FirstSpear TV

Protactic and BIO-Traze Tracking Technology Partners with FS Technology Group

October 25th, 2018

Fenton, MO – (October 18, 2018) FirstSpear® Technology Group (FSTG), industry leading technology integrator for Personal Protective and Load Bearing Equipment is working closely with Protactic Security to implement 6/12™ Laser Cutting and Tubes™ into the Mexican Marines new generation body armor system with BIO-Traze tracking technology.

FirstSpear Technology Group’s primary mission is to provide equipment solutions to the men and women protecting our freedoms and the fastest way to do this is by working with industry partners and program managers to make this technology widely available. That means working with the best manufacturers and material providers in US and allied nations. One of those companies is Protactic.

When FSTG evaluates potential partners, many things must be considered. Not only does Protactic have an outstanding reputation for quality and manufacturing, they utilize an advanced proprietary technology called BIO-Traze. This technology is designed to improve inventory control and reduce potential for corruption and impersonation. Protactic implemented a number of features ranging from visible QR codes to invisible security codes and embedded RFID technologies to guarantee the government can track garments from the factory to individual users. Using the database, Mexican Marines are issued garments with their biometric data coded specifically into their garments. This allows full accountability for garments matched to end-users. Over 800,000 garments have been issued without a single case of fraud or impersonation since 2015.

In short, BIO-Traze, along with Protactic’s advanced materials and FirstSpear 6/12 and TUBES help ensure that the good guys always have the advantage.

Operation Urgent Fury 35th Anniversary

October 25th, 2018

On the morning of October 25th, 1983, America awoke to reports that US forced had invaded the small Caribbean nation of Grenada, in order to liberate American medical students from danger posed by political instability. Joined by Regional Security System troops from a variety of Caribbean partner nations, they swiftly overwhelmed the Grenadian and Cuban troops. While Operation Urgent Fury was in name, a joint force operation, and included the use of Special Operations Forces, it highlighted many interoperability challenges, such as use of joint operational overlays and communications issues.

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Several stove pipe problems suffered by the pre-Goldwater-Nichols military were identified during this operation. Additionally, Urgent Fury was conducted with many systems dating from the Vietnam war.

Just six years later, during the invasion of Panama, saw the first employment of several new weapons developed during the Reagan buildup such as the F-117 stealth fighter and the Marine Corps LAV-25. Grenada was a great learning experience for the US military as it highlighted issues with joint service operations, particularly in the communications arena as well as interoperability between Special Operations and General Purpose forces. For example, SOF also took a much more prominent role in operation Blue Spoon during the Panama invasion. We’ve come even further in the past three decades.

Finally, as with any conflict, lives were lost. Let us not forget the 19 Americans killed in action and the 116 who were wounded. Unfortunately, there were also 24 Grenadian civilians killed in the conflict.

HTC Open House – November 9th

October 24th, 2018

Meprolight to Supply M5 and Night Vision Sights to a Western European Special Ops Federal Police Force

October 24th, 2018

The advanced and unique capabilities of these sights make them ideally suited to the needs of Police Special Units
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October 24, 2018, Meprolight (1990) Ltd. – a member of the SK Group and a leading manufacturer of electro-optical systems, thermal and night vision equipment, self-illuminated sights, and Laser Range Finder systems for military, law enforcement and civil applications – was awarded a contract to supply a follow-on order of its field-proven MEPRO M5 sightsand MEPRO MINIMON (L) multifunctional night vision monoculars to a Western European Federal Police Force Special Unit.

The advanced and unique capabilities of these high quality sights – much appreciated by satisfied customers – make them ideally suited to the needs of these special police units. Among their features are a ruggedized design that withstands extreme weather and conditions, their light weight, low power consumption enabling extended operation time while requiring only a single AA commercial battery and featuring a unique power-saving system extending operating time without compromising target acquisition.

According to Mr. David Shenhav, Regional VP Marketing and Sales, “Meprolight provides versatile solutions suited to military, HLS and law enforcement missions. This new contract is an add-on to tenders previously awarded to Meprolight for the supply of the same products to the same customer. As with all follow-on orders, it is further confirmation of the suitability of the company’s solutions to the customer’s needs and additional proof of their high quality.”

The compact, energy efficient MEPRO M5 Red-Dot Sight provides thousands of operating hours with a single AA battery. Featuring battle-proven LED technology and rugged MIL-STD design, the sight assures reliability under the harshest environmental conditions. With its large display window and reticle, it ensures rapid target acquisition with both eyes open. Offering numerous reticle brightness intensities and various reticle configurations, the MEPRO M5 suits every tactical scenario. To facilitate night operations and long-range target engagement, the MEPRO M5 is compatible with the most advanced Image Intensification Tubes NVG monoculars as well as with magnifying scopes. Its human engineering allows positioning of NVGs and magnifiers close to the sight’s optics with no decrease in the field of view and without compromising convenient switch operation.

The MEPRO MINIMON (L) can be used in monocular or binocular configuration having two MEPRO MINIMONs connected via a special bridge. It enables full tactical flexibility using either one or both eyes during missions including observation, target acquisition, and driving a vehicle; multi-function and extremely lightweight it can be head- and helmet-mounted, weapon-mounted, or hand-held. The monocular operates more than 40 continuous hours utilizing either a single AA or a CR123 battery, enables exceptional night vision imagery while allowing the user to maintain full situational awareness with the unaided eye or 3-D view in binocular configuration. , It is MIL-STD 810 and has a 40° field of view. It is compatible with all IR illumination and laser pointers, and while weapon-mounted in tandem behind a day “red-dot” sight, it creates an efficient night vision sight.

For more information on Meprolight, please visit: www.meprolight.com.

POF USA – Two-Stage Trigger

October 24th, 2018

Based on overwhelming demand, POF-USA has delivered to the market a brand new two-stage trigger to match the style and weight of its original single stage trigger.

Many in the competition shooting realms have hailed the two stage trigger as their preferred style.

Two stage triggers have a brief amount of slack that can be taken up before hitting a defined “wall”, at which point the shot can be withheld until the perfect moment.

With a 2 lb first stage, and the 2.5 lb second stage, this trigger has a 4.5-pound total pull weight.

pof-usa.com/product/standard-two-stage-trigger

Website Back In Service – MVT Special Operations Rig (SOR) Available in Ranger Green & Coyote Brown

October 24th, 2018

The Special Operations Rig (SOR) was designed in collaboration with SOF personnel, specifically to fill the need for a chest rig / PC panel that is optimized for operational use, while able to comfortably carry the AN/PRC 152 radio to the front / side of the body. This has resulted in four kydex magazine pouches (5.56) flanked by two collapsible side pouches that enhance the rig by allowing the carriage of two radios (one each side), or 2 x 5.56 magazines in each radio pouch, or use the pouches for admin items or leave them collapsed. In addition, the front of the radio pouches have four rows of MOLLE, for the attachment of admin pouches as needed.

These specific design features and capabilities have resulted in a chest rig that is extremely versatile to varying load requirements, and will suit non-military as well as military personnel, whether or not you carry a radio on your gear. It can be used entirely as a standalone chest rig, attached to a plate carrier, or as a hybrid allowing optional attachment to a plate carrier, depending on the tactical situation.

Wear the SOR with the supplied H-harness, over a Plate Carrier or standalone.

Utilize the supplied PC Kit to attach the SOR directly to your Plate Carrier.

Multiple use options, as an assault panel over a PC, or standalone in ‘recce mode.’

The SOR is designed to allow the radio pouches to adjust comfortably across your chest, or if worn over a PC, the radio/mags fit into the space beside your front plate.

Available colors:
MultiCam
Ranger Green
Coyote Brown

maxvelocitytactical.com/shop

Wild Things FR Knuckle Roaster Back In Stock

October 24th, 2018

I don’t know about it where you live, but it got cold really quick here in Virginia. It made me start thinking about winter which usually isn’t the case for another two months. I started pulling out coats and other cold weather gear and considering what’s available for others who are going to start asking questions about what’s available. I just found out that Wild Things has the FR Knuckle Roaster Back In stock.

Like the hand warmers used by quarterbacks, the point of the Knuckle Roaster is to keep the fingers nimble in spite of severe weather. It allows you to wear lighter weight gloves in cold weather, to maintain dexterity, by giving you a warm place to put your hands.

It features a nylon, DWR treated outer fabric that provides excellent durability, wind and water resistance. The interior is lined with fleece for warmth and includes a sewn in pocket for disposable hand warmers. The reinforced web belt adjusts to various waist sizes with an easy-to-use buckle. It also includes an exterior zippered storage pocket. Last, but not least, it’s FR.

Wild Things has generously offered a 15% discount for SSD readers by using code “SSD556“. To order, visit www.wildthingsgear.com.

Widget Wednesday:  Operating Unmanned Air and Ground Vehicles in Austere Environments

October 24th, 2018

Air and ground based drones continue to become more and more prevalent in military and law enforcement operations, often as ISR and EOD assets, and occasionally in a more offensive posture (as when the Dallas PD took out a cop-killer in 2016 with surprise package).

However, remote or undeveloped areas present significant challenges to keeping UAV and UGV assets fully operational because of a lack of wall sockets and dependable electric power grids for charging their batteries. Our portable power management solutions enable operators to draw power from any available source; such as a vehicle battery or DC outlet, a solar blanket, a field generator, or other batteries. UAV & UGV operators can use our systems to charge the batteries of platforms, control stations, and supporting comm’s equipment.

Thanks to our bi-directional, plug-and-play technology, UAV & UGV batteries can also be used as a power source for other electronic equipment – helping to simplify a team or unit’s energy logistics and battery burden.

Our power management solutions currently support the following UAV and UGV systems:
• Aeryon Labs R60 SkyRanger®  (R70 SkyRaider® in development)
• AeroVironment RQ-11B Raven (RQ-20 Puma in development)
• Endeavor Robotics FirstLook®, PackBot®, and SUGV
• Any system that runs on a standard battery or battery pack

For further information about UAV and UGV field charging solutions, visit www.PTXnomad.com or contact us through Team.Room@Protonex.com.