Atrius Development Group

FirstSpear Deepens “Built for The X” Mission with Hire of Special Operations Aviation Expert Brian Erb

November 14th, 2025

FENTON, Mo. (Nov 11th, 2025) – FirstSpear®, the leader in uncompromising equipment for professionals bound for “The X,” today announced the appointment of Brian Erb as Director, Aviation Business Development. The strategic hire of the decorated Special Operations aviator brings a career defined by moments of extreme pressure and critical decision-making, the very challenges FirstSpear equipment is engineered to overcome.

A retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5), Erb brings nearly 30 years of distinguished military aviation experience, including 18 years with the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR (A)). A seasoned MH-47 instructor pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours (over 1,000 in combat and 1,000 under night vision) his career embodies the operational precision and field-tested knowledge that define FirstSpear’s approach. His leadership of the Regimental ALSE (Aviation Life Support Equipment) Shop was pivotal in advancing mission survivability, where he drove the adoption of key aviation and rotary protective systems like the FirstSpear Aviation Body Armor Vest (ABAV) and the Rotary Wing Advanced Tactical Helmet (RATH).

“FirstSpear exists to give operators total confidence in the moments where there is no margin for error. To do that authentically, our team must include professionals who have lived it,” said Scott Carver, Founder and CEO of FirstSpear. “Brian Erb doesn’t just understand ‘The X’; he has navigated it for decades. His expertise makes him a direct partner in readiness, ensuring our design process is always anchored to the unforgiving realities of the mission. He is here to help us uphold our promise: to build and deploy uncompromising equipment for superiority and durability.”

“Throughout my career with the 160th, the safety and effectiveness of fellow Night Stalkers was paramount. I saw firsthand how FirstSpear consistently listened to the operator and delivered equipment that made a real difference for our aircrews,” said Brian Erb. “I’m incredibly proud to now join a company that has been so dedicated to our community. My mission here is to use my experience to help drive the next evolution of gear, ensuring our military aviators have the decisive edge in safety, comfort, and lethality for years to come.”

At FirstSpear, Erb will lead efforts to expand aviation partnerships and product integrations. He will be responsible for translating the evolving demands of aviators and aircrews into tangible, life-saving equipment, ensuring the next generation of operators is equipped for their defining moments.

Posted in Advertiser, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post, Industry | Comments Off on FirstSpear Deepens “Built for The X” Mission with Hire of Special Operations Aviation Expert Brian Erb

US Air Force Awards Skydio Initial Contracts to Bring Advanced Autonomy to Mission-Critical USAF Specialties

November 14th, 2025

Skydio X10D systems to enhance situational awareness and mission capability for Tactical Air Control Party and Explosive Ordnance Disposal units

Skydio, the leading U.S.-based drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight technology, in partnership with ADS, a leading provider of products, technology, and logistics solutions for the U.S. Military, today announced two initial multi-million dollar contract awards with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to expand the deployment of Skydio systems across multiple operational units. These efforts extend Skydio’s presence across Air Combat Command (ACC) Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, supporting the Air Force’s broader initiative to integrate uncrewed systems into every Airman’s toolkit.

The Skydio systems will support TACP Airmen in characterizing enemy order of battle, enhancing situational awareness, acting as communications relays, and enabling near-peer engagements through integration with strategic platforms and weaponeering solutions.

In a parallel effort, Skydio has also been selected as the aerial robot of choice for USAF EOD units deploying Skydio systems for both garrison operations and contingency deployments with additional systems planned over the next 18 months.

These contracts align with the Air Force’s broader effort to reimagine the Airman identity—integrating uncrewed systems to extend capability, situational awareness, and mission efficiency at every level. USAF Security Forces use Skydio systems on a daily basis for Base Defense and Installation Security, demonstrating the critical role of autonomous drone technology in protecting U.S. Air Force assets. Beyond security applications, units are also operating Skydio technology, such as aircraft inspection modernization at Travis Air Force Base, where the 60th Maintenance Group pioneered the Air Force’s first drone-based inspection program and reduced C-17 inspection times by more than 90 percent—demonstrating the versatility of Skydio systems across diverse mission requirements.

Skydio X10D delivers operational performance with:

  • A sensor package that is unrivaled in any sUAS this size, including a 48MP telephoto camera
  • A best-in-class Teledyne FLIR Boson+ thermal sensor that can pinpoint temperature differences at each pixel
  • Operational resiliency in environments of contested RF and GPS denial with onboard AI and autonomy
  • Built-in AI for visual navigation – up to 300m altitude – comes standard
  • Advanced obstacle avoidance in every direction
  • A proprietary navigation model for use in zero-GPS environments that utilizes a reference point chosen by the operator, ensuring the X10D can find its way back to the original take off point.
  • Modular, open platform that supports custom third-party attachments and controllers
  • Powerful, full-stack security, starting with the chipset and its firmware
  • IP55 rating for nearly all-weather operation

X10D, part of the Blue UAS Cleared List, also meets the stringent cybersecurity and capability requirements the Department of War demands.

These Air Force awards add to Skydio’s growing partnerships across all branches of the U.S. military, including the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Tranche 2 program. The breadth of adoption—from special operations to conventional forces—reflects the operational trust earned by systems designed, assembled, and supported in the United States. Skydio also proudly supports 28 allied nations and 3,500+ public safety agencies, utilities, and enterprise customers worldwide. Skydio’s manufacturing facility in Hayward, CA, is one of the world’s largest drone manufacturing facilities outside of China.

For more information about Skydio for national security, please visit skydio.com/natsec.

Posted in Air Force, Contracts, Drone, Press Release | Comments Off on US Air Force Awards Skydio Initial Contracts to Bring Advanced Autonomy to Mission-Critical USAF Specialties

German Precision Optics Unveils New PASSION APO 16-48×65 Spotting Scope

November 13th, 2025

Compact Power with Exceptional Clarity

Richmond, VA. (November 7th, 2025) – German Precision Optics (GPO) proudly announces the release of the PASSION APO 16-48x65mm spotting scope. This high-performance compact spotting scope was designed and built for outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, birders, and those who demand premium performance without the unnecessary bulk.

“Delivering professional-grade clarity in an ultra-portable design, the PASSION APO 65mm is ideal for those who want to pack light without sacrificing quality,” said Mike Jensen, Owner/CEO of GPO USA. “Like all GPO optics, it’s backed by our industry-leading warranty, giving users total confidence in their purchase.”

The PASSION APO 16-48×65 is the perfect blend of portability and performance. Designed as a more compact alternative to the esteemed APO 20-60x85mm spotting scope, this new model maintains best-in-class optical technology, robust construction and precision engineering, all in a more packable-friendly size.

Built with a lightweight internal magnesium core and protective rubber armoring, the PASSION APO is engineered to withstand the most extreme environments. With Its apochromatic (APO)lenses, it virtually eliminates chromatic aberration. Utilizing GPObright™ high-transmission coatings the PASSION APO 65mm ensures superb light transmission, making every visual detail crisp and bright. The precision-machined helical brass gear focus system offers smooth and accurate focusing in the field, even with gloves on and a built-in sliding sunshade reduces glare under the brightest lighting conditions. The locking rotational tripod base allows users to position the scope exactly how they need it for maximum comfort and visibility.

Key Features:

• APO lens system for superior resolution and color accuracy

• GPObright™ multi-coatings for enhanced light transmission

• Helical brass gear focus system for precise adjustments

• Internal magnesium body with durable rubber armor

• Built-in sunshade to block glare

• Rotational, locking tripod base for versatile setup

Specifications:

• Magnification: 16x–48x

• Field of View @ 1000 yards: 138 ft. (16x) to 74 ft. (48x)

• Objective Lens Diameter: 65mm

• Length: 13.7 in.

• Weight: 46 oz.

• Eye Relief: 20.5mm (16x) to 18.5mm (48x)

The GPO PASSION APO spotting scope has a MSRP of $839.99 and is available at GPO-USA.com or authorized retailers nationwide.

Posted in Optics, Press Release | Comments Off on German Precision Optics Unveils New PASSION APO 16-48×65 Spotting Scope

2025 AFRC WEPTAC & MAG Exchange Cancelled

November 13th, 2025

The Air Force has cancelled the 2025 Reserve Component WEPTAC Conference but plans to reconvene in person during their normally scheduled meeting in October 2026.

Consequently, the MAG Exchange event is also postponed until Fall of next year. Please update your schedules accordingly.

Posted in AFSW | Comments Off on 2025 AFRC WEPTAC & MAG Exchange Cancelled

Allen-Vanguard Delivers More TURMOIL (RF Decoy) to a NATO Country

November 13th, 2025

Allen-Vanguard, the global leader in providing customised solutions and enabling technology across the Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) domain, has delivered more TURMOIL (their RF Decoy capability) to a NATO country. Due to the nature of the technology and its counter-EW role, Allen-Vanguard is unable to disclose more specific details about the customer or the product’s deployment. However, suffice to say, its success has generated a follow-on order.

Allen-Vanguard’s TURMOIL RF Decoy is an Electromagnetic Countermeasure that delivers tactical advantage against adversaries by leveraging Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) capabilities and essentially mimicking friendly forces’ RF signatures in multiple locations, thereby causing disruption (turmoil) in the enemy’s EW and targeting processes. TURMOIL has complex and infinitely variable RF emulation technologies, which can be programmed and reprogrammed quickly and easily by users to adapt to the emerging tactical situation. TURMOIL aides freedom of manoeuvre in the electromagnetic space and creates time and space for formations to deliver surprise offensive operations.

Allen-Vanguard continues to expand outside its more traditional core domain of RF defeat capabilities aimed at Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) and Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) threats employed by terrorists and extremists. The expertise in RF signature detection and analysis, established over 20 years of capability delivery, has been adapted by Allen-Vanguard’s engineers and applied more widely across the CEMA domain to meet specific market demands and customer requirements such as this. The continued shift by Allen-Vanguard into wider EW activities is attracting attention within industry circles, and the team are excited by the opportunities identified across the modern Electro Magnetic Spectrum Operational (EMSO) landscape.

Steve Drover, Business Development for Allen-Vanguard, said: “We were approached by an existing customer to design an RF Decoy capability and our engineers, using their vast EW expertise, quickly developed TURMOIL. We were extremely pleased with the outcome, and the fact our customer has ordered more systems is a testament to its value in this increasingly contested and congested battlespace.”

Posted in Contracts, EW, International, NATO, Press Release | Comments Off on Allen-Vanguard Delivers More TURMOIL (RF Decoy) to a NATO Country

Air Force Chief of Staff Approves Morale T-Shirts and Callsigns On Aircrew Nametags

November 13th, 2025

In a memorandum issued Monday, Gen Kenneth Wilsbach authorized the return of colored Morale T-Shirt for wear with utility uniforms on Fridays (at the discretion of the commander). Tied to unit heritage and esprit, this has been an on-again-off-again tradition over the years, based on who was in charge at the time. I’m glad to see it. Hopefully Airmen will get a few more opportunities to show off their unit pride.

Although it doesn’t affect as many, the memo also authorizes Airmen who wear the Flight Duty Uniform to use their callsign and last name on their aircrew nametag.

Posted in Air Force, Clothing, Profession of Arms | Comments Off on Air Force Chief of Staff Approves Morale T-Shirts and Callsigns On Aircrew Nametags

Reptilia Releases 35MM ROF-90 for Trijicon RMR & SRO – Now Available in FDE

November 13th, 2025

HILLSBOROUGH, NC – November 13, 2025, Reptilia® is proud to announce the release of the 35MM ROF™-90 for Trijicon® RMR & SRO, now available in Flat Dark Earth (FDE). Designed for shooters who demand precision, speed, and reliability, the ROF-90 is a drop-in upgrade engineered specifically for the Reptilia® 35MM AUS™ Mount and Geissele® Super Precision™ Mount.

If you’re running one of these mounts and want a fast, low-profile way to integrate a Trijicon® RMR® or SRO® at the 12:00 position, the ROF-90 delivers exactly that. Purpose-built to maintain minimal offset from your host optic’s centerline, it ensures a cleaner sight picture and faster target transitions without compromising balance or durability.

Why It Matters

  • Instant transition to a non-magnified optic for close-quarters engagements
  • Minimal offset from the host scope centerline for improved co-witness and a cleaner sight picture
  • Precision-machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum
  • MIL-STD Type III hardcoat anodized finish for superior durability
  • Lightweight at just 33 grams
  • Proudly made in the USA

Compatibility

  • Trijicon® — RMR & SRO
  • Holosun® — HS407, HE407, HS507, HE507, HE508 Series

Note: ROF™-90 is only compatible with Reptilia® AUS™ Mounts and Geissele® Super Precision™ Mounts.

Now available in Flat Dark Earth (MIL-STD Type III, Class 2 hardcoat anodize), the 35MM ROF™-90 brings both function and form to your setup  –  built for shooters who expect performance and precision in every aspect of their rifle.

Shop the 35MM ROF™-90 in FDE now:
reptiliacorp.com/product/35mm-rof-90-for-trijicon-rmr-sro

Posted in Advertiser, Optics, Press Release, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on Reptilia Releases 35MM ROF-90 for Trijicon RMR & SRO – Now Available in FDE

Gentex Corporation Secures Third Year Option on its Advanced Combat Helmet Generation II Contract Worth $38.4 Million

November 13th, 2025

CARBONDALE, PA, November 13, 2025 — The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has exercised the third one-year option period of the Advanced Combat Helmet Generation II (ACH Gen II) production contract (SPE1C1-23-D-0004) awarded to Gentex Corporation. Valued at up to $38,376,425, this latest action extends through October 16, 2026 with the U.S. Army, ensuring America’s soldiers continue to receive advanced ballistic protection with a significant 22% reduction in weight compared to the legacy ACH helmet system.

Building on decades of innovation, the ACH Gen II helmet integrates ultra-high-performance materials and advanced manufacturing processes to deliver superior ballistic protection and blunt-impact performance while reducing overall weight. This results in greater comfort, agility, and mission endurance for today’s warfighter.

“Gentex is proud to continue our close partnership with the U.S. Army and the Defense Logistics Agency through the ACH Gen II program,” said Kevin Reilly, Close Combat Segment Directorat Gentex Corporation. “This award reaffirms our mission to deliver lightweight head protection to America’s warfighters, built with pride by the skilled workforce of Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

“Gentex Corporation continues to be a cornerstone of our region’s defense-manufacturing strength,” said Congressman Rob Bresnahan (PA-08). “The company’s recent recognition as a Best Place To Work in PA for 2025 confirms their commitment to their employees. This contract not only supports the safety and readiness of our nation’s soldiers but also sustains hundreds of high-quality jobs here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

The ACH Gen II is a key part of Gentex Corporation’s portfolio of U.S. military ground-combat helmet programs, including the Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH), High-Cut ECH, Next-Generation Integrated Head Protection System (NG-IHPS), and the USSOCOM Family of Tactical Headborne Systems (FTHS). Gentex continues to advance mission-critical technologies that enhance survivability, comfort, and communication for military personnel around the world.

Posted in Advertiser, Army, Contracts, Helmets, Press Release | Comments Off on Gentex Corporation Secures Third Year Option on its Advanced Combat Helmet Generation II Contract Worth $38.4 Million

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