MacDill Air Force Base Enhances Security with New Breaching Technology

**MacDill Air Force Base Innovates with New Breaching Tools**
At MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, the 6th Security Forces Squadron is pioneering a significant upgrade in their breaching capabilities with the introduction of advanced battery hydraulic breaching kits. These kits are a game-changer for penetrating Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) doors, which were previously deemed impenetrable. The project, a collaborative effort involving AFWERX and a breaching equipment company, represents a leap forward in security and emergency response measures.
In 2021, the 6th Security Forces Squadron undertook two small business innovation research projects aimed at enhancing the breaching kit to be quieter, lighter, more powerful, and efficient. This led to the creation of a kit that is easily deployable by police officers across the country with minimal training.
By 2023, the focus shifted towards tackling harder challenges, like breaching hardened facilities and SCIF doors, which conventional tools like battering rams could barely dent. After conducting real-world tests on actual SCIF doors, at a significant expense, the team successfully developed the first-ever SCIF breaching tool, hinge puller, and a SCIF training door. This training door enables military, law enforcement, and first responders globally to conduct training realistically and cost-effectively.
U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. William Au highlighted the efficiency of the hydraulic kit, emphasizing its capability to breach hardened facilities effortlessly where mechanical tools fail. A breaching symposium validated the new equipment’s effectiveness, with 20 SWAT teams from various agencies participating.
Jason Atkinson, the emergency services team chief of flight operations, expressed his ambition to distribute the breaching kit nationwide, underscoring the potential it has to save lives. Since the project’s completion, 50 police departments have already adopted MacDill’s innovative approach, with the tools undergoing rigorous testing to prove their reliability in high-stakes scenarios.
This advancement by the 6th Security Forces Squadron not only boosts their own capabilities but also sets a new benchmark for security operations nationwide, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to the safety and efficacy of first responders in critical situations.
*Published on 05.22.2024, TAMPA, FL*