During the recent Warrior West expo, we had a chance to check out the Oakley SI Ballistic Crosshair.
Created to provide full MIL PRF 31013, ANSI Z80.3-2008 and ANSI Z87.1-2010 ballistic protection in a form factor not usually associated with military or tactical use, the aviator-style Ballistic Crosshair also filters 100% UVA/UVB & harmful blue light up to 400nm wavelength.
Offered with a variety of lens tints, check www.oakleysi.com for details.
From the outset, I have to say that technically, the Army is just looking for a new fabric, as there has been no talk (at least publicly) about developing a specialized uniform layout for tropical environments. However, in addition to a new jungle boot that we talked about last week, Natick has released a Sources Sought Notice entitled, “Light Weight Tropical Uniform“. This is excellent news.
To read the meat and potatoes of what the Army is looking for, see it here at RFITropWeight.
This is an interesting move as it is an admission that the current fabric used in the ACU, a 50/50 NYCO or nylon/cotton blend adopted for the Enhanced Hot Weather Battle Dress Uniform in the early 90s isn’t really much of a tropical weight fabric. Prior to this, Hot Weather BDUs were made from a 100% ripstop cotton fabric. This came about as the Army “rediscovered” the need for a tropical weight version of the BDU during the invasion of Grenada in 1983. The Army had begun fielding the Woodland camouflaged BDU, made from a heavy, 50/50 nylon/cotton twill in 1981. Designed for use in central Europe, they were too hot for hot weather use. However, the comfortable, quick drying, 50/50 NYCO poplin fabric of the HWBDU was to be replaced within a decade.
By the early 90s, a serious garrison mentality had taken hold in the US Army. Soldier were starching their HWBDUs and the process was wearing them out rather quickly, with fraying at the cuffs and collars in as little as six months. Instead of telling Soldiers to stop starching a uniform fabric optimized for tropical environments, the Army introduced a new fabric that would be more durable when starched and pressed under high heat. Unfortunately, this 50/50 NYCO fabric compromise fabric isn’t so great in the hot weather environments the uniform was intended for. The nylon content lowers breathability, making the fabric feel warmer. Operational capability was abandoned in favor of looking good in garrison. When the ACU came along, the Army incorporated that same 50/50 NYCO poplin fabric. Now that the Pacific Pivot is in, and the Army is scrambling to recreate capabilities like the jungle boot that it had abandoned years ago, it has dawned on somebody that they can find a better fabric solution and I am glad.
Granted, the Universal Camouflage Pattern is an issue in the jungle and Woodland EHWBDUs are will in use by some Army SOF and students at the new US Army Jungle School in Hawaii. Hopefully, the Army will work out a solution for this dilemma. But, we can always look back to a simple solution fielded during the Viet Nam War.
I’ve called it “The Greatest Uniform Ever Fielded By The US Army” and in my opinion, the OG-107 Jungle Fatigue in 100% ripstop cotton remains just that.
In fact, this uniform, as well as the ERDL camouflaged variant, continued to be worn well into the late 80s by Special operations Forces.
Rightfully so, the Army is looking, at a minimum (threshold), for a no-drip, no-melt solution fabric story. Naturally, if the star’s aligned (object) they’d like a full FR solution, although this is probably overkill considering the operational environment.
If you’ve got something that you think will work, the Army needs to hear from you by 1200EST on 08 May 2014. They’ll also need 5 yards of fabric (any color) and a the usual slew of technical data. Make sure you read the details in the amendments. The Army is going to use this data to help scope an actual requirement, making this is a very important part if the process.
With so much development in the textile industry over the past 10 years, here’s to hoping that the Army identifies a fabric optimized for use in hot-wet environments.
Late last week we saw the release of a letter from Rep Duncan Hunter (R-CA) to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Director, National Intelligence LTG James Clapper (USAF, Ret) regarding the impending nomination of US Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, LTG Mary Legere to take the place at Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, of the out going LTG Mike Flynn. What makes this letter so interesting is that Rep Hunter is in opposition to LTG Legere’s appointment. LTG Legere is a career Military Intelligence Officer with a varied tactical intelligence background. I don’t believe that her experience is in question.
To read the letter click the link:
Rep Duncan Hunter on New DIA Nomination
Rather, Rep Hunter’s opposition all pivots around the long-plagued Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A) program, and in particular its migration to a classified cloud computing environment which would allow users to access more data, from more locations. For those of you unfamiliar, DCGS-A is the Army’s primary system to post data, process information, and disseminate Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) information about the threat, weather, and terrain to echelons. DCGS-A provides commanders the ability to task battle-space sensors and receive intelligence information from multiple sources. Analysts claim it requires extensive contract support, is often down, is not intuitive and generally difficult to use. What they do like is a computer program called Palantir. Named after mythological Seeing Stones, Palantir was developed with help from the not-for-profit In-Q-Tel venture fund which is designed to assist promising technologies to support the US Intelligence Community. According to everyone who uses it, it works, and works well. How well? The data to track down arch-terrorist Usama bin Laden was reportedly analyzed and developed in a Palantir environment.
On one hand, it’s refreshing to see that members of Congress are keeping an eye on how well programs actually work. But, I’m concerned that Rep Hunter is shooting the messenger and not the folks actually at fault. In addition to LTG Legere, Rep hunter also calls out US Army Intelligence and Security Command’s Commanding General MG Stephen G. Fogarty, who like LTG Legere, is a career Intelligence Officer with a combination of tactical and strategic intelligence assignments including numerous tours in SOF. What both of these officers have done is briefed Congress on numerous occasions about the health of the system their forces use. As DCGS-A is far from a model program, INSCOM has reportedly attempted to create a duplicate cloud in order to make things work. Additionally, LTG Legere has not been as forthcoming with Congress as Rep Hunter would like regarding program details. But ultimately, the development and fielding (not use) of the actual program of record belongs to PEO Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Systems’ PM DCGS-A. That office is part of Army Material Command and not INSCOM or any other part of the Intelligence Community. If PEO IEWS was in a line and block chart of the IC, it would be a dashed line way off to the side.
Some would blame ‘The System’ for DCGS-A’s failure. Rep Hunter chooses to blame Army Intelligence leadership. But I suggest something more radical. I say we place responsibility on a broken program where it belongs; with the Acquisition community that developed it. Whether it’s an intelligence analysis system, an aircraft, or a camouflage pattern, the offices that manage the life cycle of these programs must be held accountable not only for schedule and budget but also, how well they actually work.
I loved this movie as a kid. Still do now.
Jacksonville, FL – May 1, 2014 – Telluric Group, LLC. completed delivery of Small Arms Collimator (SAC) Kits to the US Army for inclusion in the Advanced Sniper Accessory Kit (ASAK). The SAC Kits, referred to by the Army as Sniper Weapon Collimators (SWC), were designed for use with the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) and the M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR). They also work with legacy M24 sniper rifles.
The collimators were chosen by the Army as a no-comparison solution for two reasons. First, they speed up the initial live-fire zero process for weapons that have not yet been zeroed (i.e. during sniper training). Second, and most critically, they allow deployed snipers to accurately check zero in any environment without live-fire. “Going into the fight with a good zero is critically important,” said Brian Garrett of Telluric Group. “The SAC allows snipers to confirm zero quickly anytime, anywhere- before they leave the FOB [forward operating base], after movement across rough terrain, or even at their final firing position.” By ensuring that weapons are always zeroed, SACs have improved Soldiers’ confidence in their weapons and continue to enhance operational effectiveness.
Small Arms Collimators are manufactured by Pyser-SGI Limited, a British defense company known for over a century for their reliability and innovation. SACs are available for assault rifles, sniper weapons, machine guns, and grenade launchers. They work with iron sights, day optics, and image intensified night vision optics. Collimators are also available for thermal weapon sights and for IR and visible laser aiming devices. Telluric Group is the exclusive US distributor for Pyser-SGI and the Small Arms Collimator.
Developed from IA’s older H&K MP5 A3 and MP5K covert shoulder rigs, the Universal Covert Shoulder Rig is adaptable to most “sub” size weapons. Four points of adjustment allow for the rig to be sized to any size covert operator.
The upper section is made of leather and rests on the shoulders. It is adjustable in the center of the shoulder blades for a better fit. The sling section comes in two sizes: short and long, although it can also can be customized by the manufacturer based on user requirement. The sling incorporates the military specification HK Snap Hook.
The MOLLE panel has adjustable belt loops, and is adjustable at the top so it can snugly fit under the arm.
The Covert Shoulder Rig is designed to fit under most clothing, but is designed to work best with jackets and long mac type coats.
Made in the UK.
www.body-armour-protection.co.uk/IA-Universal-Covert-Shoulder-Rig
SKD Tactical released this new video staring A-Train, their operations guy, on how to request and manage a return to skdtac.com. The video can get a bit blue at times, so we’re calling this one nearly-not-safe-for-work.
As announced via the Mystery Rants blog, Mystery Ranch is releasing two new bags: the Expandable 3-Way Briefcase and the Invader, both set for a Summer release.
Expandable 3-Way Briefcase
The Expandable 3-Way Briefcase integrates Mystery Ranch’s signature 3-Zip design with transformer-like functionality as a shoulder bag, briefcase, or, by deploying hidden shoulder straps, as a backpack. A side zippered compartment features an incased dedicated computer foam and will fit up to 17″ laptops. The main central zippered compartment has document pockets and loop Velcro for attaching additional accessories. A side tech zip opening has detail pockets for pens, pencils, and other side items.
Color options: Black, Coyote, and Woodland. Due to ship early June, 2014.
www.mysteryranch.com/mountain-adventure/travel-urban-packs/3-way-briefcase-expandable-ex
Invader Pack
The Invader is a smaller version of the popular Outsider bag, scaled down by roughly 20%. The shoulder strap is cushioned and adjustable, with a removable utility/cell phone pocket. The main compartment offers generous storage space, and a large lid pocket provides easy access to essential items. A detachable flat bag that mounts to the Velcro inside the lit is perfect for smaller items such as writing utensils.
Color Options: Black, Coyote, and Woodland/Black. Due to ship early June, 2014.
www.mysteryranch.com/mountain-adventure/travel-urban-packs/invader-pack-ex
