|
|
AARDVARK Report – November 2026
|
|
THIS MONTH: MORE THAN ONE WAY THROUGH THE BARRIER
We're back from IACP in Orlando and CNT 2026 in Chandler. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and to the NTOA community for welcoming Jon Becker to the keynote stage.
This month, the KBT RIP head is fully launched and available for demo, we walk through swapping KBT heads in the field, and we look back at the integration work that built AARDVARK. We're also sharing a piece from NTOA's The Tactical Edge on how teams stay mentally flexible when the situation doesn't match the plan.
|
Ready to RIP It?
KBT RIP Head: Fully Launched and Available for Demo
|
|
You saw it first at NTOA. We just had it at IACP. And it's taking social media by storm. Now the KBT RIP head is fully launched, shipping, and ready for your team to put hands on it.
Some barriers don't have a hinge to hit or a lock to cut. Garage doors, roll-up doors, steel commercial doors and security screens often need to be pulled, not pushed. A barrier forced inward can end up hanging in the opening or blocking the path. RIP creates a secure attachment point so teams can connect a vehicle or other pulling system and pull the barrier out and away, clearing the entry point completely.
|
Powered Anchor Deployment – 850 ft/lbs of impact force drives the head through the target material, where it anchors on the far side and leaves an attachment point on the team's side.
10,000 lb. Safe Working Load – A tensioned safe working load rated for substantial pulling force to displace or remove the barrier.
Same KBT Backend – RIP runs on the same firing unit as RAM, CHOP and PUNCH. Agencies that already own a KBT can add the head without buying a new system.
|
Why it matters: When the barrier won't open from the front, RIP gives the breacher a way to pull it out of the way instead of fighting it.
850 ft/lbs impact force, 10,000 lb. tensioned safe working load, 8-shot cylindrical magazine, compatible with all KBT backends. Contact us to schedule a demo for your team.
|
How To: Match the Head to the Barrier and Swap in Seconds
The KBT is built as a modular system. One backend firing unit drives four interchangeable heads, so changing the breach method doesn't mean changing tools, carrying a second system or training on a new platform.
Step 1: Read the Barrier
- RAM – Hinges, outward-opening steel doors, metal security screen doors and porting cinder block.
- CHOP – Locks, cables, chains, rebar, wrought iron and steel bars up to 3/4".
- PUNCH – Safety glass, hurricane-rated glass, vehicle windows and drywall for observation or rifle ports.
- RIP – Garage doors, roll-up doors, steel commercial doors and security screens that need to be pulled.
Step 2: Release the Current Head
- Make the tool safe per the KBT manual and your agency's training before handling the head.
- Open the quick disconnect band included with every KBT head and pull the head straight off the backend.
Step 3: Seat and Lock the Next Head
- Seat the new head on the backend and close the band to lock it in place.
- Confirm it's secure before moving to the breach point. No tools, no armorer, no separate firing unit.
Step 4: Train the Transition
- Build head changes into breaching reps so the swap is automatic when the barrier changes.
Buy the backend once, then add the capability your missions call for.
|
|
Did You Know?
AARDVARK Was Built on Integration
From individually built operator bags to a fleet of quadcons
Before most teams knew us for the products we carry, AARDVARK spent more than three decades as an integration and kitting contractor for the Government, designing and fielding mission-specific, turnkey systems. Using our End-State Focused Integration (EFI) process of planning, acquisition, integration, logistics and lifecycle management, we've successfully delivered large-scale programs where every component arrives interoperable and ready to deploy.
From single-site kits to nationwide fieldings, here are a few examples:
National Guard Reaction Force – 287 Crowd Control Support Modules fielded to all 54 states and territories, each built into a quadcon with custom racking and internal drawers.
Customs and Border Protection – 461 Mobile Field Force individual operator kits delivered to 19 field offices.
U.S. Marine Corps – Escalation of Force Mission Modules totaling 236 containers across 11 locations.
The same approach scales to your team. Whether you need personalized bags of gear for each operator, deployable cases for a specialty unit, or large quadcon sets for a regional response, we can build it around your mission.
Learn more about End-State Focused Integration.
|
Beyond the Gear
The right tool only works if the operator holding it is reading the situation clearly. This month's training read looks at the mental side of adapting when the plan meets reality.
|
The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon in Tactical Operations: Building Elasticity to Counter Cognitive Rigidity
By Chris Eklund and Mitch Javidi, Ph.D., The Tactical Edge (NTOA), Winter 2026
When a team locks onto one cue, it can miss everything else in the room.
The authors examine the frequency illusion, where an emphasized threat starts to seem like it's everywhere, including a "doorway effect" that pulls focus to thresholds even when nothing points to a threat there. Their answer is elasticity: a five-step field protocol and practical drills that help teams recognize the bias, widen their attention and adapt.
Source: The Tactical Edge, NTOA
|
|
Visit Us at an Upcoming Trade Show
California Narcotic Officers' Association (CNOA)
November 20-21, 2026
San Diego, CA
California Association of Tactical Officers (CATO)
December 1-2, 2026
San Diego, CA
Stop by to get hands-on with the KBT RIP head!
|
Planning Year-End or Next-Year Purchases?
Now is the time to lock in quotes, line up demos and get equipment into next year's budget. AARDVARK holds contract vehicles that can simplify the process for your agency:
|
GSA Contract
#GS-07F-141DA
|
Texas BuyBoard® Contract
#798-26
|
AARDVARK sells only to sworn law enforcement and military personnel through agency procurement.
|
READY TO ADD ANOTHER WAY IN?
Whether you're adding the RIP head to an existing KBT, building a breaching capability from the ground up, or fielding a complete integrated set for your team, AARDVARK can help you find the right fit for your operational requirements.
—The AARDVARK Team
|
|
