by David Crane david@defensereview.com Click on the digital photos below to view them full-size. All photos accompanying this article are the property of DefenseReview.com. Springfield Armory showed off its new M1A SOCOM II carbine (or SOCOM II M1A carbine) with Cluster Rail System at SHOT Show 2005. The SOCOM II M1A carbine is basically just the SOCOM 16 carbine with …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com German textiles/carpet manufacturer Vorwerk & Co. Teppichwerke GmbH & Co. KG and semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies AG (also based in Germany) have joined forces to create the world’s first (at least publicly known) smart carpet or "thinking carpet". The Infineon Thinking Carpet is basically a carpet-embedded sensor network/sensor system that has the potential to literally revolutionize …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Since Defense Review just published an article on the Metal Storm 40mm Weapon System (40mm Multiple Grenade Launcher System), we thought we would follow it up with the following "CEO Update" that was just issued by Metal Storm Limited’s brand new CEO, David A. Smith. We’re providing it to our readers because it provides a good …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com A 16-round Metal Storm prototype 40mm grenade launcher system attached to/mounted on a Foster-Miller Talon Robot/UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) apparently successfully completed a series of live-fire tests in front of approx. 100 senior scientific and technical personnel from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and selected military defense industry representatives at a U.S. Army’s firing range …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Below is a press release that DefenseReview recently received from Symbionics, Inc. and Icuiti Corporation about a U.S. Marine Corps contract they just won to develop modular wearable computer (MOWC) systems for Marine Corps infantry personnel. Symbionics and Icuiti are working with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) in this endeavor. These integrated technologies are actually …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefenseReview is eager to see a three-way match-up between a full-auto/select-fire version of the DSA Z4-GTC (Gas Trap Carbine) the Arms Tech Compak-16 subcarbine (and longer-barreled Arms Tech Recon Rifle) and the HK416 carbine/subcarbine (formerly known as "HKM4" or "HK M4" carbine/subcarbine) in an adverse conditions/high-round-count test. To date, of the three, the Compak-16 subcarbine is …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Back in January (2005), DefRev published a short article on the recently-introduced DSA Z4-GTC (Gas Trap Carbine). At SHOT Show 2005, we got a chance to view and handle the weapon. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to test fire it. We hope to remedy that soon. The Z4-GTC is a piston-driven semi-auto carbine in an …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Magpul Industries Corp. has come out with a new AR-15/M16 floorplate replacement part that aids in pulling magazines quickly from mag pouches. It’s called the Magpul Ranger, and it essentially accomplishes the same thing as the Magpul 5.56 NATO in a lower-profile configuration. Magpul Industries also has a pistol mag version of the Magpul Ranger, which …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com It would appear that Fulton Armory is currently offering the Sage International M14/M1A Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) system/kit (7.62x51mm) for sale on their site. Fulton Armory is calling it the Sage M14/M1A Tactical Stock/Accuracy System. We believe the system/kit that Fulton Armory is selling is the same M14/M1A EBR (Enhanced Battle Rifle) system/kit we… published info …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com On March 17th, 2005, it was announced that iRobot (headquartered in Burlington, MA) has won an $18.4 million Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) contract to provide 150 of its PackBot EOD Hazardous Duty Mobile Robots to the U.S. Navy by the end of 2005 for the purpose of explosive ordanced disposal operations. These robots, already battle-proven/combat-proven …