XC3 Weaponlight

DroneShield Releases DroneSentry-C2 Command-and-Control System Update

August 24th, 2022

DroneShield is pleased to announce it has released the latest v8.0.0 version of its DroneSentry-C2 Command-and-Control System. Both secure cloud-hosted and on-premises editions of the DroneSentry-C2 software receive quarterly software updates, which include upgrades to DroneShield’s edge computing server (SmartHub), computer vision AI engine (DroneOptID) and sensor fusion (ComputeNode) components of the system.  

This major update of DroneSentry-C2 includes security improvements including patches for zero-day vulnerabilities, bug fixes and performance improvements.  

Major upgrades include:  

Integration of additional FLIR Thermal Cameras: Adding to the suite of cameras integrated into the DroneSentry-C2, the FLIR Ranger HDC MS 1200 and Ranger HDC MR Electro-Optical (EO) and Infra-red (IR) capable cameras have been integrated as plug and play options. Optical DroneOptID computer vision models have been refined for thermal cameras.  

Integration of the RfPatrol: When paired with compatible MANET-radios the wearable RfPatrol drone detector can now  provide near real-time drone detection alerts and sensor location data fully integrated into the common operating picture of the DroneSentry-C2 user interface. This provides situational awareness across multiple RfPatrol devices in the field from a single map view. 

 Image: RfPatrol wearable drone detection sensors tracked on DroneSentry-C2

Usability improvements: User feedback has been incorporated to improve the usability of settings such as radar masking, RF filtering, flexible sensor setup and drone detection display. These improvements greatly reduces average setup time, cognitive burden, and time needed for training.  

Video Labelling: Video recordings can now be labelled for the purposes of feedback to DroneShield for DroneOptID AI Model training. 

Streamlined Analytics: Historical data is now intelligently filtered and low-value data is deleted. This reduces the amount of storage required for on-premises users and reduces cognitive burden on operators viewing analytics.  

Video tracking and optical model improvements: DroneOptID enhancements  include improved optical drone tracking and identification. 

Angus Bean, DroneShield’s Chief Technology Officer, commented, “This major software update, incorporates a substantial amount of end-user feedback, which enhances all facets of the DroneSentry-C2 system including user experience, performance, security, and the number of integrated sensors and effectors. DroneShield is uniquely positioned as a bleeding edge technology manufacturer of individual sensors, as well as a systems integrator, enabling our team to optimise the ecosystem experience for our end users.”

Core Vision Training: Teaching You To Be Ready For The Unknown

August 24th, 2022

An area of increasing concern for all of us is the occupied home invasion, which can be defined as an incident where the family occupies the house, and they are confronted with an imminent lethal threat by one or more intruders.

Recently, the number of reported violent encounters inside the home has increased. These violent encounters aren’t even limited to your home anymore. You could be thrust into a violent encounter when shopping at a mall or even walking to your car afterward.

This growing concern has prompted a surge of new gun owners who intend to keep that newly purchased firearm for the primary purpose of home defense. Additionally, many states have adopted constitutional carry where gun owners now don’t need to attend any training to carry concealed.

There is a void in the training industry regarding preparing for violent encounters, at least in the context of home defense. Core Vision Training has stepped into that void in a big way.

Why Spend The Money and Time on Training

Self-defense, home defense, and other preparedness training are necessary to effectively defend yourself, your family, and your home when targeted by crime or violence. There will always be criminals who want to take what isn’t theirs and predators who want to hurt the innocent. When you train to become more proficient in these skills, you gain the tools to stand your ground and live to see another day.

As with any training courses you attend, you want to ensure it fits your context of use and goals. However, many “tactical” training courses claim to train students in the art of fighting with a pistol and rifle, room clearing within your home, and a host of other “tacticool” courses. 

Many courses people attend for the experience rather than for learning life-saving skills. Nevertheless, teaching these concepts takes days to execute correctly with the proper instructor cadre.

Core Vision Training employs instructors with proven operational experience, some of which are still operational, which gives you the most up-to-date relevant training available.

Why Choose Core Vision Training

Core Vision Training is the top self-defense training company and facility in the Pacific Northwest. Their instructors bring decades of relevant operational experience to provide their clients with the highest quality training possible.

In addition to their premier courses, they also offer a monthly membership program. By signing up for the recurring monthly membership, individuals who have taken any form of our Structure Assessment courses now have the opportunity for additional reps and recurring training to maintain and master the skills they acquired in our classes.

Recurring training covers medical, structure assessment, teamwork, land navigation, live fire, vehicle work, and several more.

Let’s take a quick look at a few of their premier courses.

Structure Assessment Active Defense Course

If you are unlucky enough to find yourself in a fight with an armed assailant, learning to load and clear a malfunction is far easier if you are familiar with that weapon or type of weapon ahead of time. This is something you won’t want to figure out on the fly.

Imagine fighting your attacker in a dark parking lot or inside your home, and gaining control of his loaded weapon, only to die because you didn’t know how to operate the safety.

When you become skilled with your primary defensive tool, learn to use other weapons. Clint Smith said it best “There’s nothing that says you are going to fight with just your gun.”

The Core Vision Training Structure Assessment courses prepare you for just that. The Active Defense course, which is a combination of the home defense course and trauma training, is tailored to the everyday citizen looking to sharpen their skills and better protect their family.

What’s Covered

• 1 & 2 person structure assessment
• CCW Pistol mechanics & manipulations
• Link up procedures
• Casualty assessment and treatment
• Call up procedures for 911
• Center fed, corner fed rooms & hallways
• Positive Threat Identification

Vehicle Escape Concepts

Let’s look at a different type of EDC; your Every Day Car. This is your daily driver, whether a Honda Civic or a Rolls Royce.

When you leave the safety of your home and get into your vehicle to take kids to school, pick up passengers, or go to the store, it becomes your mobile command center.

When you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, think of yourself as the Transporter. It’s not only an excellent movie but highlights some key points. Such as how he maintains driving the car and moves within and around the confines of his vehicle. Everything is done professionally and with a purpose.

The Core Vision Training Vehicle Escape Concepts course teaches you to be ready for a fight in and around your vehicle. Everything they teach you is done professionally and with a practical purpose.

What’s Covered

• Avoidance
• Preparation
• Movement within and out of a vehicle
• What is and is not cover on a vehicle
• Gear & Equipment Preparations
• Vehicle Considerations

Land Navigation

When many of us first enlisted, there was no handheld GPS to tell us where we were and how to reach our destination. Instead, we had to learn how to use a compass and protractor with our maps. Land Navigation courses were taught with the old school military issue Lensatic compasses and a map whether it was daytime or night-time.

The use of a compass is a perishable skill, much like shooting. It requires practice. Nowadays, we have wrist-mounted GPS units, handheld units, and smartphones that provide us with navigational aids. But what if the batteries run out or your GPS gets submerged and shorts out? Now what? How do you get back home? Do you have a backup method of navigation?

The Core Vision Training land navigation course teaches you how to read and orient a map and navigate using a compass so that you make it back home safely. The two available courses are Intro To Land Navigation and Basic Map Reading.

What’s Covered

• How to read and orient a map
• How to familiarize yourself with a map using a compass
• Individual Pace Count
• Dead Reckoning & Terrain Association
• How to identify significant terrain features
• How to identify minor terrain features
• How to read contour lines
• How to plot locations on a map

In the end, the time you invest in training for an event that may never occur is your responsibility. The flip side of that is if that event ever does happen, do you want to be the one who lets your spouse and children down?

We encourage you to reflect on the cost of your personal decisions and how you choose to spend your time and money. Remember, when seconds count, law enforcement is minutes away, and a lot can happen in that time. You can lose your whole world in those few minutes.

If you are ready to accept that risk, that’s on you. But, if you believe your life and the lives of your loved ones are worth every ounce of your effort, train like it. Train like they matter. Train with Core Vision Training.

For more information, you can find them on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube.

G3 Systems Launch a Refreshed Strategic Plan

August 24th, 2022

G3 Systems Limited, the world-renowned provider of bespoke deployable containerised solutions, critical operational infrastructure and facilities support in austere locations has launched its refreshed 3-year Strategic Plan. The plan focuses on identifying areas for growth and diversification and seeks to promote core functions and capabilities to new clients and geographies; whilst capitalising on recent operational experience such as providing Fire and Rescue services in Afghanistan. The Plan also includes an increased focus on sustainability, environmental protection and social responsibility.

G3 Systems Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of IAP WWS Inc., has launched its refreshed 3-year Strategic Plan stating their vision to be “dominant in the provision of bespoke high quality deployable and fixed infrastructure and a leader of support services in austere environments”. This vision is underpinned by their company ethos of Ingenuity – Agility – Purpose and built on four strategic pillars: a relentless focus on the demands of the Customer and delivering that with excellence; empowering People with learning and growth to foster a safe and sustainable environment; achieving internal and external operational quality and efficiency through rigorous Business Process and diligent stewardship of Finances to ensure excellent value for money.

G3 Systems Limited has a 20-year history and an operationally proven track record of delivering in the most challenging and arduous environments. They are proud of their company culture of achieving the ‘out of the ordinary’, going to challenging places and working ‘as one’ with their clients while never failing and always looking after the people and the environment around them. They have been integral to the success of many long-term operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands. Their modular, standardised and highly adaptable solutions such as the Deployable Engineer Workshop, Navy Forward Support Units and FCO Deployable Embassy have been and will continue to be excellent solutions to meet the needs of rapidly deployed government and non-government organisations.

Chamois Consulting Limited has also been engaged to assist G3 Systems Limited in the delivery of their strategy. They will be providing a particular focus on brand communications, client and stakeholder engagement and to help raise the social awareness of G3 Systems Limited products and services.

Mike Puckett, Managing Director at G3 Systems Limited said, “I am very proud of the G3 team and the significant progress we’ve made to date. Following a change in the nature of deployed operations, and through the refreshed strategy process, we’ve recognised that it is time to build on our social value interfaces, external communications, marketing and adopting new methods to enhance our collaborative working and to help share our vision and achieve our strategic goals. Having seen what has been achieved with other defence orientated companies, Chamois was the natural choice and I am really looking forward to working with them.”

Gareth Baker, Director of Media and PR at Chamois said “I am really excited to be working with G3 Systems Limited, because I was already sighted on some of their products from my time on operations. However, prior to spending time with the team, I had no idea of the depth, breadth and scale of their skill, operational pedigree and engineering expertise. I am very much looking forward to helping communicate their substantial capabilities to their target audiences.”

Taurus Presents: Shooting International with Brendan Souder

August 24th, 2022

In the web series Shooting International with Brendan Souder presented by Taurus and produced by Panteao Productions, retired Special Forces soldier Brendan Souder travels abroad competing, training and learning about various gun cultures through the lens of embedded operatives, local military and police, competitive shooters as well as the everyday citizens that live in these countries.

Brendan spent his 20-year career in Special Operations between the 75th Ranger Regiment and Special Forces. He is a certified firearms instructor and Grand Master competitive shooter. This series will also showcase elite military units that operate in these territories, showcasing past missions and current challenges of modern-day operations. An example of this in the initial episode.

HUXWRX Safety Co – BLASTPHEMY

August 24th, 2022

The new BLASTPHEMY is a blast deflector constructed from 17-4 stainless steel. It’s also multi-caliber and is compatible with all HUXWRX HX-QD muzzle brakes and flash hiders (up to .338).

The BLASTPHEMY is designed to redirect the blast forward protecting the shooter and bystanders from micro-concussions and overpressure. Additionally, it mitigates flash and doubles as a thread protector for your muzzle device.

HUXWRX recommends it for shooting against cover and/or in the prone position. Similar to HUXWRX muzzle devices, the BLASTPHEMY is coated with QPQ black nitride which case-hardens the surface for greater durability and corrosion resistance.

www.huxwrx.com

Radical Defense – M2FVS Suppressor

August 24th, 2022

The latest addition to Radical Defense’s suppressor offerings is the M2FVS which offers sound, thermal, and flash mitigation along with reduction in ground disturbance. It’s a 3D printed monolithic design incorporating their forward venting mono-core design. The internal Venturi and Breathable Technology ports reduce back pressure and heat as well as bringing cool air through the suppressor.

The biggest thing about this new .50 can is that it is designed to directly thread to a mil std M2A1 without modifying the barrel or recoil system. They are currently conducting endurance testing to RFI W15BW9-22-X-JKTH standard which is 50 rounds in cadence and 50 rounds full auto sustained then cool to ambient and repeat. So far it’s doing very well but they aren’t ready to tell us how many cycles they’ve completed so far.

This video shows the FVS line of suppressors in action which covers from 5.56 to .50. Hopefully, I’ll get to see it firsthand at the upcoming NDIA Future Forces Conference next month in Austin.

www.radicaldefense.us

Air Force Experiments to Expedite Kill Chain, Improve Battle Management

August 24th, 2022

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) —

The 705th Combat Training Squadron recently hosted the second virtual Tactical Operations Center-Light experiment iteration in their Distributed Mission Operations Center at Kirtland Air Force Base.

“Twenty-first century large-scale warfare requires our forces to adapt quickly on the move,” said Col. Frank Klimas, 505th Command and Control Wing, Detachment 1 commander, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The TOC-L event was designed to continue U.S. Air Force development of future battle management concepts intended to expedite kill chains and improve distributed control.

Air battle managers and tactical air control party Airmen traveled to Kirtland AFB from across Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe to participate in the experiment.

A TOC-L is purposed lightweight, scalable battle management system that enables tactical C2 elements to relocate quickly, establish advanced datalinks, connect to a variety of sensors via a resilient communication structure, and successfully operate in a denied, degraded, or contested operational environment.

“TOC-L aims to adapt our current systems to new tactics needed for the high-end fight, and the DMOC provides a great environment to test those out,” Klimas said.

The event was the second experiment executed at the DMOC and focused on building and capturing tactics, techniques, and procedures, or TTPs, of the USAFE inspired Agile Control Integration Team while concentrating on integrating additional TOC-L mission sets.

“As the Air Force continues to evolve the TOC-L concept, it’s important to have a venue like the DMOC to bring different career fields together and stress test our ideas for different variations of a TOC-L crew,” said Maj. Carl Plonk, 605th Test and Evaluation Squadron, TOC-L experiment director, Hurlburt Field, Florida. “We’ve made a lot of progress in the first two iterations, and we’re looking forward to integrating into Virtual Flag: Battle Management where we can apply added levels of complexity to see how our techniques hold up.”

Plonk continued, “It’s eye-opening to see how these two career fields innovate to overcome mission challenges with limited traditional resources. We’ve asked the team to think creatively with this experiment because quite frankly, this experiment and others like it are changing the way we will conduct battle management in the future.”

The event expanded TACP capabilities based C2 element integration, which included distributed partnering with Air Support Operations Squadrons across the country. Additionally, the experiment saw joint partner involvement with U.S. Marine Corps air controllers from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, providing operational assessment support to bolster concept development.

“Joint inclusion in this experiment further cements the Air Force’s desire to be dialed into theater integration needs from the start,” said Col. Adam Shelton, 505th Test and Training Group commander, Hurlburt Field, Florida. “Efforts like the Advanced Battle Management System are challenging our service paradigms on battle management to decouple personnel from sensors and our Marine Corps teammates with their approach to combined arms warfare are the best suited to inform these efforts.”

The team plans to integrate the concepts and lessons learned from recent experiments into Virtual Flag: Battle Management in August.

“Integrating Airmen from across these two command and control career fields to further develop these concepts is both exciting and necessary,” said Maj. Dustin Nedolast, 505th Command and Control Wing, Detachment 1, TOC-L experiment director, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. “Collaborative experimentation is key to continually building on the lessons learned throughout these iterations while staying focused on expediting a functional system for the joint force in the future.”

The 705th CTS reports to the 505th Combat Training Group, Nellis AFB, Nevada, and the 505th Command and Control Wing, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

By Deb Henley, 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs, 505th Command and Control Wing

Mack Defense Receives Order for 144 Additional Trucks for the U.S. Army M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck Program

August 23rd, 2022

ALLENTOWN, PA – Mack Defense announced today that the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve have ordered an additional 144 Mack Defense M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDTs).

The additional vehicles, based on the commercially available Mack® Granite® model, are part of the previously announced firm-fixed price $296 million contract to be fulfilled over seven years that the Army awarded Mack Defense in 2018. The HDTs are a key component in construction and maintenance missions for infrastructure assets, such as airfields, roadways, landing strips, supply facilities and motor pools.

“We are proud to maintain our production operation which was created for the U.S. Army M917A3 HDT program, and we are extremely proud that our Mack Defense HDT vehicles, which have been fielded, are meeting and exceeding expectations,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “Mack Defense remains committed to producing vehicles for the U.S. armed forces based on modified versions of our industry-leading Mack vehicles providing the latest technologies and best value while meeting the military’s demanding requirements.”

The Army previously had ordered 155 HDTs, which are spec’d with heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive, increased suspension ride height and other ruggedized features to meet the unique requirements of the Army. Those HDT vehicles have all been built, and final deliveries will continue through August 2022.

The Mack Granite HDT model is a modern truck equipped with modern technology, such as ABS and other active safety systems. The Granite model is user-friendly, comfortable and safer to operate compared with other past models used by the Army, which is key to the Army’s investment in the new HDTs, Hartzell said. The Granite HDTs and the production line at the Mack Experience Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, were both inspected by the government quality auditors to ensure both met expectations.

Production of the HDTs at the MEC began in Q1 2021, following an investment of $6.5 million to create a dedicated HDT production line at the facility. The production line helps fulfill the M917A3 contract, while allowing Mack Defense to produce other vehicle variants.

The production line in the MEC is in Mack’s former Customer Adaptation Center, where vehicle modifications occurred. The Customer Adaptation Center has since moved to Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack Class 8 vehicles for North America and export are assembled. Previously, non-armored HDT vehicles began production at LVO and were then transported to the MEC, where final assembly, including adding the dump body, occurred.

www.mackdefense.com