug for when headset is detached
• Easy to manipulate, oversized, silicone rubber push-to-talk button
• Engineered to withstand over 80,000 activations
• 73x73x28mm reinforced case housing
• Stainless steel 360 degree rotating belt clip
• NATO-US wired

The Bifrost Gear Valhalla push-to-talk was designed as a budget friendly, military grade PTT for heavy duty use in all weather conditions, all in a compact form factor.

Features:
• Military Grade
• IP67 Waterproof
• Kevlar reinforced, RF shielded cable
• Easy to manipulate, oversized, silicone rubber push-to-talk button
• Engineered to withstand over 80,000 activations
• 64x56x25mm reinforced case housing
• Stainless steel 360 degree rotating belt clip
• NATO-US wired

Both the Ragnarok and Valhalla PTT are available with the following radio connectors:
·     Ailunce HD1
·     Kenwood / Baofeng 2-pin
·     3.5mm mobile phone
·     Motorola APX
·     Motorola XTS
·     Yaesu 3.5mm right angle
·     Yaesu 3.5mm waterproof
·     Hirose universal quick disconnect
·     6-pin U329/U for PRC-148 & PRC-152 MBITR radios

(And for users who need amplified PTT’s, both the Ragnarok and Valhalla PTT’s are compatible with “The Amp” impedance matching amplifier cable from Bifrost Gear, along with our full suite of other adapter cables)

Dealer inquiries and Government orders welcome.

bifrostgear.com/collections/push-to-talks

Tokarev USA Announces Their Lifetime Service Plan

Thursday, August 25th, 2022

Knoxville TN – Tokarev USA, importers of popular Pump and Semi-Auto shotguns, is pleased to announce their “Tokarev USA Lifetime Service Plan”.

“Tokarev USA is committed to supporting our customers with services that are above and beyond what is expected.  Beyond our 1-year warranty, our Lifetime Service Plan will repair any defect in material or workmanship for the lifetime of the firearm.  The Tokarev Lifetime Service Plan will begin after the 1-year warranty has expired” said Ryan Keller, Customer Service Manager at Tokarev USA.

In the crowded field of imported shotguns, Tokarev really is showing themselves to be a brand apart.

Combining state of the art CNC equipment with old-world manufacturing knowledge, Tokarev delivers firearms for the sporting and security markets worldwide. Tokarev firearms and accessories are available in North America exclusively through Tokarev USA.

For more information on these or any of their other top-quality products, contact your dealer/distributor, or visit www.tokarevusa.com.

DroneShield Releases DroneSentry-C2 Command-and-Control System Update

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

DroneShield is pleased to announce it has released the latest v8.0.0 version of its DroneSentry-C2 Command-and-Control System. Both secure cloud-hosted and on-premises editions of the DroneSentry-C2 software receive quarterly software updates, which include upgrades to DroneShield’s edge computing server (SmartHub), computer vision AI engine (DroneOptID) and sensor fusion (ComputeNode) components of the system.  

This major update of DroneSentry-C2 includes security improvements including patches for zero-day vulnerabilities, bug fixes and performance improvements.  

Major upgrades include:  

Integration of additional FLIR Thermal Cameras: Adding to the suite of cameras integrated into the DroneSentry-C2, the FLIR Ranger HDC MS 1200 and Ranger HDC MR Electro-Optical (EO) and Infra-red (IR) capable cameras have been integrated as plug and play options. Optical DroneOptID computer vision models have been refined for thermal cameras.  

Integration of the RfPatrol: When paired with compatible MANET-radios the wearable RfPatrol drone detector can now  provide near real-time drone detection alerts and sensor location data fully integrated into the common operating picture of the DroneSentry-C2 user interface. This provides situational awareness across multiple RfPatrol devices in the field from a single map view. 

 Image: RfPatrol wearable drone detection sensors tracked on DroneSentry-C2

Usability improvements: User feedback has been incorporated to improve the usability of settings such as radar masking, RF filtering, flexible sensor setup and drone detection display. These improvements greatly reduces average setup time, cognitive burden, and time needed for training.  

Video Labelling: Video recordings can now be labelled for the purposes of feedback to DroneShield for DroneOptID AI Model training. 

Streamlined Analytics: Historical data is now intelligently filtered and low-value data is deleted. This reduces the amount of storage required for on-premises users and reduces cognitive burden on operators viewing analytics.  

Video tracking and optical model improvements: DroneOptID enhancements  include improved optical drone tracking and identification. 

Angus Bean, DroneShield’s Chief Technology Officer, commented, “This major software update, incorporates a substantial amount of end-user feedback, which enhances all facets of the DroneSentry-C2 system including user experience, performance, security, and the number of integrated sensors and effectors. DroneShield is uniquely positioned as a bleeding edge technology manufacturer of individual sensors, as well as a systems integrator, enabling our team to optimise the ecosystem experience for our end users.”

Core Vision Training: Teaching You To Be Ready For The Unknown

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

An area of increasing concern for all of us is the occupied home invasion, which can be defined as an incident where the family occupies the house, and they are confronted with an imminent lethal threat by one or more intruders.

Recently, the number of reported violent encounters inside the home has increased. These violent encounters aren’t even limited to your home anymore. You could be thrust into a violent encounter when shopping at a mall or even walking to your car afterward.

This growing concern has prompted a surge of new gun owners who intend to keep that newly purchased firearm for the primary purpose of home defense. Additionally, many states have adopted constitutional carry where gun owners now don’t need to attend any training to carry concealed.

There is a void in the training industry regarding preparing for violent encounters, at least in the context of home defense. Core Vision Training has stepped into that void in a big way.

Why Spend The Money and Time on Training

Self-defense, home defense, and other preparedness training are necessary to effectively defend yourself, your family, and your home when targeted by crime or violence. There will always be criminals who want to take what isn’t theirs and predators who want to hurt the innocent. When you train to become more proficient in these skills, you gain the tools to stand your ground and live to see another day.

As with any training courses you attend, you want to ensure it fits your context of use and goals. However, many “tactical” training courses claim to train students in the art of fighting with a pistol and rifle, room clearing within your home, and a host of other “tacticool” courses. 

Many courses people attend for the experience rather than for learning life-saving skills. Nevertheless, teaching these concepts takes days to execute correctly with the proper instructor cadre.

Core Vision Training employs instructors with proven operational experience, some of which are still operational, which gives you the most up-to-date relevant training available.

Why Choose Core Vision Training

Core Vision Training is the top self-defense training company and facility in the Pacific Northwest. Their instructors bring decades of relevant operational experience to provide their clients with the highest quality training possible.

In addition to their premier courses, they also offer a monthly membership program. By signing up for the recurring monthly membership, individuals who have taken any form of our Structure Assessment courses now have the opportunity for additional reps and recurring training to maintain and master the skills they acquired in our classes.

Recurring training covers medical, structure assessment, teamwork, land navigation, live fire, vehicle work, and several more.

Let’s take a quick look at a few of their premier courses.

Structure Assessment Active Defense Course

If you are unlucky enough to find yourself in a fight with an armed assailant, learning to load and clear a malfunction is far easier if you are familiar with that weapon or type of weapon ahead of time. This is something you won’t want to figure out on the fly.

Imagine fighting your attacker in a dark parking lot or inside your home, and gaining control of his loaded weapon, only to die because you didn’t know how to operate the safety.

When you become skilled with your primary defensive tool, learn to use other weapons. Clint Smith said it best “There’s nothing that says you are going to fight with just your gun.”

The Core Vision Training Structure Assessment courses prepare you for just that. The Active Defense course, which is a combination of the home defense course and trauma training, is tailored to the everyday citizen looking to sharpen their skills and better protect their family.

What’s Covered

• 1 & 2 person structure assessment
• CCW Pistol mechanics & manipulations
• Link up procedures
• Casualty assessment and treatment
• Call up procedures for 911
• Center fed, corner fed rooms & hallways
• Positive Threat Identification

Vehicle Escape Concepts

Let’s look at a different type of EDC; your Every Day Car. This is your daily driver, whether a Honda Civic or a Rolls Royce.

When you leave the safety of your home and get into your vehicle to take kids to school, pick up passengers, or go to the store, it becomes your mobile command center.

When you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, think of yourself as the Transporter. It’s not only an excellent movie but highlights some key points. Such as how he maintains driving the car and moves within and around the confines of his vehicle. Everything is done professionally and with a purpose.

The Core Vision Training Vehicle Escape Concepts course teaches you to be ready for a fight in and around your vehicle. Everything they teach you is done professionally and with a practical purpose.

What’s Covered

• Avoidance
• Preparation
• Movement within and out of a vehicle
• What is and is not cover on a vehicle
• Gear & Equipment Preparations
• Vehicle Considerations

Land Navigation

When many of us first enlisted, there was no handheld GPS to tell us where we were and how to reach our destination. Instead, we had to learn how to use a compass and protractor with our maps. Land Navigation courses were taught with the old school military issue Lensatic compasses and a map whether it was daytime or night-time.

The use of a compass is a perishable skill, much like shooting. It requires practice. Nowadays, we have wrist-mounted GPS units, handheld units, and smartphones that provide us with navigational aids. But what if the batteries run out or your GPS gets submerged and shorts out? Now what? How do you get back home? Do you have a backup method of navigation?

The Core Vision Training land navigation course teaches you how to read and orient a map and navigate using a compass so that you make it back home safely. The two available courses are Intro To Land Navigation and Basic Map Reading.

What’s Covered

• How to read and orient a map
• How to familiarize yourself with a map using a compass
• Individual Pace Count
• Dead Reckoning & Terrain Association
• How to identify significant terrain features
• How to identify minor terrain features
• How to read contour lines
• How to plot locations on a map

In the end, the time you invest in training for an event that may never occur is your responsibility. The flip side of that is if that event ever does happen, do you want to be the one who lets your spouse and children down?

We encourage you to reflect on the cost of your personal decisions and how you choose to spend your time and money. Remember, when seconds count, law enforcement is minutes away, and a lot can happen in that time. You can lose your whole world in those few minutes.

If you are ready to accept that risk, that’s on you. But, if you believe your life and the lives of your loved ones are worth every ounce of your effort, train like it. Train like they matter. Train with Core Vision Training.

For more information, you can find them on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube.

G3 Systems Launch a Refreshed Strategic Plan

Wednesday, August 24th, 2022

G3 Systems Limited, the world-renowned provider of bespoke deployable containerised solutions, critical operational infrastructure and facilities support in austere locations has launched its refreshed 3-year Strategic Plan. The plan focuses on identifying areas for growth and diversification and seeks to promote core functions and capabilities to new clients and geographies; whilst capitalising on recent operational experience such as providing Fire and Rescue services in Afghanistan. The Plan also includes an increased focus on sustainability, environmental protection and social responsibility.

G3 Systems Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of IAP WWS Inc., has launched its refreshed 3-year Strategic Plan stating their vision to be “dominant in the provision of bespoke high quality deployable and fixed infrastructure and a leader of support services in austere environments”. This vision is underpinned by their company ethos of Ingenuity – Agility – Purpose and built on four strategic pillars: a relentless focus on the demands of the Customer and delivering that with excellence; empowering People with learning and growth to foster a safe and sustainable environment; achieving internal and external operational quality and efficiency through rigorous Business Process and diligent stewardship of Finances to ensure excellent value for money.

G3 Systems Limited has a 20-year history and an operationally proven track record of delivering in the most challenging and arduous environments. They are proud of their company culture of achieving the ‘out of the ordinary’, going to challenging places and working ‘as one’ with their clients while never failing and always looking after the people and the environment around them. They have been integral to the success of many long-term operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands. Their modular, standardised and highly adaptable solutions such as the Deployable Engineer Workshop, Navy Forward Support Units and FCO Deployable Embassy have been and will continue to be excellent solutions to meet the needs of rapidly deployed government and non-government organisations.

Chamois Consulting Limited has also been engaged to assist G3 Systems Limited in the delivery of their strategy. They will be providing a particular focus on brand communications, client and stakeholder engagement and to help raise the social awareness of G3 Systems Limited products and services.

Mike Puckett, Managing Director at G3 Systems Limited said, “I am very proud of the G3 team and the significant progress we’ve made to date. Following a change in the nature of deployed operations, and through the refreshed strategy process, we’ve recognised that it is time to build on our social value interfaces, external communications, marketing and adopting new methods to enhance our collaborative working and to help share our vision and achieve our strategic goals. Having seen what has been achieved with other defence orientated companies, Chamois was the natural choice and I am really looking forward to working with them.”

Gareth Baker, Director of Media and PR at Chamois said “I am really excited to be working with G3 Systems Limited, because I was already sighted on some of their products from my time on operations. However, prior to spending time with the team, I had no idea of the depth, breadth and scale of their skill, operational pedigree and engineering expertise. I am very much looking forward to helping communicate their substantial capabilities to their target audiences.”

Mack Defense Receives Order for 144 Additional Trucks for the U.S. Army M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck Program

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022

ALLENTOWN, PA – Mack Defense announced today that the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve have ordered an additional 144 Mack Defense M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDTs).

The additional vehicles, based on the commercially available Mack® Granite® model, are part of the previously announced firm-fixed price $296 million contract to be fulfilled over seven years that the Army awarded Mack Defense in 2018. The HDTs are a key component in construction and maintenance missions for infrastructure assets, such as airfields, roadways, landing strips, supply facilities and motor pools.

“We are proud to maintain our production operation which was created for the U.S. Army M917A3 HDT program, and we are extremely proud that our Mack Defense HDT vehicles, which have been fielded, are meeting and exceeding expectations,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “Mack Defense remains committed to producing vehicles for the U.S. armed forces based on modified versions of our industry-leading Mack vehicles providing the latest technologies and best value while meeting the military’s demanding requirements.”

The Army previously had ordered 155 HDTs, which are spec’d with heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive, increased suspension ride height and other ruggedized features to meet the unique requirements of the Army. Those HDT vehicles have all been built, and final deliveries will continue through August 2022.

The Mack Granite HDT model is a modern truck equipped with modern technology, such as ABS and other active safety systems. The Granite model is user-friendly, comfortable and safer to operate compared with other past models used by the Army, which is key to the Army’s investment in the new HDTs, Hartzell said. The Granite HDTs and the production line at the Mack Experience Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, were both inspected by the government quality auditors to ensure both met expectations.

Production of the HDTs at the MEC began in Q1 2021, following an investment of $6.5 million to create a dedicated HDT production line at the facility. The production line helps fulfill the M917A3 contract, while allowing Mack Defense to produce other vehicle variants.

The production line in the MEC is in Mack’s former Customer Adaptation Center, where vehicle modifications occurred. The Customer Adaptation Center has since moved to Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack Class 8 vehicles for North America and export are assembled. Previously, non-armored HDT vehicles began production at LVO and were then transported to the MEC, where final assembly, including adding the dump body, occurred.

www.mackdefense.com

5.11 Tactical To Celebrate The Grand Opening Of Its 100th Company-Owned Retail Location

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022

Irvine, Calif. (Aug. 23, 2022) – 5.11 Tactical®, the global innovator of purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear, will celebrate the grand opening of its 100th company-owned retail store in Oxnard, California on Saturday, September 17. The store marks a major milestone in the brand’s retail expansion and growth since it introduced its first company-owned retail location in 2014.

“Strategic and aggressive retail expansion has been one of our top priorities in recent years and getting to 100 locations has been a major milestone for us,” said 5.11’s CEO Francisco J. Morales. “A larger retail presence allows us to offer the full 5.11 experience to existing customers while creating opportunities to introduce new customers to our outstanding products. We’re thrilled to reach 100 stores and excited to continue our growth into the future.”

Well-known for its technical apparel, footwear and gear that’s popular with public safety professionals and military personnel, 5.11’s full product offering provides items designed to keep outdoor adventurers, fitness fanatics and tactical enthusiasts equipped and ready for anything. The brand’s purpose-built product lines vary from workout equipment and apparel to everyday clothing options and much more.

“5.11’s approach to serving our consumers is to provide our consumers with optionality. From our robust e-commerce business, to the way our brand comes to life in our retail locations, as well as our many wholesale partners,” said 5.11’s Senior Vice President of Omni-Channel, Mark Parker. “Our focus has always been to serve our first responders, while welcoming new consumers to our brand, and 100 retail stores shows our commitment to achieve this across the U.S.”

Currently, 5.11 owns retail locations in 31 states with larger metropolitan areas serving as a hub for several convenient locations that offers customer easy access and additional shopping opportunities nearby. 5.11 Oxnard joins the ranks as 5.11’s 20th store in California.

“Whether it’s for everyday use, outdoor adventures, on-duty use by public safety professionals, or fitness training, we offer gear that is made to help users perform their best in all aspects of life, said 5.11’s CMO, Debra Radcliff. “At our retail locations, customers are able to find the right items for their needs and interact with our knowledgeable staff to find exactly what they are looking for.”

5.11’s retail locations provide an ideal opportunity for tactical professionals and outdoor enthusiasts to engage with the 5.11 brand and its knowledgeable staff. The stores feature a complete product offering tailored specifically to each region, including head-to-toe apparel and gear for men and women.

With its roots in servicing the law enforcement, first responder and military communities, 5.11 prides itself on hiring former servicemen and women and veterans from the local area, whenever possible.

To find a store location near you, please visit www.511tactical.com/store-locator.  

Window World Awards American Humane With a $20,000 Pups4Patriots Grant

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, August 22, 2022 — American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare practices, today announced that Window World, America’s exterior remodeler with over 200 franchisees across the country, awarded them a $20,000 grant in support of its Pups4Patriots™ program. Pups4Patriots provides free, specially trained service dogs, including rescues, to veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury.

“Our Pups4Patriots program has saved countless lives by putting healing leashes into the hands of veterans in need across the country,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane President, and CEO. “Our mission wouldn’t be possible without the generous help of companies like Window World, whose charitable grant will help us continue the lifesaving work of gifting brave veterans with the best medicine – unconditional love and support from the new furry best friends they so richly deserve.”

Proceeds from the grant supported the pairing of U.S. military veteran Bobby with his new service dog, Kai. The pair were formally introduced as graduates of the program by American Humane at a Window World Family Reunion event in Phoenix early this month. 

“Window World and its franchisees understand the importance of giving back. We’ve been blessed with our success and have always been proud to share with those in need. With this conviction in mind, Window World is committed to doing everything we can to remind veterans that they are appreciated and supported at home,” said Tammy Whitworth, CEO, and Chairman of Window World.

To date, American Humane has provided service dogs and training to more than 200 veterans across the country.

“We are truly grateful for Window World’s dedication to helping our veterans manage the invisible wounds of war,” Dr. Ganzert said. “With their benevolent grant, we have been able to help put a healing leash in the hands of another veteran who will go on to live their life to the fullest.”

Service dogs are an invaluable asset to veterans who have sustained trauma, but there are significant obstacles to receiving one. Properly training a dog to perform their needed tasks and remain calm and focused in public areas can be expensive and time-consuming. Even when the cost isn’t an obstacle, wait times can still be prohibitively long as veterans navigate red tape.

Through the Pups4Patriot program, American Humane provides service dogs to veterans at no charge to them in both a timely and efficient manner.

“My dog helps me feel more secure since I have somebody right there with me that will help me during the days,” Air Force veteran and recent Pups4Patriots graduate Karen said. “They’re a companion. I can go out and not stay in the house because I used to do that a lot.”

Jamie McBride, Window World Military Initiative Director, and Window World Board Member, stated, “As an American company with patriotic aims, we’re honored to serve our veteran and military communities through the Window World Military Initiative. By forming partnerships with organizations such as American Humane, we can provide lifesaving service dogs to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress. This is just the beginning.”

The Pups4Patriots program is made possible through the generous support of donors. To learn more, and help fund more stories like these, visit www.AmericanHumane.org.