Now on Kickstarter, “MAKING A NIGHT STALKER: A Special Operations Aviator Memoir” is a memoir by Veteran David Burnett.
Rarely do we get a look inside the 160th, but I’m pleased to mention that the author has stood by his NDA and submitted his manuscript for DoD review.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/1138312234/making-a-night-stalker
This premium 9×12 hardback ‘encyclopedia’ is filled with nearly 1,000 pages of now declassified CCT stories and hundreds of color photos; it will be a treasured addition to your library, office or man cave.
Celebrating eight decades of Air Force CCT history; this chronicle is filled with now declassified stories of CCT exploits.
CCT: The Eye of the Storm chronicles the exploits of Air Force Combat Control Teams (CCT). It is told in a series of short stories – many etched by a cocktail of blood, sweat and tears. The Combat Control story began in Volume I with the appearance of the first CCTs; i.e., command and control teams cobbled together by the WWII U.S. Army Air Force [USAAF] for Operation VARSITY. VARSITY, the airborne assault across the Rhine; was one component of a multifaceted ground invasion leading to the surrender of Nazi Germany on May 7, 1945. The CCT story continued in Volume II, detailing the 21st Century fight in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Included are several humanitarian missions; two missions of epic proportion in Haiti and Japan.
In this new book, subtitled Medal of Honor (MOH) the CCT chronicle continues, incorporating the two previously published volumes and adding stories of ongoing combat operations in Afghanistan; now America’s longest war. The earlier, self-published volumes targeted a limited military audience of USSOCOM forces, families and friends. This new book is an all-inclusive compilation offered in a single premium publication expected to reach a world-wide audience of US and allied military organizations, families, friends and military enthusiasts.
CCT has been a critical linchpin in thousands of operations over the course of the careerfield’s history, yet they are one of the least known Special Operations Force. Pre-ordering this book will help ensure their story is told.
This book isn’t cheap, but if you’re a true history buff, especially of SOF, this is a must-have volume. What’s more, it’s sure to increase in value.
www.mentormilitary.com/CCT-The-Eye-of-the-Storm-p/adc-cct
Oh ye, of little faith. I know some of you still don’t believe that the US military is adopting 338 Norma Magnum and 300 NM for the Advanced Sniper Rifle System. But it’s true. In addition to US Special Operations Command, both the Army and Marine Corps are also in.
Consequently, the US Army Contracting Command – Picatinny Arsenal, NJ on behalf of the Project Manager, Soldier Weapons (PM-SW) has issued a sources sought notice for the manufacture and delivery of the following cartridges for precision sniper applications:
• .338 Norma Magnum (NM), XM1162, Armor Piercing (AP) Ammunition (DODIC: AC32)
• .300 Norma Magnum (NM), XM1163, Ball Ammunition. (DODIC: AC33)
The 338 NM AP and 300 NM will be produced to Government provided detailed specifications and accepted in Government specified test barrels.
The Government contemplates an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Fiscal Years (FY) 20-25 for this acquisition (five years from date of award). The estimated quantity to be procured for each fiscal year is up to 2M for .300 NM and up to 1.2M for .338 NM AP at a production rate of 150,000 per month per cartridge type. Award is planned to be made in 1QFY20.
All responsible and interested sources should submit their capabilities to produce .338 NM AP and .300 NM like cartridge configurations. The respondent must demonstrate and provide valid documentation that they have the ability to produce a minimum of 1M of each cartridge type, annually. If a source is not capable or interested in producing both cartridges, the respondent should state which cartridges they are capable of producing.
Once a determination has been made by the Government as to the capabilities of the interested sources, the Government will release the required performance requirements and/or the detailed specifications.
Visit www.fbo.gov if interested.
Last year, Canadian Special Operations Forces began their quest for a new Advanced SOF Combat Uniform. Several companies are currently competing for that business.
At CANSEC, Logistik Unicorp displayed their prototype for that program. It is made from Enhanced NYCO which is no melt, no drip and their own proprietary FR knit for the torso of the shirt. Also seen here is a prototype overwhite ensemble, complete with Pack Cover and handwarmer.
They also incorporated a few pocket innovations. For instance, the flapped upper arm pockets are right at the seam and inset. They feature covered, slotted buttons.
The pants have Knife slot as well as flaps for the front slash pockets as well as thigh cargo pockets.
In our USSOCOM Small Arms Modernization Update post a few weeks ago you may have noticed a slide depicting the Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade.
This concussion grenade is made by Nammo and consists of up to three modules and traditional spoon-style initiator which can combined to offer the desired effect.
Effects, it has aplenty. To visualize what this hand grenade offers, think about a small wooden shed that you’d buy at Home Depot. If you use just one module, you’ll blow the door open and the windows out. Select two modules and you’ll knock the shed off its foundation. But screw on all three sections and the real magic happens; you’ll transform the shed into splinters.
www.nammo.com/what-we-do/explosivespyrotechnics/hand-grenades
SAN DIEGO – May 22, 2018 – Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced that its Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS) business division launched the new and improved M3X networking modules from its DTECH product line at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa, Florida. With the industry’s lowest size, weight and power (SWaP), the M3X product family allows users to operate in austere environments with ruggedized modules consisting of a network switch, router, application server and smart battery power system.
“We are very pleased to unveil the latest enhancements to our recently launched M3X product family at SOFIC this year,” said Michael Barthlow, vice president of secure networking, Cubic Mission Solutions. “Truly a game-changer in the industry, the M3X redefines modularity and represents a new operational capability and configuration system for warfighters and communications professionals, ready to be deployed for any mission, anytime, anywhere.”
The M3X features a raised angle connector (RAC) that allows the modules to interconnect seamlessly without the use of an external Ethernet or external power cable. With an interlocking rail system, the M3X modules easily snap together both vertically and horizontally, allowing unlimited configurations for both tactical command posts and executive travel. Its reduced SWaP is compact and portable enough to be transported within a small messenger bag or backpack. In addition, the M3X offers a scalable and intelligent power system through modules that can be inserted anywhere in the stack, providing user critical feedback on battery and alternating current (AC) power status.
The M3X will be showcased at Cubic’s booth #1135 on the exhibit show floor at the Tampa Convention Center. For more information on the M3X, visit www.cubic.com/m3x.
SNC and its partners will participate in the demo, also being called “Game of Drones,” using X-MADIS (eXpeditionary Mobile Aerial Defense Integrated System), which is a self-contained, fully mobile and integrated counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) capability. The C-UAS, radar and Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) equipment is integrated into a commercial off-road vehicle that can detect, locate, identify, track, exploit and defeat an enemy UAS (also known as drone) to protect airports, no-fly zones and other high-value infrastructure.
The SOFWERX RPE demonstration events began in June 2017 and have evaluated more than 450 technological capabilities aimed at bringing sea-, land-, and air-based UAS, tactical swarms, payloads (kinetic/non-kinetic/sensors), and their associated data science applications to the Special Operations Community. ThunderDrone RPE III is the culmination of the events, and X-MADIS is one of just 30 remaining entrants. Only warfighters, interagency partners, and select contributors from industry and academia may participate in RPEs, which are formally evaluated by a government assessment team.
X-MADIS performed flawlessly in the previous RPE II held at Ft. Bragg North Carolina. This event evaluated operational setup time and the system’s capability to detect, locate, identify, track, exploit, defeat, and assess effects on threat representative small unmanned aerial vehicles. The top three participants for the upcoming exercise, called “Game of Drones,” will be awarded prize money based on system performance.
For more information, see the SOFWERX website. X-MADIS will be on display at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa, Fla., May 22-24, booth #1624.
