Lakota Industries is providing camouflage services to the U.S. military and government agencies in two distinct areas: water transfer printing and Covert Coatings camouflage wrap. Water Transfer Printing and vinyl wrap is the act of applying a branded camouflage finish to tactical gear, weapons and vehicles used in combat situations. The company’s camouflage is an exact replication of patterns used on printed fabric such as BDUs and other military soft goods worn by the soldier.
Water transfer printing is the process of applying ink patterns to rigid substrates.
The ink pattern is gravure printed onto a material called poly vinyl alcohol. The film is a watersoluble product and environmentally friendly.
Covert Coatings camouflage vinyl wrap vinyl graphics is a high resolution camouflage alternative to paint. Since vinyl is a type of material that can be easily applied and removed from almost any surface, it is adaptable to a variety of mission sets. According to the company it is also more cost effective than camouflage paint applied prior to deployment since the need to apply second, third or fourth coatings of paint is eliminated. The vinyl is placed over the substrate, pressure applied, and the material is attached until ready to remove or changed.
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ATV Trailer
Advanced Vehicle Systems, Jacksonville, N.C., has developed a trailer specifically designed to transport all terrain vehicles. With a standard military attachment point, the trailer features a tilt bed for easy loading, integral tie down points, and fuel can racks on both sides of the trailer. The decking is sheet metal on top of steel frame. For stability when not hooked up, there is an adjustable tongue-mounted landing leg. Equipment boxes can be added based on customer requirements.
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Power in a Box
Energy Defense Power Solutions LLC has developed the Power 12 lithium ion battery box as a portable and rechargeable power solution suited for deployed scenarios. The flexible 1,140 Watt Hour design enables users the choice of various regulated DC output voltages such as powerover- Ethernet, 19V, 24V, 28V or 48V.
As a source of off-grid power, the Power 12 can manage the power needs for virtually all communications and sensor equipment that need DC power. The design is scaleable and if needed can be increased from the 12-pack design here to larger or smaller units. The Power 12 weighs about 7 pounds with each battery pack adding an additional 1 1/2 pounds. Typical empty to full charge is between four and five hours and can be accomplished using solar, vehicle power, AC/DC power or wind resources.
The system’s battery box microprocessor continuously communicates with the battery boxes as it manages the charging and discharging. It can activate automated responses to key events when necessary. An LCD window allows the operator to quickly scan for status of the system and the charging process.
Persistent Surveillance
At this year’s Paris Air Show, Rafael unveiled Recce-U, a new unmanned persistent surveillance system. The system is a self-contained, multisensor ISR system for the UAV platform, based on the RecceLite tactical reconnaissance pod for combat aircraft. It simultaneously collects high-resolution infrared and visual digital images, day and night, within a very wide field of regard, in accordance with an automatic mission plan and/or manual operation, and transmits the images, which are then viewed and interpreted in real time at the ground exploitation station. The Recce-U system comprises a persistent ISR payload, ground data link station and ground exploitation station.
According to the company, the Recce-U system is revolutionary in that the inertial LOS control enables routine scanning of extremely wide areas irrespective of the UAV’s maneuvers and facilitates IED detection as well.
David Stemer, corporate vice president, general manager, Missiles & NCW Division, said, “Rafael is proud of its new addition to its electro-optic systems, which, together with the outstanding capabilities of the Recce-U system, strengthen the premise that Rafael is indeed a world leader in electro-optic and image processing systems.”
New Grenade Launcher
Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division received the first of the Army’s new 40 mm M320 grenade launcher and began the process of training with the weapon for combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The M320 is the replacement for the M203 grenade launcher that has served the Army since the late 1960s.
The M320 can be attached to the M4 and M16 rifles or fired as a compact, stand-alone weapon—a capability especially useful in the confined urban battlegrounds where our soldiers are often fighting. Additionally, the M320 has a side opening breach that can accept longer and more advanced projectiles, an advanced day/night sight, a better located safety switch, and a double action trigger.
The M320’s development and fielding has been managed by Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, the Army acquisition office responsible for everything a soldier wears or carries.
Helping issue the M320s were members of PEO Soldier, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Lehner and Robert Phung. “Our warriors are excited about their M320s and can’t wait to blow up targets at our training range,” Lehner stated. “The M320 will soon prove itself many times over in combat.”
New Tourniquet
The Integrated Tourniquet Belt, by Blackheart International is a patent pending design that incorporates a standard web belt with a tourniquet. This tactical nylon belt has an innovative built-in tourniquet that ensures that you will always have a tourniquet when you need it. The tourniquet/ belt can be manipulated with one or both hands.
The innovative design uses a completely new system to tighten the constricting band and at the same time ensure no more pinching, binding or hardware breakage. The Integrated Tourniquet Belt uses 6061 aluminum to ensure a light weight yet incredibly strong buckle and windless system.
If every soldier were wearing such a device, a medic would know exactly where a tourniquet can be found on a soldier, and by utilizing its buckle and anchoring loop system, could in seconds fix the tourniquet and be ready to turn the windless to slow or stop a traumatic bleed. An easily manipulated hook and loop enclosure securely fastens the windless in place either in storage or actual use.
The Integrated Tourniquet Belt is a simple, no-frills system that can be put into place quickly and is robust enough to use and practice with over and over.
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SOF SandCat
Oshkosh Defense has unveiled its SandCat special operations vehicle, the latest addition to the SandCat family based on the same lightweight, high-performance and well-protected platform. The vehicle was designed specifically for the emerging requirements of international special forces units that need an open, highly mobile and well-protected vehicle, including for operations in remote locations.
Designed specifically for the international market, the SandCat uses a modular armor system, which can be customized to meet the threat level of numerous operations. The armor, developed by Plasan North America, provides superior protection for missions such as military, homeland security, law enforcement, peacekeeping and security, among others.
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TGER With Teeth
MBDA Inc. has developed a small, manportable, hand-launched airborne weapon designed for one-way missions. The fuselage of the craft encloses the engine, a small camera, navigation and control devices and a 1-pound warhead. The concept is that soldiers on patrol would each carry one of these weapons in a container similar to a Pringles tube. Once removed and activated, the wings are inflated with an integral air reservoir, and it is ready for flight within a minute.
The 2-mile range and 12-minute loiter give tactical teams a beyond small arms range lethal reach to take out sniper positions, crew served weapons or light vehicles without the need to reach back or call in air support. The flight path is GPS waypoint programmable using in service fully rugged PC or handheld device.
The nose-mounted camera image is data linked back to the operator for target selection and terminal attack. A safe and arm system is being developed in cooperation with the Army.
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