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Over 200 Retired Flag Officers Endorse Trump Citing National Security Concerns

October 5th, 2024

Our National Security and Personal Safety Are At Stake In This Election

A Growing List of Over 200 Retired Generals and Admirals Endorse Donald J. Trump for President

[Richmond, Virginia] [September 30, 2024]: Today, over 200 retired generals and admirals are endorsing Donald J. Trump to be president. This list grows as an increasing number of retired military leaders recognize Trump has demonstrated the leadership ability needed to provide for the safety and security of the United

States of America. Donald Trump has a proven track record of success providing the most fundamental responsibilities required of a U.S. President: protecting national security, domestic safety, and the U.S. Constitution.

The current administration, led by the President and Vice President, has allowed our nation to become unsecure, our citizens unsafe, and our country divided due to the cultural war being waged across America in the form of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).This divisive domestic strife is dividing our Country, allowing our foreign adversaries to take advantage of the political/social disorder in America. A recent bipartisan congressional report “Commission on the National Defense Strategy” said: “The United States confronts the most serious and the most challenging threats since the end of World War II. The United States could in short order be drawn into a war across multiple theaters with peer and near-peer adversaries, and it could lose.”

Our adversaries watched the Afghanistan debacle unfold and concluded the Administration is weak based on decisions made in the White House situation room. Since then, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and global terrorists are rapidly expanding their capabilities and aggressiveness. These same adversaries are watching how DEI is being forced into our military as it divides service members instead of uniting them into cohesive teams, resulting in decreased warfighting readiness.

As president, Donald Trump took executive action to eliminate such harmful programs from the Defense Department and will do it again. We are at a historic crossroad where we must either choose to stand for our Constitution and its underlying traditional values which have made America the greatest nation on earth, or we continue down the path the current administration’s top leadership is taking into the abyss of socialism and authoritarian cultural Marxism. The choices in this election have never been more clear.

We urge our fellow Americans to join us in supporting the election of Donald J. Trump for president. Our future is at stake.

The growing list of over 200 retired U.S. generals and admirals endorsing Donald J. Trump for President are a part of Flag Officers 4 America, an all-volunteer group of retired military flag officers working to uphold the oath they took to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. www.flagofficers4america.com

To download the entire document with list of endorsers, click here.

Posted in Press Release | 46 Comments »

Red Beard Tactical & BOLD Consulting Announce Kommandostore as US Publisher

October 5th, 2024

Red Beard Tactical & BOLD Consulting from Germany, known for their mil blogging on Instagram as well as their hands-on military consulting are excited to announce to finally have found a fitting US publisher with Kommandostore

kommandostore.com/collections/red-beard-books

After shipping thousands of books to military members, LEOs and responsible citizens in the US, we are literally relieved to first off reduce shipping cost for the US customer, but also get our supply chain in check.

The initial release consists out of BOLD´s first book “Fieldcraft Essentials”, as well as an all new version of “Infantry in Combat”, which got extended with additional illustrated pages on Platoon and Squad movement. “Infantry in Combat” covers tactics, techniques and procedures not only from a battle drill based perspective, but puts a high emphasis on “understanding tactics” from a mission command and tenet based perspective.

“Infantry in Combat” as well as “Fieldcraft Essentials” can from now on directly sourced from Kommando Store

kommandostore.com/products/redbeard-tactical-infantry-in-combat-book

kommandostore.com/products/redbeard-tactical-fieldcraft-book

You can find the Red Beard Tacticals Blog on Instagram

www.instagram.com/redbeardtactical.de

All their books (and more) are also available as e-books on their Patreon for a 1$/ month subscription and up.

www.patreon.com/RedbeardTactical

Posted in Industry, Media, Press Release | No Comments »

Submissions Open for Thunder Dome 2025 Innovation Competition

October 5th, 2024

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

Are you an Air Commando with an innovative idea that gets after strategic competition but need funding? If so, now is your chance to submit your idea for the opportunity to receive capital. The submission window is now open for AFSOC’s innovation competition known as Thunder Dome. All submissions received by November 27, 2024, will be considered.

This competition is open to any member within the command and ideas can be submitted at gain.il4.afwerx.dso.mil/usaf/afsoc-ci2/overview, which is a CAC only enabled site.

Finalists will be selected based on multiple factors including impact on readiness/advantage, alignment with AFSOC strategy, and feasibility of execution. Finalists will present their ideas on January 9, 2025 for the chance to receive funding to further develop their innovative solutions.

The first ever Thunder Dome was held in July and resulted in six projects receiving funding. By empowering Air Commandos through events like Thunder Dome, AFSOC can continue its ethos of grassroots innovation and rapidly pathfind concepts and capabilities to win in strategic competition.

– Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, SOF | No Comments »

Rheinmetall and Honeywell Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Develop New Technology

October 4th, 2024

Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall and the U.S. industrials company Honeywell have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish strategic cooperation in various fields of technology. The two companies intend to cooperate on new visual systems and auxiliary power units for vehicles, among other things.

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, said: “From auxiliary power units and visual devices to building automation, the list of potential areas of cooperation for our two companies is long. We are grateful to have gained Honeywell as a strategic partner given their long history of innovation and broad technological portfolio.”

Matt Milas, President of Defense and Space, Honeywell Aerospace, said: “We are excited to collaborate with Rheinmetall AG to bring our cutting-edge technology to support the missions of our allies across the world. New and existing programs will benefit from our joint development, production and sustainment efforts across an extensive list of global defense platforms.”

Together, the companies intend to develop new visual systems that leverage the existing capabilities of the Honeywell 360 Display, a driver vision system that includes a variety of thermal imaging and daylight cameras distributed around the vehicle. With the system, a pair of glasses mounted on a driver’s helmet uses augmented and mixed reality technologies to deliver advanced levels of situational awareness and provide a 360-degree view – even without direct vision through windows or periscopes. The Honeywell 360 Display would provide an immense capability boost for existing fleets of tactical vehicles, such as the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, as well as for new builds of modern weapons systems.

Honeywell and Rheinmetall also intend to collaborate on auxiliary power units that are used in tactical wheeled and tracked vehicles when they are in a position and not moving under their own power. With auxiliary power units, the operating time and operational readiness of a turret system can be significantly increased while still maintaining a low thermal and acoustic signature. Auxiliary power units are a supplement to battery storage and can also be of great interest for stationary tasks, including in the protection of critical infrastructure or properties.

The planned strategic cooperation also aims to explore other areas of collaboration between the two companies, including localized maintenance and support for other Honeywell products installed on strategic platforms utilized by the Bundeswehr.

By leveraging their collective resources, Rheinmetall and Honeywell intend to pursue joint approaches in the field of industrial high-energy applications, specifically in building automation (e.g. air conditioning and ventilation, lighting, access control) and overarching thermal management. The companies will explore how a compact solution consisting of a high-performance battery coupled with an auxiliary power unit and a cooling system could supply the necessary electrical primary energy, including the dissipation of heat, for future weapon systems.

Rheinmetall and Honeywell are also in talks about closer cooperation with regard to capabilities in the areas of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (cUAS) and electronic warfare. As the cooperation progresses, the implementation of the individual measures will be specified in the coming weeks and months.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release | No Comments »

Textron Systems, Howe & Howe and Teledyne Flir Defense Deliver Ripsaw M3 Prototypes For US Army RCV Program

October 4th, 2024

HUNT VALLEY, Md., October 3, 2024 – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today that Team RIPSAW — Textron Systems, its subsidiary, Howe & Howe and Teledyne FLIR Defense — has delivered two RIPSAW® M3 prototype vehicles to the U.S. Army for the competitive Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Phase I: Platform Prototype program. The vehicles were delivered to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

The RIPSAW M3 leverages a modular open systems architecture (MOSA) design and common chassis to support a variety of interchangeable payloads from a basic flat-top deck configuration. A rugged and reliable RCV platform, the vehicle is designed to meet Army requirements while preserving transportability and mission versatility.

“The RIPSAW M3 exemplifies the innovative technology Howe & Howe develops to support our customers,” said Senior Vice President, Mike Howe. “Designed for ease of integration with a common robotic core, the prototypes delivered represent the decades of experience in the ground robotics space our team possesses.”

“Team RIPSAW leverages the expertise of Textron Systems, Howe & Howe and Teledyne FLIR Defense, creating a mission-ready system to support the Army’s needs,” said Senior Vice President Air, Land and Sea Systems, David Phillips. “Our dedication to testing the prototype vehicles before delivery ensures we’re providing a rugged, reliable system.”

“We’re proud to be partnered with Textron Systems and Howe & Howe to deliver this unprecedented robotic platform to the U.S. Army,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, President of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “We’re excited to bring our expertise in uncrewed aerial systems, 360-degree situational awareness, and intelligent sensing technology onto the RIPSAW M3 that will give soldiers a decisive tactical edge and allow commanders to make better, faster decisions.”

Team RIPSAW has invested in this family of robotic vehicles since 2019 when the RIPSAW M5 system first debuted. Later variants, including the M5-E (electric) and M3 Tech Demonstrator, leveraged the team’s collaboration with industry partners, academia and the U.S. Army to perform multiple mission sets in various environmental and test conditions. Since 2019, the RIPSAW family of vehicles have amassed over 4,700 miles of durability testing.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Press Release, Robotics | No Comments »

Delta Three Oscar Launches Revolutionary Ballistic Foam to Help Brands Meet New NIJ Standards

October 4th, 2024

Blacksburg Virginia – 3rd October 2024: Delta Three Oscar, the ballistic arm of D3O renowned for its cutting-edge protective materials, has developed D3O® Ballistic, an advanced lightweight energy dissipating foam designed to support body armor manufacturers in meeting the new NIJ Standard 0101.07 and its new Back Face

Signature (BFS) requirements – the amount of deformation, or damage, created on the backside of a hard armor plate after a threat impact. This updated certification protocol, issued by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), offers enhanced protection and revised testing procedures, making it a significant upgrade over the previous NIJ Standard 0101.06.

As body armor manufacturers redesign and retest their products to comply with these new requirements, D3O Ballistic has become an essential solution for maintaining critical BFS performance while optimizing wearer comfort and mobility. Ten renown global manufacturers, have already adopted D3O Ballistic for their next-generation body armor systems, highlighting the material’s broad industry appeal.

Lightweight, Low-Bulk, High Protection

D3O Ballistic has been meticulously engineered to reduce the armor BFS for a wide range of threats, while improving mobility and comfort. This groundbreaking foam provides a crucial layer of protection for front-line personnel, minimizing non-perforating hit trauma and maximizing chances of carrying on with the mission. By offering a low-weight and low-bulk solution, it ensures that NIJ-certified body armour solutions remain mobile, comfortable, and reliable, addressing a key challenge in protective gear development.

This development comes at a critical time as the updated NIJ Standard 0101.07 introduces tougher requirements and more complex testing protocols. With D3O Ballistic, brands can confidently pass the new NIJ plate certification while ensuring the highest levels of safety and mobility for users.

Revolutionizing Protection for High-Risk Environments

“Delta Three Oscar is committed to saving lives,” said Stuart Sawyer, Delta Three Oscar CEO. “Our goal is to revolutionize protective gear for those operating in high-risk environments, and our Ballistic foam is a key part of that mission. This material isn’t just about protection—it’s about comfort, mobility, and ensuring that those on the front line have the best possible chance of coming home safely.”

In addition to supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, Delta Three Oscar’s innovative materials are used by international defense and law enforcement organizations around the world. The company’s products are also Berry Amendment compliant, making them a trusted partner for U.S. military procurement.

Posted in Materials, Press Release | No Comments »

USSOCOM PEO-Maritime Multi-terrain Maintenance Trolley Assessment Event

October 4th, 2024

SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM PEO-Maritime (PEO-M) Undersea, will host an assessment event to explore industry’s interest and ability to design, develop and support a multiple surface maintenance and support trolley for the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) program.

PEO-M Undersea, in conjunction with other Government stakeholders is seeking a multiple terrain maintenance and support trolley for the DCS program. This effort will require design, development, manufacture, documentation, training, and support of the trolley.

As a part of the DCS support equipment, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) developed and delivered a maintenance trolley that is suitable for use in a flat, level factory floor environment. Due to the range of operational locations anticipated for the DCS, PEO-M Undersea and the Integrated Maintenance Depot Section (IMDS) team at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek (JEBLC), are seeking a design that will provide similar maintenance and support capabilities but will be able to operate in an environment of rough surfaces that may be expected in deployment areas.

Detailed requirements will be provided as an attachment to this notice, but the general requirements include:

– Provide access and support capabilities similar to existing OEM system

– Be air, land, and sea transportable (without the DCS on-board)

– Be able to operate on rough and uneven terrain that may be expected in forward operating environments with the DCS loaded

– It is desired to be able to perform or support ramp launch and recovery of the DCS

– It is desired to be able to be self-propelled and/or be transported with its prime mover in all conditions

Submit NLT 15 November 2024 11:59 PM ET.

For full details at events.sofwerx.org/peo-m-dcs-multi-terrain-maintenance-trolley.

This project is ITAR Restricted.

Posted in Maritime, MRO, SOF | No Comments »

Introducing the Striker Gen.3 Boonie Hat by UF PRO

October 4th, 2024

KOMENDA, SLOVENIA (03.10.2024)

UF PRO announces the launch of the Striker Gen.3 Boonie Hat, designed to provide enhanced comfort, protection, and adaptability in hot environments. This new version builds on a classic design with advanced materials and features that meet the needs of today’s professionals.

The Striker Gen.3 Boonie Hat is made with NyCo Extreme ripstop fabric, offering excellent tear resistance, breathability, and quick-drying properties. Whether on the range or in the field, this hat is designed to keep users cool and comfortable, even during long operations.

The hat features air/pac® padding, which promotes airflow and provides a buffer against direct sunlight. Mesh ventilation openings help cool air circulate while preventing sweat buildup, keeping the wearer comfortable during extended use.

“The Striker Gen.3 Boonie Hat is more than just headgear. It’s a complete system designed to protect users from the elements while maximising their focus and comfort in high-stress environments,” said Dejan Kastelic, Head of Research and Development at UF PRO. “This hat continues the legacy of the Striker line by combining innovative materials and tactical features to serve those who need it most.”

A wire-reinforced brim offers sun protection while maintaining a clear line of sight, and an adjustable drawcord ensures the hat stays secure, even in challenging conditions. The integrated loops allow for easy attachment of camouflage material, providing additional concealment when needed.

With its durable and lightweight construction, the Striker Gen.3 Boonie Hat is ideal for professionals in military, law enforcement, and outdoor sectors, as well as anyone working in hot climates. It also meets No/Melt-No/Drip standards required by many government organisations.

For more information on UF PRO’s latest tactical gear, visit ufpro.com. The Striker Gen.3 Boonie Hat will be available starting next week.

Posted in Advertiser, Clothing, Press Release | No Comments »