Blue Force Gear will exhibit at Modern Day Marine on June 27–29 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. Reps will be on hand to talk about Blue Force Gear products, including the latest in our line of duty belts: the GRID™ Belt and the CHLK™ Belt.
The GRID Belt and the CHLK Belt are each suited to different duty applications. Both models are based on the two-belt inner/outer belt system and feature laser-cut MOLLEminus slots for attaching holsters and other gear.
The GRID Belt is an excellent duty belt for most military, police, and law enforcement personnel. It is also an ideal choice for sports shooters, prepared citizens, or anyone looking for a “war belt” who doesn’t need a belt with load-rated capabilities.
The CHLK Belt builds on the features of the GRID Belt, adding highly specific capabilities, including a load-rated buckle, proprietary Dyneema®-nylon hybrid webbing, and two external tether attachment points. The CHLK Belt is purpose-built to allow commandos to snap securely into helicopters while performing INFIL/EXFIL and during time of flight.
Stop by Booth #713 to meet the team and check out the GRID and CHLK belts, Vickers Combat Application Slings, BFG trauma kits, and other innovative products from Blue Force Gear.
“The Marine Corps requires unmanned air, surface, and ground systems to fully exploit our inherent expeditionary nature and capabilities. When operating forward, in small groups, under austere conditions, the ability to maximize unmanned systems to create outsized effects for our allies and against our adversaries is a key element of our future success.”
– Gen Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps
The United States has long enjoyed a technological advantage as our robust industrial base and strong economy have provided our military with exquisite combat systems. As a result, the U.S. has had been the preeminent global power since the end of the Cold War. However, the decreasing cost of technology combined with commercial availability of equipment that provide an asymmetric effect means the U.S. military must find new and innovative ways to leverage this growth in technology. To do so, the U.S. military must be prepared to incorporate new warfighting techniques to meet the growing threat of an increasingly technologically advanced adversary.
Today, the Marine Corps is leading the services in development and integration of these emerging technologies. Paired with the sound combined arms doctrine that defines our Marine Corps, Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems (IRAS) provides vastly increased situational awareness across all echelons of warfare. All-domain sensors that detect the enemy throughout the electromagnetic spectrum and pass real time targeting data over vast distances makes the battlefield increasingly transparent for the individual Marine and up through the chain of command, enabling sensors, weapons, and decision makers to rapidly close kill webs and destroy the enemy.
The ability to exploit the vast amount of information being received in the combat environment presents a cognitive challenge, as the commander’s decision-making becomes increasingly overloaded. Conversely, the vast amount of information also creates opportunity. Those forces that can most rapidly and effectively process information have a distinct advantage.
Software developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning lighten the mental burden by rapidly organizing data in a logical and prioritized manner. Through rapid prioritization, Marines can “make sense” and act before the enemy. By establishing this competitive advantage, the adversary targeting, and decision cycle is disrupted, increasing survivability and expediting movement and maneuver. Ultimately, the combination of Marine decision makers with IRAS creates tempo that cannot be matched by the enemy.
As the operating environment becomes increasingly contested through the adversary’s use of anti-access/area denial systems, the ability to sustain our operating forces inside the enemy weapons engagement zone presents a significant logistical challenge. The physical burden on Marines to carry more supplies and ammunition inhibits their ability to rapidly displace and maneuver, creating exposure to the enemy and risk to the force. IRAS will lighten the Marines’ physical load, expedite staging and transfer supplies across vast distances in the maritime environment. Using a range of air, land, and surface logistical connector vehicles will enable ship-to-shore sustainment of maneuvering units, while reducing the risk to legacy manned resupply aircraft.
To maximize the benefits of IRAS, these systems must operate through networked, collaborative, autonomy. By fusing data from distributed platforms and operating from common mission controllers, individual warfighters will be able to control multiple platforms and payloads to accomplish their mission. Working with leading industry partners and research agencies, the Marine Corps is developing vehicles that will be able to conduct swarming maneuvers and attacks. These swarming vehicles leverage numerous systems to sense each other across the network, process information at machine speeds, and enable kinetic effects with maximum efficiency. This technology will decrease the number of munitions required to create strategic effects, rapidly closing kill webs and further decreasing the logistics burden.
The category of warfighting tools historically referred to as “unmanned” provides an incomplete description of these capabilities. While this was a commonly accepted term, the human element in warfighting should not be discounted. Most important to successful employment of IRAS is human oversight and interaction for successful employment. Additionally, as IRAS are interoperable, modular, and secure allowing for streamlined training and proficiency, reducing cost, time to train, and manpower requirements.
As the threat and operating environment continue to change over time, the future remains clouded in ambiguity. If technology growth continues its current, exponential path, Marines in the future may find themselves equipped with physical augmentations, and hybrid virtual reality optics. Furthermore, teaming between legacy manned and IRAS fighter jets will also enable our cutting-edge aircraft. Manned aircraft will become more survivable, and their signature optimized. Weaponized IRAS aircraft will execute the will of the pilots and conduct dogfighting by predictive modeling to defeat enemy formations before they can even maneuver.
While ambitious and imaginative, the Marine Corps is exploring technologies that can someday make this vision a reality. The exponential growth of IRAS converging with new warfighting concepts will enable Marines to operate in distributed environments, with low cost, persistent, signature managed systems. Future Marines must be prepared to fight in new ways to confront the evolving threat, and commanders must build trust in IRAS to ensure their formations maintain the tactical advantage with maximum lethality. Leaders at all echelons must also develop feedback mechanisms to allow the service to understand the evolving needs of the warfighter and equip them with the latest IRAS that allow them to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy.
Story by Maj Keenan Chirhart, Marine Corps Combat Development Command
Photo by Cpl Tyler Andrews
Posted in Guest Post, Robotics, USMC | Comments Off on USMC Requires Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems
MATBOCK showed off their Raider OTB Kits during Warrior East. Included in the line are Front, Back, and Side Pouches as well as Rifle Bag. Seam sealed and incorporating waterproof zippers, the Raider line is meant for over the beach ops and has thee maritime applications.
This is a waterproof low profile pouch that mounts directly to the front of your plate carrier keeping water and sand out of your magazines and gear. It can quickly be unzipped allowing the operator full access to magazines and gear and ready to move out in a fraction of the time it would take in the past.
The Back Pouch is a low profile waterproof backpack that mounts directly to the back of your plate carrier with MOLLE attachment point, or to the GRAM insert and worn as a stand-alone removable pack as seen here.
The Side Pouch is a 6″x6″ lightweight waterproof GP pouch intended to attach via PALS to the cummerbund. It incorporates a waterproof zipper and like the entire Raider line, sealed seams.
Another technology exhibited during the ADS Maritime Demo Day is the TacHeat System developed by Human Systems Integration and integrated into dry suits by Mustang Survival. The technology stems from a SBIR program for heated gloves and relies on electrically heated coils which are embedded in the fabric.
Currently, there is a next to skin top and bottom, glove liner and insole.
Here you can see how the power cable interfaces with the next-to-skin layer.
This cable is used to pass the power cable through the drysuit.
There are currently two control boxes, with ine having a smaller form factor but less control.
The wearer can choose which components he wants to use. For example, all of the components, or just gloves and insoles for say aircraft door gunners.
Units and agencies can procure products seen at Warrior East by contacting ADS, Inc.
On Friday, the day after Warrior East, ADS hosted a maritime Demo Day which showcased several technologies including this SEA DOO 170 Explorer Pro personal watercraft.
The SEA DOO 170 Explorer Pro is new this year from Bombardier Recreational Products and offers space for up to three and comes equipped with a rear deck which is great for rescues. ADS works with Alpha Logistics Group to add customization like this RP Advanced Mobile Systems inflatable bumper to allow the operator to get right next to decks and other watercraft.
I didn’t even realize ADS offered watercraft aside from Combat Rubber Raiding Craft and outboard engines. Apparently, they’re offered through the MRO (Maintenace, Repair, and Operations) team and generally executed through the FES (Fire and Emergency Serrvices) TLS (Tailored Logistic Support) contract.
Units and agencies can procure products seen at Warrior East by contacting ADS, Inc.
Spartan Blades of Southern Pines, NC today announce a new a new Poros folding knife as part of their Bronze Grade line of knives.
Spartan Blades, a Southern Pines, NC based company, is an award-winning maker of premium cutlery. The new “POROS” folder was designed by retired Special Forces Soldier Curtis V. Iovito of Spartan Blades.
The POROS flipper, was designed by Curtis Iovito as a robust and full-sized flipper. This blades high grind lines combined with a sharp piercing drop point make it a trusted companion for everyday carry. Its quick flipper action is assisted by IKBS Bearing for the ‘Snap” you are looking for! Its distinctive scallops are not only beautiful but provide for a sure grip. The deep carry pocket clip maintains a low profile while keeping your blade ready when needed. The blade is 154CM stainless steel with black titanium nitride coating; SS hardware and liner have black electro-deposit powder coating.
Practical Guide to the Operational Use of the AK-47/AKM & AK-74. This manual will enable the reader to competently use and maintain the weapon system. Key topics include background and specifications, operating instructions, disassembly and assembly, proper firing procedures, malfunction/misfire procedures and operator level maintenance.
AK Handbook
Written for instructors and student and contain all necessary information to operate, maintain and effectively employ AK pattern rifles. The 4”x6” size was specifically chosen to make it amenable to carry during range training, kept in a gun bag or thrown in a deployment box. The methodology used reinforces clear, concise, and simple answers to the most common questions students ask.
AK Zero Targets
The VSS 14 Meter Zero Target for AK-47/AKM Rifles includes overlayed windage drum illustrations for simple zeroing adjustments. The targets also include AK-47/AKM specific info for those not familiar with the correct process for sighting in your weapon. 20 targets per pack.
AK Aiming Offset Chart Stickers
The AK Aiming Offset Charts are made to assist with target engagement at varying distances without adjusting your sights/optics once the rifle is zeroed (14m zero for 7.62 AK rifles and 21m zero for 5.45 AK rifles). Place it on your buttstock for easy reference. They contain a column of data for the distance you are shooting and a column for the hold offset at that distance. Options for centimeters or inches, 7.62x39mm or 5.45x39mm, and color choices of brown, black or white.
VSS also provides non-standard weapons training for military units. For more information visit foreignweapons.com or vig-sec.com.
Vigilant Security Services® (VSS) provides training, security consulting and products to the US military/government and the defense industry. VSS was founded in 2005 by US Army Special Forces veteran, Erik Lawrence and is located in Las Vegas, NV.
Posted in Press Release, Training | Comments Off on AK Manuals, AK Targets and Aiming Offset Chart Stickers from VSS