Defense Articles

The minister, a repentant speeder, argues that his enthusiasm for driving makes him a better road-safety minister. It lets him say to Top Gear fans, “I’m one of you, and I still support speed cameras”. At Brake, we think this a misguided tactic and there are better things that he could be doing with his time.

Many people across the country happily use cars for practical reasons, but aren’t car fanatics and feel threatened by the speeding drivers who plague our roads and put our children at risk. These people, the silent majority, would have more regard for Ladyman, and give him their vote, if he didn’t spend time pandering to a select group that glamorises speed.

Ladyman says, of Top Gear: “[It] celebrates fast cars… [but] people don’t go on to the road and break the speed limit because they watch [it].” But there’s a wealth of research by transport psychologists demonstrating that the attitudes of drivers, younger males in particular, are influenced by the glorification of fast cars, and that this can affect behaviour. Car ownership and speed are aspi-rational for many young men, and they have a natural tendency to take risks on roads for kicks.

Attitudes can also, conversely, be influenced by road-safety advertising and education. If the Department for Transport didn’t believe that influencing attitudes was important, it wouldn’t bother with the (pitifully few) road-safety adverts it funds on television.

Ladyman says that he is “distressed” at attacks on Top Gear. This is nothing compared with the distress of watching your child mown down by a high-speed driver. Seventy-five children are killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads every week. The minister should save his adjectives.

The defensive outpourings of support for Top Gear over the past fortnight have often been counterattacks against “namby-pamby” road- safety officials who want the programme banned. This is interesting because, until now, there has not been a flurry of official statements, from Brake or others, calling for the banning of Top Gear. Mostly, such calls have been made by concerned mothers on radio phone-ins, and column writers.

Brake has remained quiet because tackling off-road high-speed collisions, such as the one involving Hammond, is not our prime concern. We are in favour of people using circuits rather than roads to “test” their high-speed driving abilities.

However, the likes of Ladyman and Jeremy Clarkson have been widening the debate by making broadbrush statements on road safety, and that is very much our concern.

Vendors-seasoned and start-up-from all over the country, gathered under one roof in September to display and share their wares and services at the exhibition that accompanied the 126th NGAUS General Conference in Las Vegas.

Most have been to several conferences in years past, but there were still quite a few new faces, like that of Blackhawk! Products Group, a company that designs, manufactures and distributes tactical nylon gear, equipment and accessories.

Divisional sales manager Greg Andersen says the comparry’s focus this year is on upgrading existing products with newer technology for 2005 and increasing production of new and existing products like the STRIKE gear, which is “molly” compatible with more than 60 different pouches, six platforms and can be modified for whatever mission needs may be.

One of those new products is the CQC holster with SERPA Active Retention System. It allows the user to more easily and quickly re-holster the weapon securely alter use. “Using it, no one can just pull the gun out,” Andersen says, adding that they hope to introduce an adaptable dropleg holster with the same capability in the near future.

Blackhawk! has been in business for 11 years but this is its lirst time as a vendor at the NGAUS conference.

“Hopefully we’ll come back next year,” Andersen says. “The National Guard is [on the] frontline of fire in the homeland as well as being deployed overseas. And I think it’s important people realize they are our end-user.”

Another new vendor this year was MadahCom, a company that produces digital wireless communications systems.

MadahCom is installed worldwide in places like the Statue of Liberty, the International Airport of Baghdad, the Smithsonian Institution museums and in the Oval Office, according to sales manager Chris Henderson.

The systems are useful for mass notification or alerts of civilian and military personnel.

They can be centralized and tailored to each base and are zone-able to specific locations within those bases.

The company introduced the WAVES (Wireless Audio Visual Emergency System) software, which uses frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology, this year.

It allows lor touch-screen computer control, chemical, radiological and biological weapon awareness alarms, advanced intrusion system alarms and LED sign controls and with the FHSS it is extremely secure, Henderson says.

The system, he says, is a “practical product for everyone” including small communities, malls and universities but comes with an added plus for military forces. The company has also developed a portable system that functions by digital wireless technology and can go anywhere.

Marketing Manager Maria Moran says the portable units, which have only been available for about a year, have only been sold to the military so far. Moran says there are a few units being used in theater currently.

Seasoned exhibitors like Sikorsky Helicopter and Northrop Grumman Corporation had very prominent displays. Northrop Grumman department representatives walked around talking with cun’ous walkers-by about their products and services.

Rick Wolaver, director of business development for NGC Airborne Ground Surveillance & Rattle Management Systems, says a big project his department is now working on is the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JointSTARS).

JointSTARS is used on a modified Boeing 707-300 series commercial aircraft. According to the Northrop Grumman Capital Source Web site, “it detects, locates, tracks and targets hostile surlace movements, communicating real-time information through secure data links to U.S. Air Force and U. S. Army command centers”… and it “also has great utility in special operations, crisis management and peacekeeping operations.”

The aircraft are based at Robins Air Force Rase, Ga., and assigned to the 116th Air Control Wing composed of members of the Georgia Air National Guard and the activeduty Air Force. It is the first blended wing in the U.S. Air Force. The wing will receive its final JointSTARS aircraft next year.

Since the 116th was just assigned the mission in 2002, the Guard is a new NGC customer.

Another new technology in the works at Northrop Grumman, is happening in the Navigations Systems department.

Robert Nomelli, the department’s business development customer liaison, says the technology has been around lor several years bur is just now being put to use and at a low cost.

The new software, called RePlace or Reconligurable Processor for Legacy Applications Code Execution, is a generic soltware that can run older, legacy software on newer, state-of-the-art microprocessors.

The program handles all avionics as well as mission data like automatic flight systems, display graphics, video, control processors and data links, Nomelli says. It is essentially the “brain” of the entire aircraft.

Missing is a Remington .308-caliber rifle with a scope and a black custom stock and a black carrying case, FBI spokesman Bill Wright said. Also taken was a bullet-proof vest, a jumpsuit and a protective helmet. All are black and marked with white “FBI” lettering, although the items are similar to commercially available merchandise.

The gear was taken April 20 after someone broke the windows of an agent’s sport utility vehicle, which was parked overnight at the Country Inn & Suites in South Jordan. The incident is being investigated jointly by the FBI and South Jordan police.

All the equipment can be identified by serial numbers that have been entered into the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) database.

Missing is a Remington .308-caliber rifle with a scope and a black custom stock and a black carrying case, FBI spokesman Bill Wright said. Also taken was a bullet-proof vest, a jumpsuit and a protective helmet. All are black and marked with white “FBI” lettering, although the items are similar to commercially available merchandise, Wright said.

The gear was taken April 20 after someone broke the windows of an agent’s sport utility vehicle, which was parked overnight at the Country Inn & Suites in South Jordan. The incident is being investigated jointly by the FBI and South Jordan police.

All the equipment can be identified by serial numbers that have been entered into the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) database.

The waterborne Navy SEAL commandos are armed with the some of the world’s most imposing and unyielding weapons, gear and equipment. Once obscure and camera-shy, the Navy SEALs have become sort of modern day folk heroes, and in Weapons of the Navy SEALs they embrace their newfound celebrity by exhibiting the tools of their trade.

The book provides a wonderfully researched history of the SEALs and divides their assets by sea, air and land. It offers a thorough explanation of their armory and tactical gear as well as an explanation of the missions requiring this equipment.

Weapons of the Navy SEALs is complete with a glossary of terms, a list of abbreviations and an index. It has numerous color photographs of the equipment and men serving this elite force.

The Motorola Systems Solutions Group Thursday announced that the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command has awarded it a $44.8 million contract for the design, development and integration of 64 Tactical Operations Centers (TOCs) over the next five years.

Motorola’s TOC design provides for highly mobile and easily configured platforms from which U.S. Army commanders can direct their mission-ready forces in the field environment.

Motorola tightly integrates the latest data-processing equipment and digital-communications gear into tactical vehicles to give commanders a distinct command and control advantage on the modern battlefield.

The Motorola TOC design provides commanders from multiple levels with resource management information, data access and a comprehensive view of the battlefield. Motorola will design and build the 64 TOCs onto 409 tracked and wheeled military vehicles at its facilities in Huntsville, Ala.

“As the leader in the integration of mobile command, control, communications and intelligence systems for the U.S. military, Motorola is proud to extend its success into the TOC program,” said Mark Fried, corporate vice president and general manager of the Integrated Systems Division at Motorola.

“Motorola never rests on its laurels and will continue to work with the best partners in the industry to provide the U.S. military with the best value.”

Motorola leads a team of world-class partners to build the TOC. Raytheon Systems Company, EER Systems Inc., Communication Systems Technology Inc. (CSTI) and the Camber Corporation contributed to the contract-winning bid and will provide subsystems for the assembly and fielding of the TOCs.

Raytheon Systems provides engineering support to TOC design. Raytheon will integrate and install C3I electronics into 4th Infantry Division vehicles and shelters and provide field support of the TOCs at Fort Hood, Texas. As the TOC team develops new technologies, Raytheon will insert the new components into the TOCs.

Camber’s professional staff provides TOC integration expertise and a clear understanding of the tactics, techniques and procedures that the commanders on future digital battlefields will use. For the TOC intercom, CSTI provides a state-of-the-art, open system AccessNet(tm) voice/data switch, the first switch of its kind hosted in a Windows NT(tm) environment.

EER Systems provides the TOC team with specialized knowledge and expertise in C3I systems operational architectures, computer-based training development and electronic technical publications and manuals. EER conducts new equipment training support for the units as they are fielded and deployed.

UltraVision announces availability and demonstrations of the MicroDetector[TM], the world’s first motion-sensing device that is portable, rechargeable and retrievable and allows monitoring via an off-premise receiver. See it in action in New Orleans at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference, October 13-17, 2007, booth # 4603. UltraVision joins ADS, a leader in tactical gear, special operations and police equipment, on the show floor to demonstrate the MicroDetector. Called “the force multiplier” by law enforcement professionals, the unit effectively eliminates the need for tactical operations officers to remain in “cleared” rooms. Instead, MicroDetector motion detectors are left behind in cleared areas. Should anyone or anything enter the cleared space, the motion detectors provide a signal to monitoring devices like PDAs, in-car PCs or pagers, notifying law enforcement personnel of the change. This tactical gear unit has a 25′, omni-directional range, enabling one unit to cover most standard-sized rooms. Resembling a hockey-puck, the MicroDetector[TM] Personal Motion Detector 1 (MicroDetector[TM] PMD-1) weighs just 8 ounces and is only 4.5″ in diameter and 1.5″ thick, enabling the deployment of multiple units in larger areas. The device uses microwave technology to perform instantaneous motion sensing operations in the field, with no prior setup or installation. These in-field benefits add to law enforcement agencies’ police equipment arsenal by providing force multiplication in tactical field operations, maximizing the safety of law enforcement personnel and the public they protect.

Effective use of the MicroDetector[TM] PMD-1 takes virtually no training, the user simply turns the device on. An On-Off in the middle of the motion detectors allow for one-handed operation, a huge benefit to law enforcement personnel’s use of police equipment. Once deployed, each MicroDetector[TM], via its wireless transmitter, returns a “Motion detected? Yes/No” indication back to a PDA or laptop computer. Operations center officers can then alert in-field personnel that the situation in a cleared area has changed.

The MicroDetector is also useful tactical gear for stakeout support, hostage applications and in military units needing to establish protective base perimeters that can be set up and taken down in a matter of minutes.

About UltraVision

UltraVision Security Systems, Inc. (http://www.ultravisionsecurity.com), a Salem, NH, U.S.-based company delivers proven, effective implementation of ultra wideband (UWB) and microwave technologies law enforcement, security and life-safety products. With the addition of leading technologists to the UltraVision team, the company developed the MicroDetector[TM], using microwave technology to provide law enforcement police equipment and tactical gear with advanced portable motion-sensing capabilities. The company’s products are unique, offering improvements in motion resolution, enhanced distance measurements and greater obstacle penetration capabilities. Capitalizing on technology developed by the world leader in ground penetrating radar, Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc., the company currently offers two ultra wideband technology product lines: LifeLocator[TM] rescue products and UltraSensor[TM] motion-and-intrusion detection products.t

Tactical gear from BlackHawk is winning praise from those who demand ergonomic design plus maximum durability. In addition, the company is winning equally high praise from gun dealers.

BlackHawk provides eye-catching displays to retailers, and offers very attractive pricing with their Dealer and Master Dealer programs.

Hardly anyone agrees on every little thing, especially when it comes to tactical gear. And disparity of opinion is found among the members of SWAT teams and Spec-Op units as well. The Navy SEALs favor the SIG P226, while the D-boys opt for customized 1911s.

Different strokes for different folks.

But when it comes to holsters for their Kimbers, Springfields, SIGs and Wilson’s, the one piece of gear upon which every group agrees is the Safariland Model 6004 tactical thigh holster.

Safariland owns the tactical thigh market like Hershey’s owns the chip market — or is that Intel? The point is, if you’re on a team, you’re tightening the twin elastic straps of the 6004 around your strong-side quads.

Why such dominance? Two words — Bill Rogers. The former FBI agent turned holster designer imbued the 6004 with a host of features, not the least of which was making it totally crush-proof, waterproof, corrosion-proof and, yes, even GI-proof.

The newer versions of the 6004 are designed to mate with the holster interface rail of a SureFire-dedicated handgun WeaponLight. SureFire’s handgun light features a trigger guard-mounted adaptor rail for the light to attach to the pistol. Incorporated in the adaptor are a pair of holster interface rails, or wings, that mate with corresponding slots inside the 6004. The advantage to this system is the handgun can still be re-holstered, even without the light in place.
The holster interface keeps the gun from flopping around in what would become an otherwise overly-roomy rig for a light-less pistol. The 6004 also incorporates one of the simplest, fastest and secure retention devices in the thigh holster industry — a niche market if there ever was one.

There is a molded sight track in the holster to prevent the front sight from snagging. The holster itself attaches to a contoured thigh pad, which in turn cinches to your leg with two adjustable, elastic straps. The entire rig suspends from your belt with a length-adjustable, Velcro[R]-backed strap.

The holster is made with Rogers’ most significant contribution to holster technology, the Safarilaminate (nee thermolaminate) method of bonding an inner piece of suede to an outer shell of tough, durable Kydex. The holster also boasts an adjustable retention screw.

Mike Noell, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, founded BlackHawk in 1993 after his issued gear failed him in an Iraqi minefield during Operation Desert Storm. He began making tactical gear for his friends in the garage of his home in Virginia Beach, Va. BlackHawk is now recognized as the world leader in supplying tactical equipment to the military and law enforcement markets. BlackHawk is headquartered in Norfolk, Va. with offices in Montana, North Carolina, Nevada, Idaho and Germany.

BlackHawk Products Group (BPG) was formed in 2003 to accelerate the pace of introducing new best-in-class products to the performance-oriented tactical market through intensive internal research and development (R&D) initiatives and selective acquisitions. BPG acquired Masters of Defense tactical knives in November 2003. Delta Design Group (DDG) was acquired in December 2003 to strengthen and direct the BPG research and development effort. The recently acquired Jungst Scientific further expands these capabilities.

The BlackHawk line of products includes tactical nylon gear, hydration systems, gloves, knives, holsters and breaching tools.

Tactical nylon items include a wide variety of packs, holsters, tactical vests, weapon slings, gear bags, weapon cases and accessories. The high quality and durability of these items is attributed to the use of 1,000-denier NyTaneon(TM) nylon and the highest quality hardware and construction. Modular STRIKE systems allow soldiers to individually configure tactical gear functionally and to their individual needs.

The Hydrastorm line incorporates hydration systems into the same high-quality nylon packs and independent reservoirs that can adapt to any tactical configuration. Hydrastorm gear is designed for the same demanding environments as other packs, but incorporates hydration systems that range from 45- to 100ounce capacities. They can be used on military or police operations, for extreme sports or in routine recreational activities.

HellStorm gloves provide military and law enforcement operators a wide choice of protection, ranging from Nomex® aviator gloves to specialty gloves designed specifically for waterborne operations. The HellStorm line of gloves includes many patented designs and features that can accommodate soldiers in any environment.

MOD knives are purpose-designed for multiple types of operators. MOD products include 14 distinct knife patterns with more than 60 variations in models. Model types range from concealable automatics to multifunctional sheath knives. Variations in models allow each knife to accomplish specific tasks for the individual soldier. MOD knives are the most advanced manually operated and automatic knives in the industry. Award-winning models include knives designed by the official close combat trainer of the U.S. Navy SEALS.

BlackHawk offers a wide variety of holster choices-from tactical nylon thigh rigs to the unique line of close quarters concealment holsters. These holsters are injection-molded, carbon-fiber composite that allow lightweight concealed carry options with minimum bulk. The SERPATM retention system on various models eliminates the need for a thumb break and provides for safe carry with rapid access to the user.

BlackHawk is the exclusive distributor of Dynamic Entry tools. These tools are in use by military and police forces worldwide and include battering rams, breaching and Hallagan tools, axes and the nylon packs needed to carry them.

Since BlackHawk announced the formation of a products group last year, it has been strategically focusing resources on building best-of-class R&D capabilities. In January 2004, BlackHawk acquired Delta Design Group, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with a design and tooling center in Belgrade, Mont. DDG is a tactical gear research and design center with concept, rapid prototyping and tool-making capabilities for injection-molded products. They specialize in holsters and related shooting accessories. BlackHawk Products Group also acquired Jungst Scientific in April 2004. Jungst includes a precision tool-making and injection-molding facility in Bozeman, Mont.

By creating an environment that allows engineers to work the way they need to work, BlackHawk is producing a variety of breakthrough technologies in record time.

BlackHawk also includes a state-of-the-art close quarters defense training center located inside the company’s Norfolk compound. This facility is operated by a world-renowned tactical instructor who has recently been awarded a U.S. government contract to train close quarters defense methods and techniques and to outfit operators for missions abroad in the war on terrorism. This facility also acts as a real-world R&D test bed for BlackHawk gear. Operators who train at BlackHawk have the option to use any BlackHawk product and thus become part of the R&D process.