#USArmy

The US Army has announced its selection of SIG SAUER’s TANGO6 1-6×24 riflescope for their Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDMR). The optic is the final component to be selected for the complete SDMR system that will be put into service for the US Army’s Designated Marksmen.

The US Army’s PEO Soldier – Project Manager Soldier Weapons has issued an Request for Information (RFI) to obtain industry feedback on possible submissions to Sub Compact Weapons (SCW) evaluations. The specification details offered by the Project Manager Soldier Weapons (PMSW) are scant and extremely broad. Describing potential SCWs as being select fire weapons, chambered in 9x19mm and having MIL-STD 1913 rail (Picatinny Rail) space.

The US Marine Corps are working with the US Army to find a replacement for the 5.56x45mm ammunition currently available. The Army, has for some time been arguing that even the 5.56x45mm Enhanced Performance Round is insufficient to combat emerging threats.

About a year ago, Professor Afsaneh Rabiei of North Carolina State University  developed composite metal foam (CMF) armor plates. In a test conducted in 2017, the 1″ thick plate performed impressively against small arms bullets and managed to get NIJ Level IV certification. You can find below the video footage of that test.

Recently an article has been circulating that the ARMY Research Lab is looking into a Steadicam third arm system to augment soldiers. Matthew Moss posted about it earlier this month. The idea is to help soldiers save energy by carrying the weight of their weapons. Before this article came out I already had plans to convert a Steadicam rig to hold a gun. Thanks to my friends, we were able to test my Steadicam third arm.

The Army looks set to turn the page on ceramic and Kevlar based armor systems of the past with a revolutionary new armour system. The US Army has signaled its decision to move away from its standard Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) body armour and adopt a new more cost-effective carbon-based system. Relying on carbon and cellulose the new armour is at the cutting edge of ballistic technology.

On March 1st, 2018 General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has announced that they have been awarded a US Army contract through the Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC). The contract will allow the General Atomics to evaluate and develop electromagnetic railguns. This research will be accomplished in support of the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Command (ARDEC).

The US Army’s ‘Third Arm’ is designed to redistribute some of the weight soldiers carry in their arms and shoulders to their abdomen. This could make carrying heavy equipment and weapons over long distances much easier, lowering the short and long-term impact on troops’ health. Launched in 2015, the mechanical arm is about to enter its next phase of testing.

The US Army’s Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle (NGSAR) program is moving forward with a Prototype Opportunity Notice scheduled for publication later this week. The US Army Contracting Command has issued a draft Prototype Opportunity Notice (PON) for the NGSAR. Before the PON is issued the Contracting Command is looking for feedback on its draft PON from industry partners. The Army has previously held industry days for the NGSAR programme. Feedback is requested no later than 8th March, making the publication of the final PON imminent.

Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier’s new commanding officer Brigadier General Anthony Potts has gotten to grips with one of PEO Soldier’s most interesting projects, Textron’s Cased Telescoped Light Machine Gun.

The US Army Contracting Command is in search of private sector contractors to repair its M107 Long Range Sniper Rifles. A revised sources sought notice was posted earlier this month.

Last Thursday, we discussed the US Army’s solicitation for combustible cartridge cases. Today, we’ll take a look at another interesting solicitation published in the same US government program called SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research). This time the Army is looking for powder metal small arms barrels.

“Novel Combustible Cartridge Cases for Next Generation Small Arms Ammunition” – this is precisely the title of a solicitation of the US Army published on the website of a US Government program called SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research).

Glock’s newest, and likely to be most talked about firearm for 2018, is the model 19X. The Glock 19X is meant to be a crossover that will hopefully allow consumers to do so with confidence. The Glock 19X is a step into a new direction and quite possibly a new iteration of future pistols. This aberration of a Gen5  combines a G17 frame with a G19 slide assembly. This unique combination allows for the capacity of their full size G17 magazines, more dexterity and positive handling, and accuracy in a smaller package.

The US Army’s new sidearm, the SIG Sauer M17 Modular Handgun System, will soon be available for purchase on the civilian market. SIG’s Chief Marketing Officer Tom Taylor told Military.com about the decision, saying that about 5,000 of the full size M17 variant will be released to the civilian market sometime in early 2018: