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Kraken Technology Group to Display K3 SCOUT at SOF Week 2025

Monday, May 5th, 2025

Friday 02 May 2025, Hampshire, UK – Kraken Technology Group will make its US debut at SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida, where it will showcase its signature uncrewed naval platform, the K3 SCOUT. With full production manufacturing already underway in two UK facilities, Kraken is now delivering batch production runs to NATO countries, spearheading a shift towards modular, rapidly scalable maritime capabilities built for today’s complex naval environments.

Kraken will be on display with AV at Level 3: Stand 621, showcasing a full-scale modular payload integrated with AV’s Titan C-UASTM and HaloNav GPS-denied navigation solution. The full K3 SCOUT capability will also be on display at the docks outside the Tampa Convention Centre, with high-performance demonstrations taking place each day, Tuesday, May 6 through Thursday, May 8, at Noon EDT. This demonstration will highlight the K3 SCOUT’s interchangeable payload bay, featuring both a manual pilot module for crewed missions and the integration of AV’s HaloSwarm AI-enabled swarm logic technology for uncrewed operations.

Since its establishment in 2020, Kraken has grown to over 100 employees and will launch four more international facilities in the next 12 months. The company’s rapid expansion is due to Kraken’s high-speed, autonomous systems offering an agile alternative capable of undertaking persistent missions at scale. By delivering affordable, versatile platforms that extend the reach and resilience of naval forces, Kraken is redefining what is possible in littoral and open-sea operations and establishing itself as a key solution in the next chapter of maritime defence.

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Viasat Unveils MOJO Mini Next as Latest Advanced Technology for Tactical Military Communications and Situational Awareness

Monday, May 5th, 2025

Company expands MOJO product family with its most compact tactical gateway to integrate disparate air, sea and land communications into a single view

CARLSBAD, Calif., May 5, 2025 – Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced the introduction of the Move Out/Jump Off (MOJO) Mini Next, the latest in Viasat’s family of expeditionary tactical gateways. The MOJO Mini Next was designed to deliver a compact and ruggedized Link 16 Tactical Data Link situational awareness capability for at-the-pause or on-the-move applications across environments.

With increasing demand for rapidly deployable and SWaP (size, weight and power)-optimized tactical solutions, Viasat’s MOJO Mini Next provides a cost-effective alternative to larger, infrastructure-heavy, gateway solutions supporting expeditionary, on-the-move communications. Developed under Viasat’s Defense and Advanced Technologies segment, the MOJO Mini Next is a line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond line of sight (BLOS) system, offering increased mobile and tactical capabilities to centralize communications of expeditionary data and intelligence into a common operating picture (COP). This enables heightened situational awareness for command and control (C2), targeting, and real-time decisions that support mission operations and reduce the risk of fratricide.

“As military operations integrate new technologies and applications to support global missions, Viasat is helping connect those technologies to enable seamless, reliable and resilient information sharing to improve situational awareness,” said David Schmolke, Vice President of Mission Connections and Cybersecurity, Viasat Government.

The MOJO Mini Next provides customers with real-time air/ground situational awareness and network functions on the go, and connects into customers’ existing system architecture. Ideal for SWaP constrained applications, including small vehicles and boats, the system can be rapidly set up and deployed by one person in minutes and the low-SWaP design eliminates the logistical needs and cost of transporting, installing and maintaining traditional gateway infrastructure. This next-generation tactical gateway offers the interoperability and modularity to support different mission applications using different waveforms.

Schmolke continued, “MOJO Mini Next can integrate disparate intelligence sources into a common operating picture that enhances customers’ real-time decision-making and C2 in a small, ruggedized form factor for greater flexibility. We collaborate with government customers to really understand the tactical mission requirements and the MOJO Mini Next is another example of how Viasat evolves its solutions to meet changing needs.”

The MOJO Mini Next was developed based on user feedback to respond to dynamic operational demands. Designed to work with the KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminal, this innovative tactical solution will enable rapid network convergence across Link 16, Tactical Digital Information Link J (TADIL-J), and Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) networking in a compact package. Using an external host computer, operators can select their own applications and external displays to best suit their situational awareness needs.

Visit Viasat’s website to learn more about Viasat’s Expeditionary Tactical Gateways and the MOJO product family, and see how the MOJO Mini Next can support tactical operations.

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Learn About Ghost Robotics During SOF Week

Monday, May 5th, 2025

Ghost Robotics will be exhibiting their Vision 60 Quadraped Unmanned Ground Vehicles in the Raven Advisory booth #1453 during this week’s SOF Week at the Tampa Convention Center, May 6-8.

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Adventure Tactical Announces IR Sensor Upgrade for Its VIP Light and Trilobyte Beacon Products at SOF Week 2025

Monday, May 5th, 2025

Adventure Tactical, the defence arm of Adventure Lights Inc, is a premier manufacturer of durable safety and signalling beacons for use where positive visual ID is vital, in the most extreme of environments. Adventure Tactical has announced an upgrade to their IR sensor for the next generation of VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products which significantly increases the range of detection and early warning for their users. This announcement coincides with SOF Week 2025, where you can find out more about this and their wide range of complementary products, by visiting their booth (Level 3, Booth #255) at the Tampa Convention Centre, from the 6th-8th May 2025.

Adventure Tactical has been designing and manufacturing highly durable, easy to use and often bespoke safety lights and signalling beacons for the US military, NATO, global security forces and extreme adventurers for over 30 years. Renowned for their excellent quality and robust multi-use designs, and packed with innovative technologies such as Mockingbird®, AutoSync™ and self-healing mesh networks for S.M.A.R.T. Beacons®, they are the provider of choice for special forces, regular combat troops and homeland security teams, globally. Adventure Tactical has strategic partnerships in place with Galvion and Robotics Centre. With customer needs and end user requirements at the heart of their ethos, Adventure Tactical identified a need for users to have increased protection from a wider array of Laser Range Finder and IR detection devices that have become far more prevalent, when facing an asymmetric threat.

Adventure Tactical has been leading the way in integrating Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and early warning detection systems into their light and beacon products for over 15 years. Their products have been proven operationally with US, European, Scandinavian and Middle East customers and are in use with 24 NATO countries. The IR sensor upgrade announced today, combined with other technologies, ensures that the next generation of VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products offer the widest possible range of early warning and detection capabilities. This upgrade helps to protect those operating in the most extreme of environments by increasing their survivability, enhancing command and control and delivering real-time situational awareness.

Tim Ford, Founder and President of Adventure Tactical said: “Our mission is to deliver an extreme product for extreme situations and central to our ethos is to meet our customers’ unique demands.

This IR sensor upgrade is a perfect example of that ethos in action. Front line troops identified an emerging risk when facing an asymmetric enemy threat that we have responded to by delivering an increased range of detection capability to enhance the users early warning and ability to respond.

This enhancement, combined with all our existing innovative technologies and design quality, ensures we offer a cost-effective but superior product compared to alternatives. We are very excited to announce this significant upgrade to our long-standing VIP light™ and Trilobyte® beacon products at SOF Week, and we will be incorporating this enhanced capability into our other products as soon as possible.” Tim added, “Our products are designed and manufactured in Canada, Europe and the US. Therefore, we are able to offer export license and tariff free access to our full range of products.”

Posted in International, Lights, Press Release, SOF Week | Comments Off on Adventure Tactical Announces IR Sensor Upgrade for Its VIP Light and Trilobyte Beacon Products at SOF Week 2025

Gentex Corporation Launches the Next Generation Ops-Core FAST SF Helmet System: Setting a New Standard in Lightweight Ballistic Performance

Monday, May 5th, 2025

CARBONDALE, PA, May 5, 2025 – Gentex Corporation announced at SOF Week in Tampa, FL the public release of its next-generation Ops-Core® FAST® SF Helmet System. A global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces, emergency responders, and industrial personnel, Gentex first introduced the FAST SF helmet in 2017, setting the standard for lightweight, comfort, stability, and protection. Adopted as the USSOCOM FTHS helmet system, it quickly became the choice of top-tier customers worldwide. This latest version establishes a new benchmark for lightweight ballistic protection, delivering exceptional performance and enhanced comfort for the most elite SOF and LE forces.

The new FAST SF Helmet System incorporates majoradvancements through three innovative sub-systems:

• Lighter System Weight: This system achieves the same ballistic performance as the legacy FAST SF helmet systemwhile reducing system weight by 10-15% (depending on size). The new ballistic shell boasts a thinner, lighter design for enhanced wearability. The reduced weight has users questioning the need for a separate bump helmet.

• Universal LockDownTM Liner System: A universal suspension solution backward compatible with all FAST Helmet Systems that enhances comfort, airflow, and stability for heavy VAS and NVG setups. Featuring LockDown Fit Shims and a Cable Occ-Dial® with a conformal nape pad, this liner ensures a secure, customizable fit for any head shape, eliminating interference with communications headbands and delivering unmatched performance in the most demanding conditions.

• Versatile Head-Loc® Flex Retention System: Featuring a convertible chin cup design, the Head-Loc Flex retention system can be worn over or under the chin, offering unprecedented user flexibility. Optimized buckles and sliders improve usability and eliminate the need for mask extenders in most cases. The patented Ops-Core Head-Loc sliders continue to offer market leading one handed adjustment.

“These advancements represent a significant step forward in functionality and comfort for the end user,” said Peter Harbeck, SOF Segment Director at Gentex Corporation. “The FAST SF Helmet System delivers the protection our customers expect while addressing critical needs for weight reduction, fit, and adaptability. With its new liner system, the helmet provides a tailored, secure fit that conforms to the user’s head shape, enhancing stability and long-term wearability in demanding environments.”

Designed with the end-user at its core, the next-generation FAST SF Helmet System represents a significant step forward in headborne protection. This lighter, more comfortable, and ultimately more effective solution underscores Gentex’s ongoing commitment to providing cutting-edge protection for those that demand the absolute best. With the new FAST SF Helmet System, Gentex builds on its position as the exclusive provider of USSOCOM’s FTHS helmet system, delivering unmatchedperformance, uncompromising protection, and a proven track record that elite forces rely on when failure is not an option.

To learn more about the next-generation FAST SF Helmet System, visit shop.gentexcorp.com/introducing-the-fast-sf-next-generation-headborne-system

Posted in Advertiser, Helmets, Press Release, SOF Week | 2 Comments »

Valid Eval Powers xTech Competition at Special Operations Forces Week

Monday, May 5th, 2025

Valid Eval is powering the evaluation process for the U.S. Army xTechLive: a live pitch competition at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week designed to bring non-traditional innovators into the defense ecosystem powered by Valid Eval’s evaluation and feedback technology. Eligible small and mid-sized businesses will pitch sensing-focused technologies on-site at SOF Week, where the Army will make on-the-spot decisions and award up to $100,000 in cash prizes over two days.

Registration begins at 10:30 am ET on May 6, 2025. The competition is May 6-7, 2025, and winners will be announced on May 7, 2025.

Registration will take place onsite at the U.S. Army xTech Program booth, number 5024, in the JW Marriott H.B Plant Foyer.

xtech.army.mil/competition/xtechlive-at-sof-week

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Spectra Group Launches New Troposcatter on the Move (TOTM) Capability at SOF Week

Friday, May 2nd, 2025

Spectra Group, a specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems, has developed in partnership with BATS Wireless antennas a new capability enhancement for Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (Comtech) Troposcatter 10-Watt Compact Over-the-Horizon Mobile Expeditionary Terminals (COMET) called Troposcatter on the Move (TOTM). Since 2024, Spectra Group has global distribution rights for Comtech’s Troposcatter Family of Systems (less the USA, Canada and Mexico which Comtech retains). They have been working in partnership with Comtech and BATS Wireless antennas throughout 2024 to develop the TOTM concept, for which, as the systems integrator Spectra Group has full distribution rights. Spectra Group are launching this new TOTM capability at SOF Week and will be showcasing this and their other strategic communication capabilities in Booth #1805.

The use of the troposphere for communications is not new, but in the past, it was constrained by large dishes and significant power that was not suitable for modern manoeuvre warfare. Comtech’s COMET system revolutionised this capability making it small, lightweight and portable. The COMET system is ideal for providing a secure big data network for deployed headquarters from divisional down to company level or below because it is small, lightweight and due to its low power and directional nature it is also extremely difficult to detect and deny. Critically, it is also satellite independent, can work in a GPS/GNSS denied environment and is proven in the polar regions making it ideal for use during global peer-on-peer conflict and when multi-domain integration is required. However, in the past it did need to be static.

Comtech and Spectra Group recognised the need for increased manoeuvre and large network data on the move, and so, working together with BATS wireless proved the concept of TOTM. Subsequently, Spectra Group working in partnership with BATS Wireless has produced a fully integrated TOTM solution that combines Comtech’s COMET troposcatter with BATS Electronically Steered Antennas (ESAs) into a single fully integrated terminal to deliver an industry first capability. Extensive sea trials successfully tested and validated TOTM scenarios by simulating island hopping in the Florida Keys, Florida Panhandle and off the coast of California. The tests involved ship to shore and ship to ship scenarios proving the concept of TOTM by demonstrating systems tracking and communicating with other nodes while on the move using GPS, but also showcasing the potential for advanced mobile connectivity in challenging environments without reliance on GPS.

TOTM enhances the utility and operational effectiveness of COMET in a littoral manoeuvre context, especially in contested, GPS or satellite denied environments. Its mobility and capacity delivers band- widths of up to 210 Mbps and ranges in excess of 100 Km to support a wide range of mobile applications such as Ship to Ship or Ship to Shore communications, Beyond Line of Sight strategic communications or Wide Area Networks, secure data links for autonomous sensors, control of remote vessels, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and any other application that requires big data delivered to the front line. The TOTM solution can also be utilized with land vehicles for efficient “at the pause” applications, enabling users to quickly establish Troposcatter communications without having to set up and align antennas, allowing rapid data transmission from positions of opportunity.

Simon Davies, CEO of Spectra Group said: “We pride ourselves at Spectra Group on being able to work in partnership with industry leaders to push the boundaries of what can be achieved using the latest technology to meet the demands of regular and specialist forces in the ever-evolving battlespace.

Our trials have successfully proved the Troposcatter on the Move capability which is a significant enhancement to the existing Troposcatter COMETs utility, especially in the littoral manoeuvre space, and superbly complements the Troposcatter Family of Systems and our award-winning SlingShotTM radio and new GENSS platform which also enables BLOS and COTM for troops deployed in austere locations globally.”

About Spectra Group (UK) Ltd:

Spectra has a proven record of accomplishment – with over 15 years of experience in delivering solutions for governments around the globe; elite militaries; and private enterprises of all sizes. As a dynamic, agile, security accredited organisation, Spectra can leverage this experience to deliver Cyber Advisory and secure Hosted and Managed Solutions on time, to spec and on budget, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices. Spectra’s gold-level partnerships with third-party vendors ensure best value and leading-edge technology is used. On 23 November 2017,

Spectra Group (UK) Ltd announced that it had been listed as a Top 100 Government SME Supplier for 2015-2016 by the UK Crown Commercial Services. Spectra Group (US) Inc. was established in 2018 to directly support the US market.

Spectra Group were awarded the 5-year contact to be the UK distributor of Troposcatter COMET for US company Comtech Systems Inc. in October 2023. Comtech is a leading global provider of next-generation 911 emergency systems and critical wireless and satellite communication technologies. Spectra’s CEO, Simon Davies, was awarded 2017 Businessman of the Year by Battlespace magazine.

Spectra was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation) in 2019 for SlingShot. Founded in 2002, the Company is based in Hereford, UK and holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.

www.spectra-group.co.uk

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Princeton Tec to Exhibit at SOF Week 2025

Friday, May 2nd, 2025

PENNSAUKEN, NJ. – May 2, 2025 – Princeton Tec, a renowned provider of American-made quality outdoor and tactical lighting options, is excited to announce it will be exhibiting at the upcoming Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week in Tampa, Fla., May 5-8, 2025.

“We are excited to be exhibiting at SOF Week again, especially with it being our 50-Year anniversary at Princeton Tec,” said Princeton Tec Marketing Director Kady Kolb. “This conference is a great opportunity to connect with and learn from the SOF community. Come by our booth to see the new Charge X IR Max and the opportunity for an exclusive look at new products.”

Princeton Tec will be exhibiting at the SOF Select Show, located in the Oasis Ballroom at the Westin Tampa Waterside. Attendees will find its most popular personal lighting on display as well as some new products to explore. Princeton Tec is proud to offer a variety of lighting products across its product lineup, including its headlamps, helmet lights and more.

SOF Week attracts over 19,000 attendees, including military professionals, industry leaders and innovators from around the world. The event provides a dynamic platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the SOF community, emphasizing cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking solutions.

For more information on Princeton Tec, please visit www.princetontec.com or find Princeton Tec on Instagram and Facebook.

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