The Government Accounting Office’s protest docket has been updated with GLOCK, Inc’s February 24 protest to SIG SAUER’s January 20th award for the XM17 Modular Handgun System.
The case remains open with a due date of 5 June, 2017. This means work cannot begin on the program until this protest is sorted out.
Earlier today MARCORSYSCOM issued “Request for Information (RFI) M67854-17-I-1218 For Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), Quantico, VA Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR)”. They are very clear at this point that is solely an initiation of market research under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP). To be clear, issuing an RFI is a natural step in the acquisition process.
This action comes after a short duration experiment last Fall during which, an entire Marine Infantry Battalion was equipped with the IAR instead of their issue M4s. The experiment was obviously a success. At the time there was still no requirement but apparently, they’ve worked that out and lined up funding to make this happen.
As the RFI only calls for the production of an additional 11,000 rifles, this means that only additional select Infantrymen will be issued the M27. Conversely, the Marines purchased over 45,000 M4 carbines. When the M27 IAR was initially selected, the Marines had undertaken a study to determine what it would cost and how quickly the manufacturer H&K, could build the rifles in order to pure fleet the service. At the time, H&K did not have the production capacity to meet the Marine Corps’ fielding timeline so the plan was scrapped. This new move may very well be incremental in nature, with further fielding taking a longer timeline and encompassing a larger portion of the Marines.
The 5.56mm M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle is manufactured by Heckler & Koch. It is based on their HK416 carbine and was fielded to the Marines to supplant beltfed the M249 SAW in the Rifle Squad. This RFI will assuredly be used by SYSCOM to create a a sole-source “Justification and Approval” in order to purchase the rifles directly from manufacturer H&K without going for an open solicitation. While the RFI describes the M27’s salient characteristics to a “T”, what may throw a monkey wrench in this plan is if another manufacturer or two claim they can build the weapons as well with a model based on a 416 clone.
We will watch this procurement closely and keep you updated on its progress. Offerers have until March 17th at 3:00 PM to respond.
Newington, NH (January 19, 2017) – SIG SAUER, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Army has selected the SIG SAUER Model P320 to replace the M9 service pistol currently in use since the mid-1980’s. Released in 2014, the P320 is a polymer striker-fired pistol that has proven itself in both the United States and worldwide markets. The P320 is the first modular pistol with interchangeable grip modules that can also be adjusted in frame size and caliber by the operator. All pistols will be produced at the SIG SAUER facilities in New Hampshire.
The MHS Program provides for the delivery of both full size and compact P320’s, over a period of ten (10) years. All pistols will be configurable to receive silencers and will also include both standard and extended capacity magazines.
“I am tremendously proud of the Modular Handgun System Team,” said Army Acquisition Executive, Steffanie Easter in the release. “By maximizing full and open competition across our industry partners, we truly have optimized the private sector advancements in handguns, ammunition and magazines and the end result will ensure a decidedly superior weapon system for our warfighters.”
Ron Cohen, President and CEO of SIG SAUER, said “We are both humbled and proud that the P320 was selected by the U.S. Army as its weapon of choice. Securing this contract is a testimony to SIG SAUER employees and their commitment to innovation, quality and manufacturing the most reliable firearms in the world.”
In consideration of SIG SAUER’s win of the Modular Handgun Program earlier today, we are sharing this story from October 2014, showcasing what the SIG P320-based submission looked like at the time. Congrats to Team SIG on this win.
At AUSA, SIG SAUER‘s Kevin Brittingham walked us through their candidate for the Army’s Modular Handgun System program which may replace the M9 Pistol issued since the mid-80s and is based on the Beretta 92F.
Although based on the commercially available P320 modular pistol, SIG made a few changes to be in compliance with the Army’s requirement.
-Tan Color
-Ambi Thumb Safety
-Lower Profile Ambi Slide Release
-Loaded Chamber Indicator
-Trigger Boot
-Firing Pin Assembly
Although SIG is very optimistic about their chances, they also look at programs like this as an opportunity to improve their firearms. Some of these changes may we find their way into the P320 and other SIG firearms.
According to SIG, this is what the winning MHS candidates look like.
“Boom!” goes the dynamite. Hot off the presses, this is the very first PMAG 30 GEN M3 in MCT for the Marine Corps contract.
It even has the NSN!
Get yours soon from www.magpul.com.
VANCOUVER, B.C. – January 16, 2017 – Mission Ready Services Inc. (“Mission Ready” or the “Company”) (TSX-V : MRS) announces that Protect The Force (“PTF”) has won the US Army Department of Defense Proof Challenge ‘Game Changer’ award for the integration of its proprietary No-Contact technology into BioChemical Warfighter Protection suits.
The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPOE-CBD) of the Department of Defense Armed Forces invited the textile technology and innovation community to participate in the Proof: Department of Defense BioChemical Warfighter Protection Challenge for a chance to win cash prizes. In addition to the awarded prize money, winners will have their work seen by some of the top companies in the apparel industry, be showcased on the Proof Challenge Facebook page and will work with JPEO-CBD on the next steps of bringing their suit ideas to reality.
Protect The Force’s winning submission incorporates its proprietary No-Contact technology into a matrix of pulse electric conductive textiles and wearable components that can be modulated at different energy levels. PTF’s proposal is based on the concept of on-demand activation and deactivation of the No-Contact system, killing chemical and biological agents by means of modulated electricity discharges. “We are essentially introducing a wearable protective force field into the BioChemical Warfighter Protection industry”, states Francisco Martinez, Chief Technology Officer of Protect The Force.
The current chemical biological suit’s burden, weight and bulkiness restrict the Warfighter’s agility, range of motion and maneuverability necessary to conduct their duties. The incentivized prize competition sought innovative ideas for solutions that will increase Warfighter mobility, dexterity and tactility, allowing the Warfighter to complete all relevant tasks in a fast and comfortable manner, without cognitive/physiological fatigue associated with the ensemble.
Francisco Martinez further states, “Winning this award is a tremendous honor and an accomplishment that we are very proud of considering that all proposals were reviewed by the Department of Defense Subject Matter Experts (SME) – highly respected scientists and experts in the field of chemical and biological protection – and ours selected for the Game Changer technology award. We look forward to working with the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense.”
Columbia Falls, Montana –PROOF Research, makers of advanced high-temperature composite aerospace/defense materials and components, cut-rifled steel precision rifle barrels, and carbon-fiber composite rifle barrels that deliver extreme accuracy, durability and up to a 50 percent weight reduction—has been awarded an $11.42 million contract for development of advanced hybrid composite muzzle brakes and medium caliber barrels for future weapon systems.
The program builds on PROOF Research’s successful small caliber barrel technology already in service with U.S. military forces, and will enable medium caliber weapons with increased performance and provide overmatch capability on tomorrow’s battlefield. “This project demonstrates the scalability and broad application of PROOF’s technology to any weapon system” stated PROOF Research CEO, Larry Murphy. “It is an exciting progression of our commercial and military small caliber products that will generate a tactical advantage in larger weapons. We are looking forward to improving the tools available to our warfighters.”
“PROOF’s hybrid composite barrel technology is unique in that it opens up the design space to provide lightweight, high stiffness barrels that cannot be manufactured with traditional materials and techniques. We can design and build medium caliber weapon system barrels with performance characteristics previously not attainable.”
Effort sponsored by the U.S. Government under Other Transaction number W15QKN- 09-9-1001/W15QKN-12-9-0001/W15QKN-14-9-1001 between the National Armaments Consortium and the Government. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.
Late last Fall, the Philippine Army adopted a new camouflage pattern (Army CAMOPAT) developed by Canada’s Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp. Hyperstealth has been quite successful in developing patterns for other international clients including Jordan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Jamaica and the Mexican Marine Corps as well as developmental efforts in support of both the US Army and Marine Corps and the Canadian military’s CBRNE unit.
The Rappler.com published a sighting of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, a retired officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, wearing the new pattern during a gisit to Lanao del Sur.
