Tactical Tailor

G3 Systems Wins Overseas Construction Works Contract for Refurbishment of the British Deputy High Commission Office in Lagos, Nigeria

March 28th, 2024

G3 Systems Limited, the British company with over 20 years of operationally proven expertise in designing and producing deployable containerised solutions and providing infrastructure support to military and government organisations in remote locations across the globe, has just been awarded a multi-million-pound contract by the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) for the remodelling and refurbishment of the British Deputy High Commission (BDHC) in Lagos, Nigeria.

The contract, awarded following a competitive tendering exercise, is a mix of demolition, refurbishment, new build and landscaping works estimated to take 18-24 months. The objectives of the FCDO project are to enhance the working environment for deployed staff, ensure compliance with modern building standards, maximise space utilisation and minimise ongoing maintenance and running costs.

The project will also seize the opportunity to enhance compound security and improve the compounds overall environmental performance, in line with government net carbon zero goals.

Throughout the works, the BDHC will remain occupied and fully operational. Therefore, an essential component of the project is to provide close liaison with staff to ensure the project works are synchronised with their operational needs.

Nick Rose, Managing Director G3 Systems said, “This is excellent news for G3 Systems and a very exciting extension of our existing construction capability. We have a strong pedigree of providing deployable containerised embassy solutions for the government in the past and delivering projects in remote locations for the military, but this is a first to manage a complex construction project in a remote location for the FCDO, which is a fantastic addition to our current portfolio.

Army Delivers Next Generation Squad Weapon to First Unit

March 28th, 2024

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – A brigade from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell was the first unit equipped with the Army’s new Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) system today.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, accepted Next Generation Rifles and Automatic Rifles in preparation for New Equipment Training (NET) in April. NET is an in-depth, train-the-trainer course that prepares designated non-commissioned officers to facilitate follow-on training across the company.

“The process of developing and fielding new equipment is never without challenges and setbacks and speed bumps, so we’re celebrating the fact that we’re delivering on schedule, as promised,” said Lt. Col. Mark Vidotto, the NGSW lead for the Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team (SL CFT) at Fort Moore, Georgia. “It was a team effort from start to finish.”

The “start” was 2018, and the “team” included the SL CFT and their Program Executive Office Soldier partners, Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition, Sig Sauer, Vortex and a number of other stakeholders who teamed to hasten development and production of the new system after the requirement was identified in a 2017 study that recognized the need for weapons that will perform better at range.

More than 25,000 hours have been invested by Soldiers during the development and testing of the NGSW system, which includes the XM7 Rifle, the XM250 Automatic Rifle, the XM157 Fire Control and the 6.8 mm family of ammunitions.

“The NGSW fielding is a culmination of a comprehensive and rigorous process of design, testing and feedback, all of which were led by Soldiers,” said Col. Jason Bohannon, project manager, Soldier Lethality, PEO Soldier. “As a result, the Army is delivering on its promise to deliver to Soldiers the highest quality, most capable small-caliber weapons and ammunition.” 

Based on modernization schedules, the Army will field NGSW systems to a National Guard armored brigade in May.

Note from SSD: This came from Army Futures Command. It did not include a photo but few people read articles without photos. I included an image from PEO Soldier’s PM Soldier Lethality. It was not taken during this First Unit Equipped event and only illustrates the XM250 Automatic Rifle. The optic shown is not currently part of the program of record. The previous test event with the 101st was considered first unit issued.

KC Eusebio Wins Speed Shooting Title with Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight

March 28th, 2024

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – March 25, 2024 – Bushnell®, an industry leader in performance optics, is proud to announce sponsored shooter KC Eusebio won the Speed Shooting title at the US Steel Nationals at the Volusia County Gun Club near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, March 15 -17.

Eusebio successfully defended his title from 2023 and opted to use the same Bushnell reflex sight – the RXM-300 Reflex Sight – to claim his 2024 national title.

“This was a tough one with minimal training and jet lag,” said Eusebio. “But once we got rolling, Jessie Harrison and Max Michel pushed me to focus up and give it my all.”

A USPSA Grandmaster since age 12, Eusebio is one of the most accomplished competitive pistol shooters in the world. Over the last six years, Eusebio has relied on Bushnell products to keep him at the top of his game. Prior to competing at the US Steel National, Eusebio used the Bushnell RXM-300 to win first place overall at the Boland Handgun Championship in Cape Town, South Africa

“There are so many great things that I can say about the Bushnell RXM-300,” said Eusebio. “It is by far the best red dot that I have used throughout the 28 years of my shooting career. A big thank you to Bushnell and my other sponsors for allowing me to live the dream and pursue my marksmanship endeavors.”

The Bushnell RXM-300 is a versatile, large lens, 4 MOA red dot with 12 brightness settings plus an optimized hood geometry for faster target acquisition and shot follow-up without sacrificing durability. That not only makes it the perfect competition sight for pro shooters like Eusebio, but also makes it a great option for carry, home defense and hunting on long-guns and handguns alike. Other premium features of the RXM-300 are user selectable auto-ambient intensity, shake-awake with selectable defeat, and button lockout.

To learn more about Eusebio, other Bushnell ambassadors and pro shooters and the gear they rely on, visit the Bushnell Ambassador’s page.

TacJobs – US Army 17A Cyber Warfare Officer

March 28th, 2024

US Army Cyber Warfare Officers are responsible for carrying out cyber security operations in conjunction with an organized plan by targeting adversary activities and capabilities.

Specialized Skills Learned:

-Cyber Operations

-Intelligence & Surveillance

-Systems & Networks

Earn up to 46 Nationally Recognized Certifications

Requirements:

-U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

-18 to 34 Years Old

-Accepted to College, In College, or Graduate of a Four-Year Degree Program

-Basic Officer Leadership Course (or Additional Special Courses/Qualifications)

-Eligible for a Secret Security Clearance

-Medically and Physically Fit

-In Good Moral Standing

For more information on how YOU can become a 17A, head to www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/career-match/signal-intelligence/locations-stats-frequencies/17a-cyber-warfare-officer

Safariland Unveils New Solis Fits for GLOCK 17 and 19

March 28th, 2024

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Safariland®, a brand of The Safariland Group®, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets and one of Cadre Holdings, Inc.’s (NYSE: CDRE) (“Cadre”) key brands, has announced new GLOCK fits for the Solis OWB holster.

In 2023, Safariland introduced the Solis holster to accommodate subcompact duty pistols with lights and optics. Now available for GLOCK 17 and 19 models, Solis offers law enforcement officials and civilians a new OWB carry option from the originators of holster retention.

“We continue to collaborate with firearm manufacturers to ensure a diverse range of OWB holster fits for the most effective tools for everyday carry,” said Eric Gasvoda, GM of Duty Gear for Safariland. “Solis is an ideal addition to our outside-the-waistband holster family, and we’re proud to provide new GLOCK options for the firearm and law enforcement community.”

Crafted from a durable and weather-resistant SafariSeven™ nylon blend, the Solis OWB holster offers rugged durability to protect firearms. Its open muzzle end design facilitates easy debris removal and accommodates threaded barrels, ensuring optimal functionality in various environments.

Key features include:    

• ALS® secures firearm once holstered: simple straight-up draw once the release is deactivated

• Compatible with most Red Dot Sights

• Compact Light Compatible

• Two-piece reinforced holster body for increased strength

• MSRP: $82.50 – $87.50

With the introduction of the Solis OWB holster for GLOCK 17 and 19 models, Safariland continues to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of law enforcement professionals and firearm enthusiasts.

To learn more about the Solis holster, visit Safariland.com.

Arisaka Defense – MCX Spear 308 Zero Retention Clamp

March 28th, 2024

Arisaka Defense showed me their new MCX Spear 308 Zero Retention Clamp during the vendor day at last week’s USASOC Sniper Competition.

It’s the big brother to their popular MCX Virtus/Spear LT Zero Retention Clamp which is designed to prevent handguard flax and thereby reduce zero shift for lasers and iron sights that are mounted on the handguard of the MCX Spear.

The Arisaka ZRC consists of two sets of 7075 clamps that mount in the vent slots on either side of the handguard. The inner half of each clamp engages the extended upper receiver.

This new version is designed for the MCX Spear chambered in 277 Fury and .308 while the LT model is for .223, 300 BLK, and 7.62 x 39. You can tell the difference between the two clamps by the number of external lugs: three for the heavy and one for the light.

Transforming DOD: PC-C4 Prepares for the Future Battlefield

March 28th, 2024

FORT IRWIN, Calif. — On the beaches, oceans, air and deserts of the U.S. West Coast, more than 4,000 members of the joint force, civilians, contractors, and militaries from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France and Japan experimented with more than 200 technologies in the Army’s largest experiment in the dirt, Project Convergence Capstone 4.

Two phases, primarily conducted in California at Camp Pendleton and the National Training Center, allowed experimenters to work in arduous conditions and experiment with cutting-edge technology in as close to a real-world environment as possible. Distant locations also supported the experiment up and down the West Coast and the Pacific region to experiment through time, distance and complexity.

Technology getting to PC-C4 itself takes time and goes through a review process designed to save PC-C4 time and money by ensuring only the most promising technologies make their way to the capstone experiment. All technology at PC-C4 could fill a potential gap or provide a capability designated as necessary by senior leaders. Nascent technologies go through the Science Technology and Review Board before spending time at a myriad of other experiments and lab-based risk reduction activities, all before they ever make their way to NTC or Camp Pendleton.

“There are plenty of technologies we find out aren’t mature enough or don’t fill a gap or capability the way we thought, so they get withdrawn way before Capstone 4 takes place,” said Mindy Gabbert, experiment division chief at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.

Not only does this scrutiny save money and time once the experiment begins at PC-C4, but it also ensures that all players involved in putting on PC-C4 already have working relationships.

“It’s not just a yes or no process. It’s going through those prior risk reduction activities that allows the broader community to see those technologies and just to be familiar with them before they get here so that they can properly fit them into the exercise, so that they can make sure that we are aligning them with the right use cases and the other right opportunities out here,” Gabbert said. “So, in addition to the technical aspects of those technologies, it’s just building that knowledge base within the community of what’s out there and bridges that community by building the whole body of knowledge we’re all working on.”

Since 2020, Project Convergence (PC) has grown exponentially in scale and scope. PC-C4 was the largest PC experiment yet, with participation from the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and multinational partners.

“The first PC was conducted in 2020. It was Army only and focused on a specific time between the identification of a target and an effector shooting on that target,” said Lt. Gen. Ross Coffman, United States Army Futures Command deputy commanding general. “And from there, we decided the Army will never fight alone, so let’s get the entire joint force focused on this problem set.”

“This year, we have increased the threat envelope to 10 times what we did last year. With the entire joint force and our U.K. and Australian teammates and allies, we were able to effectively move data for the first time in an Indo-Pacific scenario at a magnitude we’ve never seen before,” Coffman said.

PC-C4 informed combined, joint all-domain situational awareness, command and control, integrated offensive and defensive fires, defeat large target array, human machine integration and how to sustain the force over large-scale combat operations, dubbed contested logistics.

One of the significant successes of PC-C4 was the integration of sensors and fires to ensure that the force is best able to stop incoming missiles without depleting munitions unnecessarily. Coffman explained that they used offensive and defensive fires to tackle the problem and ensure that sensors have interoperability between the branches to ensure the right sensors pick up the threat and the right shooter takes it out, so the military does not waste munitions.

“It’s not our job to go fill up the magazines to the level we’d like them to be, but it is our job to ensure that we can connect my sensors to his fires and his sensors to my fires because I might have the most available weapon where he’s got the most survivable sensor and vice versa,” said Vice Adm. Michael Boyle, Third Fleet commander. “And that’s really what this is about; it’s enabling us to pick from whatever magazine we need.”

Another major win for PC-C4 was the increased ability to push data through a fully networked command, control and communications system. This allowed for more significant amounts of data to be pushed to the Joint and Allied forces.

“When you put stress on untested equipment, you’re going to learn things,” Coffman said. “One of the interesting things is that as we increase the pipe on this cross, it worked magnificently. It could pass a large amount of data that we had not seen before we tested it last year, and we could see it was nascent. We were able to pass data successfully.”

Great strides in contested logistics experiments also took place across both phases. Experiments involving beach landings, drones and printing technology were showcased, and for the first time, a repair part for an Army system was printed out at sea on a Navy vessel.

“Envision the printer was on the vessel,” said Col. Shane Upton, director of the Contested Logistics Cross-Functional Team. “They printed the part, we put it on an unmarried unmanned aerial system, a drone, and flew it onto the beach to the point of need. In a contested environment where you don’t have a permissive flow of sustainment, you’ve got to use some of these exquisite technologies. That’s why we’re experimenting with them.”

Now that PC-C4 has wrapped up after several weeks of experimentation, the data collected will be analyzed to inform future acquisition and force structure decisions and aggressively advance and integrate Army contributions to the Joint and Combined fight.

“It’s worth every penny,” Coffman said of the experiment. “The readiness of the joint force and the partnership with our allies is invaluable. When called upon, the women and men of this nation and the women and men of other nations will fight side by side to preserve liberty, and that cost is worth every penny.”

By Matthew Murch, Futures and Concepts Center

FALCO Holsters Versatile Rotating Shoulder Holsters Perfect for EDC

March 27th, 2024

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – March 25, 2024 – FALCO® Holsters, a global leader in crafting bespoke leather holsters, reveals its latest innovation in shoulder holsters designed to enhance concealed carry experiences. The new collection features the handcrafted leather D131 and D231 Roto Shoulder Holsters and the D901 Hybrid Roto Shoulder Holster, offering versatility and efficiency for everyday carry needs.

Katarína Zacharová, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at FALCO Holsters, explains, “The light-bearing full leather version of our highly successful Roto Shoulder system has been eagerly anticipated and reflects our dedication to prioritizing customer feedback.” She emphasizes the unique features of these shoulder holsters, stating, “Our shoulder holster line stands out for its interchangeability, allowing all configurations to integrate into a single harness system seamlessly.”

Zacharová states, “This adaptability offers unmatched convenience, accommodating diverse carry preferences and many firearm combinations. Whether you’re switching between firearm models or adjusting for different scenarios, our holsters provide an effortless transition. For instance, switching from carrying your .45 caliber 2011 with a weapon-mounted light in full leather today to a .380 semi-auto in the hybrid leather/Kydex holster version tomorrow is as easy as detaching the customized holster from the adjustable leather harness and replacing it with the holster tailored to a different firearm.”

FALCO’s Roto Shoulder Holsters boast a rotating function, enabling a vertical carry position for a sleek profile and ergonomic draw even with full-sized handguns. Zacharová explains, “When you’re ready to draw, simply unsnap the security strap, and the holster rotates to an angle that promotes a more comfortable grip and rapid draw. The holster incorporates a leather security strap designed to be released by the forefinger and adjustable leather belt tie-down straps to keep your firearm in place. Strategically placed spaces in the leather harness allow extensive size adjustment to fit the harness to your body type. Combined with the leather harness, everyday carriers enjoy balanced weight distribution of the handgun and magazines for all-day comfort.”

D131 and D231 Light-Bearing Roto Shoulder Holsters

• Premium and Classic light-bearing leather shoulder holsters
• Steel-reinforced forefinger security strap for secure firearm retention
• Innovative rotating design for ergonomic draw
• Open-bottom design for threaded barrels
• Slit for belt strap on the back side provides stability
• Custom-fit for 3,000+ handguns and more than 50 models of tactical lights and lasers
• Made of the finest Italian full-grain and pre-tanned leather
• Available with multiple harness and counterbalance options
• Lifetime Limited Warranty
• 30-Day Buyback Guarantee
• MSRP: D131, Premium Leather $119.95
• MSRP: D231, Classic Leather (pre-tanned) $95.95

The D901 Hybrid Roto Shoulder Holster combines premium Italian full-grain leather with .08” U.S. Kydex for optimal comfort and retention. “By incorporating a Kydex shell into our design and surrounding it with leather, people benefit from the comfort and aesthetics of leather plus the retention and stability of Kydex,” said Zacharová.

D901 Hybrid Roto Shoulder Holster with Double Mag Pouch

• The rotating function allows for a more efficient and comfortable gun draw
• Holster combines 0.08” U.S. Kydex custom fit to your firearm, surrounded by premium FALCO Italian full-grain leather
• Features leather forefinger security strap
• Tension screw allows you to adjust the retention of the holster
• Vertical underarm carry position allows for safe EDC concealment
• Adjustable shoulder harness is tapered for weight distribution and comfort
• Attaches to the belt with adjustable leather tie-down straps for added stability
• Can be configured for handguns with red dot sights
• Ideal for large-framed firearms
• Open muzzle allows for extended threaded barrels and prevents the accumulation of dust and dirt
• Fully-covered barrel and trigger guard for safe handling
• Kydex shell offers excellent retention in all carry situations
• Premium leather is hand-cut, lacquered, and finished by leather artisans
• Edge is hand-finished and colored to protect it from wear and add to the longevity
• Includes: adjustable leather harness, hybrid Kydex/leather holster and double magazine pouch, leather tie-down straps
• Right-handed or left-handed
• Lifetime Limited Warranty
• 30-Day Buyback Guarantee
• MSRP: $299.95