At this week’s NDIA Armaments Meeting, Air Force Security Force Center’s Col Enrico Vendetti provided an update on USAF small arms. Up front, he iterated that the Air Force tends to leverage other service weapon programs. This is partly due to the fact that the Air Force’s requirement for arming is at about 50,000 personnel. The vast majority are Security Forces, but there are also Office of Special Investigations Agents and Battlefield Airmen in the mix. Consequently, much of the Security Forces Center’s effort is focused on the Reconstitute Defenders Initiative.
While much of that initiative is focused on the individual, there is also near-term acquisition of the M18 version of the Modular Handgun System, M320A1 40mm Grenade Launcher, GAU-5 5.56mm Aircrew Self Defense Weapon and CROWS/containerized weapons for Airfield Defense.
In the future, the Air Force is looking at M4A1 Improved Modular Rifle (discussed last year), acquisition of the M110A1 Compact Semi Auto Sniper System in 7.62mm, additional precision weapons such as USSOCOM’s Advanced Sniper Rifle, and Fire Control Systems. There is also OSI interest in a new sub gun like the Army’s new Sub Compact Weapon.
Interestingly, they are now focusing in on the SIG SAUER TANGO6 1-6 variable power optic selected by the Army and SOCOM for the AF M4A1 IMR.
