Dormant for nearly a decade, Hummers are apparently coming back in a big way, albeit with a huge twist…

Instead of a gas guzzler that emits a throaty roar whenever the throttle goes down, the latest (and supposedly greatest) Hummers to hit the consumer market in the coming years will be electric.

Yes, you read that right.

An electric Hummer.

Originally produced by AM General and then later sold under the General Motors brand, Hummers were the civilian offshoot of the military’s HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), an extremely adaptable do-everything truck that superseded the ages-old jeep in frontline service.

With the flagship model dubbed the H1 and revamped with creature comforts including noise insulation, stereos, and plush seats, Hummer made its way into the civilian market in the early 90s in the years following Operation Desert Storm and, suffice to say, H1s were an instant hit.

However, not all good things last and the brand’s popularity declined rapidly with the advent of the H2 and H3 models — drastic departures from the original H1. Offroading and outdoors enthusiasts with a decently-sized wallet were stalwarts within Hummer’s customer base, but began leaving in droves for other brands including Toyota and Jeep.

By 2009, GM killed off Hummer’s production lines and began looking to sell the brand.

Fast forwarding to 2020 and GM’s big announcement, the chief question still remains — could the revived Hummer bring the brand back to its roots with a rugged offroader that not only puts other vehicles in its class to shame in the looks department, but also performs like an apocalypse-ready battle machine?

Chances are that might not be the case.

The new Hummer line will be revived first as a small truck, then later on an SUV, under the GMC brand which is more commonly known for luxury-level SUVs and trucks.

An all-electric powertrain could certainly produce insane amounts of torque, making short bouts of offroading potentially fun, and unforgiving terrain slightly more accessible. Range and refueling, however, would be an obvious concern.

The new Hummers won’t hit GMC dealerships before 2022, giving GM enough time to fine-tune their product and test the waters, especially with competition like Tesla’s Cybertruck, also marketed as an outdoorsy-type vehicle, making their commercial appearance just around the same time.

While the concept of an armed light drone has generally been ignored with most modern fighting forces because it doesn’t really fit in with the way these militaries prosecute warfare, the Turkish military seems to be entertaining going in a slightly more novel direction.

Developed by Turkish defense contractor Asisguard and dubbed the Songar Armed Drone System, this 55-pound drone is designed to be portable and easily deployed by infantry units and small security elements during both day and night operations.

Instead of being utilized for hours on end as a roving attack platform waiting for targets of opportunity, the Songar simply hangs around within a 10-kilometer range from its point of deployment and relays live video back to its control station, acting as a sentry of sorts.

Should the drone’s operator spot a target worth shooting at, he or she can activate the computer-stabilized 5.56 mm LMG slung under the main body of the drone, in between its two skids. The Songar is designed to carry 200 rounds of ammunition in its magazine.

After shredding a target with its machine gun, the Songar can perform a visual battle damage assessment.

Here’s where Songar starts to change things up just enough to make it interesting as a potential export platform for foreign nations.

The drone can make use of both GPS and GLONASS (the Russian alternative to GPS) guidance, and should it lose its signal with one system, it can latch onto the other and keep itself functionally navigational.

Songars aren’t condemned to flying solo (pun totally intended) either — if there are other Songars in the area, Asisguard maintains that they can all work together to accomplish objectives and form a protective aerial umbrella over friendly units in the area of operations.

While the Songar appears to currently be Asisguard’s flagship product, the company also seems to have its toes dipped in the micro-drone pool, with a smaller pocket-sized device that can fly up to 2 kilometers away from its originating point and even detonate (if equipped with a destructive charge) when in attack mode.

Now, where have we seen something like this before…

Used by elite military units, the Tomcar TM quickly established itself as an incredibly rugged vehicle known for delivering no-compromise toughness operating in the world’s toughest conditions. Historically, using heavier reconnaissance vehicles presented many challenges during missions. Many never even survived the initial airdrop, often sustaining significant damage parachuting into combat zones.

Frustratingly, soldiers were usually forced to piece together parts from several broken-up 4x4s to create one or two functional post-drop vehicles. The Tomcar changed that. And now, new for 2020, the Tomcar TX4 offers consumers a go-anywhere vehicle featuring decades of proven military engineering.

“The TX4 model does it all: the rig can transport several people, haul impressive payloads, and off-road nearly anything,” said Tomcar CEO Ram Zarchi. “The best part is the brand-new TX4 model is an absolute blast to drive. While this new Tomcar TX4 can tackle the toughest terrain easily, the real fun is that this vehicle can go anywhere and back. At Tomcar, we have found going anywhere is just half the equation. The getting back part is just as important.”

Nearly thirty years ago, an Israeli Special Forces veteran created the first Tomcar TM: a 2,700-pound tactical buggy with payload and towing stats nearly even to its overall weight. Since then, Tomcar’s military-grade battle-tested rigs have seen active duty operating on several continents. After earning impressive marks across the globe for their durability and reliability, Tomcar also started supplying vehicles to heavy industries such as commercial mining and agriculture categories that also needed dependable off-road and on-road transportation solutions.

Now, for the 2020 model year, Tomcar is proud to introduce the company’s first-ever consumer model, the new TX4. Specifically designed for civilian duty and perfect for off-road and outdoors enthusiasts, ranchers, and more, the 4-wheel-drive Tomcar TX4 model offers additional comfort and amenities to drivers while firmly operating under the company’s proven ‘anywhere and back’ mentality.

“Tomcar has always designed vehicles to deliver maximum versatility in the harshest conditions. Even today, the dimensions of the Tomcar are still based on the ability to fit three rigs perfectly onto a helicopter. Every vehicle is over-engineered and made to outperform and outlast anything out there,” explains Zarchi. “As our company continues to expand, Tomcar wanted to introduce a civilian model that offers the same military-grade technology in a more comfortable rig that is perfect for use in vacation homes, ranches, beach houses, and areas with a lot of property to explore.”

The TX4 is offered with a four-seat configuration. This model combines the best battle-tested aspects of military-specification ATVs, utility vehicles, and pickup trucks. The foundation of all Tomcar vehicles is a fully welded armored cocoon with integrated frame and roll cage, backed with a lifetime warranty.

Light-weighting everything is the key to the Tomcar TX4’s impressive multi-terrain prowess. Power comes from a rear-mounted 1.5L four-cylinder gas engine that produces 107 horsepower and 80 lb.-ft. of torque. An innovative CVT automatic transmission further saves weight and adds to the overall Tomcar TX4 point-and-go driving experience that allows even new drivers to traverse the roughest off-road conditions.

The four-wheel-drive system uses a specially designed triple-chain transfer case. Power gets to the ground efficiently enough to give the four-seater TX4 a 2,500-pound payload capacity. Tow ratings range up to 5,400 pounds, depending on vehicle configuration. Tomcar also applied its decades of military experience engineering an innovative chassis design. By using 4-wheel independent suspension, the new Tomcar TX4 achieves an impressive 17 inches of ground clearance and 14 inches of wheel travel. Ride is controlled by adjustable coilover shocks. The end result is a lithe driving experience, both over uneven terrain and on the pavement at freeway speeds.

Tomcar maximized handling and performance via an ultra-low center of gravity. Engineers achieved this through the rear-mounted powertrain, which is fully protected by aluminum skidplates and prioritizes even weight distribution over the tires to further increase traction. The low center of gravity also gives the Tomcar TX4 sidehill capability surpassing a sheer 60 degrees. Selectable front and rear pneumatic locking differentials present drivers with superior traction to easily tackle a variety of tough off-road situations.

Ergonomically, the Tomcar TX4’s easy-to-navigate dashboard and controls enhance both driver and passenger experience. Electronically assisted power steering creates a nimble feel and further minimizes overall weight. Other civilian-friendly Tomcar TX4 elements include a widened cabin with more room for passengers, automotive-grade materials, and a fully functional HVAC system. For comfort and safety, cushioned PRP bucket seats and four-point safety harnesses are also seamlessly integrated. Additional features include a 10,000-pound winch.

The 2020 Tomcar TX4 is positioned to deliver drivers a new benchmark for off-roading performance on every level. An upscale trim level with enclosed cab and additional amenities will be available in early 2020. The Tomcar TX4 UTV is available now, starting at an MSRP of $36,500. For more information, please visit Tomcar.com or call 866-4-TOMCAR.

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program has fully fielded “battle-ready” vehicles to the following key Marine Corps’ schools: School of Infantry East at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; School of Infantry West at Camp Pendleton, California; The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia; and the Motor Transport Maintenance Instruction Course at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, according to a Marine release.

The vehicles also have been fielded to an infantry battalion at II Marine Expeditionary Force, according to the release. I MEF and III MEF will begin fielding the JLTV by late September.

“The warfighting capabilities the JLTV provides our Marines far exceed the capabilities offered by its predecessor,” said Program Executive Office-Land Systems’ John Garner.

The Marine Corps purchase plan originally called for 9,000 JLTV purchases, or about 60 percent of the Humvee fleet.

That was modified about six months ago, said Barb Hamby, with Marine Corps Systems Command.

“We are now replacing all HMMWVs — 15,390 of them. We will buy through to the early 2030s, depending on funding,” she said.

IOC is beyond simply delivering trucks to the units.

“All of the tools and parts required to support the system need to be in place, the units must have had received sufficient training and each unit commander needs to declare that he is combat-ready,” said Eugene Morin, product manager for JLTV at PEO Land Systems.

In February, Marines at SOI-West were some of the first to see the JLTV in action outside of testing centers. Fifty-five arrived between then and late May to the two SOIs and the Motor Transport Instruction Company.

The first operational unit to get the vehicle was 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in July.

The JLTV’s suite of protection, off-road mobility, modularity and network capabilities exceed the Humvee and provide those assets in a smaller, speedier system than the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, or MRAP, vehicles developed to counter roadside bombs put into the fleet after Humvees were being demolished by improvised explosives in combat zones in recent decades.

But, the JLTV’s development and fielding did not come off without some shifts in design and changes.

A report published earlier this year by the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, which covered testing from 2018 deemed the JLTV “not operationally effective.”

Oshkosh Defense, the JLTV manufacturer, and PEO Land Systems staff quickly rebutted some media reports of the DOTE findings, noting that many of the errors had been corrected before the Pentagon report was published.

But, the findings did prompt some refitting.

The JLTV is made in two- and four-seat versions with four basic configurations — general purpose, utility vehicle, heavy guns carrier and close-combat weapons carrier.

The most glaring problem was the close-combat version “provides less capability to engage threats with the (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided) missiles” over the Humvee, according to the DOTE report.

“The missile reload process is slow and difficult for crews,” according to the report, and the close-combat version has “less storage space than other JLTV variants and accessing mission-essential equipment from the cargo area is a challenge.”

So, as testers compiled the 2018 report, they deemed the close-combat JLTV “not operationally effective,” a term used to determine if the system can accomplish its mission in a realistic environment.

Andrew Rodgers, the Marine Corps’ light tactical vehicle program manager, told reporters in a March phone interview that working with the TOW system on the JLTV would require improved tactics, techniques and procedures by troops getting familiar with the vehicle.

The company also changed storage and access to missiles and added shielding to cables, Oshkosh Defense President John Bryant told Marine Corps Times. Those changes have been incorporated already on the vehicles being fielded.

Defense testers found problems for users exiting the vehicle, noting, “numerous reliability failures of doors not opening impeded the ability of the soldiers and marines to safely ingress and egress the JLTV.”

The armored door system is slightly more complex than the Humvee and takes some experience to learn. So, Rodgers said, designers made changes to the doors.

Testing crews reported, “poor visibility due to blind spots around the vehicle,” in the DOTE report.

“A decision was made back in December for the Army to pursue expanding the visibility of the vehicle, improving size of rear windows, putting a front camera on the JLTV,” Rodgers said.

The DOTE report noted a lack of maintenance capabilities and over-reliance on contractor support to provide maintenance.

“Units cannot maintain the JLTV without support from the contractor field service representatives due to vehicle complexity, ineffective training, poor manuals, and challenges with troubleshooting the vehicle,” according to the report.

The reliability problems included: engine wiring, flat and damaged tires and brake system faults.

Bryant said in the March interview that the vehicle had done more than 100,000 miles of testing and the JLTV was assessed as meeting double the reliability requirement.

The report noted that JLTVs would need more maintenance due to some of their complexity.

But, Rodgers explained that while Humvees can hit operational failures at around the 500- to 600-mile mark, JLTVs’ lowest mileage estimates in testing to those types of failures was 2,400 miles.

So, while fixing the JLTV may be more time intensive and complex, he said that the vehicle will likely run longer with less regular maintenance than the Humvee.

Once operators and maintainers are more familiar with the JLTV, “the reliability of the vehicle will go up, which means there will be less maintenance on the vehicles,” he said.

Compared to the Humvee, the JLTV already needs less maintenance, he said.

In June, the Army approved the JLTV for full-rate production, but only after a six-month delay, according to Military Times sister publication Defense News.

The delay was due, in part, to alterations called for from soldier feedback and the DOTE findings.

But even the delay and alterations did not halt fielding of 300 JLTVs to the Army’s 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Defense News reported.

While the Humvee began service in the 1980s and will continue in different missions for the coming decades, the JLTV could have an even longer shelf life.

“We are really at the starting line right now. Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will see JLTVs in the DOD,” Rodger said. “We’ll easily still have these assets somewhere in the (defense department) in the year 2100. Welcome to the start of many generations of JLTVs.”

Dubbed the Infantry Squad Vehicle, or ISV, the Army is seeking to procure nearly 651 of the highly mobile lightweight vehicles spanning fiscal year 2020 to 2024, according to a special notice posted by the Army in February.

The Army is seeking input from industry leaders about the best way to procure these vehicles.

And one competitor for this new infantry vehicle is the Polaris DAGOR, a version of which has been fielded with the 82nd Airborne since 2016, according to Mark McCormick, the senior director for Polaris government and defense.

Polaris, with their partner SAIC, responded to the Army’s April request for proposal for its new Infantry Squad Vehicle, McCormick said.

The DAGOR is the largest of the Polaris family of military vehicles, which includes the smaller MRZRs already fielded by the Army and Marine Corps.

The vehicle can be sling loaded by the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawks, or internally transported by CH-47, and it can be airdropped by C-130 or C-17, McCormick told Army Times.

Variations of the DAGOR can be configured to haul smaller four to five man special operations teams on a multi-day mission, or carry a nine-man infantry squad, according to McCormick.

The vehicle is designed with high clearance that aids the vehicle in operating in austere environments, McCormick explained.

The DAGOR already matches much of the requirements the Army detailed in its Sept. 2018 market questionnaire for industry leaders. That questionnaire was posted to the government’s business opportunities site known as FedBizOpps.

“The ISV is envisioned as a lightweight, highly mobile open cab vehicle,” the posting reads. “Survivability will be achieved through high mobility, a roll cage and occupant restraints.”

A special notice posted to FedBizOpps in February said the Army plans to award a prototype contract to up to three vendors by Aug. 20, 2019, with a production award contract for one vendor by March 31, 2020.

The culprits, five Marines with 3d Raider Battalion, managed to steal vehicle parts, military tactical gear, SureFire flashlights and even flashbang grenades in one instance.

More than $300,000 worth of government property was stolen by one group of four Marines in 2017 alone, according to Gunnery Sgt. Lynn Kinney, a spokeswoman with Marine Forces Special Operations Command.

Some of the stolen gear found its way into a local Jacksonville, North Carolina, pawn store, while other gear was sold to an unnamed civilian.

The crime spree involves two separate theft rings, which spanned from 2016 to 2018, according to charge sheets.

Four Marines, who raided the 3d Raider Battalion supply warehouse in 2017, were subject to courts-martial, where the accused Marines pleaded guilty and were sentenced to confinement ranging from five to 28 months, according to Kinney.

The Marines were subsequently demoted in rank and punitively booted from the Corps, Kinney said.

A fifth Marine, who broke into various motor transport lots in 2016, including the 3d Raider motor pool, was also subject to a court-martial, according to details in charge sheets.

Some of the charges included larceny of government property, wrongful sale of military property and obstruction of justice for at least two Marines.

“These actions are not consistent with Marine Forces Special Operations Command values and deter from our priority mission of deploying special operations forces,” Kinney told Marine Corps Times in an emailed statement.

The details of these crimes were laid out in a series of charge sheets obtained by Marine Corps Times via Freedom of Information Act request.

One of the Raider bandit theft rings involved four Marines, two lance corporals and two corporals, all from 3d Raider Battalion.

The names on the charge sheets have been redacted and it’s unknown what jobs those Marines held at Marine Forces Special Operations Command.

For at least a year, the Marines conspired together in some instances to steal equipment from the 3d Raider supply warehouse, and a couple of the Marines also took gear designated for the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office, or DRMO.

In March 2017, one of the corporals conspired with another lance corporal to steal SureFire Hellfighter Lights — a popular weapon mountable tactical flashlight.

To carry out the crime, the two Marines moved pallets to block the view of a security camera at the 3d Raider supply warehouse. After stealing the tactical flashlights, they sold 13 of the SureFires for $2,600 to an unnamed civilian, according to the charge sheets.

Other instances of theft, which involved the entire gang of four, included loading 72 fixed rifle buttstocks and 130 rifle buttstock subassembly parts into a Marine Corps 7-ton vehicle where the gear was then offloaded into a lance corporal’s personal car.

Those rifle parts were then sold to a civilian in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina.

The four Raider bandits, between the time span of January 2017–January 2018, managed to steal Leatherman multitools, Benchmade knives, SureFire scout lights, SureFire helmet lights, Ka-bars, Gerber knives, recon sleeping systems and Blackhawk rifle slings, charge sheets detailed.

The gear was sold to a civilian in Sneads Ferry.

And around January 2018, two of the Marines loaded 25 pelican cases containing portable solar panels for charging communications gear. That equipment was intended for the DRMO lot, which often houses old or outmoded gear that may be reused again by other units who find use for it.

Around Aug. 1, 2016, and May 2017, one of the Marines, without proper authorization, sold a Leatherman, four Benchmade knives, four Gerbers, one MTech knife, one Ka-bar, three SureFire lights, two SureFire scout lights and one SureFire light with an M93 rail mount to the Jacksonville Park-n-Pawn store.

Two of the Marines attempted to clean up after their crimes, according to charge sheets.

After learning that security cameras at the Raider warehouse may have recorded them stealing the equipment, two of the Marines made an effort to destroy the footage.

Sometime around July and August 2017, at least two of the Marines went to a local Jacksonville Best Buy where they purchased a hard drive.

They then replaced the hard drive connected to the 3d Raider security camera with the newly acquired hard drive. The old hard drive was tossed into a body of water.

The theft ring came crashing down around March 2018 when the command dished out charges to the four Marines for theft of the equipment.

But prior to that, in 2016, another 3d Raider Marine had managed to steal tactical military equipment and vehicle parts from several motor transport lots.

The Marine lance corporal gained entry to one the motor pool lots with a key, and in another instance, he used bolt cutters to cut a chain link fence.

The Marine stole gear from from the 3d Raider motor pool lot and the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group motor transport lot.

The lance corporal also used bolt cutters to gain entry to a vehicle lot housing Logistics Vehicle System Replacements, or LVSR, trucks.

Looted gear from the crime spree included flashbang diversionary hand grenades, tool kits, multi-meters, BF Goodrich Baja tires, plate carriers, helmets, M16 magazines, military medical kits, fog lights, wire harnesses, headlights and composite lights.

In all, over the past several years, hundreds of thousands of dollars in tactical gear and vehicle parts have been stolen by Marines, where the 3d Raider warehouse and motor pool lot have been the central focus of the crime sprees.

“We are committed to accountability against any violation the standards we set for our Marines,” Kinney said.

The 14,000mAh Car Jump Starter Kit is one of these incredibly useful tools that is also extremely portable. From one simple device, you can jump start your car’s engine and recharge your mobile devices.

That means you’ll never run out of battery on the two most important things in your life — car and smartphone!

We’ve all suffered from a dead car battery. Instead of calling and waiting for the tow truck, use the 14,000mAh Car Jump Starter Kit to get the car up and running again.

Boasting a 14,000mAh capacity, this tool can start your car up to 20 times on a single charge. It’s compatible with gasoline and diesel engines up to 7 liters with a 12-volt battery.

Besides jump-starting your car, the 14,000mAh Car Jump Starter Kit can easily recharge your mobile device from the 3 USB ports.

One of the ports is a Quick Charge 3.0 USB port that can juice your devices up to 75% faster.

At 26% off, the 14,000mAh Car Jump Starter Kit will only cost you $55.99.

Want your products featured in the Military Times Shop? Learn more about how to sell your products online!

You get this weirdly cool Tesla Model X, modified and up-armored by Centur Security.

Based in a country known for kidnappings and targeted hits on elected officials and wealthy citizens who cross the wrong people, Centur Security has made a name for itself modifying SUVs for VIPs.

Typically, their portfolio includes vehicles currently popular and well-regarded in the protection game, including Chevy Suburbans, GMC Yukons, and even more upscale rides from companies like BMW, Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz.

Now with a growing market for Tesla’s all-electric vehicles, Centur has positioned itself as the first company in Mexico to offer an up-armored version of Tesla’s Model X CUV (crossover utility vehicle).

At a first glance, the modifications to the vehicle are almost completely unnoticeable, allowing the X to retain the same styling and design cues it rolled off its Californian factory floors with.

In fact, you’re barely able to tell that the car’s been customized and armored at all, even when inside the vehicle — making it an unwelcome surprise to would-be hitmen and assassins who might find their intended target silently gliding through a hailstorm of small arms fire.

Bulletproof windows and windshields, reinforced armored doors and paneling, protective casing around the car’s fuel cells and motors, and run-flat tires round off the list of Centur’s upgrades to the Model X.

Tesla vehicles are already at a disadvantage when it comes to range, and the X only hits around 295 miles on a full charge. Adding heavy armor to the X does reduce the range by about 3-5%, according to Centur, but that’s a smaller reduction than originally feared, thanks to the company using lighter materials in the armor package.

The company’s price tag to add on the 550 lb armor kit to the Model X over a 12-week period comes in at around $45,000… which is pretty much chump change if you’re in the market for a hardened vehicle and can afford the X itself, priced above USD $100,000 to $123,000.

Striker lights, which are as suitable for military/first responder use as they are for doorkicking surfers, are built in Australia with IP68 and IP69k ingress protection to withstand water crossings or inclement weather. They feature reduced radio interference technology, a range of modular filters to match a wide range of driving conditions, and ship with a DIY installation kit that features a complete wiring harness, plug-and-play adapters for headlight high beams, dashboard switch, all necessary consumables, and individually labeled wires.

Says Lightforce:

“With a stylish rectangular form factor for a cool look on any 4X4, SUV or ute, and great all-round performance, Australian-made Striker LEDs are the latest Driving Lights from the leader in performance lighting. The rectangular look is back in style, and the smooth lines of the Striker LED make this a perfect choice when you want something different to round driving lights and LED Bars.”

A pair of Striker LEDs come with a complete DIY Installation Kit. You get a complete wiring harness, plug-and-play adaptors for your headlight’s high beam, a dashboard switch and all the consumables for the install. For the first time on a driving harness, all the wires are individually labelled so you can’t go wrong. Simple user instructions are included, and we have produced videos of installations onto different vehicles..

With 15 high-quality LumiLED LEDs, these Driving Lights are designed to perform to our consistently high standards. Their IP68 and IP69k ingress protection rating means they can handle a creek crossing and a high pressure washdown after an adventure.

With reduced radio interference technology included, you can listen to the radio without static. And a range of modular Striker LED filters lets you modify the lights to suit your driving conditions.

SPECS:

Striker lights reach out a great distance, allowing you to see or establish/penetrate a photonic barrier depending on your need, as you can see by these numbers:

●Distance: 1 lux at 754m

●Distance: 0.25 lux at 1508m

●Effective Lumens: 3466

●Raw Lumens: 5625

●Colour Temperature: 5000K

●CRI: 70

●Current Draw: 8.8Amps @ 13.2V

●Voltage Range: 10V – 36V DC

●Wattage: 60W (Each)

●Ingress Protection Rating: IP68, IP69K

●Weight: 1Kg (Including Mounts)

Lightforce USA is on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/LightforceUSA/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lightforce_usa/].

As you can see in these videos, and read in various reviews, Lightforce has a reputation for rugged construction. That doesn’t mean you should go full smash-and-crash Mad Max with them, but it’s good to know they will withstand punishment. More about the Striker series at: http://bit.ly/LightforceStriker

UVision, a defense firm known for “lethal loitering systems,” fielded multiple variants of their own suicide drones at the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference in Washington this week.

The company’s Hero-30 drone tips the scales at 16.5 pounds — to include launcher and munition — and measures roughly 37 inches in length. It offers front-line troops the opportunity to locate, track and attack targets with an airborne loiter time of 30 minutes.

The small anti-personnel warhead on the Hero-30 weighs in at a little more than 1 pound and is capable of destroying light-skinned vehicles, motorbikes or troops in the open.

The Hero-30 is a pneumatic-launch, low-noise and low-thermal signature weapon system. It is controlled by operators using a tablet-like device and can reach speeds of up to 100 knots, a typical mission altitude of 600 to 1,500 feet above ground level and a data link line of sight up to 24 miles, depending on the mission.

The system has undergone upgrades since it was first introduced, to include an upgraded launcher and training simulator.

“Both the new launcher and the simulation system have been developed with the aim of enhancing efficiency of military forces,” Noam Levitt, CEO of UVision, said in a company release.

For more coverage from the AUSA annual meeting, click here.

The new launcher makes the system even lighter than older models, while providing greater safety during a launch, thanks to an external compressed air canister.

At AUSA 2018, UVision also highlighted an advanced simulation system for the Hero line of drones. The simulator helps train forces while avoiding the costs, risks and other constraints inherent in live-fire training.

“The simulation system enables training in a virtual environment in order to fully prepare soldiers for live missions,” Levitt said. “In the field, the new launcher, with its reduced weight and external compressed air canister, offers the soldier operational efficiencies and ease of use.”

The Windows-based simulator includes 3D training databases, computer-generated forces and 3D objects. The system’s control hardware utilizes actual flight and wind tunnel data, as well as the Hero-30′s loitering munition autopilot and video tracking, to create a more realistic environment for trainers.

The Hero family of loitering munitions includes eight systems: Hero-30, Hero-70, Hero-120, Hero-250, Hero-400, Hero-400EC, Hero-900 and Hero-1250. Each system is designed for an assortment of tasks at various ranges and munition sizes.

Larger variants, with bigger warheads, are beneficial in more advanced countries, where enemy targets may include battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

All Hero variants can be placed on a number of platforms — to include low-visibility vehicles, armored personnel carriers and naval vessels — using multi-canister launching systems.