You’ve probably seen the so-called Tetris challenge photos posted by various military units depicting their gear layout. This one is from the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron.
RCAF’s 442 Sq Takes The Tetris Challenge
December 13th, 2019USSOCOM Selects Nightforce Optics for Precision-Variable Power Scope
December 12th, 2019
United States Special Operations Command has awarded Nightforce a contract for the Precision-Variable Power Scope (P-VPS). This award addresses the precision weapon solution for the USSOCOM Miniature Aiming Sight – Dayscope (MAS-D) family of optics.
Lightforce USA Inc., doing business as Nightforce Optics,* Orofino, Idaho, is awarded a $53,735,930 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year ordering period for Precision-Variable Power Scopes (P-VPS). This procurement is for the P-VPS Standard and the P-VPS Standard, Long Range. The P-VPS is a precision direct view optic with continuously variable magnification ranging from 3x to less than or equal to 7x and greater than or equal to 25x continuous zoom for U.S. Special Operations Command. Work will be performed in Orofino, Idaho, and is expected to be complete by December 2024. Fiscal 2020 defense procurement funding in the amount of $2,351,124 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current continuing resolution period. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-20-D-JQ57).
The optics selected for the P-VPS award are the MIL-SPEC ATACR 5-25×56 Dayscope and MIL-SPEC ATACR 7-35×56 Long Range Dayscope l, both manufactured by Nightforce Optics. The P-VPS Dayscopes are designed to improve target detection, acquisition, and identification as well as increase probability of hits during day and night time engagements between 0-1500m and feature the Tremor 3 reticle.
The P-VPS is awarded as a system and in addition to the optic includes the Nightforce MIL-SPEC UltraMount with RAP-I Laser Range Finder attachment bridge, tool kit, and soft case.
Seen above is the 7-35×56 mounted to the Mk22 Advanced Sniper Rifle manufactured by Barrett. In addition to the Nightforce scopes and mounts (NF UltraMount and RAP-i LRF Mount), it includes a suppressor manufactured by Barrett. The ASR is a multi-caliber system capable of firing 7.62mm NATO, 300 Norma Mag and .338 NM.
The Very First Prototype Honey Badger by Q
December 12th, 2019Tubeless DT silencer, tapered muzzle, Noveske lower, KAC lower parts stuff, printed stock and grip, HK MP-7 rails.
Photo by Ten Pound Monkey.
SOG Announces Collaboration with MTM Watches to deliver Limited Series Timepiece Collection
December 12th, 2019Available exclusively at SOGKnives.com the exclusive collection of four SOG MTM Watches (Hypertec, Hypertec Chrono 1, Hypertec Chrono 2 and Hypertec H-61) are American-made and have been designed based on the feedback and demands of professionals across the variety of environments and situations they are faced with around the globe.
Together, SOG and MTM are releasing a collection of timepieces that are both sophisticated and seamlessly connected to their wearer’s daily needs — a culmination of innovation and design from both companies.
The collection includes four options of Quartz Movement watches, that have been balanced for our users’ needs, each featuring an understated SOG Logo on the dial:
The Hypertec H-61 is a standout among luxury men’s watches. It features dual bezels, one inner and one outer, which can be rotated separately for multiple tracking capabilities. The Swiss movement has a 24 hour GMT indicator with a date window nestled into the dial. Classic stainless steel gives it a stylish feel.
The stylish Silver Hypertec Chrono 1C watch sports a tan dial and one easy-to-read seconds sub-dial. Like all MTM watches, the Hypertec Chrono is intricately designed and features strong and durable pieces, such as the stainless steel case, locking, double O-ring sealed crown, and scratch-resistant glass. These materials allow the watch to work deep underwater, up to 660 feet/200 meters, without missing a beat. At night, the watch’s super luminous hands glow for easy readability.
The Hypertec Chrono 2 watch for men is the perfect balance of utility and casual contemporary wear. This designer watch is classy by nature and rugged by choice, with an added sense of style to create an edge to an already pristine chronograph watch. Each Hypertec Chrono 2 watch is battery-powered with a three-year rating. With a 200-meter water resistance depth and high-grade quartz chronograph movement, the MTM Hypertec Chrono 2 is sure to surpass all of your expectations.
The Hypertec is designed to withstand the toughest elements, with a unique hybrid design, combining combat ruggedness with active lifestyle for style conscious wearers. This watch is equipped with a solid stainless steel case, is water resistant to 200 meters and has scratch-resistant, anti-reflective tempered glass and is driven by a silver oxide battery.
SOG has a history of making mission-capable knives and tools, and this extremely limited collection of timepieces maintains the company’s mantra of always being mission-capable, while remaining sophisticated and rugged for end-users’ highest demands. The watches, like SOG knives, are made to be worn every day, with the confidence they will perform wherever and whenever needed.
“Our users have been asking for more hard-use timepieces from us, and our collaboration with MTM Watches allows us to deliver another layer of purposeful gear for our users,” said Jonathan Wegner, SOG’s Vice President of Brand. “Teaming with MTM to offer the SOG x MTM Watch Collection provided us with an avenue to build a collection of multiple performance and feature combinations, each optimized to various user needs and use case scenarios, leveraging MTM’s innovative designs and styles and all built to MTM’s exceptional standards.
BCM MK2 Upper Receiver Aligned. Unbending
December 12th, 2019
Redesigned by lessons learned in combat since 9/11, the BCM MK2 Upper Receiver is built with up to 30% more rigidity than the current Mil-Spec M4 upper receiver without sacrificing interoperability for a mere additional 1/3 ounce of weight.
MEET THE NEW WAR – SAME AS THE OLD WAR
Upper receivers with baked in carry handles and iron sights have been relegated to history. Optics are now synonymous with forward deployed combat carbines, featuring modular “optics ready” flat top upper receivers. Driven by a sense of urgency to improve lethality and save American lives in real-time, this innovation has inadvertently introduced a degradation in the rigidity of the upper receiver, with the weakest point being the area around the ejection port.
Shifting mass from non-critical to critical areas; the BCM Mk2 Upper Receiver reduces barrel deflection and enhances bore tolerances improving barrel alignment, consistency and accuracy. This enhanced rigidity aids accuracy by limiting barrel deflection from external loads such as a bipod or vertical grip. Also prevents unwanted deflection of moving components, reducing the chance for premature damage and wear of the bolt and barrel lugs which results from misalignment.
POSITIVE EFFECT ON TARGET
In addition to weapon optics, suppressors have also become standard in modern combat operations. With added gas expansion areas and new channels added around the charging handle opening, vent gas away from the end user’s face, reducing distractions when employing the weapon system with a can.
LETHALITY IN THE DETAILS
Fine tuning the positioning of the forward assist creates additional clearance for right hand sided charging handle manipulation and clearance for end plate mounted slings.
USGI
The MK2 Upper Receiver also retains all USGI components in assembly and works with all USGI bolt carriers, charging handles and barrel assemblies.
BUILT TO EXCEED
Forged from 7075T6, the BCM MK2 Upper Receivers retain a form following grain structure which maximizes achievable strength. All of these improvements come without affecting the manual of arms employed in manipulating a Mil-Spec upper receiver.
MADE IN AMERICA
All BCM components and accessories unite state of the art manufacturing with lightweight and durable materials to ensure components that last a lifetime, performing far beyond performance requirements established nearly six decades ago.
www.bravocompanymfg.com/mk2upper
Smith & Wesson – M&P 9 Shield EZ
December 12th, 2019
Smith & Wesson just announced a 9mm variant of the Shield EZ, a carry/defensive pistol introduced in 2018. Originally available only in a .380 chambering, the EZ was designed for ease-of-use, with an easy to rack slide and easy to load magazines, and was principally marketed to inexperienced shooters and those with weaker grip strength that made racking a traditional pistol slide difficult.
This trend continues with the 9mm variant, which shares virtually all the same features, from its single stack midsized frame to the eight round capacity easy-load magazines, as its predecessor. The frame itself has an 18° grip angle, 1911-esque grip safety, M2.0 style texturing, reversible magazine catch, and a picatinny rail dust cover for the attachment of a light or laser.
The slide features front and rear charging serrations, a tactile loaded chamber indicator, windage adjustable rear sight, and S&W’s Armornite corrosion-resistant finish.
The Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield EZ is now available through Smith & Wesson dealers, in four variants:
SureFire Field Notes Ep. 51 with Bill Rapier. How to Draw for the Fight.
December 12th, 2019Bill Rapier of Amtac Shooting discusses the necessity of a one handed draw and how to create space in a combative scenario.
Bill Rapier spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL teams with the last 14 as a member of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). His assignments included assaulter, breacher, sniper, team leader, troop chief, and military working dog department senior enlisted adviser. Bill is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Gustavo Machado (Virginia Beach), has been training in Sayoc Kali since 2006, and has trained in western and Thai boxing as well. Bill is now the owner/operator of American Tactical Shooting Instruction & Amtac Blades.
www.amtacshooting.com
amtacblades.com
www.surefire.com
Rheinmetall to modernize international client’s air defence systems in multimillion-euro project
December 11th, 2019An international client has awarded Rheinmetall a contract to modernize its air defence systems. The total value of the order, now official, comes to around €120 million. Delivery is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2020.
The modernization measures will enhance the combat effectiveness of existing Skyguard air defence systems. Among other things, the upgraded systems will have an improved capability against drones. The order also encompasses spare parts, technical documentation, training and instruction support as well as state-of-the-art ammunition.
A world leader in the field of ground-based air defence technology, Rheinmetall networks the full array of sensors, effectors, platforms and command&control assets into overarching, scalable system. This results in a highly effective, modularly designed, flexibly deployable ground-based air defence capability – a system of systems covering the entire operational spectrum.
