Industry and readers, please start sending in your Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and everything in between sales information for our 2023 master list which will go live at the end of the week.
Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sales Announcements
November 7th, 2023Smith Defense Introduces S365 Pistol
November 7th, 2023FORT WORTH, TX., November 3, 2023 – SMITH DEFENSE an American design and manufacturing company crafting premium firearm parts and accessories, proudly introduces the S365 – a billet aluminum modular grip module for the SIG Sauer P365. For over a decade, Smith Defense has been at the forefront of the firearms industry, forging its reputation through dedication, exceptional OEM work, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. Now we are proud to continue our journey with a clear vision: to craft the highest quality precision-machined parts for firearms enthusiasts and professionals alike.
The S365, made from billet aluminum, strikes a balance between durability and sleek aesthetics. Designed to accommodate user preferences, its modularity enables users to easily switch their setup between P365, P365X, P365XL, or the unique P365L. Another standout feature is the module’s weight – at approximately 4 ounces, it will enhance the stability and recoil management of your P365
Customization is at the forefront of the S365’s design. It includes standard and long interchangeable grip attachments and dust covers with standard 1913 Picatinny rail, ready for various attachments such as lights and lasers, unlike the proprietary Sig rail. Adding custom grip panels is also an option, allowing for a grip that feels uniquely yours.
Compatibility-wise, the S365 integrates seamlessly with the Sig P365 FCU. Its design promises an uncomplicated, drop-in fit, making installation straightforward and easy peasy.
Milled from a solid block of billet aluminum using precision CNC machining, the S365 provides outstanding strength and rigidity. Ergonomically, the module is crafted to enhance grip and control, which leads to improved accuracy. This new module is a solid option for those looking to enhance their SIG Sauer P365 offering a balance of aesthetics, customization, and functional improvements.
The S365 is now exclusively available for pre-order through 80 Percent Arms at www.80percentarms.com/products/s365-modular-grip-module
For inquiries or more information about the S365 Modular Grip Module and Smith Defense, please visit smithdefense.com.
Tekto – A5 SPRY Tanto OTF Knife
November 7th, 2023
One of Tekto’s OTF knives, the A5 SPRY, showed up at SSD headquarters. Having an appreciation for a good knife we gladly gave it a once-over.
The A5 SPRY features a 6061-T6 aluminum housing/handle (available in either black or od green), and a 3.5” S35VN steel blade, which was a tanto-style on the model we had on-hand. In addition to the tanto-style blade, the A5 SPRY can also be had with a dagger or drop point blade.
The A5 SPRY’s push-button action smoothly extracts and retracts the blade from the housing, with a positive tactile feel upon activation. The button features a contoured and textured surface; it takes a fair amount of force to push, so accidental activations are unlikely. Add in its 3.5 oz weight, closed length of 5”, and ambi pocket clip, and the A5 is a great edition to one’s EDC.
www.tektoknives.com/products/a5-spry
Human-Factors Engineering Modernizes Army Aviation Platforms
November 7th, 2023
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — If a technology isn’t intuitive, chances are, it won’t be used.
True in everyday life and especially true in aviation when creating technology to support Army aviators. Partnering with Program Executive Office – Aviation’s project offices, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center conducts government-executed Crew Station Working Groups to assess the avionics requirements through human-factors engineering, utilizing early Soldier evaluations.
The key mission of the DEVCOM AvMC Aviation Crew Stations Branch is conducting CSWGs comprising Army and industry partner stakeholders, all with a vested interest in ensuring that Army aviators have the best solution at their fingertips.
“We support the end user,” said Jena Salvetti, lead human factors engineer for the Crew Stations branch. “We evaluate prototype interfaces, with users-in-the-loop, while addressing human factors principles, aviation mission tasks, and sub-system conventions to ensure that final designs are intuitive. The CSWG process was designed to ensure aviators have a say in their interfaces rather than pushing an interface to the field and saying, ‘You’ll figure it out.’ One of the things we hear from the field is that systems are not being used because they’re too hard to use. The CSWG was created to mitigate this issue.”
For more than 25 years, AvMC has partnered with the Utility and Cargo Helicopter Project Offices leading the working group activities. With the demonstrated success of more than 115 CSWG activities across 13 project offices and seven airframes, the Apache Helicopter Project Office joined the partnership with the fielding of the AH-64E.
One of the ways that the Aviation Crew Stations Branch ensures that they are designing with the user — or pilot — in mind is utilizing former Army pilots to lead the process. They have seven.
“This is a really unique branch in the number of users we have in the group,” said Kevin Bieri, aerospace engineer. The Aviation Crew Stations Branch, totaling 10 civilians with contracting support, is divided into three teams: platform leads, human factors and engineering.
“There’s a lot of experience in the room,” Ross Lewallen, AH-64E Crew Station Working Group lead, said.
Of course, anyone familiar with Army aviation knows that pilots won’t hold back when it comes to talking shop — or how to make the aircraft better.
“You have two pilots in a room and get three opinions,” Bieri said with a laugh.
The team agreed the reason why the CSWG works so well is due to the rapid prototyping that takes place during those Soldier evaluations. When the pilots give their evaluation, often the engineers will immediately make the adjustments to the technology. In the world of engineering, to have that instant impact is immensely rewarding, they said.
The challenge is that sometimes they work too fast, Lewallen said, evaluating technology for the CSWG that is not yet mature. It’s a unique challenge but one that they accept, to continue to bring the best capabilities to the Soldiers.
“We are three to five years ahead of the product line,” said Lewallen. “Which is good because some of the things that we’re working on, we’re given a blank slate. They ask, ‘How do you think this will work?’ And that’s when we use the experience we have in the lab — former pilots, engineers, aerospace guys, all of our talents — to come up with something. Then we fly and make some modifications to it to fit with the users want. We know a long time ahead of the airframe what it’s going to look like. I think that is that is a unique part of our job. I love it. It’s one of my favorite parts — getting out ahead of the conception line.”
By Katie Davis Skelley, DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center Public Affairs
Armageddon Gear Hunt – Possibles Bag
November 6th, 2023Armageddon Gear recently launched their hunting line just in time for the fall season.
The Armageddon Gear Hunt, Possibles Bag was easier to create than to name. This style bag has been used since the 18th century by frontiersmen, trappers, rangers, explorers, and hunters that crossed over the Mississippi to head west. Over the years this style of bag has been called many things. Originally it was called a Bullet Pouch or Hunting Bag.
Used to carry the essential tools to operate a muzzle loader, fire starters, knives, and other small necessities. Later it became known as a possibles bag, which according to research was a larger bag typically carried by horse for camp items as well as furs. Waterfowlers have called this a Ditty bag which was originally a bag carried by seamen for their personal effects as well as tools. So, we have chosen to call this product…The possibles bag, since its possibilities are numerous.
Available in Oak or Tan waxed canvas.
armageddongear.com/product/possibles-bag
L3Harris and NIOA Announce Guided Weapons Collaboration in Australia
November 6th, 2023SYDNEY, Nov. 7, 2023 – Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies [NYSE:LHX] company, and Australian-owned defence prime NIOA have announced a strategic agreement to explore the manufacturing of critical guided weapons components in Australia.
The agreement anticipates the future assembly and manufacture of rocket motors, boosters and warheads for munitions within the Aerojet Rocketdyne portfolio. This portfolio covers the wide range of weapons within Australia’s sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.
“As part of a world-leading technology company, Aerojet Rocketdyne is pleased to embark on this project to bring rocket motor and warhead manufacturing to Australia,” said Ross Niebergall, President, Aerojet Rocketdyne. “Our company is uniquely positioned to provide the intellectual property for a wide range of propulsion systems used by the Commonwealth. Growing our capability in Australia will provide opportunities for Australian companies to contribute to the global supply chain for guided weapons.”
Speaking on the eve of the INDO PACIFIC 2023 international defence exhibition in Sydney, NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa said, “As a 100% Australian-owned company, NIOA is excited to be entering this strategic agreement with Aerojet Rocketdyne to address critical munitions priorities for Australia.
“Ultimately we aim to create a multi-user rocket motor facility that will not only support our portfolio of offerings but will also have capacity and flexibility to support future strategic partners to meet the guided weapon demands as identified by the Australian Defence Force as well as adjacent industry sectors like space.
“This logical grouping of the main elements of the rocket motor, warhead and booster supply chains can deliver economies of scale that will maintain the production volumes needed to sustain critical skillsets. Forward deployed logistics and co-production initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region with Australia’s close allies are central to our model. This facility will also boost regional employment and will provide substantial opportunities for local companies to get involved in the supply chain.”
The Australian Government’s Defence Strategic Review released earlier this year emphasized the rapid establishment of a domestic GWEO manufacturing capability. The government responded by committing $2.5 billion to accelerate a sovereign industry to improve the Australian Defence Force’s self-reliance and the nation’s export capacity.
ARDRONIS Locate Compact Fully SAPIENT Compliant
November 6th, 2023Rohde & Schwarz successfully prove ARDRONIS Locate Compact fully compliant with new SAPIENT standard protocol for use in counter UAS missions, as part of NATO Technical Interoperability Exercise.
Munich, October 2023 — Rohde & Schwarz has proven its new ARDRONIS Locate Compact system for use in counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) missions. Integrated through the new SAPIENT standard protocol and tested at the NATO Technical Interoperability Exercise (TIE) event at Vredepeel in the Netherlands, the solution automatically detects and identifies drones based on their broadband video radio signals.
The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) organized exercise C-UAS TIE 23 that brought together civilian and military specialists, as well as over 60 industry participants. This exercise tested counter-drone technologies to make sure different systems could communicate and work together instantly.
Rohde & Schwarz is committed to supporting the standardization system of NATO and is SAPIENT compliant. The company is working to simplify the integration of its system into larger systems. The SAPIENT protocol allows data from sensors, effectors, and cyber to be converted into a common language and shared across networks supporting the CUAV mission.
Anne Stephan, Vice President Critical Infrastructure & Network, Rohde & Schwarz, said, “We are excited to launch ARDRONIS Locate Compact in November. We are committed to advancing and testing the SAPIENT interface and supporting the standardization system of NATO. Our goal is to simplify the integration of our system into larger systems.”
ARDRONIS Locate Compact from Rohde & Schwarz is designed to be cost-effective and can be used to monitor large areas that require a greater number of antennas and radio direction finders. It is suitable for fixed installations such as airports, large industrial or military facilities, as well as for semi-transportable systems that can be set up and operated by a single person for short-term area surveillance, such as protecting political VIPs during public appearances or military positions.
A New Canadian Gunboat?
November 6th, 2023
The Canadian Army Trials and Evaluation Unit (CATEU) trialed mounting a C9 machine gun to an assault boat.
This capability would provide assault boat occupants force protection during combat operations.
