May 14, 2008

A number of months ago, DefenseReview was informed by one of our contacts in the U.S. military Special Operations (SpecOps) community that our Special Operations Forces (SOF) assaulters/operators now have a new, specialized 5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO)/.223 Rem. round at their disposal that's been unofficially referred to as the "5.56 Optimized" (pronounced "Five Five Six Optimized") and/or "Brown Tip", because the round has, appropriately, a brown tip.

The "optimized" nomenclature apparently refers to the fact that the round is optimized for subcarbines/SBRs (Short Barreled Rifles) and carbines from 10.5-14.5 inches, in order to provide optimum terminal ballistics out of the shortened weapon platform. We don't know the maximum effective combat distance for the round out of a 10.3"-10.5" barrel, but we're guessing approx. 300-350 yards (unconfirmed/unverified). At present, we believe that the specific weapons for which the round was optimized are the...

All photographic images contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com at SHOT Show 2008, and they are the exclusive property of DefenseReview.com. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. All photos were shot with a 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot digital camera (Model #: DSC-P150).

May 12, 2008

Speaking of photos, I also found a couple of shots of me firing the TDI KRISS Super-V XSMG .45 Cal. (.45 ACP) SMG at NDIA Small Arms Systems Symposium 2007, as well. The KRISS is essentially a 21st-Century version of a Thompson submachine gun. DefenseReview enjoyed shooting the weapon, and is interested to see test data on a high-round-count/adverse conditions test of the weapon.

For the record, Defense Review is...

While I was going through some of our pictures from NDIA Small Arms Systems Symposium 2007, I came across some action photos of the HK MP7A1 PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) with a Gemtech "Brick" rectangular silencer/sound suppressor attached, including one of me firing the weapon/silencer combo, myself. Anyway, I thought I'd share it with our readers since I haven't seen a picture of it anywhere else, and the Brick's rectangular/angular shape is somewhat unusual.

DefenseReview mentioned the "Brick" muzzle can back in May 2007 after we tried it out at the symposium demo shoot at Blackwater USA. The "Brick" is...

All photographic images contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com at SHOT Show 2008, and they are the exclusive property of DefenseReview.com. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. All photos were shot with a 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot digital camera (Model #: DSC-P150).

May 5, 2008

Milkor USA has some new MGL-140 / M32 MGL config shorty 40mm (40x46mm) 6-shot multi-shot grenade launchers a.k.a. multiple-grenade launchers, and DefenseReview got a chance to view and handle them at SHOT Show 2008. The new compact 6-shot grenade launchers cut some inches off the barrel and sport Mil-Std-1913 "Picatinny" rails on the barrel and optical sight/combat optic. The short forend rail tube on the barrel of one of the new shorty launchers accepts a vertical foregrip. The optical gunsight, of course, is adjustable for elevation, and the buttstock can also be angle-adjusted according to operator preference.

At present, Defense Review believes the...

In our recent article on the STRAC Technologies ST-1 FAST System (TM) Model M4 quick-mag-change/weapon-reload system, we meantioned that Mil-Spec Monkey (MSM) had a demonstration video on a competing product called the FAST MAGS Rapid Change Magazine Carrier for AR-15/M16 30-round mags, made by ITW Military Products (ITWMP), which looks like an interesting product.

Mil-Spec Monkey first came to DefenseReview's attention at SHOT Show 2007, when we saw someone walking around with a...

Last month (April), DefenseReview received a link to an entertaining FN SCAR Mk16 MOD 0 (CQC config) a.k.a. FN SCAR-Light a.k.a. FN SCAR-L select-fire SBR/subcarbine firing demonstration video via email from a contact of ours at FNH USA. The shooter in the video fires 2-round full-auto bursts, a 30-round mag dump, and semi-auto shots at 50 yards. He also fires the weapon with the stock folded.

Defense Review has been following the USSOCOM SCAR Program a.k.a. Mk16/Mk17 Program since its inception, and, from the information we're receiving of late, the LRIP weapons are looking pretty good (unconfirmed/unverified). We'll see.  DefRev looks forward to T&E'ing civilian-legal semi-auto versions of them at some point this year. However, first, we'd like to to perform a high-round-count/adverse conditions T&E of the Mk16 and Mk17 in all configurations (barrel lengths, etc.) at the FNH USA or FN Manufacturing firing range.

Anyway, we wanted to share the FN SCAR Mk16 MOD 0 firing demo video clip with our readers. Click on the link below to view it.

April 29, 2008

On September 1, 2007 (9/01/07), DefenseReview was contacted by Sean Carroll of STRAC Technologies via email to let us know about a product that looks on its face to have some serious tactical merit and promise. The product is a patented chest-worn modular mag carrier system (i.e. box magazine carrier system)/fast-weapon-reload device called, appropriately enough, the F.A.S.T. System Model M4 (TM) a.k.a. ST-1 F.A.S.T. System (TM), that feeds fresh/loaded AR-15/M16 magazines to the operator as quickly as he can grab them. F.A.S.T. stands for "Fast And Smooth Transition."

In a nutshell, the ST-1 FAST System (TM) fast-magazine-feeding/weapon-reloading device was designed and developed to allow the operator/warfighter to conduct ultra-fast (primary) weapon reloads in adverse combat conditions while allowing him to maintain his focus on the target(s)/threat(s). The company claims that the FAST system allows for sub-2-second reloads while keeping one's weapon and eyes on the target/threat.

Sean billed the system as "the most elite load bearing vest in the world", which is pretty big talk, and...

LWRC International will be conducting business out of its new facility in Cambridge, Maryland. Richard Bernstein, formerly CEO of L-3 BAI Aerosystems, Inc. in Easton, Maryland, has been named as the new CEO of LWRC International. Mr. Bernstein brings over 40 years of experience in the design, development, and manufacturing of high-tech products for the defense industry. Darren Mellors and Jesse Gomez, formerly of Land Warfare Resources Corporation and Grenadier Precision Ltd. Co., will...

Back on March 10, 2008, DefenseReview published an article on the B.E. Meyers & Co./Surefire, LLC Open-Prong Flash Hider a.k.a. Open-Prong Flash Suppressor. Well, apparently, Advanced Armament Corp. (AAC) makes an advanced open-prong flash hider/suppressor that's significantly shorter in length than the B.E. Meyers/Surefire product (and the Smith Enterprise Vortex Flash Eliminator, for that matter), yet offers equivalent, or possibly even superior, muzzle flash suppression.

It's called the AAC BLACKOUT Flash Hider a.k.a. AAC BLACKOUT Flash Suppressor, and it's...

All photographic images contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com at SHOT Show 2008, and they are the exclusive property of DefenseReview.com. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. All photos were shot with a 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot digital camera (Model #: DSC-P150).

April 20, 2008

While we're discussing Vltor Weapon Systems (VWS) products, we should probaby mention some of the other items on display at the Vltor booth, which we photographed.

First up is the Vltor MUR (Modular Upper Receiver), which our friend and Tactical 3-Gun National Champion shooter Taran Butler uses on his competition guns and describes as "raging". In Taran-speak, that (term "raging") means the MUR is shit-hot a.k.a. "the shit" a.k.a. "totally awesome". In fact, the MUR AR-15 upper may very well be the...

All photographic images contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com at SHOT Show 2008, and they are the exclusive property of DefenseReview.com. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. All photos were shot with a 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot digital camera (Model #: DSC-P150).

April 18, 2008

Well, Don Johnson will probably want one of these. While DefenseReview was at the Vltor Weapon Systems booth at SHOT Show 2008, we learned that Vltor will be recreating the Bren Ten 10mm pistol, albeit in a more reliable, stronger, and safer package. This effort is called the Vltor Fortis Pistol Project, or as we like to call it here at DefRev, the modernized and improved Bren Ten. According to Vltor, the project isn't just a concept or a market study. This thing's gonna' happen, kids.

At present, the Vltor Fortis Pistol Project is...

While DefenseReview was at SHOT Show 2008 primarily to see the latest tactical firearms, accessories, gear and equipment, while we were walking through the tents, we came across a very cool (and patented) survival technology combo made by Ultimate Survival Technologies (UST) called BlastMatch and WetFire Tinder, respectively.

Ultimate Survival BlastMatch is a compact, pocket-carry, all-weather, high-performance non-magnesium "flint material" fire starter device that was designed specifically for…

April 11, 2008

It's DefenseReview's understanding that the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) program officially hit "Phase 3" (or, "Phase III") about two (2) weeks ago with a Phase 3 solicitation notice for IAR submissions (unconfirmed/unverified). As of the Phase 2 (a.k.a. Phase II) solicitation notice, the Marines were looking to acquire/procure approx. 4,500 weapons (IARs). DefenseReview doesn't yet know if this acquisition objective number has remained the same for IAR Phase III.

According to one of our industry contacts, more companies will...

DefenseReview readers may remember an article we published on September 16, 2007 about our aircraft carriers being vulnerable to attack by our enemies and/or potential enemies employing/deploying the latest supersonic cruise missile and supercavitating torpedo technologies being developed by the Russians and shared with countries like China, India, and Iran. Even before that, in November 2006, we'd published an initial article on the threat posed to the U.S. Navy by the latest Russian and Chinese anti-ship weapons. Well, on March 19 (2007), WorldTribune.com published an article on China's purchase of Klub-S 3M-54E / SS-N-27B Sizzler subsonic/supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) from Russia. Then, on March 23, Bloomberg published their own piece on China's Sizzler missile purchase and the U.S. Navy's lack of a solid plan to defend against it, more specifically to defend our aircraft carriers against it.

The Russian-made 3M-54E/SS-N-27B Sizzler subsonic/supersonic anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) currently being employed and deployed by China, and, it seems, Iran, can...

Well, it looks like gunshot/sniper detection and location systems just got a whole lot smaller and lighter. DefenseReview recently read about a soldier-wearable a.k.a. warfighter-wearable version of the QinetiQ/PSI Ears Gunshot Localization System, called Ears-Man Mounted (Ears-MM a.k.a. Ears-100-MM), which looks interesting. Ears-MM is a compact, lightweight and soldier-wearable acoustic gunshot/sniper detection and localization system that measures in at 3"x3"x0.75", weighs approx. 12 oz (12 ounces), and has a reported battery life of approx. 13 hours.

"Ears", which stands for "Early Attack Reaction System", is currently deployed with the U.S. Army as the Soldier Wearable Acoustic Targeting System (SWATS) in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Ears-100 man-wearable acoustic gunshot detection/localization system utilizes...

It looks like vehicle armor a.k.a. vehicular armor just got a whole lot cheaper to make. A team at the British Ministry of Defence's (MOD) in-house science and technology center Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), the University of Cambridge and QinetiQ have teamed up to develop a process for making a new type of advanced steel armor a.k.a. armor steel called Super Bainite using thermodynamic modelling techniques. Thermodynamic modelling has apparently drastically sped up the development of the new armor, allowing it's manufacturing process, properties and cost to be optimised in months, instead of years.

Unlike convential steel armor, which must be produced via high heat, and thus quenched and tempered, Super Bainite is...

A few months ago, DefenseReview made a trip out to U.S. Ordnance, Inc. in Reno, Nevada to T&E their M60E4/Mk43 Mod1 Commando machine gun. We fired the weapon suppressed and unsuppressed. The silencer / sound suppressor on the weapon in one of the video clips is made by Badger Ordance. The U.S. Ordnance M60E4/Mk43 MOD 1 Commando machine gun is a highly modified and improved version the original Vietnam-era M60 machine gun that was developed to address and solve the original M60's reliability, handling, size and weight problems. The M60E4 / Mk43 MOD1 is a 7.62x51mm NATO (7.62mm NATO) medium machine gun (MMG) a.k.a. general purpose machine gun (GPMG).

Anyway, we shot some video while we were out there, and we thought we'd share some of it with our readers. Click on the links below to view the videos:...

All photographic images contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com at SHOT Show 2008, and they are the exclusive property of DefenseReview.com. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. All photos were shot with a 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot digital camera (Model #: DSC-P150).

March 21, 2008

While DefenseReview was exploring the booths inside the tents outside the main convention center at SHOT Show 2008, we came across an interesting company called McCann Industries that has a very interesting high-tech, ultra-light carbon fiber M14/M1A rifle/carbine stock/chassis. This chassis/stock blew us way by how light it was--just 24 ounces (24 oz).

When they handed me an M14/M1A carbine outfited with the McCann Industries M-14/M1A Carbon Fiber Stock/Chassis, I was so surprised at the light weight that...

DefenseReview was one of the first publications to report on the results of the Fall 2007 M4 Carbine "Extreme Dust Test". We published that story on December 18, 2007. Well, on December 19, 2007, we received two email communications (below) from one of our professional contacts in U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG), who shed some light on an HK416 confiscation program that was already in process as we were reporting the test results. This process, i.e. total HK 416 confiscation from AWG operators, has since been completed, whereby AWG warfighter were forced to turn in all their 416s (HK416s) (approx. 240+ guns, total).

Needless to say, our contact and the rest of the boys in AWG are not happy about this.

Below are the two email communications we received. Both messages have been sanitized for publication, and the second message has been slightly modified for readability. Here: