GORE-TEX Military Fabrics

Archive for the ‘weapons’ Category

Army Considering New Capabilities for Infantry Including Precision Grenadier System, Medium Machine Gun & Mortar for Airborne Units

Wednesday, September 21st, 2022

Yesterday at the Future Force Capabilities Conference presented by the National Defense Industrial Association in Austin, Army acquisition officials provided information about future weapon capabilities for the service’s Close Combat Forces.

Two of Program Manager Soldier Lethality’s focus areas are engaging targets in defilade and future Medium Machine Gun capabilities.

Precision Grenadier System

In the past, the Army has worked to develop a system which could effectively engage targets in trenches and fighting positions. Referred to as the XM25 “Punisher,” it was the result of the XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon envisioned in the mid-1990s as a weapon which combined a 5.56mm kinetic energy carbine tied to a 20mm air burst system, essentially a programmable grenade launcher. The OICW’s two systems were untethered with the carbine becoming the ill-fated XM8 carbine and the grenade launcher ,the XM25 Individual Semi-automatic Airburst System. Despite being tested in Afghanistan, this counter-defilade weapon wasn’t quite ready for prime time.

The Army still wants the capability but it became a lower priority for a time as the Next Gen Squad Weapons program went through down select. However, the Maneuver Center of Excellence is working on a requirement for a Precision Grenadier System. PGS is envisioned as a man-portable, counter-defilade, target engagement system that enables the squad to organically destroy enemy personnel targets in defilade with quick and precise engagements. PGS is a flat trajectory, high velocity, semi-automatic, multi-shot weapon system, with a firefight ending lethality and precision compared to the legacy M320 GL.

This slide shows how PGS enhances engagement over troops equipped with the M320.

PGS just completed the Commanding General Assessment Board on 31 August, moving it forward for requirement development which is expected to be published in 2024. It will be evaluated as a full system including ammunition, launcher and fire control. The requirement will be caliber non-specific but rather concentrate on effects on target.

The Army is also working to field Individual Assault Munitions. This slide depicts how the Army plans to field both PGS and IAM and how they will be used.

Medium Machine Gun

Now that the Army is on the path toward fielding new Squad Weapons and ammunition, it is looking at how it equips the Platoon. It is conducting the Platoon Arms and Ammunition Configuration Study which will inform decision makers on how best to proceed regarding a new Medium Machine Gun capability. It examines the full trade space of feasible combinations fire control, weapons and ammunition capable of performing in a dismounted and platform mounted configuration. The PAAC study should be published by 4Q23 with a decision on MMG in 2024.

Although it’s still a way out for the Army, USSOCOM is working on a Lightweight Medium Machine Gun program in .338 Norma Mag with the Marine Corps monitoring. The Army is holding off committing to any course of action until the PAAC study is complete. Options include a new caliber and weapon or perhaps just a new weapon in 7.62mm NATO or 6.8 Common Case as is used in NGSW.

Battalion Mortar System

An additional new capability that was briefed is the Enhanced 81mm Mortar which will be employed by units weighing Mobile Brigade Combat Teams within the 11th, 82nd, and 101st Abn Divs. The Battalion Mortar System’s E81C will replace the 120mm mortars one for one and offer increased mobility with less similar performance to the 120mm systems they are replacing. The goal is to provide greater range and lethality at H-hour rather than at H+4 as is now the case. E81C will be mounted on the Infantry Squad Vehicle.

ZEV Technologies Announces The Selection Of The OZ9 Combat Pistol By The Department Of Energy, Office Of Secure Transportation

Tuesday, September 20th, 2022

Department of Energy OST (Office of Secure Transportation) has selected the OZ9 Combat X as their duty sidearm of choice. The OZ9 Combat X went through rigorous testing and evaluation. Modularity, ergonomics, reliability, and optic ready design all contributed to their decision.

Per the sole source contract aware notice, “The ZEV 0Z-9 handgun not only scored the highest overall technical score among six (6) 9mm gun manufacturers, but the ZEV 0Z-9 handgun received the highest individual testing criteria scores in regards to weight, damage resistance, low light operations, pointability, ergonomics, malfunctions, recoil management, and overall impression.”

sam.gov/opp/448ae3e5c3724f69b73497ba97c02c8c

“The Combat series of OZ9 pistols were developed specifically to meet the needs of the armed professional and defensive-minded citizen” said Nick Ghilardi, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at ZEV Technologies.  “It is not an exaggeration to say OST has one of the most important jobs in the world.  As such, ZEV Technologies is both proud and honored to supply them with the best tools available to ensure mission success.”

More about The Office of Secure Transportation

The Dept. of Energy, Office of Secure Transportation (OST) is one of the premier federal agencies in the country. OST is responsible for the safe and secure transport of government-owned special nuclear materials in the contiguous United States. These classified shipments can contain nuclear weapons or components, enriched uranium, or plutonium. Cargo is transported in highly modified secure tractor-trailers and escorted by armed Federal agents in other vehicles who provide security and response in the event of emergencies.

About ZEV Technologies:

ZEV Technologies designs and manufacturers pistol and rifle accessories and operates facilities in Centralia, Washington. www.zevtechnologies.com

USSOCOM Selects SIG Rattler for Reduced Signature Assault Rifle

Tuesday, September 20th, 2022

The United States Special Operations Command has awarded SIG SAUER a 5-year, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract valued at $5,000,000.00.

SOF selected the Rattler for this Commercial PDW Contract, which is known as the Reduced Signature Assault Rifle (RSAR) within the Command in order to provide Operators with maximum firepower in a concealable weapon.

This IDIQ will provide complete PDW weapons (Sig Rattlers – 5.56mm and .300 Blackout caliber) that includes suppressors (SL series), cleaning kits, magazines, quick barrel change kits, force on force training kits and other accessories. Furthermore, parts, sustainment, and New Equipment Training is also part of this IDIQ.

SIG SAUER Launches MCX SPEAR-LT

Monday, September 19th, 2022

Over the past few years SIG has continuously developed the MCX platform for both US and international customers, including for the recently awarded US Army Next Generation Squad Weapon program. According to SIG CEO Ron Cohen one of their goals was to transition lessons learned from their defense work to commercial guns.

Consequently, taking these developments, SIG has has released a new version of the MCX rifle. Since it now has more in common with the SPEAR variant than VIRTUS, they have chosen to name it the SPEAR-LT. As you can see in the image below, MCX SPEAR-LT is really more of a family of firearms with pistol, carbine, and SBR options.

It is being released simultaneously in three calibers: .223, .300 BLK, and 7.62 x 39. The latter has long been promised but now it’s here and I’ve fired all three calibers. But it goes even further, with barrel length options. For the .223 and 7.62 x 39 versions, they offer 16” & 11.5” barrels while the .300 model is only available with a 9” barrel.

You’ll notice that the Coyote anodized finish like the XM5 MCX SPEAR but aesthetically the SPEAR-LT is slightly different from the earlier VIRTUS. This is most notable in the handguard (10″ or 13″) which is thinner and lighter, although, also more rigid. The 16″ variant is also about a pound lighter than its VIRTUS predecessor.

Additionally, there are two gas block positions, suppressed and unsuppressed and it comes outfitted with a SIG QD flash hider for compatibility with SIG suppressors.

They’ve also integrated the ambi bolt catch and a new folding stock mechanism from MCX designs for defense customers. The stock trigger is a flat blade match model but the new firing pin latch accepts standard AR triggers.

With the launch of the MCX SPEAR-LT, the VIRTUS model will cease production, but you’ll find a more advanced design with the latest features offered previously only to defense customers.

www.sigsauer.com

Below is SIG’s Press Release:

The Evolution of the SIG SAUER MCX: Introducing the MCX-SPEAR-LT

NEWINGTON, N.H., (September 19, 2022) – SIG SAUER is pleased to announce the evolution of the most advanced and tested rifle platform in the world with the introduction of the MCX-SPEAR-LT.  Built off the foundation of the MCX Virtus the third generation of the MCX combines all the extensive testing, continued product development, and customer/special operations feedback to become the MCX-SPEAR-LT.  

“The first generation of the MCX platform was designed to be an AR-15 style platform with added modularity.  The second generation of the MCX, the MCX Virtus, was purpose-built for rugged durability and brought unprecedented modularity.  Now comes the MCX-SPEAR-LT, which incorporates the best of both generations and is the culmination of the latest research, development, and innovation in the MCX platform,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc.  “The lightened handguard has the expected rigidity and durability of the MCX, the lower is a familiar SDI, M400-style lower and ambi-bolt catch and release that is designed to fit the legacy VIRTUS uppers for more versatility.  The MCX-SPEAR-LT will accept AR-15 style triggers, in addition to the legacy triggers for even more flexibility in the MCX platform.  With the MCX-SPEAR_LT also comes the long-awaited addition of the 7.62×39 caliber to the MCX family bringing even more modularity to a platform that simply can’t be matched.  The evolution continues and the MCX-SPEAR-LT has raised the bar for modular weapons technology.”

The MCX-SPEAR-LT rifle is an aluminum frame rifle with a gas piston operating system featuring a lightweight ergonomic handguard, push-button folding stock with cheek-rest, and a cold hammer forged carbon steel barrel available in 9-inch (300BLK), 11.5-inch (7.62×39 & 5.56), and 16-inch (7.62×39 & 5.56) lengths.  The rifle offers fully ambidextrous controls including bolt catch and release, a SIG QD suppressor-ready flash hider optimized for SIG SAUER QD suppressors, a SIG flatblade match trigger, comes optics ready and can be easily paired with a SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ROMEO8 or TANGO6T, and is finished in a Coyote Anodized finish.  The MCX-SPEAR-LT is available is 300BLK, 556 NATO, 762×39 calibers.

MCX-SPEAR-LT Specs*:

Caliber: 300BLK

Barrel Length: 9 inch

Caliber: 556 NATO

Barrel Length: 11.5 inch

Caliber: 762×39

Barrel Length: 11.5 inch

Caliber: 556 NATO

Barrel Length: 16 inch

 

Caliber: 762×39

Barrel Length: 16 inch

*For additional specs including weight, overall length, width, and height by model visit the product page at sigsauer.com.

The MCX-SPEAR-LT is now shipping and available at retailers.  To learn more about the MCX-SPEAR-LT or watch the product video visit sigsauer.com.

LA Sheriff’s Department Approves Langdon Tactical RDO for Duty Use

Tuesday, September 13th, 2022

(Los Angeles County, CA) – Langdon Tactical is proud to announce that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has approved the LTT RDO solution on Beretta 92 pistols for duty use department wide.

The department approved LTT’s solution after more than two years of testing, including multiple deputies extensively evaluating the LTT slides over several thousand rounds. The LASD Deputies found Langdon’s RDO solution to be safe, effective, and high quality.

“This decision by LASD solidifies not just LTT’s position in the pistol red dot market but sends a message industry wide about the future of handgun optics” says Ernest Langdon, President of LTT “we’re looking forward to working with LASD and their Deputies as we introduce our Duty RDO pistols for the LE and commercial markets.”

Coinciding with the LASD policy update, LTT is launching their Duty RDO pistol, complete with the LTT optic solution on a duty approved (no other customization) Elite LTT 92. LTT also offers 92 RDO slides for those Deputies, Officers, or individuals who already have a 92 series pistol and want to add optic capability.

Check out all of Langdon’s Red Dot Ready options & pistols, along with the full line up of LTT products at www.LangdonTactical.com.

Marine Special Reaction Team Conducts Multiple Weapon Sustainment Training

Friday, September 9th, 2022

OKINAWA, Japan —

High-risk emergencies can happen anytime and require the attention of a specific group known as the Special Reaction Team, or commonly referred to as SRT.

The members of SRT are attached to the Provost Marshal’s Office and are always on standby to respond to situations such as an active shooter, hostage situations, and barricaded subjects.

“Today, we shot from a tower structure to simulate engaging a hostile target from a sniper position. Afterward, we moved to a short range to practice static fire, multiple hostel engagements, and team movement drills,” said Gunnery Sgt. Russell Harned, team commander with SRT, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. “We conducted a familiarization course of fire with an M40A6 rifle, Colt M45A1 Close Quarter Battle Pistol, P320-M18 pistol, and M4A1 Carbines.”

To remain proficient, SRT practices marksmanship weekly by conducting range firing and team tactics. As they continue to train, the team members have adapted to work not only with a dynamic approach but also with a psychological one.

“The way we execute the mission at hand has drastically changed,” said Harned, “We still enter structures in a dynamic style, referring to kicking down doors, but we now take into account a psychological approach, to understand what the individual inside is thinking and what we can do to help them.”

SRT works on an emergency basis. When a threat is deemed too high risk for a patrolman, SRT receives a call to neutralize the subject. Their main goal is to contain, control, and dominate a threat psychologically or physically.

“My job is to protect and save lives,” said Cpl. Dylan Diamond, a team leader with SRT, H&S Battalion, MCIPAC. “Our job as a team is to protect all service members, Status of Forces Agreement Personnel, and local nationals on base. When we arrive at a site, we resolve the situation promptly, with minimal property damage.”

Diamond explained that he sees SRT continuing to move positively by adapting to the new situations and developing new tactics to protect bases across Okinawa further. Diamond explained that they will continue to grow and work as a team, furthering their goal to contain, control, and dominate a threat psychologically or physically.

By LCpl Jonathan Beauchamp, Marine Corps Installations Pacific

The Modern Era Of Compensated Carry Is Here – Introducing the FN 509 CC Edge

Tuesday, September 6th, 2022

(McLean, VA – September 6, 2022) FN America, LLC announces the release of the FN 509 CC Edge™, a compact compensated pistol and the newest addition to the FN Edge™ Series of performance-driven products. Featuring a novel quick-detach FN compensator that is self-indexing, the compensator effectively mitigates recoil for faster shot recovery, improving speed to target, accuracy, and overall control of the pistol. The FN Edge Series is comprised of high-performance firearms developed with four key pillars: speed, accuracy, versatility and control. The Edge Series deliver unrivaled firearms performance over standard models, dramatically improving the user’s shooting experience.

“With the FN Edge Series of products, our team of engineers addresses the challenges facing today’s gun enthusiasts in a unique and no-holds-barred way. It’s a combination of aesthetics and performance that have been fine-tuned to perfection directly from the factory and delivered against the promise of FN innovation,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO for FN America, LLC. “The FN 509 CC Edge is a high-performance, premium 9mm carry gun that offers improved sight recovery, shootability and more, all without sacrificing on overall size for concealed carry.”

The FN Compensator

Key to the FN 509 CC Edge’s performance is the FN compensator. Designed to reduce muzzle rise by roughly 25 percent, the compensator significantly decreases felt recoil while preserving the ability to carry concealed. The compensator features v-style ports on either side that vector gases and flash out of the user’s field of view. The result is a shooting experience that is flatter and more controlled, allowing you to maintain a consistent sight picture from shot to shot. Machined from stainless steel and coated with a graphite colored PVD finish, the compensator is extremely durable and is designed to withstand hard use across standard and self-defense loads for the widest degree of compatibility, while still utilizing the factory FN 509 recoil spring.

“The addition of a compensator to a concealed carry pistol is a delicate balance – too small and your compensator can be ineffective. Too big and you aren’t able to conceal as easily along with other possible issues,” noted John Ryan, Director of Commercial Product Management for FN America, LLC, when discussing FN’s methodology in developing this compensator. “Our engineering team took a whole system approach to the design, knowing that this pistol was intended to be a CCW option, and had to perform with as little recoil as possible, but still needed to fit within the styling of the FN Edge Series. The sleek design of the FN compensator compliments the aesthetics of the Edge Series perfectly while meeting performance requirements.”

Unlike most other threaded compensators on the market that require tools to remove and timing shims to align the compensator to the slide, the FN compensator’s quick-detach design allows for easy disassembly for cleaning and maintenance. To field strip, remove the slide, push in on the front of the compensator and rotate 90 degrees to release it from the barrel’s locking lugs. To resecure the compensator, the novel and quick operation is simply reversed. No timing or adjustment is required before use and due to the self-locking lugs machined into the barrel, the compensator won’t loosen over time.

“Even if you have the best comp in the world that results in virtually zero felt recoil, it’s still a simple fact that most compensated guns are difficult to disassemble for routine maintenance. This was top of mind for us as we developed the FN compensator,” said Chris Johnson, Senior Product Manager, Pistols, for FN America, LLC. “Our team evaluated the more traditional attachment methods but opted to explore something new so that customers who purchased a CC Edge pistol would be able to disassemble both the pistol and compensator quickly for easy maintenance. Ultimately, we settled on this quick detach design that uses a compressed spring and lock ring within the compensator that mates to locking lugs cut into the barrel. It’s a future-forward idea and we’re excited about the potential impacts this has for our industry for other barrel attachments.”

In addition to the compensator, the FN 509 CC Edge includes a 12-round and two 15-round magazines with machined aluminum base pads; the extra weight of the base pads ensures an empty magazine drops free of the grip frame for a lightning-fast reload. The 4.2-inch cold hammer-forged barrel with recessed target crown and a new gold-color Titanium Nitride PVD barrel coating provide increased lubricity, hardness and long-wearing performance.

The micro-red-dot-ready pistol includes FN’s patented Low-Profile Optics-Mounting System™, allowing users to mount more than 10 different MRDs, without the need for a gunsmith. A green fiber optic front sight and low glare blacked out rear sights co-witness with the most popular optics.

Concealed carriers also benefit from the signature FN Edge Series fire control group, to dramatically increase speed and accuracy over standard firearms. The flat-faced trigger has a smooth take up and clean, 90-degree break. When paired with the high-endurance striker, this advanced factory-installed fire control group produces an approximated 5-pound trigger pull.

The pistol’s slide lightening cuts and in-mold stippled frame texture, first introduced on the FN 509 LS Edge, allow for superior grip and control for fast and accurate follow up shots. Its low-profile magazine release is reversible for lefthanded users, with a slide release fixed on both sides of the frame. Rounding out the advanced ergonomics package, the interchangeable backstraps further customize fit in hand.

The Edge of Performance

The FN Edge Series™ is a collection of advanced firearms with chosen performance benefits fueled by collaboration with tier one operators intimately familiar with being in harm’s way. They are not “smithed” or custom one-offs.

FN Edge Series firearms stand on a bedrock of unmatched quality standards and exhaustive testing demanded by global militaries and law enforcement where uniform performance is table stakes and only the best examples make the final cut.

To learn more about the FN 509 CC Edge and other FN Edge Series products, please visit fnamerica.com/509ccedge.

Rheinmetall and UVision to Supply HERO Loitering Munitions to a Major European NATO Partner

Monday, September 5th, 2022

Rheinmetall and its partner UVision have won a first order from a major European NATO military force for HERO loitering munitions. The customer, a special forces formation, ordered Hero-30 combat and training munitions, simulator, training courses as well as integrated logistics equipment and support. This first order is worth a figure in the single-digit million-euro range with possible additional orders might be expected in the future. The exact number of munitions to be supplied is classified. The order was placed in July 2022, with delivery scheduled to take place by 2023.

For both Rheinmetall and UVision, the order is of particular importance as it is the first delivery to a major European NATO force. This strengthens the joint presence of both partners in Europe. The contract was awarded under secrecy clauses which limit revealing its full details to the public. However, prior to awarding the contract, the customer conducted a market survey indicating that the HERO family had already proven itself in service with other armed forces such as the United States Marine Corps. In addition, it was noted that due to the high operability of the HERO systems family, there is the possibility that the customer will also introduce the next-in-series HERO loitering munitions into its forces in the future.

Hero loitering munition is a series of operationally proven, widely deployed effectors, manufactured and distributed in Europe as part of a cooperation between UVision Air Ltd. and Rheinmetall’s Italian subsidiary RWM Italia S.p.A. In October 2021, Rheinmetall and the Israeli company UVision entered a strategic partnership in the field of loitering munition. In this partnership, Rheinmetall and UVision are jointly addressing the rapidly growing market for remote-controlled precision ammunition.

Combat power multiplier

Loitering munitions – remote-controlled airborne precision-strike munitions – combine the operational advantages of drones and guided missiles. The systems provide front-line forces with a combination of advanced intelligence gathering and target acquisition capabilities along with extended range firepower, which until now could only be achieved by complex coordination between several units and echelons.

The term loitering munition (“LM” for short) is derived from the munition’s ability to remain undetected in the airspace above the target area for an extended period of time and to strike when the right moment arrives.

Versatile and easy to operate, loitering munitions can be used in national and allied defence as well as in low-intensity conflicts or peace stabilization operations. LM offers the military user considerable cost advantages over guided missiles, delivering comparable effectiveness as well as the ability to reconnoitre, locate and track targets from the air for an extended period. An important tactical advantage of the operationally proven UVision HERO systems lies in their high-precision strike capabilities, which results in minimal risk of collateral damage. Continuous monitoring in accordance with the “human in the loop” principle enables calculated, pinpoint attacks that are precisely tailored to the timing and conditions of a constantly changing situation.

A loitering munition system includes a single or multi-canister launcher, a loitering munition (or multiple LMs if the latter), communication technology, and a ground control module for the operator. The loitering munitions themselves are remote-controlled small air vehicles, each of which can attack ground targets – even beyond the line of sight.

All models are equipped with high-resolution electro-optical sensors and infra-red cameras that enable the operator to locate, monitor and ultimately engage even time-critical low-signature targets. In this way, enemy targets can be located, tracked, and verified to conduct precise strikes. The HERO system can abort an attack in mid-air, return to flight mode and then resume the attack or reassign other targets, giving operators great tactical flexibility on the modern battlefield.