by David Crane david@defensereview.com Just found this at "Wired News" (Wired.com). The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center (a.k.a. Soldier Systems Center) is currently developing lightweight, flexible solar panels for troop tents and uniforms. The project’s goal is to lighten our soldiers’ loads and reduce their thermal signatures. Reducing thermal signature will help our troops to avoid detection by enemy forces. …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com June 10, 2004 The following article contains a link to the DREAD Weapon System Video. This is the first time this video has ever been shown to the public. The DREAD depicted in the video is a functional prototype that operates on a less-than-lethal mode. This prototype was dismantled for security purposes to protect the technology, …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The Wilson Combat UT-15 Urban Tactical Rifle/Carbine (with free-float, ventilated Quad Rail aluminum handguard) just received a rave review by Rich Grassi in the September 2004 issue of Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement (GWLE). Mr. Grassi had some help in reviewing the Wilson UT-15 Urban Tactical carbine from Rob Child (SWAT operator, armorer, and firearms …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Speaking of high quality tactical gear, DefRev has received two 5.11 Tactical Shirts (one beige, on O.D. green) for T&E. We haven’t had a chance to wear them around yet, but the quality of these shirts is quite evident, just from handling and inspecting them. These shirts appear to be really well put together. The 5.11 …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com MAXPEDITION is definitely a company to watch. These guys are making some really great stuff right now, and I can’t tell you how impressed I was with what I saw and handled at the MAXPEDITION booth at TREXPO West 2004. Well, maybe I can: I was extremely impressed. This was some of the best-made tactical nylon …

Global Security Source is currently looking for qualified security personnel for deployment to Iraq. Salary is $170,000 per year. If you’re qualified, you would need to send your resume via email to the address listed in the announcement (Click on "Read More" hypertext below to view it.). Here’s the official announcement: Updated!! Still Needed!! ANNOUNCEMENT FOR IRAQ DEPLOYMENT: $170,000. PER …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The Rohrbaugh R9/R9S pistol is a 9mm pocket pistol that bears more than a slight resemblance to the Seecamp LWS 32 .32 ACP pocket pistol and Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc. P32 (.32 ACP) and P3AT (.380 ACP) pistols (except for the color). In fact, the Rohrbaugh R9S appears to be virtually identical in size to the …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com This is a follow-up to our article, "Fracture Camouflage™: You can’t hit what you can’t see." DefRev spoke with Guy Cramer, the man behind Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp.’s proprietary "Fracture Camouflage", last week. We found out that Mr. Cramer has additional camouflage patterns that utilize the same "proprietary graphics techniques" known as "Camouflage Designated Enhanced Fractal Geometry", …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com This article contains high-resolution scanned photos (JPEG format) of the Shiva Ki Fightin’ Bowie Knife, which is a custom combat/fighting bowie knife.  In trained hands, this knife can be utilized effectively for anti-personnel applications.  Click on photos (below) to view them full-size. Back in January (2004), DefRev published an article on Shiva Ki Custom Knives. The …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is in the process of adopting the FN MK 48 MOD 0 7.62mm Lightweight Machine Gun (LWMG) as it's new 7.62x51mm machine gun. Basically, the MK48 MOD 0 is a beefed-up version of the FN MK46 MOD 0 5.56 LMG/SAW (Light Machine Gun/Squad Automatic Weapon), a MK46 MOD 0 on …