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2025 Special Air Warfare Symposium Registration Now Open

January 29th, 2025

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. – Registration to attend the 2025 Special Air Warfare Symposium taking place Feb 25-27 at Fort Walton Beach, Florida is now open. SAWS is a large, annual, global SOF Aviation gathering that brings together leaders, innovators, and industry experts to ensure the readiness of our SOF warfighters.

Now in its third year, 2025 SAWS overall theme is Forging the Future: Advancing SOF Aviation for Tomorrow’s Victory. This focus is on rejecting incremental improvements and instead the active pursuit of transformative capabilities that will rapidly provide USSOCOM and the Joint Force with a strategic advantage in the future.

SAWS is co-hosted by Air Force Special Operations and Global SOF Foundation and promises to expand on the previous two events. Click here to register for this unique opportunity to engage with and learn from the aviation-focused Special Operations Community.

– Courtesy of AFSOC Public Affairs

DISCLAIMER: Co-sponsorship of this event does not imply endorsement of GSOF, its services, or its products by the United States Government, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command.

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SHOT Show 25 – Sarsimalz SARBOT

January 28th, 2025

Announced for full production last fall, SARBOT from Turkey’s Sarsimalz is an armed quadruped unmanned ground vehicle or robot (not to be confused with the maritime UUV SARbot).

Although the actual robot wasn’t displayed at SHOT Show, Sarsimalz definitely promoted its existence on the side of their booth.

Sarsimalz is well known for small arms with recent forays into drones so this is a natural progression. SARBOT has been under development since at least 2022 when the first prototype was unveiled.

-Eric Graves

Editor

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SHOT Show 25 – OCELLUS Armored Eyewear from Tardigrade Industries

January 28th, 2025

Developed by Tardigrade Industries as part of an Irregular Warfare Technology Support Directorate program, OCELLUS Armored Eyewear offers near helmet-level protection for the eyes. A combat helmet defeats a 17-grain fragment traveling at 2400 FPS; current military eyewear is limited to 770 FPS.

Now available for pre-order, OCELLUS Armored Eyewear is offered in two versions:

The OCELLUS Xtreme has been third-party tested to 1,877 FPS nearly three times the current mil-spec standard.

The OCELLUS Fusion, while still offering 1,100 FPS in frag protection, is a lighter version for availability at a later date.

SPECIFICATIONS

Threat Level – STANAG 2920 [F5] | .22 Cal 17gr FSP – 1877 ft/s

Weight – 4.85 Oz.
Dimensions – L 155mm W 62mm H 60mm

Case – Proprietary MOLLE adaptable Carrying Case
Soft Kit – Adjustable Cranium Strap
Color – Available in BLACK 22, TAN 499

Compliance
MIL-PRF 32432A
STANAG 2920 [F5]
ANSI Z87.1.2020

Compatible with optional REVISION Rx Insert

armoredoptics.com/products/pre-order-ocellus-armored-eyewear

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SHOT Show 25 – WOBIG Portable Gearstand

January 28th, 2025

I was introduced to the WOBIG Portable Gearstand in the ADS booth. Many of us made them from scrap lumber while deployed and there are quite a few on the market, but this is the first one of I’ve run across that is so well packaged for transport.

The inspiration for the stand would make any one of us proud. During brand founder Tim Wobig’s second deployment to Afghanistan where he built an ad-hoc model using items he found.

The production model will accommodate armor and helmet in excess of 85 pounds of gear despite weighing in at just 2.4 lbs itself. Easy to deploy, it snaps open in the seconds.

The spine is aircraft-grade aluminum, first polished then anodized while the arms and legs are composed of glass-filled nylon.

The WOBIG Portable Gearstand also has a cool development story. It was refined in conjunction with faculty and midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy over a 2 ½ period. The final product was released in December 2023 during the company founder’s final deployment to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1998, Tim served in multiple locations in the states and overseas before transferring to the Army National Guard as a Commissioned Officer in 2009.

He is currently deployed overseas on active-duty with the rank of Major. When his tour completes, Tim plans to retire in the Midwest and spend more time with his wife and their seven-year-old twins.

During his 23 years of service, Tim remained passionate about his commitment to his brothers and sisters in arms. In his own words: “I always knew that I wanted to leave the military in a better place than when I found it.”

Veteran owned, the company is operated by Tim and his business partner, Marc Lurie.

www.wobiggear.com/products/stand-1

-Eric Graves

Editor

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SHOT Show 25 – DFND Tahoe Wool Mesh Base Layer

January 28th, 2025

Every year at SHOT Show I run across something I isn’t exact it generally ends up being the coolest thing I’ll see. This year it’s DFND’s Wool Mesh Base Layers.

About every decade or so, Scandinavian mesh base layers come back in vogue. Sure, they work, but the design seems too foreign for many Americans. But working with our NATO partners along the northern flank are teaching us a lot about operating in the extremes and one of those lessons is clothing. SOF units have been procuring mesh base layers which trap warm air near the skin, from European vendors using micro purchase, but now a Berry Compliant product is available from DFND.

Key advantages of wool for cold weather operations include its breathability, moisture management, comfort, and natural odor resistance.

Features:

•No Melt, No Drip

•Completely Seamless

•Compostable

•9.2 oz (Shirt) / 7.8oz Long Johns

•Fiber 100% Wool

Key Advantages of Wool fot Military Use

1. Breathability and moisture management

2. Sustainability

3. Comfort

4. Natural odor resistance

5. Thermal regulation

Advanced Design Features:

•Textured knit structure for improved thermal efficacy

•Balanced thermal insulation and airflow

•Layering capability for enhanced performance

Berry Compliant, 100% made in USA with USA grown and made materials.

Offered in sizes XS – XXL in Tan 499 and Coyote.

dfndusa.com

Posted in Clothing, SHOT Show | 6 Comments »

SHOT Show 25 – Blue Force Gear

January 28th, 2025

This is the BFG press release for the new products launched at SHOT Show. I’m augmenting it with the photos I took in their booth.

LAS VEGAS, NV. – Blue Force Gear, the world leader in load carriage equipment, announces the release of new products during SHOT Show 2025. Blue Force Gear (BFG) consistently raises the bar in lightweight load-carriage equipment and the additions to their product line tout that same code of advancement.

Leading the new releases is the FORM Belt, a CCW-optimized pants belt featuring BFG’s signature anatomical curve design. The FORM Belt utilizes a neoprene foam lining for exceptional comfort and a stiffened thermoplastic composite for enough rigidity to support a holster and other everyday carry items. The belt is finished with ULTRAcomp high-performance coated fabric laminate, which is antimicrobial, hydrophobic, and can stand up to daily wear for years to come.

Expanding their holster solutions, BFG now offers the Holster Adapter in two heights: mid-level and high-level. The patent pending Holster Adapter works seamlessly with the BFG CHLK and GRID Belts to support Safariland style three-hole pattern holsters.The new high-level option caters specifically to users who frequently transition between standing and seated positions.

For shotgun users, BFG presents the new Shotgun Shell Pouch, featuring a seven-shell capacity with split flaps that are designed for optimal ergonomic accessibility and customization. This patent pending pouch is special as it’s the first to reveal BFG’s new two-way Helium Whisper attachment system that allows for pouch mounting both vertically and horizontally.

Those with gear organization issues will be pleased with the patent pending Belt Hanger, an innovative storage solution designed specifically for BFG’s CHLK and GRID Belt systems. This simple yet effective device attaches to the belt’s Cobra Buckle or buckle of the GRID Belt, providing a secure storage hook that can be hung in lockers, closets, or on hooks.

BFG grows their Patented MARCO Marking Device chem light lineup with the addition of orange and white chem lights, complementing the existing red, blue, green, and infrared options. These Cyalume chem lights maintain BFG’s commitment to reliability in tactical marking applications.

Finally, in collaboration with Elliot Brown, Blue Force Gear also debuts a limited-edition Holton Automatic GMT Watch featuring BFG’s trademark “Always Better” and other distinguishing marks. The exclusive watch is released with a proprietary ULTRAcomp fabric strap and is only available while supplies last.

To learn more about these new products and tosubscribe to be notified of their availability, click here.

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Team O’Neil’s Tactical Driving Tuesday – Car Fighting

January 28th, 2025

Fighting from your vehicle. It’s a topic rarely discussed and even more rarely practiced in training.

If you’re in need of in-person training like this, sign up for the Team O’Neil Tactical Driving Course at their facility in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This five-day course includes driving under NODS and is available to military and other government agencies as well as civilians.

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Colt Optics-Ready 1911 Competition Pistols – Premium Firearms for Competitive Shooters

January 28th, 2025

New Pistols with Advanced Features for 2025

WEST HARTFORD, CONN. – January 27, 2025 – Colt’s Manufacturing Company is proud to announce the Colt Optics-Ready 1911 Competition Pistols, which were launched during the 2025 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, January 21-24.

The Colt Optics-Ready 1911 Competition Pistols are engineered for precision, performance and versatility. Available in both 9mm and .45 ACP, these pistols deliver the performance required for high-level competition. Featuring Colt’s innovative optics plate system, the Optics-Ready 1911 Competition Pistols are equipped with advanced features to enhance speed, accuracy and customization. These enhancements make the pistols the perfect choice for those looking to gain a competitive advantage.

“We are excited to announce the launch of the Optics-Ready 1911 Competition pistols from Colt,” said Josh Dorsey, president of Colt. “This new line represents the perfect fusion of Colt’s legacy of excellence and the cutting-edge technology competitive shooters demand. With advanced optics compatibility, enhanced ergonomics and the legendary performance Colt is known for, we’re confident these pistols will give shooters the edge they need to stay ahead in the competition.”

The pistols feature the Optics Ready Slide, a stainless-steel slide featuring a black nitride cover plate with a fixed, serrated rear sight in a Glock dovetail. The updated Series 70 Firing System provides consistent performance with every shot, while the enhanced ergonomics keep the pistol low in the hand for increased control and optimal handling during high-speed engagements.

Colt Optics-Ready 1911 Competition Pistols Specifications:

Capacity: 8+1 (45 ACP), 9+1 (9mm)

Stainless finish

Barrel Length: 5” (127 mm)

Length: 8.5” (216 mm)

Height: 5.75” (146 mm)

Width: 1.25” (32 mm)

Novak Red Fiber Optic front sight

Black Serrated rear sight

G10 Checkered Blue with Scallops grip

Unloaded weight: 36 oz (1021 g)

Caliber 45 ACP and 9 mm