If you’re going to attend Enforce Tac next month in Germany, make sure you check Direct Action out.
Additionally, Helikon-Tex always has one of the largest booths at IWA. I can’t wait to see their new products.
Visit Direct Action at Enforce Tac and Helikon-Tex at IWA
February 23rd, 2019Mack Defense Enters Production Vehicle Testing Phase of Heavy Dump Truck Contract
February 22nd, 2019ALLENTOWN, PA (Feb. 18, 2019) – Mack Defense recently started production of five Mack® Granite®-based M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDT) as part of the Production Vehicle Testing (PVT) phase of its $296 million contract with the U.S. Army for armored and armor-capable HDTs. Once completed, the trucks will enter 40 weeks of rigorous durability testing at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Test Center this summer.
“Our production team and suppliers are excited to begin building these next generation HDTs for the U.S. Army,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “We’re confident the M917A3 will provide the Army the legendary durability and toughness Mack customers have come to depend on.”
Seeking the next generation of M917 vehicles to offer increased protection levels, higher payload and improved mobility, the U.S. Army solicited bids for new HDTs in June 2017. The contract, awarded to Mack Defense in May 2018, allows for Mack Defense to produce armor-capable or armored HDTs with deliveries through May 2025. The trucks will increase operational effectiveness and readiness, and will support mobility, counter mobility, survivability and sustainment operations for the Joint Forces in areas of the world with austere infrastructures and little or no host nation support.
“We have had regular meetings with our U.S. Army partners in preparation for the PVT phase of the contract, and we look forward to providing a tough, dependable truck that will meet their requirements,” said Jack Terefinko, HDT program manager for Mack Defense.
Based on the civilian Mack Granite model, Mack Defense engineers optimized the M917A3 HDT to meet the current needs of the U.S. Army, while allowing for evolving requirements and future growth. With heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive and increased suspension ride height, the M917A3 is capable of meeting the demanding payload and mobility requirements set by the U.S. Army HDT program.
Now That’s A Hammer
February 22nd, 2019I ran across these photos of Starlingear hammers and was duly impressed. Granted, Ryk Maverick is an artist, but he continues to take his craft to the next level.
MyDefence introduces a modular anti-drone solution for airports, prisons and military bases
February 22nd, 2019
Cary, NC – February 19, 2019 – For the past three years, MyDefence has been hard at work with development of a new type of anti-drone system that can effectively solve the problem of protecting large scale areas against the threat of drones. The system is named KNOX and is a customizable end-to-end anti-drone solution with purpose-built RF sensors, drone radars, and integrated EO/IR for visual tracking. KNOX is now available for commercial use at airports, prisons, critical infrastructure as well as for military use for base security.
The KNOX anti-drone solution fortifies an area against unauthorized drone flights, providing both passive detection and active defeat solutions to neutralize any small drones in the secured airspace. The name KNOX is inspired from the infamous Fort Knox – one of the most secure locations on earth.
To accomplish the most effective detect-and-defeat solution, KNOX utilizes different sensor technologies, which each serves a purpose in detecting, locating, tracking and defeating a drone threat in the vicinity of the secured area.
The anti-drone system includes RF sensors to detect and ultimately defeat drone threats. For military customers, we supply reactive smart jamming effectors – a next generation jamming technology with the least possible impact on other radio communication. Other sensor technology includes purpose-built drone radars that track the location of drones as well as integrated EO/IR for visual tracking in real-time. The combination of sensor technologies complements each other to provide the best possible protection against unauthorized drones.
“We have always engineered our anti-drone solutions around the tactical requirements of the end-user, and I am proud to announce the release of our newest solution, KNOX, which provides the necessary scalability to accommodate protection of very large sites, modularity to integrate third-party sensors and flexibility to integrate the solution into existing security infrastructure,” says Luke Layman, CEO of MyDefence North America.
KNOX is designed for any scale of installation sites, from prison facilities to large international airports spanning miles across. The anti-drone solution can be utilized to protect critical infrastructure and military bases that require scalable anti-drone solutions, which will fortify and harden the perimeter against unauthorized drones in the airspace.
“Allowing customers the ability to integrate third-party sensors and not being dependent on one type of C2 user interface provides a future-proof system, which can continuously be upgraded as the threat evolves and new mitigation solutions are introduced,” says Layman.
The underlying modularity of the software suite handling inputs from the sensors allows for the anti-drone system to be integrated into a customer’s existing security setup, without the need for a stand-alone system. The seamless integration into a customer’s existing security setup results in less required operational training and for a more open platform that can accommodate current and future requirements of the customers.
Black Winter Giveaway from Grey Ghost Precision
February 22nd, 2019
Grey Ghost Precision is putting on a giveaway for the end of February. The Black Winter Giveaway features 3 prizes: a GGP MKII Light 556 rifle, a Billet AR-10 or AR-15 Receiver set (winner’s choice), or a G17 or G19 barrel (also winner’s choice). Three winners will be randomly selected and announced March 8th on Grey Ghost Precision Facebook and Instagram pages. You can enter the giveaway on GGP’s website here.
MCTSSA Briefs Industry Leaders During Partnership Event
February 22nd, 2019CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.— Marines, engineers and technical experts from Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity hosted nearly 200 business leaders from across the country during an Advanced Planning Briefing to Industry Feb. 6, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity hosted nearly 200 business leaders during an Advanced Planning Briefing to Industry Feb. 6 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. (Photo Illustration courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps)
The one-day event highlighted current technical objectives and associated challenges involved in supporting the command, control, communications and computers—or C4—systems used by expeditionary warfighters.
“The mutually beneficial partnership between private industry and the United States Marine Corps is our competitive advantage,” said Col. Robert Bailey, MCTSSA commanding officer. “Our talented business partners will be the ones creating the next generation of C4 systems, which must integrate seamlessly with the Marines operating at the tactical edge of the network.”
Specific areas discussed were, cybersecurity testing, wireless technology, advanced manufacturing, cloud computing, naval systems integration, automated testing, systems engineering, system and system of systems testing, data link analysis, tactical networking, and United States Marine Corps Operating Forces technical support.
Industry partners gathered with MCTSSA subject matter experts during an Advanced Planning Briefing to Industry Feb. 6 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
“MCTSSA is doing some exceptional 21st century work for our Marine Corps,” said APBI participant and marketing director Greg Goodman. “This was a superb event.”
Other participants sought to gain knowledge of the technologies and processes that are important to the United States Marine Corps.
“MCTSSA and industry are trying to solve the same problems, there is a significant opportunity for cooperation if a business model can be worked out,” said James Valentine, a business development director.
Col. Robert Bailey (left), MCTSSA commanding officer, spoke with business leaders during an Advanced Planning Briefing to Industry Feb. 6 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
Technical briefs were conducted at various locations throughout the MCTSSA compound and put the command’s subject experts in direct contact with their business counterparts.
“I’ve been able to learn more about command requirements and how Hewlett Packard Enterprise can assist,” said Ray McCrea, an account manager and APBI participant. “By starting that dialogue and meeting these contacts, I’ve accomplished my goal here today.”
Hearing directly from requirements officers was beneficial to many of the industry participants.
“Partnerships are vital in creating win-win relationships,” said APBI participant Wil Granados. “I am extremely supportive of these type of events and would like to see more in the future.”
Buck Connally (right), a MCTSSA subject matter expert, briefs industry leaders on joint interoperability of tactical command and control systems during an Advanced Planning Briefing to Industry Feb. 6 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
MCTSSA leadership echoed similar sentiments.
“Cultivating and enhancing our relationship with industry will become even more essential as our nation faces new and evolving threats from a strategic and asymmetric adversary,” said Bailey. “We must make Marines more capable, enabling combatant commanders’ real-time command and control superiority and this industry event helps us strive to do just that.”
Business leaders taking part in the event equally expressed the importance of the day.
“These are valuable interchanges for industry,” said Valentine. “It ties industry into the Marine user through MCTSSA and will help steer our investment.”
MCTSSA, an elite, full-scale laboratory facility operated by the Marine Corps, is a subordinate command of Marine Corps Systems Command. MCTSSA provides test and evaluation, engineering, and deployed technical support for Marine Corps and joint service command, control, computer, communications and intelligence systems throughout all acquisition life-cycle phases.
Story and Photos By Sky M. Laron, Public Affairs Officer, MCTSSA
S&S Precision – GRT Reinforced
February 22nd, 2019Recently, some questions arose regarding durability of the S&S Precision Gear Retention Track. Whether it’s improved design, materials, manufacturing techniques or how they come together to offer a better product, S&S Precision is constantly at work and the GRT is no exception. But before we discuss this latest version, it’s best to tell you about the history of the GRT product line.
Circa 2004
One of the founders of S&S Precision created his own solution for a rigid belt mounted magazine holster by cutting up and thermoforming an old Safariland holster that was used in multiple deployments.
2009
WeaponLink was created but did not have a S&S Precision proprietary system to mount to so BlackHawk!‘s Speed Clips and belt mount were used.
A Grenade Launcher Holster for the HK M320 was created, but also lacked a mounting system so BlackHawk! ‘s S.T.R.I.K.E. platform mount was used.
2010
The Kangaroo Insert was created due to the lack of positive magazine retention in kangaroo pouches found on LBT 6094 plate carrier
2011
The Holster Extender was created for Secret Service and was designed to be used exclusively with Safariland holsters. Safarliand’s Mid Ride UBL mount was used to mount the holster extender.
2012
S&S Precision began redesigning the kangaroo insert due to the labor-intensive process of the original product. Quickly, they realized that instead of just redesigning the kangaroo insert that if the method of magazine retention could be modular and transition from a plate carrier to a belt or webbing mount then it would provide end users with more load configuration options.
S&S Precision’s intent at the time was to provide a modular magazine holster. Once they developed the SMR’s (Skeletonized Magazine Retention) belt and webbing mount, S&S Precision realized that a proprietary mounting system had just been created that previous products could utilize. The resulting SMR belt mount was reminiscent of the original, repurposed Safariland holster created in 2004.
Belt and Webbing mounts were intentionally designed to breakaway under load (approximately 85lbs) so as to not pose as a snag hazard. (Slings, parachute lines, etc.)
2013-14
The SMR belt and webbing mount system was then renamed to Gear Retention Track (GRT) once the WeaponLink, Holster Extender, and Grenade Launcher Holster were updated to mount via GRT. It was decided that a superior variant of the system needed to be developed in order to accommodate its newfound role of being a platform in which weapon retention products would mount to and no longer required a breakaway load. The GRT Reinforced rail features a machined and type 2 hard coat anodized 7075 Aluminum rail and an Anti-Rattle Spring (ARS). The ARS applies constant tension to a GRT accessory’s track to eliminate any rattle that may result from the interface of aluminum components.
The GRT Reinforced belt adapter maintains the ability to be mounted on 1.50“, 1.75”, and 2.00” wide belts. Thick leather duty belts, commonly used by law enforcement, will weave through the GRT Reinforced belt adapter much easier than compared to its predecessor.
The GRT Reinforced webbing adapter mounts on a 2 row by 2 column field of MOLLE. It features a new locking mechanism, which captures the second row of MOLLE and acts very much like a dual side release buckle. Since the locking mechanism mirrors a dual side release buckle- both snap levers on the male webbing adapter must be manipulated in order for the female webbing adapter to release.
To learn more, visit www.sspgear.com/reinforced-grt.
FirstSpear Friday Focus – IFAK Pouch, Non Stocking – Non Standard
February 22nd, 2019
All new in the Non-Stocking Non-Standard section from FirstSpear is the IFAK Pouch. These are brand new first quality goods from a government overrun and only available in Multicam while supplies last. Features a large hook and loop flap and a side release buckle for secondary retention which can be removed by the user. 6/9 attachment style. Made in the USA.
Approximately 7.5×5.5×3
www.first-spear.com/non-stocking-non-standard/ifak-pouch
