Australian ABC News is reporting that Australian forces operating in Afghanistan as members of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force will receive new, lighter armor plates as part of an effort to enhance the modularity of Australian armor systems.
Photo ADF
Download the video report here.
The hits just keep on coming. Last month we had over 2.2 Million and this month we approached 2.6 Million. You may have noticed that we have picked up the pace recently and we continue to publish seven days a week. More coverage means that as readers you need to check back more often to ensure that you don’t miss anything. Soldier Systems Daily will continue to provide unique and interesting content like our legislative coverage. Keep spreading the word and support our advertisers.
Recently, I began watching Discovery channel’s new series “The Colony”. It is an interesting take on reality TV pitting a cast of “average Joes” against the ruins of LA in a post-collapse scenario. However, I am not too sure how average the survivors are considering their number include a nurse, doctor, and several engineers. At any rate, each week, the cast faces a new challenge of building another contraption to improve their plight in addition to the standard fare of personality conflicts. Can’t we all just get along? The show makes you think and brings up some interesting solutions to such dilemmas as power generation and water purification.
All that said, in my opinion it is well worth your time. Check listings for show times.
Designed to replace the box spring under twin, queen, or king size mattresses BedBunker modular safes are compatible with most standard bed frames. The safe provides ample storage space for up to 32 rifles and 70 handguns not to mention various other valuables. 32 rifles? 70 handguns? That’s a lot of room. The BedBunker is also two hour fire rated at 1533 degrees.
Check out BedBunker online for all of the details.
Outdoor clothing producer, Sitka Gear has updated their site to include the products released at SHOT show earlier this year. Of particular note are the additions to their Necessities line which include the Traverse Balaclava, Stormfront Gaiter, Bomber belt, as well as the Jetstream Hat, Beanie, and Gloves (seen below).
In addition to several solid colors and hunting patterns, Sitka was one of the first companies to incorporate W.L Gore’s Optifade pattern.
To check out their entire line visit them on the web.
Shellback Tactical has just launched their new embroidered FLEXFIT logo caps with the Shellback Tactical logo. Additionally, they are offering a pre-order for the premier Shellback Tactical T-shirt.
Due to numerous requests for Shellback logo gear they chose the popular FLEXFIT caps which are available in Black sized S/M or L/XL. The T-shirt is also offered in Black in sizes Large, XL, and 2XL. During this introduction, both the hats and t-shirts are both going for $18.00. Once the promotion has ended the price will go to $22.00 for each.
Visit Shellback Tactical online for full details.
In the 2010 House Defense Authorization bill there is a section that would require standard ground combat uniforms.
“Section 352—
Requirements for Standard Ground Combat Uniform This section would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Defense Logistics Agency, to require that future ground combat uniforms be standardized in order to ensure increased interoperability of ground combat forces and reduce tactical risks encountered when military personnel wear a different uniform from their counterparts in the other military services in a combat area.
The committee notes that, previously all the military services used the same desert camouflage uniform or the standard battle dress uniform, both in the temperate and enhanced weather versions. However, the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia of the Defense Logistics Agency, which is responsible for the manufacture of all U.S. military uniforms, now procures unique camouflage utility uniforms for each of the military services: the Army combat uniform, the Airman battle uniform, the Navy working uniform, and the Marine Corps combat utility uniform.
The committee is concerned that the recent move toward unique service camouflage uniforms has resulted in increased costs and production inefficiencies. For example, problems with consistency in fabric shading have required remanufacture of some uniforms. In addition, the costs for the unique uniforms are substantially more than for the standard battle dress uniform because of the differences in design, camouflage pattern, and type of fabric.
Most importantly, the committee is concerned that this uniqueness poses a tactical risk in theater, especially for those assigned to combatant commands or as individual augmentees who may be wearing a different uniform from those they are serving with in combat.
The committee also notes that service-specific battle dress uniforms magnify the challenges and costs associated with procuring personal protective gear and body armor that conform to the design and coloration of the basic uniform”
Well, Congress pretty much hit the nail on the head, just six years too late. This horse has been out of the barn for awhile but it does seem that the hoopla over the Army’s use of UCP in Afghanistan has attracted some thoughtful analysis. Interestingly, these are essentially the same arguments made by Robert Strange McNamara when he was Secretary of Defense during the Kennedy administration. At his direction, in the early 1960s the services moved to a standard uniform including boots and at one point, even T-shirts. However, this proposed legislation also references an issue that has been a major concern in the field and that is fratricide and OPSEC.
The services rely heavily on their individual uniforms for branding purposes so it is unclear how the departments may react to such a directive. Although, according to the document, there is some wiggle room including a reference to “future ground combat uniforms” which might allow the services to delay any changes to coincide with the fielding of future individual equipment ensembles. Another issue is that the bill references both utility uniforms as well as combat uniforms. Interestingly, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps have all adopted FR combat uniforms that closely resemble one another except in the area of camouflage. The real differences come to play in the utility uniform realm. Such distinctions might make implementation difficult.
There have been calls within industry for some time for the services to adopt a single color scheme in order to simplify production and realize cost savings. While the implications of such legislation are very deep for the military as well as industry, it is important to note that this is still just a bill and not yet law. In fact, it may not even make it out of committee.
Thanks to ADS Ventures for alerting us to this legislation. It will be interesting to find out who is promoting this particular measure.
Daniel Defense just released the new DDXV as an entry level carbine.
Functionally, it is the same rifle as the DDM4 and features the same flared magazine well, A1.5 rear sight, cold hammer forged barrel, rear receiver QD sling swivel attachment point as well as a host of other design enhancements. This is the perfect carbine for those that want to modify their rifle with different accessories. Daniel Defense has provided the carbine with Mil-Spec collapsible stock, hand guards, and pistol grip. These three items are most commonly replaced with after market items.
The DDXV is available now from Daniel Defense.
