The New iTWB

M24E1 is Now the XM2010

October 7th, 2010

Recently Remington was awarded a contract to upgrade up to 3,600 M24 Sniper Weapon Systems to .300 Win Mag in addition to a few other upgrades such as an improved chassis. Originally, this new variant was referred to as the M24E1, but the Army’s PEO-Soldier is now referring to it as the XM2010. An “X” designation before an M model number denotes experimental. 250 of the Enhanced Sniper Rifles will be fielded to deployed Snipers beginning in December.

PEO-Soldier also released some photos of the new XM2010 complete with Leopold optics and AAC supressor. Unfortunately, the weapon is completely Black. Hopefully the fielded systems will be in Flat Dark Earth or another color more appropriate for use in combat.

For more information visit PEO-Soldier.

US PALM AKM

October 7th, 2010

US PALM is getting ready to offer an AKM package featuring a lower 1/3 co-witness mount with T1, PWS brake, and pimped with all of their US PALM goodies. Keep your eye out for more details soon.

“Angel of Dien Bien Phu” to speak at AUSA

October 6th, 2010

The Association of the US Army’s Annual Meeting is right around the corner. One of the things we are looking forward to (other than checking out the Colt CM901) is meeting Genevieve de Galard, French nurse who served at the besieged Dien Bien Phu earning her the nickname “l’ange de Dien Bien Phu”. Hers is an incredible story, chronicled in the book “Angel of Dien Bien Phu” and AUSA has just sponsored the first English language version.

In November 1953 the French army and colonial parachute troops dropped into a valley in Vietnam near the village of Dien Bien Phu. The siege of Dien Bien Phu became one of the decisive battles of history. The capture of its garrison confirmed France’s inability to control its colony in Indo China. During that operation, a young French Air Force nurse volunteered to fly on evacuation missions in C-47 aircraft landing on Dien Bien Phu’s only airstrip. After two months of flights, her plane lost an engine on landing and was destroyed by gunfire. A young Genevieve de Galard found herself the sole woman and nurse in a trapped garrison whose ability to survive was measured by enemy advances through the garrison’s trenches and the meager rations and ammunition that survived airdrops. De Galard soon became a French legend: “The Angel of Dien Bien Phu.”

The garrison’s Foreign Legionnaires made her an honorary member, and France awarded her the Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre. After the garrison was overrun, she continued to serve the wounded, while in Viet Minh captivity. She was repatriated and, within several months, President Eisenhower awarded her the Medal of Freedom for heroism. New York gave her a ticker tape parade. Her story is one of bravery, dedication, and stands as an inspiration to those who cherish freedom everywhere.

Skull Hitch Cover

October 6th, 2010

Ever wanted something for the hitch on your truck or 4×4 that looked cool, yet menacing? Then TAD Gear’s Skull Hitch Cover should do just the trick. Handmade from laser-cut steel with a powder coated finish, it’s emblazoned with the design of TAD’s Mean T-Skull logo.

– Tactical Fanboy

CM901 Details from DR

October 6th, 2010

Defense Review has opened the floodgates and released a deluge of info on the Colt CM901 Modular Carbine. Head on over to check out all of the details and take in the photos and video. www.defensereview.com

Five Fingers Gives the Finger to Counterfeiters

October 6th, 2010

All of us have Five Fingers although quite frankly my pinky toe freaks out after awhile in them. We think this message speaks for itself. Support genuine products. Learn more about counterfeiters.

www.fivefingers.com

Crane Awards Visible Assets, Inc. Contract for Weapon Shot Counters

October 6th, 2010

Visible Assets, Inc.announced that it has been awarded a five year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division for up to US$5 million for RuBee™ weapon shot counter tags in response to Request For Proposal N0016410RJN87 “Weapon Shot Counter”. They will be used on the SCAR (MK16/MK 17) and M4 supporting weapon service life, overall weapon maintenance, and the prevention of catastrophic weapon failures. An initial $637,563.00 Purchase Order was placed for RuBee Ruggedized HandHeld Readers and RuBee shot counter tags.

Unique chip designs help reduce power consumption so the tags have a minimum five year battery life to a maximum fifteen year battery life in normal field use with conventional coin size Li batteries. Long battery life wireless tags make it possible to permanently seal tags into a MIL-STD-810G rugged package. The advanced state machine CPU contained in the tags is capable of providing complex real-time signal processing, waveform analysis, round interval statistics and a programmable predictor of barrel wear based on barrel temperature histograms. Independent test of the VISIBLE shot counter have consistently shown a 99% or better accuracy in basic shot counting mode. The tags can also facilitate improved weapons accountability.

John K. Stevens, CEO of Visible Assets, Inc. said, “This award represents an important milestone for our company. We have made a major investment in this technology and have worked hard over last several years to meet the high standards set by the US military for a combat based weapon shot counter. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the experts at Crane as a result of the award. This award will help optimize our current weapon shot counting tag with many additional battlefield features so we can improve safety, reliability and performance of mission critical weapons used by our troops”

For further information on RuBee and Visible Assets, visit www.rubee.com.

MOLLE Gets the Mystery Ranch Treatment

October 5th, 2010

The issue MOLLE has been given a makeover by Mystery Ranch similar to the one afforded last year to the Marine Corps’ ILBE. The Mystery Ranch WELBE was unveiled at last year’s Modern Day Marine and is a program designed to adapt the ILBE to a more versatile carrying system; the NICE frame. At this year’s Modern Day Marine, Mystery Ranch showed us their latest adaption; the NICE MOLLE. They have mounted an issue MOLLE Large pack to a NICE frame. As you can see, the NICE frame is more armor friendly and can be used for a variety of other functions such as a pack board for outsized loads.

www.mysteryranch.com