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USSOCOM Precision Sniper Rifle

Saturday, November 5th, 2011

Yesterday, USSOCOM finally released the solicitation for the Precision Sniper Rifle.

“The PSR system is designed to address the operational effectiveness and SOF sniper survivability over the current inventory of sniper weapons. The major components of the PSR system are: rifle, ammunition, magazines, sound suppressor including a mirage mitigating device, operator manual, sling, cleaning kit, bipod, drag bag, and hard carrying case. These items have been determined to be a commercial item and are intended to fulfill the approved USSOCOM requirement for a PSR.”

In order to see the actual requirements you have to have explicit access meaning you have to be registered on the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and be registered with a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 332994 for small arms manufacturing and/or 332992 small arms ammunition manufacturing.

The previous entry on FBO will no longer be used for this solicitation.

www.fbo.gov

Posted in Contracts, weapons | Comments Off on USSOCOM Precision Sniper Rifle

Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Sponsored by the Department of Public Works, the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program is designed to allow companies to present new technologies to the Government without a requirement. While the program is open to solutions for use by all of Government, there are areas that can also find defense applications. Take for example the company Inversa. They have developed a system using the Deep Backscatter Tomography (DBT) technique that scans culverts and tunnels for maintenance problems so that waste water personnel won’t have to excavate pipes. It’s basically non-destructive inspection for sewers. Now, imagine using such technology to inspect culverts for IEDs.

Innovation often comes from small companies. Unfortunately, they often lack the expertise or staff to present their capabilities to the Government. Oftentimes, they are preyed upon by those who take their money, promising to open doors and grant Government access. In most cases, such access is readily accessible without the cost of a “consultant.” Another issue is that the Government’s procurement system is requirements based. If those writing requirements don’t know a capability exists, they can’t ask for it and may continue to do things the same old way.

It’s good to see the Canadian Government cut some of the red tape so that they can see the latest in technology and open opportunities to small business. It can be a win-win situation.

Tags: Canada, Inversa
Posted in Contracts, Foreign | Comments Off on Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program

Afghan Border Police Adopt Ghostex Pattern

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

HyperStealth Biotechnology Corporation has announced that the Afghanistan Border Police (ABP), an elite division of the Afghanistan National Police (ANP) with a strength of around 20,000 has authorized the Ghostex Kilo-1 pattern as their new uniform camouflage.

You may notice that the pattern looks complimentary to the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP) currently used in Afghanistan by the US Army and Air Force. This is because the US Government stipulated that the new ABP pattern must have similar coloration but yet be distinctively different. This is so that the forces could work in concert during operations but would not be mistaken for one another in close proximity. Based on this requirement, HyperStealth was able to offer three different patterns from the Ghostex line the same day the request came in.

A Purchase Order has been issued and the first 12,000 yards of fabric has been already been printed. The fabric is milled and printed in the US and then sent to Afghanistan for assembly by Afghanistan citizens working for Afghanistan companies.

This is not the first time HyperStealth has worked with the Afghanis. In 2009, the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) chose Hyperstealth’s Spec4ce Afghan Forest pattern for their uniforms.

Ghostex is a joint venture between ADS Inc and Canada-based HyperStealth Biotechnology Corporation.

Tags: ADS, Afghan Border Police, GHOSTEX, Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp
Posted in ADS, Camo, Contracts, Foreign | 14 Comments »

USMC Purchase Additional 8750 Extreme Cold Weather Systems

Monday, October 17th, 2011

PrimaLoftÂ® Insulation Technologyâ„¢, announced that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has purchased 8,750 additional sets of the USMC Extreme Cold Weather System, which consist of parkas, trousers and booties insulated with PrimaLoftÂ®.

The USMC Extreme Cold Weather System (ECWS) is currently used by thousands of Marines stationed in the coldest areas of Afghanistan and across the globe. This new purchase brings the total number of ECWS currently fielded by the Marines to 58,750.

Developed to allow Marines to maintain the tactical edge during challenging high altitude, cold, and wet weather conditions, ECWS includes a parka, trouser and booties insulated with PrimaLoftÂ®. As you know from previous coverage, PrimaLoftÂ® is packable, lightweight, weather resistant, and very warm.

â€œPrimaLoftÂ® takes great pride in our work to provide the best possible insulation technology to meet the U.S. Marine Corps mission readiness needs,â€ said PrimaLoftÂ® Vice President and General Manager Joe Rumiesz in a press release. â€œWe began working with the DoD 25 years ago, and we continue to advance our unique technology to address the specialized gear needs of our men and women in uniform.â€

PrimaLoftÂ® was originally developed at the request of the US Army by Albany International Corp as a water resistant synthetic alternative to down. Now known as PrimaLoftÂ® it is used by the United States Army, Marine Corps and Special Operations Forces.

www.PrimaLoft.com

Tags: PrimaLoftÂ®, USMC
Posted in Clothing, Contracts, MARCORSYSCOM, Materials | Comments Off on USMC Purchase Additional 8750 Extreme Cold Weather Systems

Norwegians Choose Thales for NORMANS Soldier System

Friday, October 14th, 2011

The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has selected Thales to provide their commercialized version of the NORMANS Soldier Digitization effort. Over the next five years Thales will lead a team to produce the systems which are built to the specifications produced by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and and tested by the Telemark Battalion (TmBn).

The 2 NORMANS devices provide blue force tracking, navigation, target hand-off, and text messaging. NORMANS Light is worn by the individual Soldier member of a Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) squad and NORMANS Advanced is used by small unit leaders. As you can see NORMANS Advanced offers a full color display and will deliver more data rich information.

â€œNORMANS digitised soldier system will provide Norwegian soldiers with improved situational awareness, improved ability to navigate and will provide effective mission planning. As a result of this soldiers will have increased effectiveness and safety in operationsâ€, says Secretary of State in the MoD, Roger Ingebrigtsen.

www.Thales.no

Tags: Norway, Thales
Posted in Contracts, Digitization, Industry | 6 Comments »

What They Meant to Say Was…

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

JTRS isn’t cancelled. JTRS is like a Hydra with tentacles into each of the services. Think of it as “Too Big to Fail.” Despite press reporting to the contrary, it just isn’t so.

“Army Kills JTRS, Goes ‘Platform Agnostic’ With Network Plan” AOL Defense
“Boeing Army Radio Program Said to Face Termination for Cost” Bloomberg Business Week

For one thing, the Joint Tactical Radio System is actually several radios, and at least one of those, the Rifleman’s Radio, works.

So, cut the authors of those stories a little slack. I too have meant one thing but said it in a way that could be construed entirely differently. Recently, I said that Nett Warrior was cancelled. This was partially true. The Army isn’t going to buy that beast that we had. Instead, they’re restructuring the program to make it more relevant. So, the Army cancelled that solicitation but they didn’t kill the program. Killing a program is actually much easier said than done due to the hoops that you have to jump through to get a program approved and funded. Never fear, the same thing will happen with JTRS. Some of the segments will be restructured allowing industry to apply Moore’s Law and deliver more at a lower cost.

And, this isn’t the first time the press has said that JTRS is cancelled. That thing is like a cockroach. It will survive us all.

Tags: Nett Warrior
Posted in Comms, Contracts | Comments Off on What They Meant to Say Was…

Army Camouflage Improvement Effort Update

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

The most common questions we currently field are for updates on Phase IV of the Army’s Camouflage Improvement Effort. Finally, we have an answer. In a PEO Soldier media roundtable earlier today COL William Cole, PM Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment related that the Army received over 20 submissions for their solicitation. The picture-in-picture evaluation strategy has been completed by over 900 Soldiers viewing the patterns in 45 environments. Currently, the Army is evaluating the data. According to COL Cole, they plan to brief the Army Senior Leadership late this month. Ultimately, the mix of patterns may be 3 commercial families and 2 Government or possible 4 commercial variants to 1 Government family of patterns.

Posted in Camo, Contracts, PEO-Soldier | 15 Comments »

BFG Selected to Provide Two-Point Slings for AF Security Forces

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

A variant of the Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Application Slingâ„¢ (VCAS) has been chosen by USAF Security Forces as their new two-point sling system for the M4 carbine. In a contract award announced yesterday, ADS Inc will provide over 22,000 of the sling kits to various units in the Air Force.

The kit consists of a VCAS, Vest Strap Adapter, an ITW Tac Link, a SOC-Câ„¢ Long Loop Adapter, and Buttstock Storage Pouch. While the contents might seem unconventional to many, it was assembled to fulfill Security Forces’ TTPs. For example, the Vest Strap can be used while wearing armor with the VCAS stowed in the Buttstock Storage Pouch. Conversely, while in a permissive environment where armor is not required, the VCAS is used. Additionally, a spare magazine is easily carried in the Buttstock Storage Pouch while the sling is on the weapon. Remember, for the most part Security Forces are doing just that, manning checkpoints, conducting roving patrols, etc. and may not need the enhanced capability of a two-point sling all of the time. However, they can configure their carbine for use with the two-point for situations where they need it.

Blue Force Gear USAF SF Sling Kit

Blue Force Gear products are available for agency and unit purchase through www.ADSinc.com/Blue-Force-Gear.

www.BlueForceGear.com

Tags: ADS Inc, Blue Force Gear
Posted in ADS, Contracts, weapons | 6 Comments »