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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) —
A four-year initiative to modernize the day-to-day equipment of active-duty Air Force security forces defenders reached its fifth and final phase recently with the award of a $39 million contract for state-of-the-art defender gear.
In addition to securing the contract award through the Air Force Installation Contracting Center’s 773rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, the Air Force Security Forces Center worked with Air Force Materiel Command logisticians to get the equipment into the Logistics Readiness Inventory Control System.
“Because of this effort, not only will it be easier to account for equipment, defenders will now be able to move from one installation to another with their Model Defender Individual Equipment Kit under the Gear for Life program,” said Master Sgt. Derek Walton, AFSFC Model Defender and Gear for Life program manager. “This means they will no longer need to have that equipment issued at each installation as they progress in their careers.”
At the direction of Air Force Security Forces, the Model Defender initiative began in June 2020 with a focus on standardizing must-have daily gear for every defender in the Department of the Air Force.
“The establishment of the Model Defender Individual Equipment Kit was crucial as it standardized gear across the Air Force security forces enterprise enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring the safety and professional appearance of personnel and fostering modernization within the Total Force,” said Dennis Rodriguez, AFSFC individual protective equipment branch chief.
AFSFC started the new initiative by developing a standardized equipment list of 23 items which was then coordinated, amended and approved through major commands and security forces headquarters. This resulted in a final Model Defender Individual Equipment Kit.
Working with industry and Air Force contracting partners, the center then conducted phase 1 testing of state-of-the-art equipment using active-duty, National Guard Bureau and Air Force Reserve Commanddefenders in the San Antonio area.
“This collaborative effort with industry partners for phase 1 testing also streamlined the acquisition process, ensuring that all security forces are well equipped and ready for their duties,” Rodriguez said.
Based on testing results, AFSFC continued to phase 2 for expanded day-to-day testing at eight installations across four major commands, and phase 3 where the center consolidated and scrutinized collected data before presenting their findings to the Air Force Equipment and Weapons Configuration Board for validation.
During both of these phases, AFSFC worked with AFICC’s contracting experts for an acquisition strategy that would move the purchase forward once decisions were made about what equipment was best for the defender force.
“By conducting ongoing testing with the consolidation and analysis of test results, we were able to swiftly transition through the phases,” Rodriguez said. “This parallel processing allowed for immediate adjustments and expedited the validation and acquisition processes.”
As a result, the equipment procurement plan was set to go immediately after the team confirmed the best equipment for the security forces enterprise, he added.
Phase 4, the first purchase of Model Defender kit equipment took place May 2023 with Blue Force Gear and marked a significant milestone in the timeline.
“Blue Force Gear developed a kit specifically to meet the needs of our security forces enterprise,” Walton said. “Their laser cut technology is cutting edge and integrates seamlessly with the body armor solution that was selected by the Air Force.”
Upon receiving the initial small equipment purchase, the AFSFC team shifted focus to begin collaboration with Headquarters Air Force.
“The goal was to integrate the Model Defender items into the supply system through the Gear for Life initiative,” Rodriguez said. “Which was crucial for us to ensure the newly acquired equipment would be seamlessly incorporated into the broader system, enhancing the overall readiness and capability of the SF enterprise.”
“Our collaboration with headquarters was pivotal,” he added. “Integrating the Model Defender equipment into the Gear for Life initiative is not just a step, it’s a leap toward equipping defenders with the tools they need to face the future head-on.”
The final phase award was the career field’s largest purchase ever when the full contract of $39 million was awarded to Blue Force Gear in April.
Equipment rollout to the field is expected to begin in December with full delivery to the field by early 2025.
The finalized Model Defender kit consists of:
– M-4 magazine pouches
– M-18 magazine pouches
– Dump pouches (for easily stowing a variety of items like empty magazines)
– Holster adapters
– Mollie belts (a webbed belt that allows gear to be attached in a variety of configurations)
– Utility and handcuff pouches
– Flashlight and baton pouches
By Debbie Aragon, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs
Rheinmetall is showcasing its new “Pistol Tactical Aiming Laser” laser light module at Eurosatory 2024. Made by Rheinmetall Soldier Electronics in Stockach on Lake Constance, the Pistol Tactical Aiming Laser (LLM-PTAL) is a compact lightweight build-on module specially designed for handguns.
For target illumination, an infrared close-range illuminator and white light are available to the operator for use in all operational situations.
In addition, the LLM-PTAL is equipped with an IR aiming laser and a visible (selectable red or green) aiming laser, integrated next to each other in a laser block.
Despite its compact dimensions (L/W/H 76 x 45 x 30 mm) and low weight of just 115 g, the newly developed module produces a powerful laser output of up to laser class 3B, permanently controlled via a monitor diode and electronically regulated. The build-on module features a dongle interface for an eye-safe training mode and effective force-on-force training.
Besides ergonomic, two-handed fingertip operability, the module can be attached to the weapon in various ways and can be adapted to different holster types. The single CR123 battery can be exchanged via the lamp head when the module is mounted.
Furthermore, the device offers the great advantage of not being subject to America’s strict ITAR export regulations.
Along with other Rheinmetall products, the LLM-PTAL is on view at Stand E115/F115 at Eurosatory 2024.
For Release, June 17, 2024
Buchanan, GA- GeoCue, announces the premiere of the latest episodes of its award-winning drone surveying reality series, Down to Earth. The new episodes highlight LETEL, a leader in civil engineering, drone technology, LiDAR, and construction services, and their innovative use of TrueView LiDAR technology and LP360 software to overcome complex surveying challenges in construction services and land development.
Before starting LETEL, John Downing began his journey in the construction industry digging ditches and getting his boots muddy. Determined to rise above, John embraced cutting-edge technology and invested in drones, a decision that transformed his career and led to the creation of LETEL.
Now, with over 20 years of experience, John has grown LETELinto a powerhouse in the construction and development industry. LETEL offers comprehensive services, from civil engineering to advanced drone technology, LiDAR, and construction solutions. The expert team of surveyors, engineers, LiDAR technicians, and pilots at LETEL can handle any project, big or small.
In these latest episodes of Down to Earth, watch as the LETELteam takes on a challenging 400-acre site with thick vegetation, steep elevation changes, and dense Georgia Pines. See how they use TrueView LiDAR technology to efficiently gather crucial data and quickly calculate volumetrics for their top client, Magnum Construction. All while the team skillfully navigates steep cliffs and steers clear of hazardous construction equipment, demonstrating the remarkable efficiency and precision of TrueView drone LiDAR.
See how the LETEL team leverages their Aerial Advantage on Down to Earth. Watch now!
“Down to Earth” is a documentary-style reality series that shows how real surveyors collect data and turn it into real deliverables, despite challenging conditions, hidden dangers, and inclement weather.
In the first episode, John and the LETEL team tackle a daunting 400-acre North Paulding site in Georgia, with significant elevation changes and dense pine forests. Using advanced TrueView LiDAR technology, they demonstrate how drone surveying can be completed in hours which would take traditional surveyors’ days or even months. Watch as they meticulously plan and execute their mission and coordinate their efforts seamlessly to deliver precise, high-quality data.
“The North Paulding Track presents quite a few challenges,” explained Downing. “There’s a 300-foot elevation change across a 400-acre fully wooded area. Georgia’s dense pine forests can interfere with our signal, making this a complicated job. However, I’m confident we’ll complete it within a day.”
In the second episode, the LETEL team heads to Thompson Ridge to perform a critical dirt quantity check for Magnum Contracting. This episode showcases the incredible efficiency and accuracy of drone LiDAR technology in the construction industry. Despite the challenges posed by heavy machinery and active construction sites, the team gathers essential data swiftly and safely, enabling their clients to stay on top of project requirements and make informed decisions.
“As a customer of LETEL, we quickly realized the importance of their Drone LiDAR data,” said Brad Cox Founder and President Magnum Construction. “It has been a natural fit for our contracting and civil work, significantly enhancing our productivity and efficiency. The TrueView equipment is phenomenal, capturing incredible detail, even down to dozertrack ridges in the topos. Their verification processes give us complete confidence in the accuracy of the data.”
In the third and final episode, dive into the data processing phase with Christopher Bagley and the LETEL team as they transform raw LiDAR data into actionable insights using LP360 software. This episode highlights the meticulous steps taken to ensure accuracy and quality in their final deliverables. From classifying ground layers to creating detailed 3D models, see how the team leverages advanced tools to provide clients with unparalleled precision for new developments, even in heavily forested areas.
“We use LP360 because it’s the best tool available for ensuring accurate, reliable, high-quality data,” said Bagley. “It captures extensive details, including trees and elevation changes, and provides a comprehensive 3D view. The TrueView LiDAR performed flawlessly over the challenging terrain of the North Paulding site, giving us all the necessary data to create our deliverables.”
Paris, France – June 17, 2024 – Requtech AB, a leader in satellite communication technology, proudly announces the launch of the industry’s first Ka-band multi-orbit land mobility terminal, the RESA L Ka, at the Eurosatory show in Paris. The groundbreaking, highly innovative new terminal from Requtech, operates seamlessly across GEO and MEO networks and is prepared for the upcoming Ka-band LEO networks – showcasing Requtech’s relentless commitment to pioneering advancements in satellite communication. The RESA L Ka will be available in Q4 2024.
Meet Requtech at Eurosatory to learn more about the RESA L Ka
Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre
June 17th-21st, Paris
Hall 6, booth E119
Unmatched Innovation and Performance
The RESA L Ka terminal is engineered for optimal performance in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and is future-ready for LEO Ka constellations.
Leveraging its successful GEO/MEO reflector system, the PICO 120a, and the proven RESA M Ku multi-orbit GEO/LEO terminal, Requtech is now cementing its position as Europe’s leading supplier of multi-orbit connectivity solutions with the addition of the RESA L Ka terminal. The company’s mission is to revolutionize communication capabilities, enhancing global connectivity with cutting-edge innovations.
Compact and Powerful
Designed with market-leading SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) metrics of 81x45x11 cm and 25 kg, the RESA L Ka terminal delivers exceptional performance with a G/T of 13 dB/K and an EIRP of 49 dBW.
The RESA L Ka Terminal: A New Era in Satellite Communications
“At Requtech AB, our team’s dedication and expertise have been instrumental in achieving this significant milestone,” states Dr. Omid Sotoudeh, CEO. “We are leading the satellite technology revolution with our cutting-edge Multi-Orbit RESA L Ka terminal. This breakthrough product offers seamless operation across multiple constellations and orbits, positioning us as the go-to solution for next-generation satellite communications.”
The next phase for the RESA L Ka terminal includes rigorous certification processes with satellite operators. With initial pre-series production underway, the satellite communication technology provider anticipates general availability by Q1 2025.
Rheinmetall has set new standards with its innovative and powerful Gladius 2.0 soldier system. With its open, modular, scalable architecture, the system is unrivalled worldwide for a user-centric soldier system solution. An up-to-date situational awareness with a consistent, stable communication infrastructure enables operational sensor-to-shooter networks. Gladius 2.0 guarantees a decisive advantage on the digital battlefield under even the most challenging of conditions.
Rheinmetall continues to improve its systems and has now entered a partnership with QUS in vital data tracking to jointly develop a solution in this area. Live tracking of vital data allows training units to be adjusted during training to ensure optimal fitness development. During operations, current information on the physical condition of individual soldiers or the entire unit is available, which is important for further tactical decisions. This is particularly crucial for soldiers in current complex operational scenarios under difficult conditions.
Modern Equipment Supports Mission Fulfillment
QUS, with its established system, already meets many requirements relevant for successful integration into soldier systems. Therefore, it can be easily integrated and significantly expands the capabilities of soldier systems.
“We are very pleased about the new partnership with Rheinmetall. Together, we will develop a system that seamlessly integrates into Rheinmetall’s battlefield management system, creating additional value in this area. Knowing and assessing the vital data of soldiers at any time is very important for performance,” says Hannes Steiner, QUS CEO & Founder.
Timo Haas, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) of Rheinmetall AG and Managing Director of Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH: “Biomonitoring, as we know it from competitive sports, will also play an important role for soldiers in the future to optimize operational readiness. For us as a system provider, QUS’s solution offers an additional component in our modular soldier system. And with a view to digitization, AI-supported data can make an important contribution to tactical decisions at higher command levels.”
The joint solution of QUS and Rheinmetall within the partnership will combine everything related to body data and fully exploit its potential. The ability to combine already proven sensors (heart rate, respiratory rate) with other external sensors (such as temperature, etc.) enables a new basis for tactical decisions based on the knowledge of the current condition of the soldiers.
The fusion of this data with tactical information represents a new dimension of information superiority regarding one’s own troops and will not only improve the performance of soldiers but also the command process.
Credo of the New Partnership: Protecting Those Who Protect Us
Hannes Steiner: “The joint solution with Rheinmetall combines the best of both worlds and primarily protects those who protect us. The vital data tracking using textile sensors integrated into the equipment offers an important additional benefit and supports the way to becoming the infantryman of the future.”
At EUROSATORY, Rheinmetall and QUS are looking forward to welcoming interested guests to their stand E115/F115 on the outdoor area of the Paris exhibition center from June 17 to 21, 2024.
Forward Controls is excited to introduce our latest product line for recoil mitigation on the carbine platform: FGM (Fore Grip MLOK) and HSM (Hand Stop, MLOK). Originally, both products began as a single modular unit that could be converted into a short and mid-length foregrip. Although the design was finalized in 2019, Covid-19 related shortages and the complexity of the design delayed its launch. By 2023, due to its high cost and complexity, the modular concept was replaced with separate, standalone versions: a hand stop and a short foregrip. While the design is no longer modular, this change also eliminated the high manufacturing costs.
For simplicity, consider the FGM as an extended version of the HSM. Both are designed to be wider than the MLOK handguard’s mounting base width of 0.75″. Notably, they both overhang on both sides, which is intentional. This wider design, measuring 1.25″, offers more surface area and contact, improving traction with the user’s hand. Both are angled at 10 degrees with a flare at the bottom. They have flutes on the sides, designed as resting places for the user’s fingertips. This feature is less effective on the HSM due to its shortness, but it is much more useful on the FGM. The six-sided serrations effectively provide traction, adding friction and allowing ther shooter to more effectively apply reward pressure when controlling recoil.
The design discourages the user from holding it like a broomstick. Instead, it promotes cradling the handguard with the web between the thumb and index finger on the handguard, with the rest of the hand naturally extending at an angle. Both FGM and HSM are reversible, suiting the user’s preference, and function equally well in either direction.
FGM & HSM are both made from a solid block of 6061, hard coat anodized in black, FDE, or ODG
A 1/8 Allen key is required for MLOK hardware installation (not included)
Torque value: 35 in lb (max) for aluminum handguards, 15 in lb (max) for polymer handguards
FGM & HSM are both proudly designed and made in the USA
FGM: www.forwardcontrolsdesign.com/fgm-fore-grip-mlok
HSM: www.forwardcontrolsdesign.com/hsm-hand-stop-mlok
Swansboro, NC – June 17th, 2024 – High Speed Gear®, theleading manufacturer of tactical gear and accessories, is proud to announce that their new GEN 2 TACO® product line has been tested and recommended by the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA). This significant endorsement underscores the exceptional quality, durability, and functionality of High Speed Gear’s products, reinforcing their commitment to providing top-tier gear for law enforcement and tactical professionals.
The NTOA, known for its rigorous testing and evaluation process, awarded the entire GEN 2 TACO line high marks for its innovative design and reliable performance. The NTOA rating scale goes up to 5.00 and all of High Speed Gear’s GEN 2 TACOs received high ratings.
This latest iteration of the TACO, known as the GEN 2, features enhanced materials and construction techniques that ensure superior retention and ease of access for magazines and other tactical essentials. A fun-favorite feature called “Mini MOLLE”which offers half-inched spacing allows users to mount their GEN 2 TACOs to anything from belts to plate carriers with a more secure fit.
These products and their scores include:
• The GEN 2 Pistol TACO – 4.58
• The GEN 2 Rifle TACO – 4.43
• The GEN 2 X2R TACO – 4.38
• The GEN 2 Double Decker TACO – 4.48
• The GEN 2 Handcuff TACO – 4.28
• The GEN 2 Double Pistol TACO – 4.53
• The GEN 2 Extended Pistol TACO – 4.32
High Speed Gear has a longstanding reputation for producing high-quality tactical gear trusted by military professionals, law enforcement authorities, and responsibly armed citizens. The NTOA approval further solidifies the company’s position as an industry leader and affirms the GEN 2 TACO® line as an essential tool for tactical professionals.
For more information about High Speed Gear® and the GEN 2 TACO® line, please visit www.highspeedgear.com/tacos/gen-2-tacos or contact the HSG sales team at sales@highspeedgear.com.
