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New Additions to the TNVC Team!

December 4th, 2023

Redlands, California—TNVC is extremely pleased to announce the two newest additions to the Tactical Night Vision Company Team as TNVC continues to grow and expand and continues to create strategic partnerships to provide the best Night Vision, Thermal, and Visual Augmentation Systems products to both government and commercial markets: Joe Halloran as the Director of Training & Synchronization and Wendy Sanderson as Director of Federal Law Enforcement & Program Sales.

“Both Wendy and Joe have been great friends of the company for many years,” said Augee Kim, COO of TNVC. “Together and individually, they bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience—Joe through his thirty-plus years of military service, and Wendy with her years of experience in the industry at L3Harris, working with some of the most cutting edge and advanced products in the industry. The two of them will help to bring TNVC to the next level and better serve our customers.”

Wendy Sanderson, Director of Program and Federal Law Enforcement Sales:

Prior to joining TNVC, Wendy spent fifteen years within L3Harris Integrated Vision Solutions in Londonderry, New Hampshire previously known as Insight Technologies which has developed some of the most advanced Visual Augmentation Systems technologies still used by the most elite warfighters, including the AN/PEQ-15 and LA-5 Advanced Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Laser (ATPIAL), LA-23 Next Generation Aiming Laser (NGAL), AN/PVS-31A Binocular Night Vision Device (BNVD), Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggle (GPNVG), and AN/PSQ-42 Enhanced Night Vision Goggle, Binocular (ENVG-B) and Fused Binocular Night Vision Device (BNVD-FUSED). During her time at L3Harris, Wendy held multiple positions including as Director of Sales, Business Development Operations Manager, Contracts Administration, and Customer Service.

“Alongside the team at TNVC for many years, I’m very excited to be joining their team; I’m passionate about streamlining the procurement process to get the highest quality products into the hands of our men and women in uniform.”

In addition to her time at L3, Wendy is a mother of three, daughter Hillary, and sons Nick and Max and holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business administration from SNHU and MBA/Masters of Contracts Acquisition and Management from AGU.

Joe Halloran, Director of Training and Synchronization Officer:

Joe originally joined the TNVC Team in 2021 as an Adjunct Instructor with our Mobile Training Team following his retirement from his thirty-two-year career in the United States Army, having initially joined the Army in 1989 and stationed in West Germany back when there was such a thing and commissioning in 1996. Serving as a Field Artilleryman on both the weapon delivery side of the house as well as Joint Fire Support, providing joint fires in support of maneuver at all levels of combined arms operations, Joe has multiple operational and combat tours to the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan and has led organizations all the way from the Team to Brigade level, including Battery and Battalion Command, Brigade Deputy Commander, as well as serving as the Chief of Fires at the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Director of the Field Artillery Proponent Office (FAPO).

As the Director of Training and Synchronization Officer for TNVC, Joe will be responsible for managing TNVC’s Training Program, Mobile Training Team, and training curriculum, as well as assisting in training, staffing, logistics, and resource allocation for all of TNVC’s staff.

“I’ve enjoyed working as a part of TNVC’s Teach Team for the last two years, and I appreciate the opportunity to become a full member of the TNVC family and am looking forward to meeting the new challenges of my role.”

Please join us in welcoming both Joe and Wendy to the team and to the TNVC Family!

Founded in 2005, Tactical Night Vision Company (TNVC) is a Veteran-Owned small business which specializes in providing industry-leading visual augmentation systems, modified-COTS solutions, and systems integration as well as training, education, and life-cycle support to government and commercial customers alike.

For all inquiries please contact: marketing@tnvc.com

Posted in Advertiser, Industry, Press Release | 4 Comments »

Luminae OTB (Over The Buckle) Pouch

December 4th, 2023

The Luminae OTB (Over The Buckle) pouch is designed to give the user 360 degrees of usable belt space. The pouch is placed over the top of the buckle on a shooters belt, the user simply fastens the belt together and then clip the pouches male end into the female end mounted on the belt.

The OTB Pouch is perfect for holding gloves, TQ’s, Cyalumes/glow sticks, smoke grenades, shotgun shells and admin equipment. Basically any small mission critical equipment.

To fit the pouch simple place your belt buckle through one of the loops and the back of the pouch and place the belt mounted clip to the shooters belt.

www.Luminae.co.uk

Posted in Guest Post, International, Load Carrying | 3 Comments »

Prometheus Design Werx Aegis LT

December 4th, 2023

A Top Tier, Hard-shell Jacket Featuring StormTek™ ePTFE Waterproof/Breathable Technology

This Fall/Winter 2023, PDW debuts their The Aegis LT. A state-of-the-art, fully seam taped, 3-layer, technical hard-shell jacket with hood, featuring their advanced, StormTek™ waterproof/breathable ePTFE laminate technology. Hitting a sweet spot with durability, abrasion resistance, weight and packability, this piece of outerwear will keep you protected from rain, wind, snow and anything in between. The Aegis LT is made with a 40D mini-ripstop nylon shell, cut for layering and designed for adventurers who like to be lighter and agile on their feet while uncompromising in the function, and useful and purpose driven design details. StormTek™ ePTFE technology is storm rated to 23,000mm waterproofness and a MTVR of 21,000g/m2, both at the top end of the highest performance range in 3-layer fabrics.

The Aegis LT will be available in Syth Black and Ranger Green.

The Design and R&D Team at PDW states:

“The Aegis LT represents one of our apexes in technical performance in outerwear. Our StormTek™ ePTFE technology is rated at 23,000mm waterproofness and a MTVR of 21,000g/m2, both at the very top end of technical performance specs in modern 3-layer textiles. These technical specs pushes the waterproof/breathable properties beyond most all soft-shells. The Aegis LT being what’s known as a ‘hard-shell’, provides the first and best line of defense against inclement weather without insulation or bulk, making this type of outerwear completely scalable for the user. Easy to stow in a pack and cut to easily fit over mid-layers like our Stratus Down Hoodie, this hard-shell can be worn in all weather and in all seasons, from tropical downpours to alpine whiteouts depending on the what the user chooses to wear with it. While we love soft-shells for their stretch and all-arounder capabilities, the Aegis LT is a dedicated outerwear style designed to protect the user from very stormy weather, without bulk, in all conditions, 365.”

The PDW Aegis LT is available now in sizes S to XXL for $429.00 via their website, prometheusdesignwerx.com.

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Army Publishes First Doctrinal Manual Dedicated to Information

December 4th, 2023

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — The Army has released its first doctrinal publication dedicated to the topic of information and its role in multidomain operations on the Army Publishing Directorate website, Nov. 27, 2023.

Army Doctrine Publication 3-13, Information, codifies the Army’s approach to the military uses of data and information, and recognizes all activities generate informational effects that can contribute to, or hamper, achieving objectives.

“Information is central to everything we do. It is the basis of intelligence, a fundamental component of command and control, and the foundation for communicating thoughts, opinions and ideas,” said Lt. Gen. Milford Beagle, Jr., commanding general, Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth. “As a dynamic of combat power, Army forces fight for, defend, and fight with information to create and exploit information advantages — the use, protection, and exploitation of information to achieve objectives more effectively than enemies and adversaries.”

Authors from CAC’s Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, the organization charged with writing the new manual, acknowledge that changes in the security environment necessitated an update to doctrine. Adversaries are already using informational power to try to gain regional influence and control well ahead of potential armed conflict. These actions make the competition for information and ideas continuous and persistent.

Key to achieving objectives in a contested environment like this means gaining an information advantage, a new term now defined in doctrine. An information advantage is “a condition when a force holds the initiative in terms of situational understanding, decision making, and relevant actor behavior.”

“Our new doctrine makes it clear that everyone plays some role in achieving information advantage,” said retired Army colonel and CADD Director Richard Creed. “And similarly, commanders need to consider information from a combined arms perspective because all Army capabilities create effects in the information dimension of our operational environment. We can’t make it the sole purview of a single staff section or certain specialties and expect success during operations. Operations now require leaders to consider how information enables operations, how to protect friendly information, how to employ information against an enemy or adversary, and how to attack the enemy’s ability to use information effectively.”

To facilitate that process, ADP 3-13 gives leaders a framework for developing information advantages during operations and at home station. It also spells out how commanders can leverage aspects of information that enable command and control; protect data, information, and networks; inform audiences; influence threats and foreign relevant actors; and attack the threat’s ability to use information.

The publication of ADP 3-13 is just the start of a sustained education campaign from CAC. As with the release of FM 3-0, CADD is developing a series of products to help Soldiers understand the new doctrine. Articles, videos and podcasts devoted to ADP 3-13 are in the works and will be announced via CADD’s social media channels. The team will also work closely with the Centers of Excellence, Army University and the combat training centers to ensure this information is incorporated into professional military education and training. In addition, mobile training teams will visit select installations and organizations to further integrate the ideas outlined in the manual.

“ADP 3-13 provides the intellectual underpinnings that describe how Army forces will gain, protect, and exploit information advantages; however, doctrine is only the beginning. The hard work starts when we begin to internalize these ideas into leader development, education, and training,” said Beagle.

To learn more about ADP 3-13 and other doctrine, visit the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate website.

By Randi Stenson, MCCoE Public Affairs

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | Comments Off on Army Publishes First Doctrinal Manual Dedicated to Information

ePIG Presents: The Ultimate Camo Comparison – NATO vs Commercial Patterns

December 3rd, 2023

My friends in Germany at ePIG Group have produced a new video called “The ultimate camouflage comparison – NATO (KSK, Bundeswehr, US Army, USMC…) vs commercial patterns.” It’s quite extensive at an hour and a half, and there’s a lot you can glean from the video including some info on Phantomleaf.

Posted in Camo, International, Media | 7 Comments »

L3HARRIS Technologies Announces Definitive Agreement to Sell Its Commercial Aviation Solutions Business to TJC for $800 Million

December 3rd, 2023

MELBOURNE, Fla., Nov. 27, 2023 — L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which an affiliate of TJC L.P. will acquire L3Harris’ Commercial Aviation Solutions (CAS) business for $800 million. The acquisition includes a $700 million cash purchase price and $100 million earnout based on the achievement of certain 2023 and 2024 financial performance targets, which together represent an approximate 15x LTM 9/30 EBITDA purchase multiple. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

“Today’s announcement is consistent with our multi-year strategy to optimize our national security, technology-focused portfolio,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, Chair and CEO, L3Harris. “Aligned with our capital allocation priorities, we plan to use the proceeds from this transaction to repay debt, which will accelerate our timeline to reach our debt leverage objective.”

The CAS transaction includes the sale of L3Harris’ surveillance joint venture and is subject to a right of first refusal; if exercised, an affiliate of TJC L.P. will acquire the rest of CAS.

L3Harris’ CAS business employs approximately 1,450 people and offers pilot training, flight data analytics, avionics, and advanced air mobility products and services, among other capabilities.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Moelis & Company are serving as financial advisors to L3Harris, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal advisor. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as financial advisor, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel for TJC L.P.

Posted in Aviation, Industry, Press Release | Comments Off on L3HARRIS Technologies Announces Definitive Agreement to Sell Its Commercial Aviation Solutions Business to TJC for $800 Million

Military aid Societies Raise Over $270,000 on #GivingTuesday for Second-Annual #Battle4BraggingRights

December 3rd, 2023

The organizations’ combined forces collect critical funds for service members and their families.

WASHINGTON (November 29, 2023) — On November 28, commonly known as #GivingTuesday, the combined forces of Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), Army Emergency Relief (AER) and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) raised over $270,000 in #Battle4BraggingRights. For the second consecutive year, the campaign mission was to secure essential funds to provide service members and their families with vital emergency relief, financial support and educational resources.

“The enthusiasm for #Battle4BraggingRights was once again alive and well as we challenged ourselves, through a friendly competition among the four military aid societies, to raise as much as possible for our service members and their families,” said retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Robert R. Ruark, NMCRS president and CEO.

#Battle4BraggingRights unfolded across social media platforms. Supporters were encouraged to visit Battle4BraggingRights.com and allocate their contributions to one of the four military aid societies. While the competition for which aid society could raise the most money was friendly, the people who the aid societies serve are the real winners.

“People really came out on Tuesday to support #Battle4BraggingRights, and these much-needed funds will allow us to continue programs and services that are vital to military personnel and veterans worldwide,” said former U.S. Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Kristina McBride, acting CEO for AFAS.

“I’m so proud of the Joint Force in supporting our second-annual #Battle4BraggingRights campaign to show a unity of effort. All of our donors are the absolute best in making this repeat event a great success!” said retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Cari Thomas, CEO of CGMA.

For the second year, Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company, generously donated $1 million during #Battle4BraggingRights on #GivingTuesday. This substantial matching pledge made the grand total for amount raised at over $1.25 million.

Commencing in 2012 as a Global Day of Giving, #GivingTuesday has galvanized countless individuals to rally behind their cherished causes.

Posted in Charity, Fundraising, Press Release | Comments Off on Military aid Societies Raise Over $270,000 on #GivingTuesday for Second-Annual #Battle4BraggingRights

AFWERX, NASA Collaborate to Develop Digital Advanced Air Mobility Operations Center

December 3rd, 2023

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —

AFWERX is partnering with NASA to develop a digital operations center for future Advanced Air Mobility efforts through the Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program awardee, ResilienX.

With the fast-growing field of AAM technology, AFWERX’s Airspace Innovation and Prime Partnerships program has partnered with NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration to fill in technological and administrative gaps that present themselves. Earlier in 2023, AFWERX formalized these partnerships with a Memorandum of Understanding and participation in the AAM Interagency Working Group to plot the future of AAM.

The CCRPP is a NASA Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer program which takes mission-relevant technologies in development and infuses them with funding intended to foster commercialization.

This system is intended to enhance base security, special forces efforts, emergency disaster response, and passenger and cargo transportation planning. It is further being developed to include other technologies necessary for air domain awareness.

“CCRPP is a true example of public-private partnership where government stakeholders and an industry consortium are working together on the airspace efforts,” said Darshan Divakaran, AFWERX Airspace Innovation and Prime Partnerships program manager.

ResilienX is a company focused on the holistic safety assurance of AAM ecosystems and is leading the way with an industry consortium to create a digital system for AAM operations. The project intends to define and perform initial integration of an AAM Operations Center that is scalable, tactical and enables verification and validation of the various systems and sensors involved in uncrewed aerial systems, electric vertical take-off and landing operations, and other advanced aviation technologies. The initial AAM Operations Center will be built out in collaboration with NUAIR at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, with an aim to test and transition it to additional locations by 2025.

Each company in the consortium contributes their industry expertise and technological advancements to create the most robust system possible. As additional requirements are included by military and other government stakeholders, AFWERX plans to bring in additional industry partners in the next phase.

“We are thrilled with the trust AFWERX has put in us to lead this consortium,” said Ryan Pleskach, CEO of ResilienX. “Through a dedicated systems engineering approach, we intend to develop a dual-use solution to the core digital infrastructure needed for advanced air mobility that is inherently scalable and extensible. Through this pioneering effort and with support of all the federal stakeholders that AFWERX is bringing to the table, we believe this solution will be turnkey and available to government and commercial markets in late 2024.”

Utilizing the research expertise of NASA and AFWERX’s subject matter experts, this collaborative project will attempt to meet the needs of the emerging field of AAM operations. It is informed by the U.S. Air Force AAM Operations Center requirements through testing and operator interactions.

“Agility Prime helped pave the way for government and industry to work together on aircraft certification,” Divakaran said. “The Airspace Innovation team is taking it a step forward with airspace integration, management and security efforts focused on emerging aviation technologies.”

The first phase of development will include a detailed need and task assessment, feature development with user interviews and observations, initial integration of baseline technologies, and testing. The second phase will see user testing of human factors, safety development, prototype testing, and a live demonstration of the system.

For this project, ResilienX has received $4.8 million in AFWERX and NASA funding through the CCRPP. The program is planned to progress through October 2025.

By Kristen Dennis, AFWERX

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post | Comments Off on AFWERX, NASA Collaborate to Develop Digital Advanced Air Mobility Operations Center