FirstSpear TV

Air Combat Command Selects Battlefield Airmen – Digital Air Strike Suite

June 29th, 2017

Air Combat Command (ACC) recently selected Battlefield Airmen – Digital Air Strike Suite (BA-DASS) as the near term Digitally Aided Close Air Support (DACAS) software solution for Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) warfighters. Following a formal evaluation and comparison of multiple DACAS systems, ACC concluded that BA-DASS was the best fit for the TACP community. ACC stated, “This software selection is to provide immediate force multiplier capability to TACP warfighters.”


Senior Airman Nathan Dupler, 113th Air Support Operations Squadron, Terre Haute, Ind., conducts a close air support training mission with an F-16 Fighting Falcon, July 29, 2015, at Grayling Air Gunnery Range, Grayling, Mich., during Northern Strike 15. NS 15 is an annual training exercise on CGJMTC that assesses joint air-to-ground capability and involves hundreds of military personnel from 20 different states as well as Canada, Latvia, Poland and Australia. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Scott Thompson/released)

BA-DASS integrates with numerous sensors directly enhancing Battlefield Situational Awareness (SA). BA-DASS improves the performance of TACP, Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTACs), and Guardian Angel (GA) operators during target acquisition and terminal control, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), and personnel recovery operations. With its integrated troubleshooting and DACAS capabilities, BA-DASS reduces potential for errors, enhances the safety and security of friendly forces, increases SA, and ultimately reduces the risks of fratricide. Refer to the BADASS data sheet for a full list of system capabilities.

Download the full pdf here.

You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up

June 29th, 2017


It’s at Fort Stevens, OR. The only US military post in the continental US to come under direct enemy fire during WWII.

Thanks Mike!

Prometheus Design Werx – Badger Framelock Folder

June 28th, 2017

This is the new Badger Framelock Folder from Prometheus Design Werx. It features a V-cut blade seat channel, glow in the dark dual thumbstud inlays, and proprietary internal lockbar pocket.

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The Design and R&D Team at PDW states:

“The PDW Badger™ folder design is an instantly recognizable tool aesthetic and characteristic of our Founder-Chief Designer’s lifelong design ethos. This folder is inspired by and takes its design cues from the tried and trued millennia old spear point blade silhouettes, to the tapered capsule shapes, streamlined arcs, and the purposeful fluting and texturing of the modern machine age. Many of this design’s details will only be noticed after the knife has been picked up and handled in person. The lock bar ‘pocket’ is a new approach in creating the relief needed for the ‘lock bar’ for folding knives of this type. Our signature PDW glow-in-the-dark thumbstud inlays provides just an extra bit of visibility if the knife is every dropped in the dark and easier to spot and recover. Extra chamfering and 2-piece handle construction with integrated backstrap jimping required extra time on the mill, but all add to a greater whole. The Badger™ was designed to be as a stout, compact, yet elegant cutting tool, ideally suited for EDC, and for any discriminating user who prefers a smaller folder footprint.”

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Specs:

Materials:
Blade Material: S35VN
Scale Material: Titanium

Approx Dimensions:
OAL: 7.0″
Blade: 3″
Cutting Edge: 2.875″
Blade Thickness: .160″
Approx. Weight: 4.4 Oz

Features:
Dual Thumb Stud: GID Inlay
Locking Type: Frame Lock
Pocket Clip: Billet Tip Up
Lanyard Pin: Internal for 3mm Cordage

Marks:
Badger mark laser engraved in handle pocket
PDW logo laser etched on blade

Made In:
USA

prometheusdesignwerx.com/products/pdw-badger

NEMO Equipment Celebrates 15th Anniversary With Wooden Spoon Shaper Kit

June 28th, 2017

First off, it’s hard to believe that NEMO Equipment has been around for 15 years. Man, has that time flown. Congratulations to NEMO Equipment and in particular to their founder, Cam Brensinger. Everytime I talk to him I learn something new, but one thing that has never come up, is his love of carving. I found out about that when NEMO released their 15th Anniversary Spoon Shaper Kit. Cam assembled these kits in order to help others pick up his hobby.

It consists of a straight blade knife, a hook knife, a folding saw, a leather strop mounted on bamboo, handmade by Cam, and a pencil and sandpaper, all nestled in a custom waxed canvas tool roll. All you need is a piece of wood and a lazy afternoon.

Get yours at www.nemoequipment.com.

Blue Force Gear Expands Custom Sling Builder Adding MultiCam Black Webbing

June 28th, 2017

POOLER, Ga., June 28, 2017 – Blue Force Gear’s® Custom Sling Builder just got a little more hardcore with the debut of its new MultiCam® Black webbing. Designed for the popular Vickers Slings, the Custom Sling Builder allows fans to create the perfect sling for their individual weapon.

With this addition, the Custom Sling Builder now offers over 2 million possible design combinations. The new MultiCam Black webbing will be available online beginning June 28, 2017 and will only be available with the Custom Sling Builder. The MultiCam Black webbing projects a distinctly authoritative presence and will transform Custom Vickers Slings into some of the boldest slings available today. From webbing and pull-tab colors to a variety of hardware options, gun owners can build a one-of-a-kind sling.

“The MultiCam Black webbing is a fierce look that I know our fans are going to go crazy for,” said Tom Kaleta, Director of Marketing of Blue Force Gear. “With the Custom Sling Builder, we strive to deliver a sling that is designed specifically for your weapon and it fits your own individual personality and tactical needs. Our Custom Sling Builder is one-of-a-kind and there is nothing else out there like it right now.”

The Custom Sling Builder walks you through the components of your sling starting at the front and as you select each option you will see your sling being “built”. Users design their own custom sling with the Custom Sling Builder by choosing front webbing color, back webbing color, adjuster pull tab color, front attachment hardware, rear attachment hardware, sling hardware options, sew in front attachment and sew in rear hardware.

The Custom Vickers Sling™ is available starting at $50 and the Custom Padded Vickers Sling™ is available starting at $60. To learn more about the Custom Sling Builder or purchase the product, visit www.blueforcegear.com/custom.

Ask TNVC – “What Does ‘VAS’ Stand For?”

June 28th, 2017

Normally, it’s “Ask SSD” but we received this entry from our friends at TNVC. Guys, you could have asked us.

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Ya know here at TNVC we pride ourselves on our education all things NV related. We are constant learners as well, and when I got asked this morning what the “VAS” stands for in Ops Core VAS Shrouds, I had a deer in the head lights moment! We have so many acronyms flying around, this one I missed or had forgotten. So I picked up the bat phone and talked with Ops Core (Gentex) and they wrote me back with a chuckle as it’s been a long time anyone had asked them as well. So the million dollar answer for the day is, VAS— Visual Augmentation System (VAS) – which allows you to mount something to your helmet that allows you to see at night, or augmenting your vision for night time operations.

The dumb question is the one you never asked and as the late friend Pat Rogers we all miss dearly had always stated, “Learning has Occurred”.

Stay Safe – Vic Di Cosola, TNVC.

LANTAC – RAVEN LA-N15 Receiver Set

June 28th, 2017

LA-N15 SET right

LANTAC has released their new RAVEN LA-N15 Receiver Set. The set consists of the Upper Advanced Receiver and LA-N15 Lower, both made of billet 7075-T6 aluminum, and featuring a Milspec MIL-A-8625F Type3, Class2 Deep Black Hardcoat Anodized finish. The RAVEN set comes complete with the CP-R360 Cam Pin, which is machined from 17-4 PH stainless steel.

LA-N15 SET right

Specification:

Material: Certified Aerospace Billet 7075-T6 Aluminum
Finish: Milspec MIL-A-8625F Type3, Class2 Deep Black Hardcoat Anodize.

Upper:
Super smooth burnished Bore.
M4 Feedramps as standard.
Blended Smoothcam system.
Includes CP-R360 Domed Head Cam Pin.

Lower:
Internally flared magwell
Tapped rear detent hole.
Spotface takedown pin area.

www.lantac-usa.com

USSOCOM Announces Joint Threat Warning System Industry Day

June 28th, 2017

Joint Threat Warning System is the SIGINT Collection architecture for USSOCOM.  The current manpack version is the AN/PRD-13(V)2.  


While I used an early version of this system in Haiti over 20 years ago, it has come a long way from the AN/TRQ-30 DF loops first fielded to 3rd Group in 1990. They were the height of 1950s technology and the receiver used like 30 D cell batteries. 

As communication technology evolves, so must the equipment used to collect signals. Consequently, PM-JWTS is hosting an Industry Day, 13-14 July, 2017.

The Program Manager is specifically interested in signals intelligence technologies, ideas and solutions which advance One or more of the following Key Interest Areas:

1) Unique Signals of Interest

2) Modular and scalable open architecture systems (please see additional guidance below)

3) Remote C2 and Data Viewing

Further Clarification:

Modular and Scalable Open Architecture Systems: Need to allow the operator to choose relevant SIGINT applications and tailor the system to best support individual mission requirements. JTWS is seeking potential solutions with the below criteria as initial guidance but not formal direction:

• Hardware: Provide VPX (VITA 46)/Open VPX (VITA 65) based solutions that are modular and scalable from a body-worn or small UAS form factor to a vehicle/maritime platform to an airborne chassis. Focus should be on a 3U card size in order to maximize reuse between form factors. If use of VPX standards for small form factor solutions is not possible, alternative standards-based options that do not violate the remaining guidelines should be brought forward.

• Data: VITA 49 should be implemented for the data transport layer and output data using the Tactical SIGINT Data Model (TSDM). Systems should be JICD 4.x (currently 4.2) compliant at the sensor level for reporting, tuning, and collaborative geolocation.

• GUI: Partners should deliver capabilities with the ability to conduct full command and control and visualize mission data in RaptorX.

• Software: The adoption of the OpenVPX standard reduces the need for a pure open architecture solution across the program, but systems should still seek to implement open architecture solutions on individual cards in order to combine capabilities and maximize the capacity of each card within the system. Examples include GNU Radio and REDHAWK, but could be extended to any number of current industry and government developed environment.

Remote Capabilities: This capability needs to be Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS), however the program office would prefer Over-the-Horizon (OTH) with minimal latency delays.

Vendors interested in attending the Industry Day should visit www.fbo.gov.