Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

As World’s Hottest Temperatures Continue, Qore Performance, Inc.’s Thermoregulation Products Protect Those Operating in Harsh Environments

September 7th, 2023

The company’s wearable ICEPLATE®-enabled vests, sleeves, and backpacks have nearly eliminated heat stroke and other heat-related health and safety issues while increasing productivity.

Knoxville, TN — With the World Meteorological Organization declaring earth just experienced the hottest three months on record, and with extreme heat still here in September, Qore Performance, Inc. www.qoreperformance.com, offers a solution to beating the heat with its wearable hydration and thermoregulation technologies. As summers continue to get longer, as previously recorded in 2021 and 2022, Qore Performance’s products offer a multi-purpose hydration and cooling solution for your body, designed for those who face extreme weather-related work conditions, as well as those who participate in outdoor sport activities.

“Our products harness a concept we refer to as ‘consumable thermoregulation’ which is a completely unique approach to thermoregulation,” says Justin Li, Co-Founder and CEO of Qore Performance. “From wearable safety vests and plate carriers, to sleeves, backpacks and wearable flasks, we’re improving and changing how people function in harsh environments.”

Invented out of necessity by Justin Li, Co-Founder and CEO of Qore Performance, who was a former law enforcement officer in Southern California, he needed a solution to maintain an ideal body temperature so he could function at his best ability in harsh climates. Fast forward to today, Qore Performance provides products, such as the ICEPLATE® Curve, a hard cell water bottle that carries your drinking water while simultaneously using it as a cooling element for your body. Fill the ICEPLATE® Curve with water and freeze it overnight before placing it within a variety of Qore Performance’s ICEPLATE EXO® Military Plate Carriers or Safety Vests for a multi-purpose cooling and hydration solution. For cold weather applications like skiing, snowboarding, and hunting, ICEPLATE® Curve can be filled with hot water.

Those who wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hazmat and CBRNE suits, safety vests, fire-resistant clothing, body armor, and helmets worn by soldiers can experience restricted airflow as PPE traps heat, making it difficult for the body to regulate its temperature. This can lead to overheating, dehydration, and even heat exhaustion or heat stroke. According to a report from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch, there were over 1,800 heat-related illnesses among US military personnel in 2019 alone. The total cost of these injuries in terms of medical expenses, lost productivity, and disability payments is estimated to be over $1 billion annually.

In civilian settings, heat injuries are also a major concern for workers who wear safety vests in hot and humid environments. According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the estimated annual cost of heat-related worker injuries and illnesses in the US is around $2 billion, with most of these costs due to lost productivity and wages rather than medical expenses.

“Since 2017, our commercial customers have worked more than 5,000,000 hours without a single heat incident, preventing hundreds of hospitalizations,” says Li. “Our products are designed to keep those facing extreme conditions safe while maximizing comfort and productivity.”

For instance, one of Qore Performance’s top customers is Dutch Bros Coffee Arizona. The summer before Dutch Bros Coffee Arizona purchased and implemented the use of Qore Performance ICEVESTS, they had over 30 heat-related incidents. Some team members required more advanced medical treatment, not only creating a labor shortage, but also affecting productivity and long-term employee health. After using Qore Performance’s vests, they had zero heat-related issues. Work capacity increased by 15-25% with less rotation of outdoor staff required.

Qore Performance’s commercial clients include Boeing, FedEx, and Gopher Resources as well as fast food workers at Raising Cane’s, Shake Shack, HTeaO, and 7Brew Coffee, among others. For more information and to view the company’s full product offerings, visit www.qoreperformance.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Press Release | 5 Comments »

Quiet Down with FN’s New Rimfire Suppressor – The Catch 22 Ti

September 7th, 2023

September 7, 2023 – McLean, VA) FN America, LLC is pleased to announce the release of the FN Catch 22™Ti, the company’s first rimfire suppressor and second installment in its suppressor lineup following the FN Rush™ 9Ti released in 2022. The rimfire Catch 22 Ti is a lightweight, durable and quiet suppressor that has been optimized for versatility, spinning up to all suppressor-ready rimfires like the FN 502 Tactical. Designed for unmatched reliability, the Catch 22 Ti turns a normal day on range into an incredibly quiet blast.

“With the successful release of the 9mm Rush 9Ti last year, tackling the rimfire category is the next logical step as we expand our suppressor lineup and develop accessories that enhance our suppressor-ready firearms,” said Chris Cole, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for FN America, LLC. “The FN Catch 22 Ti is an extremely small and tough rimfire suppressor with very effective sound reduction and impressive reliability given the wide variety of .22 ammunition. While it delivers all these benefits to shooters in a compact and lightweight package, it’s also a blast when paired with an FN 502 Tactical.”

Reliability, especially when paired with the FN 502 Tactical, was a key performance metric in the development of the suppressor given the wide variability that is common with .22 ammunition. The Catch 22 Ti was subjected to an extremely rigorous endurance testing paired with the FN 502 Tactical and other .22-caliber firearms along with a variety of common rimfire ammunition loads to ensure functional reliability and platform adaptability would rise above the current products in market.

“During testing, FN ran the FN 502 Tactical suppressed with the FN Catch 22Ti to very high round counts, stopping only to perform routine cleaning and lubrication along the way,” said John Ryan, Director of Product Management for FN America, LLC. “The combination ran flawlessly from start to finish with zero malfunctions, which speaks volumes about the robust design of the Catch 22.”

Considering the effects of environmental elements and ammunition velocity, the pairing of the FN 502 Tactical with the Catch 22 Ti produces a significantly reduced sound signature that dramatically improves the shooting experience and is especially notable when paired with supersonic ammunition. The usual crack that is heard during unsuppressed fire is all but eliminated and the loudest sound that can be heard is the impact on steel.

“While we don’t publish decibel reduction ratings for our suppressors due to the variability in sound capture methods, meters and ammunition types, multiple sound tests prove the FN Catch 22 Ti is extremely effective in reducing the report of .22LR and other rimfire loads,” said Rich Spalla, Suppressors Product Manager for FN America, LLC. “When we compare Catch 22 Ti head-to-head with all other rimfire suppressors, sound reduction performance puts the newest FN suppressor at the top of its class, suppressing the signature high-pitched crack.”

Weighing in at just approximately 5 ounces and 5.25-inches in length, the titanium-hybrid construction of the Catch 22 Ti provides the perfect balance to the FN 502 Tactical. Similar to the Rush 9Ti, the Catch 22 Ti features a titanium tube with a robust Cerkote™ coating rated for high temperatures. The baffle stack is comprised of a stainless-steel blast baffle tempered for heat resistance and an aircraft-grade aluminum baffle stack for the ultimate strength to weight ratio. The included tool enables quick removal of the end cap and baffle stack, making cleaning and maintenance fast and simple.

“Serviceability is critical with rimfire suppressors and .22 rimfire ammunition is notorious for producing a lot of fouling and build-up. We wanted to ensure that owners could easily disassemble their Catch 22 Ti to thoroughly clean each component,” added John Ryan, Director of Product Management. “The included disassembly tool makes maintenance fast and simple – using the tool, unscrew the end cap and slide the entire baffle stack out.”

The slim 1.1-inch tube clears the suppressor-height sights easily on the FN 502 Tactical and mounts securely to any platform via the 1/2×28-inch threads and is rated for rimfire firearms chambered in .22LR, .22 Mag, .22 WMR and .17 HMR.

Specifications:
• Caliber Rating: .22LR, .22 Mag, .22 WMR and .17 HMR.
• Overall Length: 5.25 inches
• Tube Diameter: 1.12 inches
• Weight: ?5 ounces
• Mount: 1/2×28” TPI
• Included end cap/front cap assembly tool
• Titanium tube, high-heat stainless steel blast baffle, aircraft-grade aluminum baffle stack
• Available in Flat Dark Earth or Black HT Cerakote™
• Limited lifetime warranty

www.fnamerica.com

Posted in Press Release, Suppressors | 1 Comment »

Allen-Vanguard Deepens its ECM Support to Somalia with an 18-month Contract Extension for its Field Service Representative (FSR) Team

September 7th, 2023

Allen-Vanguard, a global leader in providing customized solutions for defeating Radio Frequency (RF) based terrorist and extremist threats, has a long-established relationship of providing vital ECM and counter explosive threat support to Security Forces across Somalia. This support has recently been increased with the provision of additional ECM hardware to the region and the formal 18-month extension of the in-country Field Service Representative (FSR) team based in Mogadishu. Allen- Vanguard will be at DSEi 23 on stand H2-820 to discuss all their RF dominance solutions.

Since 1991, the civil war and related power struggles between warring factions and various extremist groups has created one of the highest risk areas of operation for government security forces and international peacekeeping troops in the world. For those required to operate in the region, either military or diplomatic, the risk of injury or death from explosive related devices either intentionally detonated or accidentally triggered remains significant and therefore it is essential, in order to protect those trying to bring peace to the region, to have access to the necessary ECM hardware, training and in-country support.

Allen-Vanguard has been working in Somalia supporting national Security Forces and working with other peace keeping nations since 2018, helping to defeat the RF threat by supplying high quality but cost-effective ECM protection, such as our SCORPION and 3XXX suite of protection. The 3XXX offers an internally modular and easily upgradeable architecture with a raft of protection measures. The 3XXX series is robust, simple to operate and maintain, and can be vehicle mounted or used at a static location so is perfect for use in the region. The SCORPION has similar technology and capability but in a highly flexible manpack form, maximising its utility. These features combined with their outstanding performance make both ideal for security forces but also major Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Other Government Departments (OGDs).

Allen-Vanguard is committed to providing the best possible service and outcomes for their customers and they aspire to create indigenous force protection capability through comprehensive training (recently they provided additional Explosive Threat Reduction Training in Somalia) and through their dedicated in-country FSR team. This team has the necessary Allen-Vanguard specialists to provide a tailored mission support service for all their ECM systems updating and testing. They offer a range of support options to optimize algorithms specific for every user’s needs and to combat threats specific to the region of operations. The Somali team have been in Mogadishu since August 2021, and has just been extended for a further 18-months.

Bobby Strawbridge, Director Business Development for Allen-Vanguard said “We at Allen-Vanguard are very conscious that ECM equipment alone does not defeat the threat. Our vision is to create local capability, share knowledge, provide training and help to develop regional expertise so that those facing the greatest risk in peace keeping operations get the maximum possible protection. As one of the highest risk operational theatres in the world and building on a decade’s worth of supporting peacekeeping operations in Somalia, Allen-Vanguard’s footprint has recently grown considerably, reinforced with a permanent presence on the ground delivering OEM support at the ‘sharp end’ of operations.”

Posted in Contracts, EW, International, Press Release | Comments Off on Allen-Vanguard Deepens its ECM Support to Somalia with an 18-month Contract Extension for its Field Service Representative (FSR) Team

DARC Selects L9 Mfg. as the Official Tactical Rifle of DARC

September 7th, 2023

L9 Manufacturing (L9 Mfg.) and Direct Action Resource Center (DARC) are Pleased to Announce an Unmatched Brand Partnership for the Training and Firearms Industry. DARC has Selected L9 Mfg. as the Official Tactical Rifle of DARC.

L9 Mfg., aims to be the trusted choice for the professional end-user and the community they serve, by producing safe, reliable and superior rifles tailored to meet their operational needs. Since 2014, L9 Mfg., the parent company of SOLGW, have been dedicated to providing high-quality, American-made M4 and MK10 firearm platforms and accessories that have proven craftsmanship and performance. As a leader in the firearms industry, L9 Mfg. instills confidence and trust in their clients through innovative design, extensive data collection, rigorous product testing and accuracy. L9 Mfg. stands with the professional end-user by offering a lifetime warranty and a service promise to support and replace, any issued firearm platform that has been used in the line of duty.

DARC was founded in 1996 as a private research lab for leadership, tactics, and technology integration. For 27 years, DARC has been committed to professionalism, discretion, mission specific training experiences, and the accompanying equipment research and development. By specializing and focusing on the peer/near-peer conflict, DARC is always anticipating and searching for unconventional and effective solutions to current and emerging threats. DARC is committed to finding positive outcomes for clients through their tailored training programs and applicable technology solutions. Collectively, with carefully selected cadre, real-world experiences, training methodologies, facilities, and service culture, DARC has created an environment for innovation that is inimitable in the training industry.

L9 Mfg. and DARC believe in the importance of well trained and equipped professionals. This brand partnership will enhance DARC training programs for clients by incorporating L9 Mfg.’s firearm platforms. Providing clients the opportunity to use the L9 Mfg. rifles during training at DARC offers a unique test and evaluation lab in a high- stress environment.

“Both L9 and DARC use a data and results driven approach to solve real world problems. This alliance accelerates our efforts to increase both the reliability of the platform and the operator by rapidly fielding concepts into a demanding environment that either validates or refines the solution. There’s no participation trophy. It either works, or it doesn’t. And our job is to sort that out in training and testing rather than a real world encounter.”

Mike Mihalski, L9 Mfg

The complementary capabilities of L9 Mfg. and DARC will authentically identify emerging operational demands through training and evaluation. This holistic approach will generate innovative solutions streamlined for the professional user. DARC and L9 Mfg.’s commitment to continuous improvement and pursuit of excellence, ensures this brand partnership will be the flagship of mission-specific advancements in firearms production and training resources for the benefit of the professional end-users.

“For the past 49 years, I have professionally and personally carried and used, an AR15 in variety of environments and configurations. I have experienced the trends and witnessed the evolution of the platform first-hand. Since 2020 I have personally been evaluating the L9 Mfg. rifle. When an off the shelf rifle performs at a custom built level, it gets my attention. Several things are important to me when it comes to selecting a platform to use. Number one is quality- it must be built with quality components, at spec tolerances and maintain functionality. Second is reliability, third is accuracy and fourth is who is manufacturing it. There are a lot of great AR15’s on the market now – it wasn’t always so. What solidified the selection of L9 Mfg. as the official DARC platform was the opportunity to meet the armorers building the rifles- they are the difference. Observing firsthand their attention to detail and tenacity, is hard to express in words but it’s tangible. Some call it grit, others character. I know that when I am running an L9 rifle, that the armorers who assembled it as if it was for themselves and that the company stands 100% behind their product. It is reassuring to deal with a person instead of a corporation and then also experiencing personable customer care as an individual. I think their platform is one of the best I’ve handled to date and the armorers are incredible. Bottom line is— people and performance; L9 is both and it is rare.”

Richard Mason, DARC

For more information on L9 Mfg. please visit www.L9mfg.com

For more information on Direct Action Resource Center (DARC) please visit www.darc-usa.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Black Rifle, Industry, Press Release | 1 Comment »

GBRS Group Awarded Patent for HYDRA Mount

September 7th, 2023

GBRS Group has been issued US Patent 11,733,004B2 for their HYDRA Mount which is a dual optic mount. It was designed to offer a 2.91” Optic Centerline for faster target ID, regardless of gear/ equipment obstructions, ie. EarPro/Comms headsets, Gas masks/ CBRN, and Night vision use.

Posted in Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on GBRS Group Awarded Patent for HYDRA Mount

Jankel Launches Future Toyota Platform Strategy, at DSEi 2023

September 7th, 2023

Jankel, a world-leader in the design and manufacture of high-specification defence, security and NGO vehicle platforms and protection systems, has announced the launch of their Future Toyota Platform Strategy. Jankel is a long-established supplier of Toyota based military and civilian armoured vehicles (CAVs) and this new strategy has been developed in anticipation of the recently announced developments from Toyota in their forward vehicle line-up. The Jankel strategy will ensure that a full and common range of Toyota platforms remain available to their global customer base as a fleet solution covering tactical, armoured and general-purpose roles.

This announcement coincides with the DSEi exhibition where Jankel are exhibiting on stand H4-604. Amongst their range of products and services on display is the Fox Rapid Reaction Vehicle demonstrated with Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) and a stabilised and ultra-light Remote Weapon Station from SIG Sauer.

The future strategy incorporates the proven range of Jankel tactical conversions integrated with the very latest Toyota developments which includes the announcement from Toyota of the new Land Cruiser along with convergence in configurations and specifications across the Hilux and 70 series platforms. Jankel’s range of proven armoured and tactical 4×4 and 6×6 Fox variants will not only benefit from this immediate commonality (including a common diesel powertrain and automatic transmission option) but will also be future proofed through emerging technologies including the introduction of an electrified powertrain (available in 2024).

Jankel’s relationship with the Toyota product line goes back over 25 years and has seen them deliver over 2000 Toyota-based vehicles, to customers all over the world. In July 2023, Jankel celebrated the milestone of having delivered over 500 Toyota-based Fox tactical platforms that are now in service with 15 end user groups globally, with the Fox battle-proven on multiple operations.

Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel Group said: “I’m pleased to announce the launch of our new strategy which leverages the very latest products from Toyota. We know the credibility and capability of the Toyota vehicles, and our strategy builds upon our proven range of platforms whilst offering significant commonality benefits for years to comeâ€. He added, “We’re in a unique position with the new Toyota and our proven armoured and tactical developments to offer our global customer base a common fleet solution on a world leading and prolific base platforms”.

Posted in DSEi, Mobility, Press Release | 3 Comments »

Edgar Brothers Awarded Contract to Supply Alternative Individual Weapon System to UK MOD

September 7th, 2023

Edgar Brothers is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a Contract to supply the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) with the Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) System, following a highly competitive trial process.

The AIW will consist of three elements:

– Rifle System: Rifle and Signature Reduction System
– Optic System: Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO), Mini Red Dot (RDS) and Emergency Back Up Sight (EBS)
– Training System: Safe Blank Firing System (SBFS) and Marker Round Training System (MRTS)

As the Prime Contractor and UK Distributors, Edgar Brothers will be utilising a range of battle-proven products from suppliers from around the world to deliver the chosen solution.

These include:

– Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) and their KS-1 Rifle, PRT suppressors, and Safe Blank Firing System (SBFS)
– Vortex Optics and their 1-10x LPVO
– Aimpoint and their ACRO P-2 MRD
– Reptilia and their AUS Mount, ROF 90 Mount, Dot Mount & various other accessories
– Magpul and their PMAG, MBUS PRO EBS and other accessories
– Simunition and their line of FX Conversion Kits and PPE to work with the in-service MRTS ammunition

As part of the initial requirements, the Contract will also include several firm requirements Edgar Brothers must undertake to improve Social Value in the UK, these will cover the five key themes stipulated in The Social Value Model.

Mike Newman, Director of Edgar Brothers, commented, “Project Hunter is an extremely complex programme that pushed the limits of innovation for the modern personal weapon system, yet remained practical for industry to implement. As a testimony to Knights Armament and Edgar Brothers’ dedication, plus our industry partners Vortex, Reptilia, Aimpoint, and Magpul, the KS-1 rifle system was born and has earned recognition after undergoing rigorous testing. The base weapon, combined with market-leading Surveillance Target Acquisition (STA) and ancillaries has now set a new standard.”

Newman continued, “As with every programme we undertake, Edgar Brothers’ main goal is to enhance the soldiers’ capabilities to effectively perform their mission. We are now looking forward to working alongside the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) team to bring the system into service. This Contract win strengthens our growth trajectory and provides us with the opportunity to expand our team by hiring exceptional talent from our local community. We are privileged to supply what we believe to be the finest personal weapon system in the world to the UK MOD.”

Col Paul Cummings, DE&S Dismounted Close Combat Portfolio Leader, said: “Project Hunter has been a fabulous example of close collaboration between the user community, Defence Equipment and Support, and industry to deliver game-changing capability at pace. This will deliver improved lethality into the hands of the Army Special Operations Brigade and is the latest in a range of improved capabilities being operated by the new Ranger Battalions. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Edgar Brothers as we move into the production phase.”

To download poster as PDF, click here.

For more information about Edgar Brothers and our products, please visit:

www.edgarbrothers.com

Edgar Brothers will the full system on display at DSEI, booth H2-588.

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, International, Press Release, weapons | 11 Comments »

£90 Million Contract Equips Armed Forces with Advanced New Rifle

September 6th, 2023

British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.

From:

Ministry of Defence and James Cartlidge MP

Published

7 September 2023

The new advanced rifle.

• New rifle provides UK troops with an improved lethal capability on the battlefield.

• Rifle more discreet through sight and hearing signature reduction.

• Up to 10,000 weapons could be procured over the next 10 years.

British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.

The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system – known as the L403A1 and procured by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) under Project HUNTER – is made up of a new assault rifle fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system and an improved optical sighting system.

The AIW is a modern rifle using the latest in design technology and manufacturing methods, to produce an exceptionally reliable and accurate weapon. The magnified optic means the user is able to engage threats from greater distances; whilst the signature reduction system works to mask the AIW from detection from sight and hearing.

Supplementing the current in-service L85A3, the AIW system has been secured under a £90 million contract with Macclesfield-based company Edgar Brothers, supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by helping sustain approximately 50 jobs at the family-owned company.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

This is another example of how we are committed to investing in the most advanced battlefield equipment to back our troops on the battlefield. This advanced rifle’s ability to help soldiers maintain the stealth edge not only protects them but delivers war-fighting advantage over our adversaries.

An initial £15 million order of 1,620 AIW systems has been placed, with options to procure up to 10,000 systems – totalling £90 million – under the contract over the next decade. The systems will initially be fielded to the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB) who operate in complex, high threat environments.

DE&S Dismounted Close Combat Portfolio Leader, Colonel Paul Cummings, said:

Project Hunter has been a fabulous example of close collaboration with the user community and strong engagement with industry to deliver game-changing capability at pace. This is another example of the enormous commitment of the men and women in DCC to deliver battle-winning capability into the hands of the user and I’m enormously proud of what they have achieved. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Edgar Brothers as we move into the production phase.

The L403A1 is a high performing modern development of the ArmaLite Rifle (AR), which pushes the boundaries of modern performance. As an AR system, it shares much in common with the rifle systems used by many of the UK’s allies. Given their specialist role, and the critical task of working with and alongside many of the UK’s allies, the platform will enable ASOB to share skills and drills in an efficient manner.

Lt Col Gareth Davies, SO1 SoldierWorks, Military Capability Delivery, Army Headquarters, said:

Project HUNTER has successfully delivered a new weapon option for UK Defence. At the current time this is being procured for the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB). It offers a marked increase in lethality, and the system includes one of most capable day sights currently available. Importantly the weapon system will be further enhanced by our newest generation of night optics, with which the ASOB are already equipped.

As a key component of the ASOB, the Ranger Regiment will receive the AIW later this year. Made up of four battalions, the Rangers deployed to over 60 countries in their first 12 months of operation, following their formation as part Future Soldier under the Defence Command Paper 2021.

Posted in Contracts, Guest Post, International, weapons | 12 Comments »