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52nd SFS Hosts International Training for Military Working Dog Handlers

July 10th, 2024

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) —

The 52nd Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog Section hosted U.S., German and Luxembourgish military units and law enforcement organizations for advanced interoperability training at Spangdahlem Air Base, June 26.

The training challenged the communication and command skills of the over 25 working dog teams and reinforced their ability to detect explosives and locate suspects and missing persons in a variety of environments.

“The knowledge learned from the events our teams were run through today will allow us to set forth a training plan that will strengthen our capabilities over time,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron Vinson, 100th Military Police (Military Working Dog) Detachment, 709th Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade operations noncommissioned officer.

The 52nd SFS staged multiple training simulations throughout the seminar including explosive scent detection outdoors and in low-light conditions, which required the use of night vision goggles, search and rescue, and suspect apprehension. The opportunity to work through cultural differences and training techniques increased the operability of the course overall.

“These are areas we all have some level of expertise in,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Fortmayer, 52nd SFS/MWD Section trainer. “As the hosts, we wanted to make sure we provided teams with realistic scenarios the dog teams could very well face, so they not only get the training, but get it in a way where we all learn something from each other as a result.”

Handlers also received instruction and hands-on practice in canine tactical combat casualty care from U.S. Army veterinarians and animal care technicians assigned to Veterinary Readiness Activity Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Handlers practiced first-aid techniques using the Advanced K9 Medical Trainer mannequin, which is designed to simulate breathing, verbal reactions and realistic stimuli.

“To us, these dogs are much more than dogs – they’re partners,” Fortmayer said. “We care about these dogs the same way we would any of other human because they defend us with their lives. It’s critical we can help them when they are most vulnerable.”

The training included the following units: 86th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, U.S. Army 100th MP (MWD) Detachment at Miesau Army Ammunition Depot, as well as the German Bundeswehr, Germany’s Rhineland-Pfalz and Saarland Polizei, the Search and Rescue departments in Trier and Grand Ducal Police in Luxembourg.

SSgt Max Daigle,

52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, International, K9, LE, Training | 1 Comment »

Microdrones Welcomes Lengemann Corporation to Its Global Distribution Network

July 9th, 2024

The Supplier Will Expand Distribution of Fully Integrated EasyOne Drone LiDAR Systems and LP360 3D Point Cloud Software Across Florida and the Caribbean

For Immediate Release

Huntsville, AL –– Microdrones is pleased to announce that Lengemann Corporation, a leading supplier of positioning solutions for Construction, Engineering, and Surveying Professionals, has joined the Microdrones distribution network. Lengemann Corporation is now authorized to sell the fully integrated EasyOne Drone LiDAR systems and LP360 3D Point Cloud Software, expanding their offerings in Florida and the Caribbean.

“Adding the Lengemann Corporation to our distribution chain will help expand our coverage and network throughout the state of Florida, ” said Aaron Beach, Western Regional Sales Manager for Microdrones. “Their extensive experience and dedication to customer service are a great match with our values. With their expertise, we are confident that Lengemann will effectively introduce our EasyOne solutions to a wider audience, benefiting surveying and engineering professionals throughout Florida and the Caribbean.”

Mike Woodley, Sales Manager at Lengemann Corporation, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership: ” The reputation ofthe Microdrones products and their fully integrated solutionsspeak for themselves. The EasyOne will help enable our customers to create powerful data deliverables like 3D point clouds and orthomosaics. These systems will help our clients collect data efficiently and safely while cutting costs and saving time.”

Pictured above: The EasyOne system from Microdrones includes a drone, perfectly integrated LiDAR sensors, LP360 software, workflow, training, and support. The equipment easily packs into a compact case that is easy to transport. All EasyOne systems are made in the U.S. and available in NDAA-compliant versions.

Lengemann Corporation has been in business for over 60 years and is known for its exceptional customer service and technical support. They are the only authorized Topcon and Sokkia master repair facility in Florida and operate one of the largest privately-owned GPS networks in the U.S., known as L-Net. Their new onsite training facility is equipped to meet all survey and machine control needs.

“The addition of LP360 software to our product lineup is a significant advantage for our customers,” added Woodley. “It’s one of the premier software solutions for analyzing and creating point clouds for LiDAR and photogrammetry. It’s intuitive and easy to use, which we believe will greatly enhance our customers’ workflows.”

The EasyOne systems from Microdrones are compact, optimized, lighter, safer, and more efficient. These fully integrated systems make it easier than ever for users to plan, fly, collect, process, and visualize geospatial data projects. Lengemann Corporation’s knowledgeable staff is committed to meeting and exceeding customer needs and expectations daily.

“We are excited about this new partnership,” said Woodley. “Combining Microdrones professionalism and cutting-edge technology with our customer service and expertise will create a tremendous opportunity for our clients.”

To learn more about Microdrones, visit www.microdrones.com.

To learn more about GeoCue, visit www.geocue.com

Posted in Industry, Press Release, Sensors, UAS | Comments Off on Microdrones Welcomes Lengemann Corporation to Its Global Distribution Network

Andrew Crickenberger to Join NIOA Group

July 9th, 2024

The NIOA Group has announced the appointment of leading international defence industry executive Andrew Crickenberger.

Mr Crickenberger, formerly Vice President of Strategy for L3Harris Technologies’ Aerojet Rocketdyne Segment, joins NIOA as Chief Growth Officer.

With a career spanning more than three decades as a senior executive with multi-national defence companies, Mr Crickenberger brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to this new position.

As Chief Growth Officer, United States-based Mr Crickenberger will spearhead the NIOA Group’s efforts to capitalise on emerging opportunities in the global allied guided weapons and munitions sector.

His appointment follows NIOA’s strategic agreement with L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne, announced last November, to explore the co-production of critical guided weapons components under the Australian Government’s $4.1 billion Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.

NIOA has also recently taken up residency at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey – the US Army’s Joint Centre of Excellence for ammunition and weapons.

NIOA Group CEO Rob Nioa said Mr Crickenberger’s appointment marked an exciting new chapter for NIOA.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to our executive team at a pivotal time in the next phase of our evolution as a global munitions company,” he said.

“Andrew brings vast experience in strategy development and execution which aligns perfectly with our company’s vision and global growth objectives.

“With Andrew’s leadership and deep understanding of missile systems we are confident in our ambition to accelerate a broad range of critical munitions priorities for Australia and allied partners while also strengthening our domestic defence industrial base.”

Mr Crickenberger is respected internationally in defence and aerospace circles having created strategic business partnerships in multiple countries.

Most recently, he was a founding member of the L3Harris team that led the US$4.7b acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Before joining L3Harris, Mr Crickenberger had a distinguished 25-year career at Northrop Grumman where his last role was VP Strategy and Business Development for the Missile Products business unit.

He holds a MS in Engineering Mechanics and a BS in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech as well as multiple executive leadership certificates.

“Having worked in partnership with Rob and the NIOA team for nearly 15 years, it has been great to see the growth trajectory for the company,” Mr Crickenberger said.

“I am excited to join the team and lead the efforts to accelerate that growth in Australia, the US and into new markets such as the UK and Canada.”

Mr Crickenberger’s appointment follows the appointment earlier this year of Dan Olson, the former VP of Northrop Grumman’s Weapon Systems Division, to the NIOA Group Advisory Board.

About the NIOA Group…

• The NIOA Group includes NIOA Inc [USA], NIOA Australia, NIOA New Zealand, the Australian Missile Corporation, Barrett Firearms [USA)] and joint venture company Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions.

• Established in 1973, NIOA is a global firearms, weapons and munitions company with operations in the USA, Australia and New Zealand with a distribution network covering 75 US State department approved countries.

• NIOA is a major tenant at the Australian government owned, contractor operated (GOCO) munitions facility at Benalla in Victoria where it is currently manufacturing 120mm munitions for the Abrams tank along with 30mm and 35mm cannon ammunition.

• The company is a joint venture partner with Rheinmetall of Germany in the Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions 155mm artillery forging facility in Maryborough, Queensland, delivering key munitions for US allied nations.

• NIOA has a strategic agreement with Aerojet Rocketdyne, a L3Harris Technologies company, to explore the manufacturing of key munitions and components within Australia’s sovereign guided weapons enterprise.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release | Comments Off on Andrew Crickenberger to Join NIOA Group

Smith & Wesson Elevates Performance with New M&P Carry Comp Series

July 9th, 2024

MARYVILLE, TN., (7/9/2024) – Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.

(NASDAQ Global Select: SWBI), a leader in firearm manufacturing and design, announces today the release of the Performance Center® M&P9 Carry Comp Series pistols.

Whether you’re looking for a new everyday carry, home defense, or training pistol, this new series has you covered. Built across full-size, compact, and micro-compact frames, Carry Comp Series pistols are chambered in 9mm and come in a variety of capacities. The Shield Plus 4-inch barrel model ships with 10-round, 13-round, and 15-round magazines that allow the user to choose their preferred combination of size and capacity, making it a versatile personal defense carry option. The M&P 2.0 4.22-inch barrel models are offered in metal and polymer frame configurations, come in a 15-round or 17-round capacity depending on your frame-size of choice, and are trusted platforms for any training or personal defense application.

The M&P9 Carry Comp Series was developed with key features to improve the overall shooting experience of the user. The strategically designed Power Port™, located at the end of the barrel at the twelve o’clock position, diverts gas upwards, reducing felt recoil, which improves overall control. With optics-ready slides, if a user chooses to utilize a red dot, the new ClearSight™ Cut is designed to divert gasses away from the optic allowing the user to maintain an unobstructed view. If iron sights are preferred, these models also include a tritium front night sight and blacked-out serrated rear sight out of the box for an enhanced sight picture. Boasting a new aesthetic, M&P9 Carry Comp slides were developed with aggressively angled front and rear serrations to increase reliability and improve manipulation against tougher elements. All new Carry Comp models include flat-face trigger designs, grey Armornite© finished slides, and ship with a Performance Center Cleaning Kit.

Stay on target with the new Performance Center M&P9 Carry Comp Series pistols! Now available in Shield Plus, M&P 2.0 Compact, and M&P 2.0 Full-size models. For more information, visit www.smith-wesson.com.

Posted in Press Release, weapons | 1 Comment »

OKSI Announces their AI/ML Technology Portfolio for Unmanned Airborne Platforms: OMNISCIENCE

July 9th, 2024

Los Angeles, CA, July 9, 2024 –

OKSI has announced the release of OMNISCIENCE, theirautonomy portfolio for unmanned airborne platforms. OMNISCIENCE is a modular and containerized software suite of autonomy and computer vision technologies that work together to provide intelligence to virtually any air platform. OMNISCIENCE is offered as both individual containerized capabilities or tightly coupled interoperable modules, providingnext-level autonomy and adaptability to UAS/UAVs. Some of the available modules include OMNInav for GPS-denied navigation, OMNIseek for Automatic Detection and Recognition (ATD/ATR), OMNIlocate for providing CAT I/II target coordinates in denied environments, and OMNItarget for terminal guidance. These individual modules can work together to provide true autonomy when managed and controlled by the mission executive module, OMNImind. OMNImind provides conditional behavior logic and adapts to dynamic missionenvironments on the fly.

OMNISCIENCE provides the operator the option to plan and fly, truly autonomous missions completely passive with no external dependencies on GPS or RF communications. For platforms with enough processing power, OMNISCIENCE is ready for rapid integration into any air platform. Manufacturersand system operators can hand-select the custom software modules based on customer or mission requirements or integrate the entire OMNISCIENCE software stack for full mission autonomy. The OMNISCIENCE software portfolio brings autonomy at scale, unlocking capabilities such as true autonomy and affordable mass integration.

“OMNISCIENCE sets a new standard for unmanned aerial autonomy, enabling mission success in any environment without external dependencies,” says Chris HolmesParker, CEO, OKSI.“Our technology ensures that warfighters stay ahead with true intelligence and adaptability.”

The OKSI team is expert in GPS-denied navigation, targeting, and autonomy. The OMNISCIENCE software enables platform developers to achieve the new gold standard in autonomy: Intelligence by OKSI. OKSI encourages UAS/UAV manufacturers and government entities to reach out to discuss integration so they can elevate their platforms with capabilities that allow them to operate anytime, anywhere, without fear of being jammed or emitting detectable signals.

OKSI has been revolutionizing the AI/ML defense landscape in recent years. However, what industry and end-users may not realize is that OKSI boasts a rich history spanning over 30 years in developing and integrating AI and computer vision technologies. Formerly known as Opto-Knowledge Systems Inc., OKSI’s roots lie in government R&D, specializing in “knowledge systems”—the early foundations of AI—alongside EO/IR systems, with many of these technologies now commercialized and fielded. Throughout their history, OKSI has collaborated with every government agency dedicated to advancing defense and aerospace technologies.

OKSI is known for pioneering passive and autonomous technologies designed for integration and adaptation into future warfare systems. They recognize the critical need to outpace adversarial advancements, ensuring the US and allied nation’swarfighters maintain the advantage on the battlefield. Manufacturers and systems integrators should look to improve their capability and reliability by equipping their platforms with Intelligence by OKSI. They can do so by contacting solutions@oksi.ai.

Posted in AI / ML, Press Release | Comments Off on OKSI Announces their AI/ML Technology Portfolio for Unmanned Airborne Platforms: OMNISCIENCE

Sneak Peek – Large Becker Patrol Pack from Bongo Gear

July 9th, 2024

Bongo Gear reports that the Large Becker Patrol Pack (LBPP) has completed prototyping and field testing and it is now in production. It goes on sale tomorrow, 10 July in Green and Tigerstripe.

Bongo Gear’s owner Tom G has worked with Ethan Becker, the originator of the Becker Patrol Pack and several knife designs, to produce a modern version of the famous pack and Ethan has approved this new design.

The LBPP was a project Tom decided to take on after multiple requests regular BPPs users who required more capacity. The answer was to go with a larger, external-frame version of the BPP with a few more outside pouches with a goal of 65 liters / 90 lbs capacity.

He related to SSD, “I was averse to adding more outside pouches because I’ve read studies which suggest five or six places is about the maximum for most people for remembering where things are. I know from experience too many pockets/pouches on a pack can be a bad thing.”

He found that his concerns weren’t an issue with the LBPP considering the lid registers as a separate entity while the main body, with its combination of buckled and zippered pouches, categorizes things into smaller groups (buckled and zippered) making it easier to remember what’s where.

Above you can see the new LBPP side-by-side with the current Mk II and the MOLLE 4000 while below is a great comparison of the two BPP models.

The LBPP will be supplied with an internal frame sheet and end-users can set it up with their preferred external frame. Tom says this is because, just like favorite flavors of ice cream, people have different favorite external frames. The pack can utilize legacy ALICE frames, the Marine Pack frame / MOLLE 4000 ruck frame (DEI 1606-MC), and the newer DEI 1622 Arch frame, among others.

bongogear.com

Posted in Design, Packs, Tigerstripe | 11 Comments »

Vertx Tactical Tuesday – Tackle the Elements

July 9th, 2024

Stay prepared to tackle the elements. Every aspect of the Integrity Shell Jacket is focused on keeping elite operators and their gear at peak efficiency, regardless of the weather. Powered by 37.5® Technology, the Integrity works with you to keep warm and dry when needed, and also works to reduce humidity when things start to heat up. No matter what she throws your way, Mother Nature is no match for the Integrity Shell Jacket.

Posted in Advertiser, Clothing, Guest Post, Materials | 1 Comment »

Engineer Charged with Obstructing a Criminal Investigation into the Cause of the USMC Yanky 72 Plane Crash

July 9th, 2024

OXFORD, MS – A former Robins Air Force Base employee has been arrested for making false statements and obstructing justice during a federal criminal investigation into a 2017 military plane crash that claimed the lives of 16 service members.

On July 10, 2017, a United States Marine Corps KC-130 transport aircraft known as “Yanky 72” crashed near Itta Bena, Mississippi, resulting in the death of fifteen Marines and one Navy Corpsman. On Tuesday morning, JAMES MICHAEL FISHER, formerly of Warner Robins, Georgia and currently residing in Portugal, was arrested on an indictment issued by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi charging him with obstruction of justice and false statements during a criminal investigation into the cause of that crash.

According to the indictment, FISHER, 67, a former propulsion engineer with the C-130 program office at Robins Air Force Base, engaged in a pattern of conduct intended to avoid scrutiny for his past engineering decisions related to why the crash may have occurred. Specifically, the indictment alleges that FISHER knowingly concealed key engineering documents from criminal investigators and made materially false statements to criminal investigators about his past engineering decisions.

FISHER is charged with two false statements and two obstruction of justice charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi; and Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) made the announcement.

AFOSI, DCIS, and NCIS are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Leary and Philip Levy are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Mississippi

Posted in Aviation, Press Release, USMC | 1 Comment »