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Air Force Installation Contracting Center Acquisitions Bolster EOD Readiness for FY21, Beyond

October 26th, 2021

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) —

EOD robot upgrade The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is acquiring new base support robots for Explosive Ordnance Disposal flights Department of the Air Force-wide. The new T7 Robotic system replaces the 20-year-old Andros F6A. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Greg Hand)

The success of implementing new explosive ordnance disposal technology in fiscal year 2021 has the Air Force Civil Engineer Center looking forward to FY22.

“Our Airmen conduct high-risk operations in support of the mission, and we ensure they have the tools and resources they need to perform their jobs safely, efficiently and effectively,” said Col. John Tryon, AFCEC Detachment 1 commander. “It’s our duty to identify civil engineering needs and advance Air Force capabilities through research, development, test and evaluation, and we take that very seriously.”

AFCEC’s Readiness Directorate partnered with the Air Force Installation Contracting Center to use more than $41 million for new EOD equipment, such as a new base support robot to clear unexploded ordnance from airfields, during the past year.

In July, the AFICC awarded an $85 million, 10-year, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for the T7 Robot System to replace the Andros F6A robot, which has been used by the Air Force for two decades. The T7 offers a suite of new and enhanced capabilities, including a more modular design that allows users to repair it by swapping subassemblies rather than individual parts — an issue that plagued the previous robot.

“This system will move robotics forward 20 years,” said Dennis Carson, EOD robot product manager. “It enhances warfighter readiness with its ability to resolve hazardous threats and missions remotely, allowing Airmen freedom of movement at any location.”

AFCEC will begin distributing the first of the T7s in May 2022 — 56 of the 170 inventory objective of T7s were funded at contract award. The remaining requirement will be purchased this fiscal year.

The T7 is the second of two new robotic systems AFCEC is upgrading for the EOD career field. A year ago, the directorate delivered the first of the Man Transportable Robot System Increment II to the 325th Civil Engineer and the 823rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadrons.

To date, the readiness directorate has distributed 129 MTRS IIs and provided system training to 49 EOD flights. The directorate expects to distribute the remaining 202 systems by January 2023.

The second wave of new technology deliveries took place in July when the AFCEC team debuted the Vidisco Guardian 12 Digital Radiographic X-ray system, a $27 million procurement package, at Eglin AFB, Florida, and Hill AFB, Utah.

“This new system is essentially everything old wrapped into a new package with the addition of digital technology enhancements,” said Dave Hodgson, EOD logistics lead for AFCEC. “Compared to the previous analog models, this new system gives Airmen clear and concise images, which reduces the amount of time they have to spend analyzing the images.”

To date, the AFCEC team has distributed 36 X-ray systems, with the remaining 15 base support systems to be distributed in 2022 and mobility configurations through 2026.

Just as FY21 came to a close, AFICC awarded a $24 million contract for the Large Clearance Blade Assembly, or L-CBA. Attached to armored front-end loaders, the equipment is used for rapid clearance of unexploded ordnance from airfield surfaces after an attack.

Because it’s mounted to an armored front-end loader, the paired capability will dramatically reduce clearance times, Hodgson said.

AFCEC plans to begin blade deliveries to bases in the European and Pacific theaters and some training sites in mid-October. Full fielding will run through 2026. The contract enables the Air Force to obtain more than 70 large blades needed to support the Rapid Mass Mechanical Clearance program over the next several years.

The directorate also executed a Life Cycle Sustainment order for bomb suits. The suits are designed to protect EOD personnel responding to scenarios with potential explosives. The $2.2 million annual acquisition provides 76 suits to replace one-seventh of the current inventory.

“When EOD technicians have to make that long walk down range to manually perform procedures, this suit — the EOD 10E — provides the best possible protection if an explosion occurs,” Hodgson said.

Rounding out FY21 EOD funding executions, AFCEC’s EOD modernization program is seeing its work pay off as the Air Force prepares to take the next steps in bringing the Recovery of Airbases Denied By Ordnance, or RADBO, system to the Air Force EOD suite of tools.

EOD robot upgrade The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center recently contracted for the delivery of new explosive ordnance disposal base support robots for the Department of the Air Force enterprise. This chart shows a comparison of the 20-year-old Andros F6A to the new T7 Robot System. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Greg Hand)

AFCEC funded a $3.9 million effort in FY21 to convert the state-of-the-art ground-based laser prototypes to the final production configuration. The system will be delivered to Nellis AFB, Nevada, in December to support career field training as well as tactics, techniques and procedures incorporating the RADBO system, L-CBA, the prototype design completion on the Small Clearance Blade Assembly and an unmanned system application for Rapid Explosive Hazard Mitigation and Rapid Airfield Damage Repair vehicles.

By David Ford, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, EOD, Guest Post, Robotics | 2 Comments »

Rheinmetall to Build and Export Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle Test Chassis to United States

October 25th, 2021

Rheinmetall, the largest supplier of military vehicles to the Australian Defence Force has today announced the build and export contract of a Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) Test Chassis to the United States of America from its factory in Redbank Queensland.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart said the contract was the first of its kind and provided design and manufacturing export work both for the Rheinmetall team and its growing Australian Industry network.

“This is a landmark for Rheinmetall and Australia with the Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle test chassis to be manufactured at the state-of-the-art Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank, Queensland and importantly, contributes to the Federal Government’s objectives as set out in the Australian Defence Export Strategy.”

“The Australian manufactured Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle Chassis is a test rig destined for Rheinmetall’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) campaign to showcase advanced automotive capabilities in the Lynx platform,” he said.

Mr. Stewart said the Lynx vehicle export order will be delivered to Rheinmetall in the United States supporting the business’s worldwide activities currently underway in the OMFV competition and the US Department of Defense’s Bradley fighting vehicle replacement program.

“Lynx is a next generation fighting vehicle with unmatched protection and lethality. Rheinmetall has developed a next generation electronic architecture to ensure onboard sensors, systems and effectors are able to be networked into Defence’s broader network architecture.”

“The new test vehicle will demonstrate advanced features of mobility,” Mr. Stewart said.

Mr. Stewart said that the Australian export opportunities for Rheinmetall increased with this contract and provided flow on for Australian Industry Capability (AIC) partners that contribute to the Lynx IFV.

“The AIC partners are the backbone of our Lynx manufacturing in Australia.

We are proud to partner with organisations including:

• Marand Roof module,

• Supashock Running gear,

• MILSPEC Bisalloy Alternator, and Steel and various mechanical and electrical fabrication partner content.”

Mr. Stewart said that while Rheinmetall has announced export of the Lance Turret to Hungary, this would be our first vehicle export from Australia.

The Lynx is a next generation infantry fighting vehicle designed to confront the challenges of future battlefields. The Lynx provides adaptability; survivability and capacity not seen before in a vehicle of this type and is a highly protected IFV built to meet stringent military requirements.

Posted in Advertiser, Industry, Mobility | Comments Off on Rheinmetall to Build and Export Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle Test Chassis to United States

Springfield Armory Launches Hi-Power Clone, The SA-35

October 25th, 2021

Earlier today, Springfield Armory announced their new SA-35, their version of the Browning P-35, popularly known as the Hi-Power.

But it’s not an exact clone. SA has reconfigured the hammer to help mitigate hammer bite, included an extended safety, modernized the sights, beveled the magwell and slipped in a factory tuned trigger.

Here are the stats:

At $699 MSRP, I’ll definitely be on the look for one, for nostalgia’s sake if nothing else. There’s something comforting about a pistol made of steel and wood.

I expect additional models in the future.

www.springfield-armory.com/sa-35-series-handguns/sa-35-handguns

Posted in weapons | 28 Comments »

Mission Essential Gear – Field Jacket

October 25th, 2021

Mission Essential Gear has introduced a new jacket they call “The Field Jacket.”

Traditionally, a Field Jacket is a shell garment and this is much more like the quieted jackets made out of poncho liners back in the 70s and 80s and worn stand alone or as a layering garment. Except, it doesn’t have a full front opening and this has knit cuffs and better pockets than you’d generally find in one of the old tailor shop specials.

Offered in XS-3XL, it’s colored Green and a good price. The Green makes it look like a Field Jacket Liner on steroids.

Get yours at megearco.com/collections/jackets/products/mil-green-woobie-job-shirt

Posted in Clothing | 3 Comments »

Grey Ops Silent Spring Liquid Safing Fluid

October 25th, 2021

Grey Ops‘ Silent Spring was created and developed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Indian Head, MD as a liquid means to neutralize Improvised Explosive Devices for safe transport while preserving forensic evidence.

Silent Spring is available for unit and agency orders from ADS, Inc.

Posted in ADS, Advertiser, EOD | 1 Comment »

Raven Concealment Systems Announces Release of Perun LC Holster for the Sig P320 Compact/M18 with the Streamlight TLR-7/8

October 25th, 2021

This holster is the latest line extension of their popular Perun family of outside-the-waistband (OWB) concealment holsters, as well as the latest option they offer to support the Modular Hangun System.

The Perun LC is ambidextrous, has adjustable retention, and completely enshrouds the safety selector on the pistol. The pistol can be holstered with the safety in either position, and also works with standard P320 Compact models that do not have manual safeties.

Like all Perun holsters, this model is also compatible with slide-mounted red-dot optics. These units are in stock and shipping now. Retail price is $49.99.

Order here: rcsgear.com/perun-lc-holster

For military/government inquiries, please contact Matt Edwards directly at: m.edwards@ravenconcealment.com

Posted in Holsters, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Blue Force Gear – Vickers SMG Sling

October 25th, 2021

Blue Force Gear has expanded their Vickers line of slings with a new model specifically for SMGs.

This scaled down version of the Vickers Sling features the quick adjuster you are used to.

It features the ULoop Attachment to interface with the weapon’s eyelets, holes in railed handguards, KeyMod rails, sling swivels and other odd sling mount spaces. With the ULoop, there’s no exposed metal which helps eliminate noise and won’t mar your gun.