Chris Komar is a veteran instructor at Team O’Neil Rally School and a rally technician for Subaru Rally Team USA. He has worked with the Subaru team to service Travis Pastrana’s rally car and is recognized as an expert in off-road driving techniques, offering advice on topics such as vehicle recovery and finding traction on difficult surfaces like gravel and snow.
Light, tough, and brutally simple — the LaserFrame Pistol Double Magazine Pocket carries two double-stack pistol mags (most 9mm through .45 ACP) without getting in your way.
The low-profile flap with Hook/Loop locks magazines in place but rips open fast when you need a reload. Built with FirstSpear’s patented LaserFrame hemless construction, it shaves ounces while keeping the strength where it counts — no extra bulk, no weak spots.
Mount it on old-school PALS/MOLLE or snap it into the modern 6/12 Laser Fusion rigs with the rock-solid 6/9 attachment system that won’t sag or shift under stress. The pocket’s internal shape stabilizes rounds for consistent presentation so your hand finds them every time.
It sheds dirt and debris, keeps the loadout tight, and maintains a slick silhouette under armor or on a belt. Made in the USA and built for repeated hard use, it’s the kind of pocket you don’t think about until it fails — and it doesn’t.
Use it as a standalone pistol mag solution for discreet carry or lock it into a full LaserFrame kit for a surgical-grade setup. Minimal weight, maximum reliability — exactly what a frontline operator asks for.
To request an estimate click image above or visit First-Spear.com/Request-For-Estimate. FirstSpear is the premier source for cutting edge-tactical gear for military, law enforcement and those who train. For more information visit First-Spear.
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Sept. 11, 2025) — The Army recently awarded $65.5 million in delivery orders Sept. 11, 2025, to Hardwire LLC and Leading Technology Composites, Inc., for the production of 72,179 Lightweight Small Arms Protective Inserts (LSAPI). The awards mark the official start of production for LSAPI, the newest component of the Soldier Protection System under Project Manager Soldier Survivability.
The official contract, awarded under the Army’s existing multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ), allows the Army to place orders with approved vendors as requirements are finalized. Delivery Orders W91CRB-25-F-A210 (Hardwire) and W91CRB-25-F-A211 (LTC) were issued under Notice of Fair Opportunity 0001. The total delivery order value of $65,564,335.70 covers 72,179 plates, with anticipated delivery to Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier within 18 months, no later than March 15, 2027.
LSAPI plates are approximately 30% lighter than the current Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI) Generation III, reducing the Soldier’s combat load while maintaining ballistic protection. The plates also use a shooter’s cut geometry to improve mobility and range of motion. LSAPI integrates with the Army’s Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) Gen II and other systems in the Soldier Protection System (SPS) family of equipment.
“The Lightweight Small Arms Protective Insert award reflects our team’s dedicated effort to advance and optimize Soldier protection,” said Lt. Col. Ken Elgort, product manager for Soldier Protective Equipment (PdM SPE). “With this milestone, LSAPI moves into production and will soon begin fielding alongside the Modular Scalable Vest, reducing combat load while maintaining state-of-the-art ballistic performance. It also reflects a major win for domestic manufacturing and a proud moment for our team as we deliver on PEO Soldier’s commitment to equip Soldiers with world-class protection,” he added.
The LSAPI award is the latest step in modernization under Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PdM SPE), Project Manager Soldier Survivability (PM SSV), and Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, reducing weight, enhancing lethality and delivering modular protection across the Army’s combat formations.
SAN DIEGO – September 23, 2025 –
Cubic Defense’s, Secure Communications business unit, a leading provider in secure communications has been awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory to advance Halo, a multi-link, multi-band, multi-orbit hybrid SATCOM antenna. The contract will run through July 22, 2027, with the work to be performed in San Diego, CA.
“Receiving this award reflects our success to date in the advancement of this technology and our continued commitment to work alongside the government and deliver assured data access to the Warfighter in a timely fashion,” said Dr. Dan Moran, Vice President and General Manager of Cubic Secure Communications. “Halo will deliver compact, power-efficient, and resilient satellite connectivity to meet critical mission needs in multiple domains.”
Halo is a software-defined antenna system for hybrid SATCOM operations. It supports simultaneous transmission and reception in Multiple bands, enabling high-throughput, multi-beam communications. Designed for resilience, Halo maintains redundant network paths and connects seamlessly across multiple constellations. Halo enables end-users to have a single device that can securely leverage SATCOM services from multiple commercial and government satellite providers.
Built on open standards and optimized for ultra-low size, weight, and power (SWaP), Halo is scalable across many platforms and missions.
The system features a flat-panel active electronically scanned array (AESA) with 2D beam steering, delivering robust and flexible connectivity for modern defense operations.
To learn more about Cubic Secure Communications, visit
www.cubic.com.
Watertown, WI – September 22, 2025 –
It has long been Griffin Armament’s belief that the ideal AR-15 should have 2 simple modes – Normal and Suppressed – affording a K.I.S.S. concept optimization for use with and without suppressors, easily adjustable by tool-less means or with a tool any sportshooter or rifleman has such as a round of 5.56mm ammunition which is already used for example to remove the firing pin retaining pin from the bolt. The Griffin Adjustable AR-15 Gas Block achieves this simplicity and is a product made possible by the acquisition of two patents from MicroMoa LLC – the original manufacturers of the “Govnah gas block”.
The Griffin Adjustable AR-15 Gas Block provides normal and suppressed operation via rotationally sliding a 17-4 regulator plate from the Normal position to the Suppressed position. This regulator plate is detented by a 718 inconel spring and ceramic ball bearing, ensuring reliability under extreme operating temperatures. There are two 180° opposed sides of the regulator plate- each identifiable from the other- each side affording a normal and suppressed setting giving users the choice between two slightly different suppressed port holes in their chosen configuration. The suppressed gas ports on conventional plates are .004” apart offering two sizes, and the low back pressure plates have 2 sizes .008” apart with the exception of the .300BLK plate.
Griffin to-date has developed a total of 9 plates to address the majority of setups in the hands of end users today. Additionally, we offer 2 pre-drilled “Drill Your Own” plates with .033? starting holes to improve the ease of drilling, that allow the custom side end user to determine and drill their preferred hole sizes for their desired results. One of the pre-drilled options has the two .096? normal (unsuppressed) operation pass through holes pre-drilled, and the other has all four holes spot-chamfered to .108? with .033” pre-drilled starter holes only, allowing end users to customize all four port sizes. Which plate you should use is a factor of your host firearm’s gas system length, its caliber, and the type of suppressor being used (conventional or low back pressure/high flow), or a combination of both for those with extensive suppressor collections.
“There are a plethora of adjustable gas block solutions on the market, but coming from a military background, we always felt they were too broad in their application, too expensive, or required modifications to the firearm to be an ideal solution for the average gun owner. I always wanted a 2 position setup, normal and suppressed, without needing to remember numbers. When you have 18 settings for example, like a one size fits all baseball cap, 16 of them never get used once you determine which setting your firearm and suppressor combination requires. Our block gets you much closer to ideal performance, while still offering the flexibility of the 2 different sides of the plate. We spent a significant amount of time on design and optimization of the manufacturing process to bring the cost to a level most people can afford – with a street price just under $100.”
– Austin – Director of Product Development – Griffin Armament
Key Points:
– 17-4 H900 Heat Treated Stainless Steel Regulator Plate (User’s choice based on setup)
– 32RC hardened, Black Oxide Finished 416R Barrel-Quality Steel Block
– .750” Gas Block Diameter with Mil-Spec Tolerances of Gas Tube and Barrel diameters
– Low Profile Design – Fits Under Most Rails
– STD .460 knurled cup point set screw spacing
– Pre-Drilled for ease of barrel pin installation
– Includes all required pins and fasteners
– Perpetual Lifetime Warranty™
Specs:
– Weight: 1.8 oz
– MSRP: $102.95 (Includes User’s Choice of Regulator Plate)
– Additional Regulator Plates can be purchased for $34.95
– The Adjustable Gas Block will be offered as an optional $45 Upgrade for Complete Griffin Armament uppers, and Griffin Armament Rifle Builds
To find out more on Griffin Armament’s entire product line, please visit our website at www.GriffinArmament.com.
For attendees of the 2026 SHOT Show, Griffin Armament will be exhibiting the Griffin Adjustable Gas Block along with the rest of their product line at Booth # 20455.
EAGLEVILLE, PA, August 26, 2025 – Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting, announced the launch of the Sidewinder Compact® III, an ultra compact, high-performance, multi-fuel flashlight with multiple LED sources. This light is engineered to meet a variety of hands-free task illumination requirements with various color LEDs that are operable at varying outputs and run times. With its 185-degree tilting head, durable build, gear and helmet mounting capabilities, the Sidewinder Compact III delivers powerful performance in a lightweight, highly versatile form.
The new Sidewinder Compact III features a user-configurable model with LED options that allows users to select two of three color LEDs (red, green or blue) in addition to standard white and infrared (IR) outputs. The military model includes white, red, blue and IR LEDs, while the aviation model contains white, green, red and IR LEDs. Each LED operates at multiple brightness levels, and includes a strobe mode. The light uses either one AA alkaline or one 3-volt CR123A lithium battery, offering flexible power options and extended run time in extreme environments.
“We engineered this light with versatility at its core,” said Michael F. Dineen, President of Streamlight. “It offers a powerful combination of compact design, high performance, and rugged reliability. Whether it’s mounted on a helmet, clipped to a vest, or used handheld, the Sidewinder Compact III is ready to perform.”
The light’s white LED provides up to 275 lumens and 3,200 candela on High with a beam distance of 113 meters. Run times range from 70+ hours on Low when using an AA battery, and 100+ hours when a CR123A battery is inserted. The light’s color and IR LEDs also offer long run times and are ideal for preserving night vision, signaling, or task-specific visibility needs.
The Sidewinder Compact III was designed with a compound On-Off mode selector switch that separates the On-Off, dimming, strobe and LED-selection functions. The rotary selector knob features a tactile IR indicator and pull-to-turn locking design that provides easy operation even with gloves, while also preventing accidental mode changes. The light also features an unbreakable polycarbonate lens with scratch-resistant coating.
The Sidewinder Compact III includes a durable belt/gear clip with integrated helmet mount features, which fits existing Sidewinder® helmet mounts adapters. A cord attachment hole on the clip supports up to 25 lbs. pounds of load.
Constructed from high-impact nylon, the Sidewinder Compact III is built to withstand rugged use. It is IPX7 waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes and impact-tested to 3 meters.
Measuring 3.1 inches long, the light weighs 3 ounces with a AA battery and 2.7 ounces when using one CR123A lithium battery. The light has an MSRP that ranges from $137.47 to $198.22, depending on the model. The Sidewinder Compact III is available in Coyote and comes with Streamlight’s One-Year Limited Warranty.
Brookwood Introduces IN-STOCK Flite™ 50 x 70D Polyester in MultiCam® Alpine for Winter 2025
Brookwood is expanding its in-stock offerings with the launch of Flite™ 50 x 70D lightweight polyester fabric printed in MultiCam® Alpine, available now and ready to ship.
Engineered for performance in cold-weather environments, Flite™ delivers the ideal balance of strength, packability, and lightweight construction. Designed with winter operations in mind, this fabric is particularly well-suited for overwhites and other tactical applications where concealment in alpine terrain is critical.
By making this fabric available in-stock, Brookwood ensures faster turnaround for customers needing reliable winter camouflage solutions this season.
For more information or to place an order, visit Brookwood’s website brookwoodcompanies.com/product/flite-multicam-alpine.
HILLSBOROUGH, NC – September 25, 2025. Reptilia® is proud to announce the release of the ROF™ – Diving Board – 30MM, expanding the proven ROF platform to support 30mm optics.
Originally designed at the request of a U.S. Department of Defense customer, the ROF™ Diving Board was created to integrate seamlessly with Geissele® Super Precision® Magnified Optic Mounts and is also fully compatible with Reptilia® AUS™ Mounts.
The Diving Board adds a MIL-STD-1913 rail at the optimal position and height, enabling users to mount laser range finders, designators, or miniature red dot optics with precision and confidence.
The new 30mm ROF™ Diving Board is available now in Black and FDE MIL-STD Type III, Class 2 hard anodize.
Key Specifications:
Like all Reptilia® products, the ROF™ Diving Board reflects the company’s mission to deliver professional-grade solutions that balance innovation, reliability, and real-world performance.
Availability
The ROF™ – Diving Board – 30MM is available now at reptiliacorp.com.
