The Glock Carbine has been one of the worst kept secrets in small arms and everyone keeps wondering when they are going to finally release it to the public.
Our friends at Spartanat believe it’s going to happen and have released a video about it.
Archive for the ‘International’ Category
Is Glock Finally Going to Release Their Carbine?
Wednesday, May 12th, 2021Rheinmetall to Upgrade UK’s Challenger Main Battle Tank Fleet
Tuesday, May 11th, 2021Rheinmetall has won a pioneering land forces order of pan-European and NATO-wide significance. The British Ministry of Defence has contracted with the Düsseldorf-based technology group to modernize the British Army’s main battle tank fleet. In all, 148 Challenger 2 main battle tanks will be upgraded with the 120mm smoothbore main armament from Rheinmetall, together with a completely new turret structure, including a state of the art digital system architecture. Forming part of the British Army’s Challenger 2 Life Extension Project, or LEP, the modernization programme is poised to convert this tried-and-tested tank into the new Challenger 3, keeping it in service for decades to come. The programme will take place during the 2021-2027 timeframe. Just announced in Telford (UK), the contract is worth around €770 million (£665 million).
The latest generation L55A1 smoothbore gun from Rheinmetall will place the modernized Challenger at the forefront of NATO tank technology. The Challenger 3 will be a network-enabled, digital tank featuring unsurpassed lethality and greatly improved survivability on the battlefield. It will be able to fire current and future Rheinmetall 120mm kinetic energy rounds and programmable multipurpose ammunition. Combined with the latest fire control technology and sensor systems, this will significantly boost the vehicle’s combat effectiveness, resulting in remarkably accurate firepower.
Much of the upgrade work will be carried out in the UK at the Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) plant in Telford in the West Midlands. The company boasts a rich heritage, having delivered the first Challenger 2 tanks to the British Army over 25 years ago. RBSL is a joint venture between Rheinmetall and BAE Systems, with Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH holding 55% of the shares.
As Armin Papperger, chief executive of Rheinmetall AG, recently put it, “We’re proud to be taking charge of one the United Kingdom’s most important army?technology programmes here in the cradle of the British tank industry. In technological terms, the upgrade will put the British Challenger tank on the cutting edge of NATO’s armed forces. To make this happen, we’ve amalgamated the longstanding expertise of RBSL with Rheinmetall of Germany’s unsurpassed know-how in large-calibre weapon systems, digitization and advanced turret solutions.”
John Abunassar, head of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle System’s division, points out that “The British Army is getting a world-class capability. At the same time, we’re celebrating the return of top-notch tank technology to the British Isles, because the bulk of the work will take place in the UK and involve the inclusion of numerous local suppliers. This announcement comes after years of hard work and collaboration with our customer, especially in the recent extraordinary circumstances brought about by COVID-19.”
RBSL will be working together with subcontractors from all over Britain, giving an economic boost to their various locales. Work will be directed from the RBSL factory in Telford, with technical support from the company’s heavy armour specialists in Telford and at the RBSL facility in Washington near Newcastle in the northeast of England.
The modernization programme will maintain existing high-grade industrial jobs in Britain and create numerous new ones. In particular at RBSL, the Challenger programme will maintain some 200 member of staff, including 130 highly skilled engineers and 70 technicians. Furthermore, during the next five years, RBSL will offer employment and training opportunities to more than 60 trainees. Moreover, in the British supply chain some 450 jobs will be maintained or newly created.
The programme secures the UK’s national capabilities base in terms of defence technology and engineering expertise and offers the prospect of new product developments and further export opportunities.
Challenger 3
The new vehicle will be armed with the latest 120mm high-pressure L55 smoothbore gun, which fires subcalibre KE projectiles and programmable multipurpose ammunition. Delivering enhanced accuracy and penetrating power, the gun system features state-of-the-art fire control technology.
A new turret structure including improved survivability systems assures maximum crew protection. The main optical sights improves the target acquisition and tracking capability of both the commander and gunner.
Moreover, thanks to the new physical, electronic and electrical architectures, this solution provides additionally significant growth potentials for the next decades.
Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicle Turns 50 – Tried-and-Tested Warhorse of Germany’s Mechanized Infantry
Sunday, May 9th, 2021The Marder infantry fighting vehicle celebrates its 50th anniversary today: it was a half a century ago, on 7 May 1971, that the German Army took formal deliver of the first serially produced vehicles. This took place at simultaneous ceremonies in Kassel and Kiel – the corporate seats of the legendary IFV’s original manufacturers, Thyssen-Henschel and Krupp MaK. Both companies have belonged to Rheinmetall since 1999 and 2001, respectively.
At the time of its inception, the prime mission of the new IFV was to defend the national territory in Central Europe: teamed with the Leopard 1 main battle tank, the Marder was supposed to play a pivotal role in the mobile operations of the Bundeswehr. But fate had different plans in store for the vehicle. During the Cold War, the Marder infantry fighting vehicle’s role was confined to the major exercises held by West Germany and its NATO partners to demonstrate in no uncertain terms their readiness to defend themselves. In the meantime, the Leopard 1 has long since vanished from the Bundeswehr inventory. The same is true of other systems of that bygone era, among them the Luchs armoured reconnaissance vehicle, the Starfighter F-104 fighter-bomber, and the BO 105 and Bell UH-1D helicopters. The Marder, on the other hand, went on to prove its mettle in foreign deployments, including in Kosovo and Afghanistan. As part of the Quick Reaction Force, it has engaged in firefights in around Kunduz and Mazar-e Sharif. The vehicle continues to serve the German military to this day. Nor is Germany the only Marder user nation: the vehicle also features in the armies of Chile, Indonesia and Jordan.
Rheinmetall has accumulated vast experience and expertise in the Marder domain. On behalf of the Bundeswehr, in recent years the company has carried out various measures aimed at boosting the combat performance and extending the service life of part of Germany’s Marder fleet.
This includes the installation of air conditioning in the fighting compartment; new vision equipment for the driver, gunner and commander; integration of the MELLS multirole lightweight guided missile system; and a new drivetrain. Thanks to measures currently underway to extend its service life, the Marder is likely to remain operational until the end of the decade.
Battle-tested and extremely reliable, the Marder is destined to remain an important asset of Germany’s mechanized infantry forces for some time to come, even now that the branch is on the verge of epochal change: on 18 March 2021, the Chief of Staff of the German Army confirmed the battle-worthiness of “System Panzergrenadier”.
In essence, System Panzergrenadier consists of an upgraded version of the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, supplied by PSM GmbH, a joint venture of Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, and the VJTF2023 version of the Future Soldier – Expanded System (IdZ-ES), a state-of-the-art soldier system developed by Rheinmetall. Its mission is to increase the firepower and combat effectiveness of the VJTF 2023, which will be led by Germany. By fielding System Panzergrenadier, the formation will be equipped for the first time with a digitized vehicle platform – the Puma IFV upgraded to VJTF status – plus a soldier system featuring digital radio technology. Close-meshed networking of the soldiers’ sensors and effectors with those of the infantry fighting vehicle minimizes the time between target detection and target engagement. This melding of capabilities into one total system enables effective tactical interaction between the troops and their infantry fighting vehicle, in turn enhancing the combat effectiveness of mechanized infantry formations.
FN EVOLYS: The New Ultralight Machine Gun By FN Herstal
Thursday, May 6th, 2021(Herstal, Belgium) – May 06, 2021 – Belgium-based designer and manufacturer of small caliber weapons, associated weapon systems and ammunition FN Herstal has announced earlier today the entry of a brand-new machine gun with unique features, the FN EVOLYS. With this new addition to FN Herstal’s product portfolio, the Company definitely intends to write a new chapter in the history of machine guns.
Earlier today, FN Herstal has unveiled to the Defense and Security markets a completely new machine gun – the FN EVOLYS – during a global digital product launch event. It is with a great satisfaction and pride that the Company succeeded in combining its universally recognized expertise in the field of machine gun design, development and manufacture; its innovative spirit and current unmet market requirements to bring life to a new machine gun. The FN EVOLYS features an incredibly innovative and open architecture together with unique characteristics.
The FN EVOLYS is a radically different, ultralight weapon that combines the firing capabilities of a belt-fed machine gun with ergonomics and balance similar to an assault rifle. This is exactly what is needed and expected by users for current and future operations.
5.56x45mm NATO Variant
The FN EVOLYS has been developed in two calibers, 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO.
7.62x51mm NATO Variant
A true, ultralight machine gun…
The FN EVOLYS, with a weight between 5.5 and 6.2 kilos depending on the caliber, is much lighter than current reference machine guns. This reduced weight enables the user to move across difficult terrain quickly and to engage with a high volume of fire when needed with no difficulty.
Its reduced weight and excellent balance also mean that the weapon can be fired from any position. Transitioning from one firing position to another is made easy by the design of the sling attachment interface.
Featuring assault rifle characteristics
The FN EVOLYS ultralight machine gun fires like a machine gun, and handles like an assault rifle.
The ambidextrous fire selector has a semi-auto position to engage point targets as with a rifle while the full auto position allows suppressive fire as with a machine gun.
The buttstock is adjustable in length and height. Whatever his size, or the equipment he is wearing, the user can always find a comfortable shooting position.
Reliable, extremely comfortable and stable when firing
The latest-generation materials and technologies used on the FN EVOLYS, combined with FN Herstal’s long- standing expertise and innovative spirit, ensure that the reduction of weight has not compromised the vital factors of reliability, user safety and long life of parts.
The hydraulic buffer gives a steady rate of fire and reduces recoil.
The FN EVOLYS was designed from the start to fire intensively with a sound suppressor and therefore showed no reduction in performance when fitted with a suppressor, no excessive fouling, and no debris projected towards the user, even for left-handers.
Innovative and unique architecture
Another big innovation in the FN EVOLYS is the patented lateral feed mechanism, which has allowed the design to include several major improvements requested by users:
– The one-piece long top rail enables mounting a combination of various in-line optical sights such as day and night sights together, or magnifiers for instance, without removing the iron sights.
– Easy, instinctive and fast access to all controls by left or right-handed shooters for improved handling in the field
– All actions can be done with just one hand, including engaging the belt.
– Cartridges are automatically repositioned when the feed cover is closed if the belt is not correctly placed on the feed tray. This avoids a failure to feed the first round, which is a great reassurance for the user.
– The last link is automatically ejected, clearing the way for a faster and more reliable reload.
Missed FN Herstal’s product launch event today?
Click here to discover.
The new FN EVOLYS ultralight machine gun will be on display on FN Herstal booth, Belgian Pavilion, North HALL, at the DSEI international trade show, London, from September 14 to 17, 2021.
Introducing the Fred Perrin x WNDSN Escape Coin
Tuesday, May 4th, 2021WNDSN Applied Sciences Lab is pleased to announce the release of a collaboration with French knife maker Fred Perrin, an OSS-inspired coin knife based on the heavy metal WNDSN eclipse challenge coin.
The front side of the coin shows the WNDSN metrology motto: “ex mensura, scientia” or “knowledge from measurement” and a graphical representation of a lunar eclipse that utilizes the old alchemical symbol for verdigris and, later, the astronomical symbol for the Earth. On the back side — on top of four graphical quadrants featuring a shadow square, standing for solving problems of space, a set of equal hour lines, standing for determining time, and the sine quadrant as the most elegant of mathematical instruments — Fred installs the blade, perfectly keeping with the lines, and, in its closed state, perfectly flush with the coin surface itself.
The famous Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was a wartime intelligence agency of the United States during World War II. The OSS Research & Development produced its own line of novel spy tools and gadgets, including compasses hidden in uniform buttons, playing cards that concealed maps, a diverse selection of lapel and otherwise concealable knives as well as coins (in the denomination of the respective country of operations) with integrated blades for escape purposes.
Based in the city of tradecraft, and heavily influenced by the atmosphere and climate of the cold war, WNDSN’s roots are inseparably connected to the divided city of Berlin and its flair of competing interests from all over the world.
Enter Fred Perrin, famous French knife maker and covert weapons designer, well known for his legendary LaGriffe (the claw) design, a small, concealable knife with a ring right behind the blade for retention and control. Fred is a former French Army Commando and a world-ranked martial artist.
Fred has a sizeable portfolio of covert tools made in the spirit of the OSS and its siblings in other countries, among which happens to be a version of the (in)famous “escape coin”. Now, many makers are making these coins, but Fred is the only one who’s integrating a thumb stud as his signature take on that by now almost a century old design.
The blade is made from 1095 carbon steel, the coin and hardware, thumb stud, pivot, and stopper pin choice is between raw copper or brass — either of which will patina beautifully.
Available directly from Fred Perrin.
Sneak Peek – Platatac Kurtz Jungle Shirts in Tigerstripe
Monday, May 3rd, 2021
The smell, you know that Tigerstripe smell. Smelled like victory.
Or so Lt Col Kilgore would have been saying if he was wearing one of Platatac’s exclusive Kurtz jungle shirts.
In collaboration with Platatac, the UK’s Flimmuur (who made the fabric) is bringing CUTS combat shirts and Tac Dax combat trousers in Tigerstripe as well as the Kurtz jungle shirt.
Zodiac Milpro Strengthens Its Engineering Capacities with Vectis Marine Design
Monday, May 3rd, 2021Zodiac Milpro and Vectis Marine Design are very pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Vectis Marine Design by Zodiac Milpro on this day 30th April 2021.
Zodiac Milpro is a world leader in the manufacture of inflatable boats and RIBS for the military and professional market. Present in France, Spain, Canada, USA, Australia, UK, Italy and Singapore, Zodiac Milpro has a team of 400 employees worldwide and delivers a turnover of 60m Euros. Vectis Marine Design is a naval architecture consultancy based near Southampton, England with whom Zodiac Milpro has worked successfully for many years.
Created in 2008 by Andrew Humphries and John Fox Robinson, two highly skilled naval architects, Vectis Marine Design specialises in the engineering and design of high-performance and specialist vessels. The company has a strong reputation in the design of fast patrol boats, RIBs, Special Forces craft, rescue craft and other vessels to meet demanding operational requirements.
It is to Vectis Marine Design that Zodiac Milpro owes the development of the ECUME the well-known highly capable military RIBS for the French Navy, and the aluminum SRA series for the professional market, which sets a new benchmark in its field. Zodiac Milpro is currently entrusting Vectis Marine Design with the extension of this SRA range and other development of new innovative products.
As well as new vessel design, Vectis Marine Design provides technical support to a wide range of vessels and this will continue and develop with Zodiac Milpro’s backing. With this acquisition, Zodiac Milpro strengthens its autonomy in design and innovation, its capacity for engineering, and ability to deliver complex tenders and projects more effectively. This acquisition is part of the Group’s development strategy to support its growth and meet an ever-increasing demand from customers for more capable and efficient craft.
Guillaume Laurin, President of Zodiac Milpro commented,
“We are particularly pleased with this agreement. Vectis Marine Design and Zodiac Milpro have been working together for a long time. Thanks to Vectis Marine Design’s know how, experience and professionalism, Zodiac Milpro will be able to handle more complex programs and further increase its innovation dynamic. Our respective teams know each other well and appreciate working together. This acquisition is completely in line with our strategy to strengthen our internal capabilities. It is a natural rapprochement which will give both our companies great opportunities of further development and continue to offer our clients the best military and professional craft on the market.”
Andrew Humphries, Managing Director of Vectis Marine Design added,
“We have worked closely with Zodiac Milpro since 2009 and are delighted that Vectis is now becoming part of the Zodiac Milpro group. We have always enjoyed working with Zodiac Milpro and appreciated their professional and collaborative approach. We see this next exciting step as a great endorsement of the work that the whole Vectis team has put into the business since Vectis was established in 2008. We very much look forward to the closer partnership with Zodiac Milpro while at the same time continuing to support our other clients with innovative design, engineering and technical support”.
www.zodiacmilpro.com
www.vectismarine.com
Major Order for HENSOLDT Optronics
Thursday, April 29th, 2021Oberkochen-based sensor specialist supplies sight systems worth almost 75 million euros for Dutch armoured reconnaissance vehicles
Oberkochen, Germany, 28 April 2021 – Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has received an order from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) worth nearly 75 million euros to equip the Royal Netherlands Army’s “Fennek” armoured reconnaissance vehicles with visual systems. The scope of the order includes 188 BAA II NL observation and reconnaissance systems as well as a number of spare parts.
“Our optronic solutions combine sensors from different technologies to provide armoured vehicle crews with an excellent situational awareness,” said Andreas Hülle, CEO of HENSOLDT Optronics. “In the field, this capability is essential to fulfil the mission and ensure the protection of the crews.”
The BAA II NL is the logical further development of the BAA II JFST, which is already in use in the Joint Fire Support Team (JFST) of the German Armed Forces. The external dimensions have remained the same and the use and menu navigation have also been left unchanged in order to keep the training effort for the crew as low as possible.
The scope of the contract also includes adjustments to the YellowKite camera, which will be optimised to become a day-vision/near-infrared (NIR) camera with colour vision and will receive a near-infrared cut filter. In addition, HENSOLDT provides a digital outlet.
HENSOLDT will deliver the observation and reconnaissance systems to Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), which will handle the integration of the BAA II NL and its command and control system into the Fennek reconnaissance vehicles. Deliveries to KMW will begin in autumn 2022 with the qualification systems. Series delivery will start in 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
