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Will Rogers ANGB Selected as Sole Candidate to Replace MC-12s with New AT-802U Sky Warden Formal Training Unit

December 17th, 2022

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall selected Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, as the sole candidate location to replace its MC-12 Liberty with the AT-802U Sky Warden and to convert the MC-12 Formal Training Unit to the AT-802U Total Force Integration FTU.

Will Rogers ANGB will receive 28 AT-802Us and about 80 personnel to support the mission of the 310th Special Operations Squadron. The squadron will relocate from Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, to Will Rogers ANGB, creating an active association with the 185th SOS.

The AT-802 Sky Warden is a multi-role platform capable of close air support, armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and precision strike missions in support of geographically isolated special operations forces.

A site survey at the candidate location is scheduled in spring 2023 and will assess operational requirements, potential impacts to existing missions, housing, infrastructure and manpower.

Once the site survey is complete, the Department of the Air Force will conduct an environmental impact analysis, which is expected to be complete in fall 2023, before a final basing decision is made.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

Editor’s Note: The Sky Warden has been designated as the OA-1K aircraft by the Air Force.

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post, SOF, Training | Comments Off on Will Rogers ANGB Selected as Sole Candidate to Replace MC-12s with New AT-802U Sky Warden Formal Training Unit

Drone Defence: Austrian Armed Forces and Rheinmetall Successfully Test Anti-Small Drone System C-sUAS – Lease Contract Extended

December 16th, 2022

The Austrian Armed Forces and Rheinmetall have successfully tested the leased Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS), which had been delivered in May 2022, as part of a realistic exercise. Rheinmetall’s deployable C-sUAS system is currently being evaluated by the Austrian Armed Forces alongside other systems as part of the Countering Emerging Air Threats (C-EAT) project. Following the successful tests, the Austrian Armed Forces have now extended the lease contract by seven months.

After the training on the system had been completed, the operational capability of the Rheinmetall C-sUAS system was now to be tested as intensively as possible under real conditions. For this purpose, a sophisticated test programme was developed, which included both test and realistic attack flights by small drones. The aim was to detect and clearly verify these drones as early as possible using a broadly based sensor mix. A possible fight against these enemy drones was demonstrated by means of jammers. A special highlight was the introduction of the target queuing device by tablet from the higher-level command and control system to the jammer operator.

The large number of drones used – from commercially available drones to models with jet propulsion to self-built drones controlled according to the LTE mobile radio standard – clearly showed that modern drone defence can only be efficiently managed in a network.

“A successful and intensive test week provided a multitude of important insights and experiences,” said Matthias Diem, Vice President Counter Drones and Aviation Markets. “From our point of view, the exercise was an instructive example of how innovation-oriented armed forces, together with industry, can gain the necessary insights to develop and adapt tomorrow’s technologies for possible new threats from the air at an early stage. A big thank you goes to the Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence School in Langenlebarn for the great organisation and execution of this forward-looking exercise.”

The Austrian armed forces had selected Rheinmetall’s C-sUAS system and loaned it out for a six-month period of testing and evaluation. In May 2022 Rheinmetall Air Defence AG shipped the latest version of its rapidly deployable counter-small unmanned aerial system (C-sUAS) to the Austrian military. This lease contract has now been extended.

The system comprises two shelter units, enabling rapid deployment on standard trailers and trucks. The sensor unit elevates automatically and can be equipped with various detection technologies, including X-band and S-band radar, passive emitter locator, ADS-B receiver and others if required. An integrated, stabilized 360° electro-optical PTZ sensor provides state-of-the-art verification and tracking capabilities.

Based on the tried-and-tested Oerlikon Skymaster command and control system, the separate C2 shelter is a fully fledged operator workstation. Skymaster delivers an outstanding level of sensor data fusion and multiple operational functions, including scalability to integrated target cueing devices and effectors for different countermeasures as well as links to higher echelons.

Posted in Advertiser, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Drone Defence: Austrian Armed Forces and Rheinmetall Successfully Test Anti-Small Drone System C-sUAS – Lease Contract Extended

Red Arrow Weapons Adds to 5.56 Lineup

December 16th, 2022

Fork Union, VA – Red Arrow Weapons has expanded its high-quality 5.56/.223 offerings to meet consumer demand.

The RAW 5.56 selection, which was developed with the diverse needs of their customers in mind, now includes a rifle, a pistol with a 9-inch rail handguard, and a pistol with a 7-inch rail handguard.

The 5.56 models feature plenty of premium options out of the box, such as an ambidextrous selector, a 2.5-pound CMC drop in trigger, a sub MOA barrel, and Magpul accessories.

Red Arrow Weapons partnered with a select group of U.S. Special Forces operators to develop firearms that are both functional and dependable when it matters — all at an incredible value.

To learn more about Red Arrow Weapons and browse the full lineup of products, visit redarrowweapons.com.

Posted in Black Rifle, Press Release | Comments Off on Red Arrow Weapons Adds to 5.56 Lineup

Springfield Armory – SAINT Victor 9mm Carbine

December 16th, 2022

In recent years, there has been no shortage of firearms manufacturers introducing their own take on the Pistol Caliber Carbine, or PCC, and now Springfield Armory has thrown their own hat in the ring with the SAINT Victor 9mm Carbine. A 9mm variant of Springfield’s popular series of SAINT AR-15 pattern rifles and pistols, the SAINT Victor 9mm Carbine features a direct blowback operation, and sports a range of features in-line with other firearms in the Victor series: ambidextrous safety selector; low-profile, spring-loaded sights; full-length M-LOK handguard; nickel boron coated flat trigger; and B5 Systems furniture, specifically the polymer trigger guard, Bravo stock, and Type 23 P-Grip.

The SAINT Victor 9mm carbine’s receiver set is made of Forged 7075 T6 aluminum, Type III Hardcoat Anodized. The barrel comes in with an overall length of 16″, made of CMV steel with a 1:10 twist rate, Melonite coated; SA’s own 9mm Forward Blast Diverter muzzle device comes standard with the carbine. For a bit of old-school flavor, this carbine feeds from Colt-pattern 9mm magaines, and comes standard with a single 32-round stick.

You can find out more about the SAINT Victor 9mm Carbine here.

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MMC Armory and Polymer80 Enter Exclusive Distribution Agreement

December 16th, 2022

For Immediate Release – Orem, UT – MMC Armory and Polymer 80 are pleased to announce distribution agreement ensuring customers will continue to access entire Polymer80 product line.  

With the new legal requirements, Polymer80 will be limited to selling Jig’s while 80% blanks and other products will be distributed through MMC Armory’s website and dealer network. This change is sales channels meets legal requirements and endsures dealers have favorable terms with no minimum order quantities and customers nationwide will be fully supported.

This agreement ensures both MMC Armory and Polymer80 to provide tools to help keep America’s basic right to bear arms alive. American right to high quality, high performance Polymer80 products shall not be infringed!

Posted in Industry, Press Release | Comments Off on MMC Armory and Polymer80 Enter Exclusive Distribution Agreement

Reptilia RECC-E Carbine Stock Is Now Shipping!

December 16th, 2022

Your patience has paid off – the RECC·E Carbine Stock for AR15/M16 rifles is finally shipping! Due to unprecedented demand, the RECC·E Carbine Stock will be temporarily exclusively available to dealers via our partners at RSR Group, as well as direct to consumers with a limit of 1 per customer via the Reptilia website. We will be bringing the SR25/A5 variant to market in Q1 2023.

Technical Specifications:

• Proprietary Receiver Extension: 7075-T6 Aluminum, Type III Milspec Anodized Finish
• Materials: Impact Modified, Glass-Filled Nylon Polymer
• Weight (AR15/M16): 12.0 oz.
• Weight (AR10/SR25): 12.7 oz. 
• Length of Pull (AR15/M16): 10.8 in. – 14.2 in.
• Length of Pull (AR10/SR25): 11.6 in. – 15.0 in.

Christmas is only a few days away, and your last chance to order Reptilia gifts before Santa arrives is fast approaching! Make sure to place your order by December 19, 2022, or choose overnight shipping for orders placed until December 21, 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact us via email at support@reptiliacorp.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Press Release, Weapon Accessories | 4 Comments »

FirstSpear Friday Focus: Line One Belt

December 16th, 2022

“The Last Belt You’ll Ever Need”

The Line One Belt is our most popular everyday belt, borrowing its name from an old NSW term for the first level of clothing or gear. This belt has amazing tactical performance that maintains the high level of comfort and mobility usually associated with leather.

Urethane covered nylon provides superior strength and weather-resistance. This belt won’t crack, peel, or become stiff in frigid temperatures. Specially tempered, non-slip coating eliminates “break-in” time and allows for leather like flex, yet it is impervious to sweat and water and will not stretch or lose its original shape.

Visit FirstSpear to find America’s Best tactical gear this holiday season.

Posted in Advertiser, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post, Load Carrying | 3 Comments »

Beretta to Supply New Combat System for the Australian Defence Force

December 16th, 2022

MELBOURNE, Victoria, 16 December 2022 – In a landmark event, Managing Director of Beretta Australia, Luca Scribani Rossi, has officially signed an agreement with NIOA to supply the Australian Defence Force with a new military capability from Benelli Defense.

Beretta Australia has been awarded a contract by NIOA to supply the Benelli M3A1 Combat Shotgun as part of a series of new weapons systems selected in the first tranche of the Lethality System Project (LAND 159 Tranche 1).

The Benelli M3A1 will provide the Australian Defence Force with a solid and versatile platform that can be used in various roles. The dual-mode allows the shotgun to convert seamlessly between pump and semi-auto operation and is equipped with Benelli’s patented inertia-driven action system. “The selective fire system of the Benelli M3A1 will provide ADF Warfighters with the broadest flexibility across different mission profiles to employ a spectrum of lethal and non-lethal effects using a variety of munitions, from breaching, less lethal and kinetic options”

The Lethality System Project (LAND 159) will equip the ADF with next-generation weapon systems, surveillance and target acquisitions ancillaries, ammunitions, facilities and training and support systems. The Lethality System will ensure ADF ground combatants maintain an advantage over potential adversaries beyond 2030 and will be delivered in three Tranches. Tranche 1 includes the Combat Shotgun System, as part of the Close Combat System (comprising fighting knives, pistols, shotguns and the assault breaching system) and the Sniper System.

Dr Mauro Della Costanza, Head of Sales Benelli Armi S.p.A. Defense Division, said, “end users are looking for combat-proven products, premium quality, reliability and high manufacturing capabilities for state-of-the-art shotguns, and in this category, Benelli comes first.”

In addition to supplying the Australian Defence Force, Benelli has also secured essential Tenders at NATO and Aligned countries in the last few years, including –

• NATO NSPA for Portuguese Army in 2010

• Italian Armed Forces CSSS-Consortium for Safe Soldier System in 2021

• French MOD & Armed Forces in 2022

Beretta Australia will work in partnership with Benelli Defense.

Posted in Contracts, International, weapons | 1 Comment »

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