No sooner than the SIG ROMEO-M17 Red Dot Optic was released than shooters started looking for surplus M17 and M18 Modular Handgun System pistols to mount it to.
SIG listened and has launched the M17X and M18X which are commercial versions of the US military’s MHS but with the already ROMEO-M17 mounted.
Features:
-Coyote X-Carry grip module with magwell
-Flat X-Series trigger
-(3) 21rd magazines
The WindSceptor from Optical Air Data Systems is a laser wind and range finder which remotely measures wind speed, direction, and range-to-target.
The system works by firing series of 1550nm eye-safe laser pulses into the atmosphere. As the laser pulses travel through the air, a small fraction of the laser light is reflected from microscopic dust particles naturally entrained in the air. Sensors detect this reflected light and compute the speed and direction of travel of these dust particles (and consequently the speed and direction of the three-dimensional wind) using the Doppler Principle.
Tempest is a 3.25 lbs handheld binocular. Measurement range out to 5,000m as well as head and crosswind measurements in six range gates between 50m and 500m.
Thunderbolt is a 14 oz rifle mounted device. Measures range to 1600m and head and crosswinds from 80-100m. Thunderbolt also includes visible and near-infrared laser pointers and illuminators.
WindSceptor 4 weighs 8 lbs and features an integrated optic and integrated tripod. It ranges out to 5,000m as well as head and crosswind measurements in six range gates out to 1,000m.
All of the systems feature integrated GPS/IMU and offers Bluetooth as well as cursor-on-target data output as well an internal rechargeable battery.
Naturally, you’d immediately consider this technology for use on weapons to improve accuracy and it’s already being used for that.
However, there are applications in the aviation realm which bear consideration. For example, Combat Controllers could use a system to read winds around assault landing zones to improve safety. Likewise, Drop Zone Safety Officers could read winds on large DZs rather than relying on limited wind speed sampling using an anemometer.
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. — First Army is leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence during large scale mobilization exercises and other missions.
Lt. Col. Melissa Sayers, First Army operations research systems analyst, or ORSA, said the first use will come during the 2024 iteration of Pershing Strike, First Army’s annual exercise to validate the Army’s ability to mobilize forces in support of large-scale combat operations.
The use will be limited but by the following year, the plan is for it be an integral part of the exercise and other First Army operations. It is forecasted to eventually be a routine part of how First Army does business. The hope, Sayers said, is that, “not only do will we have a simulation that we can run a million scenarios on but it’s part of our everyday operations, helping us get to decisions faster.”
Artificial intelligence is the use of computer systems to perform tasks that traditionally require human input and do them much faster. For First Army, faster information would lead to a boost in efficiency during operations that move a multitude of Soldiers and equipment to an assortment of locations across the country for training and mobilization.
“The machine can’t do it without the human,” Sayers noted. “Say we had a large-scale mobilization operation and we had all these units ready to head out the door and the medical unit shows up at 50 percent strength. With AI, we have the ability to pre-calculate solutions. We estimate what is going to happen if you make this decision, and we can go ahead and run it and calculate all those different decisions and have the best three or four recommended to the commander. The commander still makes the decisions but we can get there a lot faster if we have it pre-calculated and ready to run when something happens.”
AI is used in all manner of situations, from customer service to medical diagnoses to traffic patterns. At First Army, the plan is for it to create more efficient operations in exercises and mobilizations, including a large-scale mobilization operation if such an event arises.
“That’s what First Army cares about,” Sayers said. “We want to be able to push out the Reserve Component in a timely manner in event of a large-scale conflict. Once you have the model created, you can start playing with it. It helps leaders at very high levels figure out what levers to pull and what resources to apply to maximize what’s happening on the ground.”
Sayers noted the positive impact this can have for units of any size and the individual Soldiers.
“We have units full of people that need to be processed,” she said. “They need to arrive at their home station, they need to make sure they have all their equipment. What does it take to get the equipment fully maintained? What does the shipping network look like? How many observer coach/trainers should we have and of what flavor — do we need aviation, medical, infantry? How many medical stations? What if one of those stations goes down? What if one shows up at only half-strength? What happens at that location and what are our options to react to that problem. We can plot all this out.”
Partially due to the value of AI, First Army added an ORSA this year. “Anytime First Army has needed to do advanced analytics, it’s had to outsource it,” Sayers said. “They’ve never had anyone inhouse to advise the command and do the work.”
It’s a microcosm of what’s talking place across the Army.
”The ORSA role has exploded in the last couple of years,” Sayers said. “We’ve been limited on what we’re able to provide to the commands because the amount of data was not there to do deep qualitative analysis. Suddenly all this data is able to be collected because we have the hardware to be able to store it and we have the hardware to be able to collect it.”
Because of that, First Army and its partners will be better equipped to provide combatant commanders with trained and ready Reserve Component Soldiers.
By Warren Marlow
The Austrian defence ministry has contracted with Rheinmetall to carry out a comprehensive modernization of its existing Skyguard air defence systems. In the presence of Austrian minister of defence Klaudia Tanner, the two parties have now signed the contract for Project Skyguard Next Generation in Vienna. For Rheinmetall the order represents sales of €532 million (without value added tax), which can already be booked as an incoming order in December 2023. The contract encompasses a project period of 48 months starting in February 2024.
On behalf of Austria, a neighbouring nation and close partner of Germany, Rheinmetall will be conducting one of the most ambitious air defence projects in Europe. For the Austrian Army, the undertaking is an important step in its “Mission Forward” rearmament programme to revamp the country’s armed forces.
Armin Papperger, chairman of the executive board of Rheinmetall AG, welcomed the news: “We’re delighted by this important market win for Skynex technology. In this flagship project, Austria is at the absolute forefront of antiaircraft and counter-drone defence in Europe. This major order also highlights Rheinmetall’s key role in reequipping the armed forces of Europe in response to new threats. Our solutions for stationary and mobile air defence are part of this.”
Skyguard Next Generation belongs to the Skynex family of products from Rheinmetall Air Defence, the global leader in close-range air defence technology. The order package for Austria comprises a total of seven tactical units, each consisting of four 35mm guns, a sensor unit for monitoring airspace and a command post. In the process, twenty-eight 35mm guns currently in the customer’s inventory will be upgraded to the latest state of the art. The contract also includes spare parts, training support and 35mm ammunition. A contractually agreed option for ordering an additional tactical unit exists as well.
In the words of Oliver Dürr, CEO of Rheinmetall Air Defence AG in Zürich, “We greatly appreciate the trust of our friends and partners in Austria. The Austrian Army’s decision in favour of Skyguard Next Generation is more than just a quantum leap – it opens the door to a whole dimension in antiaircraft and counter-drone capabilities.”
Austria is getting a custom-built, pathbreaking solution for close-range air defence. “The order is a significant gain for our company”, declares Dürr, “and especially for our Zürich plant, which is responsible for carrying out the project, where it will make a decisive contribution to capacity utilization.”
The Skyguard Next Generation system is based on existing weapons systems owned by the Austrian Army. As part of a service life extension programme, its existing 35mm Oerlikon twin guns will be completely modernized and linked to a high-performance target tracking capability and Rheinmetall’s Skymaster command system.
Extraordinarily high-precision sensors make it possible to detect and identify aerial targets at an early stage. The command system lets the operator build up a local picture, evaluate the threat situation and, in close coordination with high-echelon elements, open fire. Guided missiles can also be incorporated into the system.
The complete system is highly mobile, assuring maximum efficiency during military planning. The guns can be dismounted and/or operated remotely, keeping troops well out of harm’s way while simultaneously improving combat effectiveness.
Rheinmetall’s Skynex
Cannon-based air defence solutions from the “Skynex” family of products are especially appropriate for short-range operations, where guided missiles cannot be used effectively. The Skynex system encompasses airspace surveillance, a weapon engagement centre, and effectors. Featuring a rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute and a maximum effective range of up to 4,000 metres, Oerlikon rapid-fire automatic cannon serve as the effectors
The success of the ageing 35mm Gepard antiaircraft tank in Ukraine underscores the effectiveness of cannon-based in countering aerial targets – especially cruise missiles and drones – and the continuing relevance of this capability today in close-range air defence.
Compared with the Gepard, however, Skynex offers a generational leap in terms of sensor technology as well as the possibility of networked application of multiple tactical units and inclusion in higher-echelon command and control systems. Moreover, using Rheinmetall’s programmable 35mm Ahead ammunition gives Skynex a unique edge when it comes to successfully combatting aerial targets.
The Law Tactical ARIC Pistol Plate is designed for use with the Law Tactical AR Internal Carrier, eliminating the need for a buffer tube, standard receiver end plate, and castle nut. Includes two integrated QD Sling attachment points.
www.lawtactical.com/aric_pistol_plate_p/2024app
Bawidamann has collaborated with Les George to offer a limited run of Doughboy Old World Charm packages consisting of:
ONE TRECNH KNIFE AND SCABBARD
ONE MK1 MOD2 SAP (STRAP INCLUDED)
This is the Trench Knife that consistently sells out as soon as they are available. The S35-VN blade is from Les George with the knuck handle by Bawidamann. I own one and they are meticulously crafted. These are investment casted for that old world charm, complete with cast marks and all the beautiful imperfections.
Bawidamannn claims this is an heirloom piece and based on the looks my sons gave it when they saw it, I think I’m going to have a hard time holding on to it until I pass on.
This is completely made in the USA and comes with an inlaid Chattanooga Leather Works scabbard.
The inlay is either OD or one of the two M1942 Frogskin camo variants; you choose. Supply is limited.
DROP TIME: Today at 2PM EST
Black/OD packages are dropping today with M1942 Frogskin packages dropping later in the week.
Be sure to check local laws regarding this product.
NEWINGTON, N.H., (December 12, 2023) – SIG SAUER is pleased to introduce the P322-COMP; built for the range, this premier rimfire pistol from SIG SAUER is designed with features that make it even more fun to plink with and competition ready right out of the box.
“When we brought the P322 to the market it was hailed for its ingenuity, quality, and value. Now the P322-COMP raises the bar on the entire .22 plinking experience,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc. “The P322-COMP ships with a factory installed ROMEOZero ELITE Red Dot optic for fast target acquisition, is designed with a slide mounted racker and sport takedown lever as value-added fun features, and a barrel-mounted compensator to reduce muzzle rise making the P322-COMP a fast, fun, and flat pistol to plink with.”
The SIG SAUER P322-COMP is a competition ready .22LR rimfire pistol with class-leading 25+1-round and 20 + 1-round capacity, has a threaded barrel equipped with a 2-port compensator and comes with a factory-installed ROMOEZero Elite Red Dot Optic. The polymer grip module features an extended magazine catch, adjustable trigger shoe, sport takedown lever, 1913 rail, and integrated magwell. The SAO hammer-fired action on the P322-COMP is completely enclosed in a two-tone competition alloy slide with a high visibility fiber-optic front sight, front, rear, and top cocking serrations an ambidextrous slide mounted racker ensure effortless slide manipulation. The pistol ships with (1) 20-round magazine and (1) 25-round magazine.
P322-COMP Specs:
Caliber: .22LR
Capacity: 20+1, 25+1
Overall length: 8 inches
Overall height: 6.1 inches
Overall width: 2.2 inches
Barrel length: 4 inches
Sight Radius: 6 inches
Weight (w/magazine): 19.8 oz.
The SIG SAUER P322-COMP is now shipping and available at retailers. To learn more about the pistol visit sigsauer.com.
