Archive for the ‘USMC’ Category
Don’t Forget Marines
Monday, November 2nd, 2020Force Recon Marines Conduct Combat Readiness Evaluation
Saturday, October 17th, 2020Marines and Sailors with Charlie Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division participate in a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE) at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, from Aug. 20 – 27, 2020. The Company completed multiple training events in order to show its units readiness and combat effectiveness throughout the exercise for their upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (US Marine Corps video by Cpl Israel Chincio)
FirstSpear Friday Focus— FirstSpear Wins MAAWS Pocket Contract for MARCORSYSCOM
Friday, October 16th, 2020
Photo Credit: Department of Defense. US Marines fire a Carl Gustaf weapon system on Townshend Island at the Shoalwater Bay training area in Australia, July 21, 2017, during Talisman Saber 17.
Next year, the United States Marine Corps will begin fielding the 84mm MAAWS, a recoilless rifle weapons system to every squad in the corps. While the original version of the launcher was introduced in 1946, the ammunition has evolved significantly. The newest round, developed by Raytheon, is a precision-laser guided projectile with a multi-target warhead, capable of defeating bunkers, concrete, light-skinned vehicles and armored personnel carriers. Additionally, it has a range of nearly 2,000 meters and can be fired from inside an enclosed room.
FirstSpear is proud to announce it has received a contract to produce up to 10,200 of the company’s 84mm MAAWS Ammunition Pouch, to help Marines carry munitions under a balanced load in combat situations and quickly deploy them as needed. Awarded on September 25, 2020, the company is already ramping up production and will manufacture all pockets in the U.S. with Berry Compliant materials.
FirstSpear designed the pouch to be adjustable in length from 18 to 38 inches to accommodate a variety of projectiles, to meet current infrared requirements, and be compatible with current Marine Corps load bearing equipment. Zippered across both ends for ease of loading, the closed pocket design limits sand and debris exposure. It features an internal pocket primer protector and it comes equipped with an adjustable sling and tube straps for use with a hard case. Like all FirstSpear products, the 84mm MAAW Ammunition Pouch was designed to be durable, lightweight and highly functional.
For more information, check out First-Spear.com. To discover more about FirstSpear’s technology, check out First-Spear.tech.
USMC Executes $25.6 Million Contract to Knight’s Armament Co for NT-4 Suppressors
Monday, September 28th, 2020
Earlier this summer we told you about the USMC’s intent to sole source a contract to KAC for the NT-4 suppressor. Last Friday, the Marines executed that contract.
Knight’s Armament Co., (small business) Titusville, Florida, is awarded a $25,652,000 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of 5.56mm small arms suppressor. This contract provides for 5.56mm small arms suppressors that will be used on the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, M4 Carbine and M4A1 Close Quarter Battle weapon. Work will be performed in Titusville, Florida, with an expected completion date of Sept. 20, 2027. The maximum dollar value, including a base ordering period of five years with two 12-month options, is $25,652,000. Fiscal 2018 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $6,676,971 are being obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source, with one offer solicited and one offer received. The statutory authority permitting use of other than full and open competition for this action is 10 U.S. Code § 2304 (c)(1) as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, “Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.” The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-20-D-1719).
Kongsberg Awarded Contract to Deliver XM914 Remote Weapon Stations to the US Marine Corps for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System
Monday, September 21st, 2020
JOHNSTOWN, Penn. – Sept. 21, 2020 – Kongsberg Protech Systems USA has been awarded a contract to qualify an XM914 (30mmx113mm) remote weapon station (RWS) in support of the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) Program Manager Ground Based Air Defense Office. The systems will be integrated on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) and will include a number of specialized counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and air defense capabilities. Kongsberg USA will deliver test articles and assist the USMC in performing Design Verification Testing (DVT) toward future production deliveries.
The Kongsberg XM914 RWS is the first 30mm remote weapon station to be qualified on the JLTV platform. It includes the XM914E1 30mmx113mm DC driven cannon with a co-axial M240 (7.62mm) machine gun, an integration kit for the Stinger Air-To-Air Launcher (ATAL) and provisions for future C-UAS defeat systems. The XM914 RWS leverages a significant number of components, Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), and capabilities from other Kongsberg RWS and Medium Caliber Turrets already delivered to both the USMC and the United States Army to bring logistical support efficiencies and overall commonality.
“Although a new class of weapon and station, it is based on a proven design and previously qualified components to provide the Marine Corps with a low-risk system that reduces the burden of provisioning and training across the service,” said Jeff Wood, general manager, Kongsberg Protech Systems USA. “We are very excited to have been selected once again by the Marine Corps for a challenging RWS program. We look forward to helping them meet an aggressive delivery schedule and provide Marines with a critical lethality capability.”
Kongsberg was recently selected to design and manufacture the remote Medium Caliber Turret (MCT) for the United States Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)-30 program. Kongsberg also provides all medium weight RWS for the Corps’ ACV and AAV platforms.
Kongsberg is the world’s leading manufacturer of RWS, delivering nearly 20,000 RWS units to more than 20 countries worldwide. All RWS systems – including turrets – bound for U.S. customers are manufactured in Kongsberg’s Johnstown, Penn. facility with significant support from a U.S. supply base.
Hide and Seek: Stalking With US Marine Scout Sniper Course Students
Saturday, August 15th, 2020CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —
U.S. Marines with the Scout Sniper Course 2-20, Reconnaissance Training Company, Advanced Infantry Battalion, School of Infantry – West, participated in a stalking and infiltration course in the Romeo Training Area on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, July 26.
The Marines started at a designated grid point then moved forward by various means toward two observers. The objective was to close with a target, fire two shots and then exfiltrate from the training area. The trick is the Marines had to do it all without being detected by the observers. To help them in that, the Marines applied camouflage paint and built their own ghillie suits.
“The most important part of this exercise, in my opinion, is learning how to properly utilize camouflage,” said U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Steven O’keefe, an instructor with the Scout Sniper Course. “The Marines must also learn to utilize the things in front and around them.”
Some challenges that add to the difficulty of stalking exercises are the different types and height of vegetation in the area, route selection, size of the area and the time of day.
“The most important part of this exercise, in my opinion, is learning how to properly utilize camouflage.”
Staff Sgt. Steven O’keefe, Scout Sniper Course instructor
Camp Pendleton has over 25 stalking lanes for sniper training. The training areas differ by vegetation, size of the area and terrain.
Prior to this training the students participated in land navigation, classes on the basic infantry skills, live-fire exercises and other stalking lanes.
“The hardest part for me was moving to the final firing point without being detected,” said Lance Cpl. Norman Ballard a student with the Scout Sniper Course. “The vegetation in this lane is also taller, so that makes the final firing point difficult to find in this lane.”
The class started with over 20 Marines and is now expecting to graduate 14 when the 12-week course ends in late August. Between now and then, the Marines will conduct more ranges and stalking lanes, before finally ending with a culminating event that puts all the skills and knowledge they’ve gained from the course to the test.
By LCpl Drake Nickels
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
SIGMAN Camouflage SOP: A Guide to Reduce Physical Signature Under UAS
Wednesday, August 5th, 2020Written by a group of US Marines, ‘SIGMAN Camouflage SOP: A Guide to Reduce Physical Signature Under UAS’ goes into great detail regarding signature management against Unmanned Aerial Systems.
The Marines have changed up their doctrine, adopting Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE) and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), which require Fleet Marine Forces to support Navy sea control missions. This disperses small units along key littoral terrain. As you can imagine, our adversaries will be looking for them and one of the most effective means is via air, UAS in particular. Remaining hidden from these eyes in the sky isn’t just critical for mission success, but for survival.
Available for download from 2ndbn5thmar.com.
GAO Report – Military Parachutes: Observations on Army and Marine Corps Acquisition Programs
Monday, July 20th, 2020The House Armed Services Committee directed the Government Accounting Office to review the Army and Marine Corps’ procurement of free fall parachutes.
Their report examines the acquisition strategies used by the Army and Marine Corps for their parachute programs and the extent to which the Army and Marine Corps programs are meeting their cost, schedule, and performance goals.
The Army awarded its contract for the Advanced Ram Air Parachute System—known as the RA-1—in 2011. The Marine Corps awarded its contract for the Enhanced-Multi Mission Parachute System—now called the PS-2—in 2018.
GAO found that both programs are on cost and schedule.
Download your copy here.
