November 13, 2008

DefenseReview has been publishing information about Springfield Armory XD (eXtreme Duty) series pistols for quite awhile now, since a number of our professional contacts in the tactical community swear by them, particularly the .45 ACP models. To date, the most interesting XD pistol is the Springfield XD(M) a.k.a. Springfield XDM .40 S&W pistol, which updates the XD's looks and ergonomics, adds a "Minimal Reset Trigger", and provides the user with 16+1 rounds of .40 S&W ammo via its "Mega-Capacity Magazine".

Not content to rest on their laurels, Springfield Armory (SA) has decided to offer a...

November 12, 2008

A company out of Sheldon, Iowa called JARD, Inc. has introducted a new semi-auto .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO) anti-materiel/sniper rifle called the JARD J50.

The J50 is a gas-operated direct-gas-impingement (DGI) rifle that utilizes a 9-lug rotating-bolt locking locking mechanism. The combination of the weapon's DGI operation, 30" free-float stainless steel barrel, and JARD adjustable trigger should...

November 10, 2008

On November 3, 2008, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) issued a Sources Sought Notice for a "Semi-Automatic Precision Weapon System" (SAPWS) (Solicitation Number: M6785408R1011), i.e. a semi-auto sniper rifle, capable of firing the 7.62x51mm NATO (7.62mm NATO) M118 Long Range (LR) Cartridge. The SAPWS, which would essentially be the Marine Corps' version of the U.S. Army's M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System), must be equipped with a silencer/sound suppressor and must be capable of mounting all available night optics and aiming devices (scopes, targeting lasers, etc.) currently in the USMC inventory.  The rifle must also be equipped with a scope and "must be capable of use with the M8541 Scout Sniper Day Scope (SSDS)."

Coincidently (or perhaps not so coincidently), LaRue Tactical recently introduced their...

Colt Defense's last new offering is the Colt Extended Range Carbine (ERC), which is a 5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO)/.223 Rem. select-fire, match-grade rifle/carbine designed to allow the end-user to engage targets in excess of 600 meters away when utilizing a 16-inch (16") barrel, and in excess of 650 meters when utilizing a 20-inch (20") barrel. The Colt ERC's lapped heavy match-grade barrels (16" and 20 ") are 1-in-8" twist, and thus allow the operator to utilize the full gamut of bullets with grain weights from 55 to 77 grains. Both button-rifled and cold-hammer-forged barrels are available, depending on customer preference.

The Colt ERC also features a 2-stage trigger (full-auto) and Colt's patented Mil-Std-1913 "Picatinny" rail system (quad rail)/forend rail tube. Being a select-fire, i.e. full-auto, carbine/rifle, the ERC incorporates Colt's new...

November 4, 2008

So far, DefenseReview has covered the Colt SCW (Sub-Compact Weapon), Colt APC (Advanced Piston Carbine) and Colt AHC (Advanced Hybrid Carbine), but those aren't the only newly-developed weapons in Colt Defense's bag of tricks. If you're interested in an upgraded/modernized version of the standard, direct-gas-impingement (DGI) Colt M4A1 Carbine, Colt Defense has two weapons for you, the Colt ACC (Advanced Colt Carbine) and Colt ACC-M (Advanced Colt Carbine-Monolithic) select-fire carbines.

The Colt ACC adds some of Colt's new components/features and accessories that we've already covered. These include the:...

COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct 09, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ceradyne, Inc. (CRDN: 23.50, +1.74, +8.0%) announced that it has received a delivery order for $73 million for XSAPI body armor plates. This order is the first production delivery order against the $2.37 billion ID/IQ (Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity) contract announced on October 6, 2008. This production order is scheduled to be completed within the next twelve months. Delivery commencement is subject to approval of the First Article Testing (FAT) order which was placed simultaneously with the large ID/IQ contract.

David P. Reed, Ceradyne President North American Operations, commented: "We are pleased to have received this initial volume production delivery order against the large five year procurement ID/IQ contract announced earlier this week. We believe that this will be the first

October 31, 2008

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 29, 2008) -- The Army announced today the awarding of three contracts for technology development on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

Together, the three contracts are worth a combined total of approximately $166 million. They have been awarded to: BAE Systems Land & Armament Systems – Ground Systems Division, Santa Clara, Calif.; General Tactical Vehicles (A Joint Venture of General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. and AM General, LLC), Sterling Heights, Mich.; and Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego; Owego, N.Y.

The JLTV is a joint program between the Army, the Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command, where the Army has been designated as the lead agency.

The JTLV family of vehicles will provide the Joint Services with a balance between three key factors:...

October 28, 2008

According to a recent Air Force Times article, the F-22 Raptor has the lowest pilot-retention rate of any U.S. fighter or attack aircraft measured, at a rather abysmal 33%. Compare this to 81% for F-15E Strike Eagle pilots and 68% for F-15 Eagle pilots respectively, and, gentlemen, we've got a problem. Think about that for a second. If those numbers are correct (and we're not sure about them, yet), the F-15E, a much older and less-technologically-advanced aircraft, enjoys almost 2.5 times the pilot retention rate of the vaunted F-22.

The article didn't give an explanation, just the brutal facts. However, there are a few posibilities that immediately come to mind. 1) Dealing with USAF bureaucracy surrounding the incredibly expensive and PR-controlled F-22 program is an incredible pain in the ass. 2) Flying the 5th-generation F-22 Raptor is too easy, due to its...

"America is facing a critical point in our history. The election for President of the United States is not about selecting a leader to keep us on a set path, but to recover from many major problems this country is currently facing. It is about selecting a leader who will provide us with national security. It is about selecting a leader who will bring better support to our soldiers and their families. It is about selecting a leader who will defend our Constitutional rights and not leave us defenseless and unable to protect our loved ones and communities. This election is a fight to preserve the American way of life. We must select a leader who is capable of living up to a higher standard.

If you value your Second Amendment rights, you must be aware that the Democrats are aiming to take them from you. This is from their 2008 Democratic Platform Report (DNC 08-13-08):...

DefenseReview recently mentioned Singapore Technologies Kinetics a.k.a. ST Kinetics in our article on the GDATP IAR/Ultimax 100 Mark V (Ultimax 100 MK5) LMG/SAW is offering an interesting and pretty slick-looking little lightweight, multi-calber submachine gun (SMG)/personal defense weapon (PDW) called the Compact Personal Weapon (CPW) for CQB/CQC applications and longer engagements out to approx. 100-150 yards. However, as this is written, the CPW is only available in 9mm Parabellum (9x19mm NATO) caliber, and what those future caliber offerings will be is anyone's guess. In the meantime, it looks like what we've got here is an SMG/PDW with heavy HK MP7A1 PDW (4.6x30mm) influence, and one that's been executed pretty well--provided it's reliable, durable/rugged and accurate under adverse conditions and high round count  In fact, it could be argued that the CPW resembles an updated/modernized MP7A1.

The ST Kinetics Compact Personal Weapon (CPW) subgun/PDW utilizes a "unique...

All of the photos contained in this article were taken by Chen Lee a.k.a. "SMGLee" at the 2008 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition, and he owns the copyright on these photos. Additional photos may be added to this article, later.

October 21, 2008

Speaking of IARs, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) had there own Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) candidate on display at AUSA 2008 in the form of a Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics) Ultimax 100 Mark V (MK5) LMG/SAW, which is essentially an updated/upgraded and modified Ultimax 100 MK4 LMG/SAW (a.k.a. Ultimax 100 Mark IV LMG/SAW). It appears from the photos DefenseReview has acquired that the GDATP IAR/Ultimax 100 MK5 LMG/SAW's rather unique-looking ambidextrous safety/selector switch features both semi-auto and full-auto settings, and M4/M4A1 Carbine/M16 Rifle-style 4179 STANAG mag well designed to accept 4179 STANAG (AR-15/M16-type) 30-round box magazines and 100-round Beta C-MAG double-drum mags, instead of the Ultimax's proprietary 100-shot single-drum mag.

The GDATP IAR/ST Kinetics Ultimax 100 Mark V (a.k.a. Ultimax 100 MK5) LMG/SAW's addition of a semi-auto setting is a definite plus, as it allows the Ultimax LMG/SAW to...

All of the photos contained in this article, with the exception of the first/top photo, were taken by Chen Lee a.k.a. "SMGLee" at the 2008 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition, and he owns the copyright on these photos. Colt Defense, LLC provided the first/top photo.

October 20, 2008

While I was visiting Colt headquarters last month, I got the chance to handle the Colt IAR (Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle) candidate. The Colt IAR is chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO)/.223 Rem. round and is designed to "satisfy the role currently played by the FN M249 SAW in a lighter, more man-portable mode" (Colt's words) at significant cost savings vs. the SAW.

Interestingly, the Colt IAR operates via…

October 16, 2008

In our article on the Colt Sub-Compact Weapon a.k.a. Colt SCW, DefenseReview discussed the upgraded direct-gas-impingement (DGI)/gas piston/op-rod Hybrid Operating System that's available as an option for it. Well, the Colt Advanced Hybrid Carbine a.k.a. Colt AHC select-fire carbine (5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO)/.223 Rem.) utilizes a dedicated hybrid DGI/piston system, which incorporates Colt's proprietary and patent-pending Gas Regulator Sleeve. Defense Review believes that the piston portion of the system incorporates Colt's proprietary and patent-pending Articulating Link Piston (ALP), but we're not sure about this. We'll try to get confirmation on this point.

The Colt AHC's hybrid DGI/piston-driven system is definitely the most interesting and intriguing operating system that Colt is offering. It's purpose is to...

October 13, 2008

The Colt SCW (Sub-Compact Weapon) isn't the only potential "HK416 Killer" (a.k.a. "416 Killer, for short) in Colt's new product arsenal, or the only new Colt Defense weapon offering shown at the 2008 AUSA Meeting & Exposition. Colt Defense is also now offering the Colt Advanced Piston Carbine (APC) 5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO)/.223 Rem. select-fire carbine/subcarbine/SBR, which leverages research and development, and capitalizes on lessons learned, from the Colt M5 and Colt LE1020 gas piston/op-rod-driven carbines. The Colt APC piston-driven carbine/SBR is perhaps Colt's most direct threat to the HK 416, as, save for the APC's Mil-Std-1913 "Picatinny" Monolithic Upper Receiver, the APC is the closest of all Colt's new products to the 416 in terms of weapon configuration, operation, and appearance.

Unlike the HK416, however, the Colt APC piston-driven carbine/SBR utilizes Colt's proprietary Articulating-Link Piston (ALP) operating system and gas regulator sleeve, both of which DefenseReview covered in our previous article on the Colt SCW. However, we'll go through them again, quickly, here. According to Colt, the Articulating Link Piston operating system...

All of the photos contained in this article, with the exception of the first/top photo, were taken by Chen Lee a.k.a. "SMGLee" at the 2008 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition, and he owns the copyright on these photos. Colt Defense, LLC provided the first/top photo.

October 10, 2008

While I was visiting with Colt Defense personnel at Colt headquarters, one of the weapons they showed me and allowed me to test-fire was a 10.3"-barreled M4 CQBR/PDW-type 5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO) /.223 Rem. select-fire SBR/subcarbine called the Colt Sub-Compact Weapon a.k.a. Colt SCW (or, as I like to call it--and the Colt APC, both--the "HK416 Killer", or just "416 Killer" for short). The SCW is designed specifically for CQB/CQC in confined spaces like buildings and small dwellings in urban warfare environments, vehicle deployment during security operations (i.e. PSD ops), and any other operation where a compact 5.56 weapon is the optimal solution, while still allowing the operator to effectively engage medium-range targets, as required. In addition to the shorty barrel, the SCW sports an interesting and unique side-folding/telescoping a.k.a. folding/collapsible buttstock that reduces overal (OA) weapon length even further during transport. This makes the SCW the most compact of all of Colt Defense's shoulder weapons/long guns.

The end-user can choose from three different operating systems:...

October 9, 2008

On August 22, 2008, the U.S. Army issued a sources sought notice for an "Improved Carbine and Subcompact Individual Weapon System" (Solicitation #: W52H0908CARBINESV) to replace the Colt M4 Carbine, since Colt Defense's M4 Carbine sole source contract will end in 2009. On September 11, 2008, I got a chance to view, handle and test-fire a number of Colt Defense direct-gas-impingement and gas piston/op-rod-driven 5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO)/.223 Rem. carbines and subcarbines/SBRs (Short Barreled Rifles) at Colt headquarters in Hartford, CA. The weapons I test-fired were included in Colt Defense's response to said sources sought notice, and, as it happens, were just shown to the public for the first time at the 2008 AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition.  Since these weapons are now public knowledge, DefenseReview will publish photos and info on them, soon.

So, stay tuned.

In the meantime, the following is the complete sources sought notice in question:...

A company called Numa Sport Optics is manufacturing and marketing a line of tactical eyewear called Numa Tactical, the purpose of which is to provide military and law enforcement (LE) tactical operators with eyewear that's resilient and rugged enough to withstand combat operations. The key to this is Numa Tactical eyewear's lightweight, indestructable-seeming Swiss-developed Swiss FlexFrame a.k.a. MemFibr FlexFrame "smash-proof" frame that can be bent in extreme fashion to the point that it's virtually "unbreakable".

When we spoke with Jake Bennett, president/CEO of Numa Tactical, he told us that they're...

Researchers from Sony and the Max Planck Institute (Max Planck Institut für informatik) have developed a Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode (FOLED) display screen technology a.k.a. Flexible OLED display screen that may represent the most significant step yet toward commercially-available flexible, bendable and portable display screen technology in the 21st century, and they've published a paper on it in the New Journal of Physics titled Annihilation assisted upconversion: all-organic, flexible and transparent multicolour display."

According to a ScienceDaily article titled Flexi Display Technology is Now, the Sony/Planck tech is...

DefenseReview has been following the development and fielding of remote weapon stations (RWS) a.k.a. remote-controlled weapon stations a.k.a. umanned weapon stations for awhile now, including the Recon Optical, Inc. (ROI) Raven R-400 Alpha CROWS RWS, and we're big fans of the Dillon Aero M134D and M134D-T Gatling Guns/Miniguns (7.62x51mm NATO (7.62mm NATO)/.308 Win.). So, we figured we might as well follow the development and fielding of the Remote Guardian System (RGS) on the USMC MV-22 and SOF CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

It's no big secret that the Marines have had a tough time figuring out an...

September 28, 2008

A company out of Apopka, Florida called Spike's Tactical is making and marketing some interesting products, including Class III AKM SBRs built on the Arsenal SLR 107UR Krink shorty AKM (updated Kalashnikov AK-47 with stamped receiver). Spike's is building these guns in 7.62x39mm Russian (7.62mm Russian) and 5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO)/.223 Rem. calibers and offering them for approx. $1,700 USD.

As is that's not interesting enough, Spike's Tactical also offers...