Archive for the ‘SOF’ Category
And A-TACS Was There
Friday, April 7th, 2017Lead The Way Fund Gala
Thursday, April 6th, 2017
The Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund will be hosting its 3rd Gala Benefit this evening at Pier Sixty in NYC in support of our wounded and active duty U.S. Army Rangers and their families. Tom Brokaw will be back again as the Master of Ceremonies and the United States Special Operations Command Warrior Care Program (Care Coalition) will be honored with the Sgt. James J. Regan Lifetime Achievement Award. The USSOCOM Warrior Care Program supports Special Operations Forces (SOF) Wounded, Ill, or Injured service members and their families by providing a model advocacy program to enhance and strengthen their quality of life.
Protonex Technology Corporation is proud to support the great work of the Lead The Way Fund and has donated a custom Glock pistol for the auction portion of this evening’s event. Protonex Director of Military Sales, Ray Summers (himself a former 75th Ranger Regiment NCO) will also be in attendance at this evening’s Gala.
USSOCOM Selects M-Lok For Weapon Programs
Friday, March 31st, 2017
While we’ve heard rumors of a USSOCOM directed study by NSWC-Crane of weapon accessory attachment systems, we only recently came into possession of evidence of that study, conducted in 2016. We present to you the summary of the report, as it offers the most pertinent facts. However, we are not offering up the rest of the report, as it contains proprietary information regarding the Magpul M-Lok attachment as well as other, competing systems.
The summary states:
SUMMARY
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) conducted testing for the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to evaluate modular rail systems and provide a recommendation based on the performance characteristics of each system. Modular rail systems were evaluated for repeatability, endurance, rough handling, drop testing, and static failure load. Where possible, handguards manufactured in different modular rail systems, but otherwise identical, were used as a basis for a comparative analysis. All tested modular rail systems showed to be adequate for securing accessories during cyclic loading through endurance and rough handling testing. However, distinct performance differences were observed from repeatability, drop test, and failure load analysis. Overall, test and evaluation demonstrated that the M-LOKTM modular rail system surpassed the performance results achieved by other modular rail systems. In repeatability testing, M-LOKTM allowed for the repeated installation of the same accessory rail in the same location on a handguard with an average point of aim (POA) shift of 1.3 MOA, as low as one quarter the average POA shift observed by other modular rail systems. Drop test results demonstrated that M-LOKTM systems maintain securement of accessories to the handguard and sustain less damage from impact forces than some other modular rail systems. Failure load testing demonstrated that M-LOKTM systems support the highest load of all modular rail systems tested. In fact, the test equipment used to interface with 1913 accessory rails secured with the respective modular rail system across testing repeatedly failed prior to failure of the M-LOKTM attachment system. Even so, testing of the M-LOKTM systems failed at loads as high as over three times the maximum failure load of some other modular rail systems. NSWC Crane recommended to USSOCOM that the M-LOKTM modular rail system be utilized over the alternative systems tested. USSOCOM has chosen to incorporate the M-LOKTM modular rail system in acquisition efforts including the Suppressed Upper Receiver Group (SURG) and Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR).
Of additional note, the US Army directed H&K to integrate an M-LOK rail (designed by Geissele) on the new Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System rifle which is an indication of wider Dod adoption of M-Lok.
Quantico Tactical Offering SEAL 50th Anniversary SIG MK25 Pistols
Tuesday, March 28th, 2017These highly customized Sig Sauer MK25 pistols commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the US Navy SEALs.
Features:
• Custom, High Luster Finished Sig MK25 Pistol
• Meticulously Cut Scroll Work
• Engraved with Gold Inlay:
o “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday” on Right Side of Slide
o “1962 – 50th Anniversary – 2012” on Left Side of Slide
• SEAL Emblem in Custom Hogue Grips
• Available Exclusively from Quantico Tactical while supplies last
Price: $975
These commemorative pistols are only available to active, reserve and retired SEALs and UDT Members who preceded the SEALs. Please note there is a eligibility verification process. Available via their website or in their stores.
Quantico Tactical manages the Commemorative Weapon Program for Sig Sauer and Smith and Wesson. Quantico is also the leading Military/LE Program weapon reseller for SIG, Smith & Wesson, FN, Beretta and IWI. To design a commemorative weapon or to organize a group buy for your unit, contact Quantico Tactical at www.quanticotactical.com/CommemorativeWeapons.
Special Forces Basic Combat Course – Support
Sunday, March 12th, 2017The Utah Army National Guard runs a two-week course for 19th Special Forces Group’s support troops called the Special Forces Basic Combat Course – Support (SFBCC-S). Other, similar courses have sprung up for other SOF Enablers since the war began. However, I don’t of any others that are firing mortars.
USSOCOM Seeks Personal Defense Weapon
Friday, March 10th, 2017In a request for information released yesterday to industry, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) seeks to identify potential sources within the national technology and industrial base with the ability to provide a conversion kit for the M4A1 to create a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) system:
-Complete Kit to include upper receiver and butt stock kit
-Any tools required to complete an operational conversion
-A light and sound reducing suppressor that can be attached to the system when needed
PDW Kit specifics: The kit must be adaptable to the standard M4A1 lower receiver, any modification to the lower receiver must be reversible and nonpermanent. The kit must be in .300 Blackout (BLK) cartridge, total system weight, including the M4A1 lower in not to exceed 5.5lbs. Length with stock extended not to extend 26″ length with stock collapsed or folded shall be 17″ (T), 15″ (O) and a height not to exceed 7.5″. Weapon shall be fully functional when collapsed or folded. Kit should include a 5.56mm barrel that can be changed from .300 BLK to 5.56mm in less than 3 minutes. Accuracy shall be 3.0 MOA (T), 2.0 MOA (O) @100 yds. and 5.0 MOA (T), 3.0 MOA (O) @ 300 yds. both in .300 BLK supersonic.
While there are numerous solutions on the market, based on the mention of a folding stock, it sounds like someone is interested in the SIG SAUER MCX kit.
Interested parties have until 10 April to submit their information. Visit WWW.FBO.GOV for more information.
Feel The SURG Redux – USSOCOM Again Seeks Suppressor Upper Receiver Group for M4A1 Carbines
Monday, March 6th, 2017Last year, USSOCOM’s Directorate of Procurement released a solicitation for the Suppressor Upper Receiver Group, however they canceled the program before it was completed. The requirement was a bit too ambitious for the state of the art.
Despite this, SURG isn’t dead. As updates made on the FedBizOpps page from February of this year shows, USSOCOM’s DoP regrouped, rewrote the requirement, and reissued it, with the latest amendment released on March 1st.
As a reminder: “The SURG weapon upgrade of the M4A1 Lower Receiver Group will allow the Warfighter’s weapon to be optimized for continuous suppressed use.” Interestingly, there’s no requirement, at least on the open to the public side, that the upper feature an integral suppressor, just that it is suppressed.
Several companies have licked pieces of the challenge, but not the whole thing as an integrally suppressed upper which can not only handle the M855A1 cartridge but also remain cool enough under use to meet the program’s objectives.
It remains to be seen whether the revitalized requirement will bear an issued product, or will phase out, due to an overly ambitious requirement, like the first time.
Visit www.fbo.gov to view the entire requirement.
The SOF Truths
Monday, February 27th, 2017The Special Operations Forces Truths have been around for so long that they are taken for granted. The thing is, you can apply them to any low denisty, high demand capability. I thought we should kick off this Monday morning by revisiting them since the US Army has not only deactivated its Long Range Surveillance capability but it’s Pathfinder Companies as well. Once they’re gone, it’s difficult to bring them back.
Humans are more important than hardware
People – not equipment – make the critical difference. The right people, highly trained and working as a team, will accomplish the mission with the equipment available. On the other hand, the best equipment in the world cannot compensate for a lack of the right people.
Quality is better than quantity
A small number of people, carefully selected, well trained, and well led, are preferable to larger numbers of troops, some of whom may not be up to the task.
Special Operations Forces cannot be mass produced
It takes years to train operational units to the level of proficiency needed to accomplish difficult and specialized SOF missions. Intense training – both in SOF schools and units – is required to integrate competent individuals into fully capable units. This process cannot be hastened without degrading ultimate capability.
Competent Special Operations Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur
Creation of competent, fully mission capable units takes time. Employment of fully capable special operations capability on short notice requires highly trained and constantly available SOF units in peacetime.
Most special operations require non-SOF assistance
The operational effectiveness of our deployed forces cannot be, and never has been, achieved without being enabled by our joint service partners. The support Air Force, Army, Marine and Navy engineers, technicians, intelligence analysts, and the numerous other professions that contribute to SOF, have substantially increased our capabilities and effectiveness throughout the world.
