US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

TerraN_EmpirE · May 14, 2017

Jura said:
LOL TE addressed my post, well as I've repeatedly stated I'm not good in Fighting Vehicles, anyway one of my 'suspicions' would be if that wrap was good for anything at all (and TE explain this part to me),

The Wrap's goal is... why don't I show you?
This is a "Civilian" (And I use the Term loosely) Product. by a man named Adam Harvey who advertises his clothing as "Anti drone" basically it works on some of the same principles although less sophisticated and only in the IR. It uses a Silverized material to break up the IR signature..

The first is the Daylight image what you would from the Eye, the second and third are what you would see from the IR spectrum of a FLIR like the sensors that are used for night fighting in Tanks and armored fighting vehicles.
in the white hot image or the area covered by the garment is almost invisible in the red hot image it's more visible but almost background. In Low light using a Thermal sight to spot enemy targets this kind of signature reduction can mean the difference between life and death.
That said it's not perfect. this is a Passive IR stealth system that places limits on it. Without the addition of a system like cooling plates. It's all a question of just what frequencies the IR sensors are looking in. There are generally in the military 3 classes Long-wave infrared, mid wave and near or short wave.
Long wave is basically the domain of a cooled Thermal imaging sensor, Mid or Thermal infrared is the home of most issued military Thermal sensors and Short is Image intensification with active stealth systems like the cooling plates in BAE's ADAPTIV you can not just stealth but generate false images.

In other energy spectrums like Radar which is in the Microwave, The effects can again mean life and death. Armored vehicles are normally shaped by lots of straight lines and radar reflective angles this means that they have a tell tale signature that can be seen with the right radar systems because of ground clutter this demands a Millimeter wave frequency range. SAAB has not released how they achieve the effects no doubt it is material related and construction related.

The visual aspect is easier and into the Near IR as well at a distance these break up the vehicle signature from the human brain. The Human brain is a pattern seeking computer pre programmed to look for straight lines and a number of characteristics this is how optical illusions work. and computers just aren't at the level yet to make some distinctions so the visual aspect is the easiest.
So we have is a Multispectrum Camouflage system. by the way not unique to the US or this system.
The Israelis (Fibrotex Technologies), Taiwanese, Russians (Nakidka), China and Poles ( Berberys-R) have their own systems as well as likely others to.

the other is I've heard Russians, in short, have bigger guns so a Stryker would be D. O. A. anyway ... feel free to debunk this part

Well that's true. but then again that is like saying Water is wet. Against an MBT only a heavy MBT hull based APC or IFV stand a chance in hell. that's the Namer, or T15 Armata. Most IFV and APC are not built to take a tank shell. even Tanks can only take them from some angles like the front.
Against a BMP 1 or BMP 3 it's also dubious that Stryker could survive a engagement from there guns but then again we fall back to the Namer and Armata.
BMP2 though and a Stryker Gunslinger with an armor applique can take a hit or two and give just as good.
of course flip that around Jura with a BMP's vs Abrams and the same holds true. ABrams would wipe the floor with the BMP's. They wouldn't stand not a chance in hell until you hit the Heavy IFV tank hull based T15.
well... There might be one upgrade that could change that to a degree. the integration of a Hard kill Active protection system like the Trophy system into Strykers could push them to be able to atleast stand a chance as that system is supposed to be able to neutralize ATGM and KE projectiles.
also if you consider the armor of the BMP's ( I often call them Glass Cannons) A Stryker with ATGM or the Gunslinger with the 30mm can if it got first shots could kill any version of the BMP series.
The point of adopting this camouflage system was to increase the chances that on encounter the Strykers and Abrams would be hard enough to spot that they would get the first shots in before the enemy.
So bigger guns well bigger guns is fine but only if you have the means to aim those guns.

Jura The idiot · May 14, 2017

TerraN_EmpirE said:
... It's all a question of just what frequencies the IR sensors are looking in.

I guess, LOL I happen to know IR is used even in Astronomy

TerraN_EmpirE said:
... of course flip that around Jura with a BMP's vs Abrams and the same holds true ...
So bigger guns well bigger guns is fine but only if you have the means to aim those guns.

well the concern of some is the units with Strykers won't become Kanonenfutter in case of a surprising Red Army attack against the countries formally protected this way (in the future also by

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

which is highly praised, too) ... I have to stop here not to discuss a specific war scenario, but I think you know what I mean

FORBIN · May 14, 2017

broadsword · May 15, 2017

So let us hear from @Blackstone his dissertation on the X-37B. As I promised, I will not respond.

FORBIN · May 15, 2017

KC-46 in production

Jura The idiot · May 16, 2017

I now noticed Air Force B-21 Bomber's Secrecy to Be Reviewed by Inspector General
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Congress ordered inquiry on whether too much is classified

Inspector general’s review ordered in spending legislation

The Pentagon’s inspector general has opened a review into whether the Air Force has imposed excessive secrecy on fundamentals of its $80 billion program to develop and build the new B-21 bomber.

The Defense Department’s watchdog office was ordered “to conduct an evaluation and submit a report” to Congress within six months under a provision of the $1.17 trillion government-wide spending bill for the current fiscal year enacted this month. The provision was little-noticed because it refers obliquely to directions in a Senate appropriations measure passed last year.

The review objectives are based on the Appropriations Committee’s language and “further conversations with committee staff,” Bruce Anderson, a spokesman for the inspector general’s office, said in an email. “I can’t provide further details because the project and the evaluation are classified.”

Last year, the Air Force rebuffed requests, including from Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, to reveal basic information such as the value of the development contract awarded
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
or the amount of the fee set aside to encourage meeting program goals, citing their potential value to adversaries.

The review is looking “across the spectrum” at what the Air Force is disclosing with an intent to “balance program classification with the transparency that we’re shooting for,” Air Force Lieutenant General Arnold Bunch, the service’s top uniformed acquisition official, told reporters Monday.

“We believe we’ve got it balanced properly,” Bunch said, but the inspector general is “analyzing how much we are releasing or are not releasing, to give us recommendations on how to move forward.”

Sketch Released
The Air Force has released a notional sketch of the stealth aircraft, cost goals per plane and the names of top subcontractors. It also eventually approved the release in October of a
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
of a Government Accountability Office decision from February 2016 rejecting a Boeing Co. protest of the contract award to Northrop.

The Senate Appropriations panel directed the inspector general to conduct a review “of the security strategy, controls and program protection plan.” An aide to committee Chairman Thad Cochran, a Mississippi Republican, said he asked for the review to make sure there’s the right balance between classified and unclassified information.

The aide said that although the committee didn’t specify the format for the inspector general’s report, it could be unclassified with a classified annex.

The Air Force’s desire for secrecy was buttressed in May 2016 when seven Republicans and all Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee joined in a 19-7 vote behind closed doors against making the contract value public, including the fees Northrop could earn.

Then-Air Force Secretary Deborah James said last year that disclosing “the contract value -- per the experts on these matters,” such as engineers, “could be a contributing factor” to an adversary deriving information such as “size, weight, power and other factors.”

“We are still in the early days of the B-21,” but the Air Force has revealed more about the new bomber program than what was disclosed at similar stages for its predecessors, the B-1 and B-2, she said.

TerraN_EmpirE · May 16, 2017

Well now seems they finally took the bite.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Solicitation Number:
H92222-17-RFI-LWMMG
Notice Type:
Sources Sought

Synopsis:
Added: May 11, 2017 10:06 am
Lightweight Medium Machinegun (LWMMG) Sources Sought

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is seeking sources within the national technology and industrial base with the ability to provide 5,000 .338 NM belt-fed medium machinegun:

-complete machinegun system to include weapon, suppressed barrel, and tripod
-any tools needed to conduct basic maintenance

LWMMG specifics: The LWMMG should fire the belted .338NM round of ammunition with a polymer case. The LWMMG should weigh less than 24 pounds unloaded with a barrel length of 24in. The LWMMG should have a rate of fire of between 500-600 rounds per minute. Weapon shall be compatible with current rail mounted aiming systems with the ability to incorporate more advanced fire control technology. The system should include both a suppressed barrel and an unsuppressed barrel that can be rapidly changed. The LWMMG should include a tripod that is lightweight and provides the stability and accuracy required to engage targets at extreme ranges. The LWMMG should be able to mount in current machinegun mounts designed for the M240B/C. The weapon should have sufficient accuracy to engage area targets and vehicles at 2,000m.

The issue has been over match. The US issue medium MG has been the Nato Spec'ed FN MAG 58 known in US use as the M240 series and the lighter Special operations Mk 48 mod 1 these however hit a limitation due to the caliber used the 7.62x51mm these max effective there range out to about 800 m from a bipod or 1100 from a tripod.
This is far better than the M249 SAW or an M4A1 which maxes out effective range at about 800m

In Afghanistan where Range has been an issue the insurgents have used PK series weapons of the 50's vintage firing the 7.62x54R cartridge an upgrade of rounds developed for the Nagant rifle back in the Tsarist days of 1891 but loaded with modern powders and primers fired from a PKM they can reach to 1500m from the tripod or a 1000 from the bipod max effective ranges.

that's a 400 m over match and Makes things difficult if you are the poor SOB at the bottom of the hill trying to take a MG nest on the side of a mountain. One counter would be the M2 Browning but here things get troublesome as the M2 is not a man portable weapon and would need a full tripod set up that's over 130 pounds but would offer an effective range of 1800m.

In the 2000's the Army tried a couple of options to counter this risk the first was the XM307 an 80 pound system with 25x59mm Airburst but was canceled in 2007, the XM312 a 12.7x99 BMG version of the same introduced in 2004 but canceled with the XM307, the XM806 which seemed to be a simplified XM312 was introduced in 2009 but delays killed it in 2012.
The Army chose to buy and upgrade M2 to M2A1 instead but to get M2A1 or M2 to the battles in Afghanistan means a vehicle. Somewhere along the line GDLS said screw it and used operation of the XM312/XM806 and their own dime to create the Lightweight Medium Machine Gun which they unveiled in 2012 and have showed off improved versions of in 2014 the 2014 version of the gun was 22 pounds that makes it as heavy as the reduced weight M240L in Us Army issue, yet has a effective range out to 1700m it can be configured to either 8.6x70mm (.338LM) or 8.6x63mm ( .338 Norma)
It will over match the PK and is Man portable, uses NATO rounds.

With the Recent move to the M17 ( Sig P320) and M18 ( Compact Sig P320) and the Marine trials of the M27 as a Service rifle it might be time to give the US issue small arms a clean up.
Issues with the hot loading of the M855A1 cartridge mean the M4A1 used by both the Army and Marines will likely need changes but moving to the M27 is not the whole answer due to issues of the pressure and bolt damage.
rather the M4A1 needs a changes to the bolt and barrel to deal with increased firing stresses.
The Army has been looking to begin the Next generation squad Automatic rifle with either the LSAT although there now seem to be more conventional alternative options on the market like the KAC LMG. A New squad designated Marksman rifle likely derived from the soon to be procured M110A1 is on the horizon.
The XM25 has been canceled due to the Contractors feuding and being unable or unwilling to meet delivery, meaning that it's time to look at alternatives from Airbursting 40mm rounds to lightweight mortar systems or both.

Jura The idiot · May 16, 2017

of course Special Operations Command wants to develop super soldiers
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Special Operation Command wants to create super-soldiers through pushing the limits of human performance, and its looking to nutritional supplements and even performance enhancing drugs as options.

America’s elite operators already have access to the kinds of fitness and performance resources available to a pro football player with dietitians, athletic trainers and physical therapists embedded with the units. But U.S. Special Operations Command is looking to go even further, pushing operators to increase pain tolerance, injury prevention and recovery, and physical performance in austere environments. SOCOM is looking to private industry and academia for ideas to get them there.

“If there are … different ways of training, different ways of acquiring performance that are non-material, that’s preferred but in a lot of cases we’ve exhausted those areas,” said Ben Chitty, senior project manager for biomedical, human performance and canine portfolios in the Science and Technology office at at USSOCOM.

Chitty said some of the areas they are looking to push big leaps forward in human performance are in places where humans aren’t necessarily evolved to be at maximum capacity: at high altitude or underwater for extended periods of time without access to food or water, for example. One of the puzzles is how to have an operator who has been underwater for hours without sustenance still perform once he gets to the objective, Chitty explained.

SOCOM is looking at nutritional supplements, such as the kind you find at GNC, but also at performance enhancing drugs, Chitty said.

“For performance enhancing drugs, we’ll have to look at the makeup and safety in consultation with our surgeon and the medical folks before making any decisions on it,” he said.

While pushing supplements and drugs on operators to push performance might seem like a risky proposition – reminiscent of Rocky’s scientifically optimized Soviet opponent Ivan Drago in Rocky IV – Chitty said the focus would be on safety first and foremost.

“We’re not cutting any corners,” Chitty said. “We want to make sure its safe first and then we want to look at the effectiveness of it.

“If there are things in the nutraceutical realm that are available, those are good. In a sense that its not a new drug that’s being developed. If the best thing for our folks is a pharmaceutical then we’re interested in understanding what’s the space that industry and academia can provide for us.”

TerraN_EmpirE · May 16, 2017

Army Explores Future M4 Carbine Technologies

The US Army has now produced at least 117,000 battle-tested, upgraded M4A1 rifles engineered to more quickly identify, attack and destroy enemy targets with full auto-capability, consistent trigger-pull and a slightly heavier barrel.

The US Army has now produced at least 117,000 battle-tested, upgraded M4A1 rifles engineered to more quickly identify, attack and destroy enemy targets with full auto-capability, consistent trigger-pull and a slightly heavier barrel, service officials said.

The service’s so-called M4 Product Improvement Program, or PIP, is a far-reaching initiative to upgrade the Army’s entire current inventory of M4 rifles into higher-tech, durable and more lethal M4A1 weapons, Army spokesman Pete Rowland, spokesman for PM Soldier Weapons, told Scout Warrior in an interview.

“The heavier barrel is more durable and has greater capacity to maintain accuracy and zero while withstanding the heat produced by high volumes of fire. New and upgraded M4A1s will also receive ambidextrous fire control,” an Army statement said.

To date, the Army has completed more than 117,000 M4A1 upgrades on the way to the eventual transformation of more than 480,000 M4 rifles. The service recently marked a milestone of having completed one-fourth of its intended upgrades to benefit Soldiers in combat.

The Army is planning to convert all currently fielded M4 carbines to M4A1 carbines; approximately 483,000,” Rowland said. “Most of the enhancements resulted from Soldier surveys conducted over time.”

Rowland explained that the PIP involves a two-pronged effort; one part involves depot work to quickly transform existing M4s into M4A1s alongside a commensurate effort to acquire new M4A1 weapons from FN Herstal and Colt.

Army developers explain that conversions to the M4A1 represents the latest iteration in a long-standing service effort to improve the weapon.

“We continuously perform market research and maintain communications with the user for continuous improvements and to meet emerging requirements,” Army statements said.

The Army has already made more than 90 performance “Engineering Change Proposals” to the M4 Carbine since its introduction, an Army document describes.
“Improvements have been made to the trigger assembly, extractor spring, recoil buffer, barrel chamber, magazine and bolt, as well as ergonomic changes to allow Soldiers to tailor the system to meet their needs,” and Army statement said.

Today’s M4 is quite different “under the hood” than its predecessors and tomorrow’s M4A1 will be even further refined to provide Soldiers with an even more effective and reliable weapon system, Army statements said.

The M4A1 is also engineered to fire the emerging M885A1 Enhanced Performance Round, .556 ammunition designed with new, better penetrating and more lethal contours to exact more damage upon enemy targets.

“The M4A1 has improvements which take advantage of the M885A1. The round is better performing and is effective against light armor,” an Army official told Scout Warrior.

Prior to the emergence of the M4A1 program, the Army had planned to acquire a new M4; numerous tests, industry demonstrations and requirements development exercises informed this effort, including a “shoot off” among potential suppliers.
Before its conversion into the M4A1, the M4 - while a battle tested weapon and known for many success – had become controversial due to combat Soldier complaints, such as reports of the weapon “jamming.”

Future M4 Rifle Improvements?

While Army officials are not yet discussing any additional improvements to the M4A1 or planning to launch a new program of any kind, service officials do acknowledge ongoing conceptual discussion regarding ways to further integrate emerging technology into the weapon.

Within the last few years, the Army did conduct a “market survey” with which to explore a host of additional upgrades to the M4A1; These previous considerations, called the M4A1+ effort, analyzed by Army developers and then shelved. Among the options explored by the Army and industry included the use of a “flash suppressor,” camoflauge, removable iron sights and a single-stage trigger, according to numerous news reports and a formal government solicitation.

The M4A1+ effort was designed to look for add-on components that will "seamlessly integrate with the current M4A1 Carbine ... without negatively impacting or affecting the performance or operation of the M4A1 weapon," a FedBizOpps document states.
Additional details of the M4A1+ effort were outlined in a
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
’s Matt Cox.

“One of the upgrades is an improved extended forward rail that will ‘provide for a hand guard allowing for a free-floated barrel’ for improved accuracy. The improved rail will also have to include a low-profile gas block that could spell the end of the M16/M4 design's traditional gas block and triangular fixed front sight,” the report says.

Despite the fact that the particular M4A1+ effort did not move forward, Army officials explain that market surveys regarding improvements to the weapon will continue; in addition, Army developers explain that the service is consistently immersed in effort to identify and integrate emerging technologies into the rifle as they become available. As a result, it is entirely conceivable that the Army will explore new requirements and technologies for the M4A1 as time goes on.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

I pulled this off Scout Warrior today but it references a 2015 article from military.com
Now the Army is not unique in looking at it's service rifle and finding it wanting. Particularly due to the Change to the M855A1 EPR. The Round has a high pressure load which allows it to compensate for the reduced barrel length of the M4 vs the M16 well milking all the penetration and lethality possible from the 5.56mm 62gr round. this however causes issues as the high pressure and copper jacket erodes barrel, causes damage to the bolts and even trigger set as well as increased wear on the gas system.

The Direct impingement system is not alone in issues with M855A1 the Marines who have been looking at the M27 aka HK416 has issues as the piston system was designed for use in a short barreled lower pressure operation so the M855A1 affects Timing of the Cycling and damages the bolt lugs as the rifle's bolt is pushed into opening prematurely. The Bolt life of a M27 firing M855A1 is about 7000 rounds well an M4A1 is 13000 ironically The M4A1 barrel lasts about 7000 rounds with M855A1 well M27's a better 9000-10000 rounds.
The reason for the M27 bolt issues has to do with the History of the HK416, It was originally designed for units like DELTA and GRU who wanted a 10.5 inch barreled carbine with better reliability than the MK18, as the HK416 then expanded in barrel lengths the system became overgassed causing in high cyclic rates.

the barrel of the M4A1 is a Chrome lined button cut 4150 low grade chome-molybdenium steel the bolt is similarly low tech compared to the HK which uses a high chromium content Aubert & Duval chrome-molybdenum-vanadium steel Cold hammer forged barrel and Proprietary bolt. A number of OEM's these days offer improved bolts and trigger sets.
Additional touches with the M4A1 are free floating the barrel and

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

. reducing weight of the Rail system and easing return to zero mounting.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

for feeding reliability and possibly even moving to a mid length gas system to reducing cyclic rates.

TerraN_EmpirE · May 17, 2017

follow up... THe Marines are have been busy.

Solicitation Number:
M67854-17-MTD-RFI
Notice Type:
Sources Sought

Synopsis:
Added: May 16, 2017 2:59 pm
This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) notice for planning purposes.
This year the Marksmanship Technology Demonstration will be held at Calvin A. Lloyd Range Complex, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Quantico from 19-21 September 2017. The MTD has been aligned with Modern Day Marine to take advantage of similar events. The MTD will be a CLOSED DEMONSTRATION for Marine Corps units/agencies that are within the capability development process.

MTD 2017 will focus on five technology areas:

1. Small arms automated smart static targets
2. Small arms automated smart mobile targets
3. Infantry Rifle
4. Infantry Rifle Suppressors
5. Infantry Rifle Optics

Responses are requested no later than 14 July 2017. Responses received after that time may be reviewed, but are highly unlikely to be considered for participation.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

3. Infantry Rifle The Marine Corps is interested in rifles that incorporate technologies that are applicable to current and future battlefields. The Marine Corps is interested in a rifle that is guided by the following specific requirements: Required Characteristics  Upgrade package (URG + fire control group) or complete rifle with enhanced M27 like capability and features  Free floated handguard 13” for use with 14.5” or longer barrel, 9.5” for use with 10.3/10.5” barrel. Accepts current authorized attachments (i.e., PEQ15/16, lights, etc.). System maintains accuracy and precision through all positons and means of support (free floated) be it sling, barricade, sandbag, etc.  14.5” barrel option, with 24,000 round life with AB49 – 2 MOA precision threshold, 1 MOA precision objective for majority of barrel life (Mean radius) (Army Capability Based Assessment requirements).  Barrel may include low profile gas block but may not use taper pin  Installation when using a barrel cartridge (i.e., barrel with gas block and barrel nut preinstalled) should take no more than 10 minutes threshold, 5 minutes objective (2nd echelon maintenance)  Bolt carrier group optimized for M855A1 use with Picatinny Durable Solid Lubricant coating or any similar variations thereof  Rail must maintain rigidity and alignment (to within 10 MOA) with the rifle’s zeroed point of aim when external pressures (up to 20 pounds) are applied 11” forward of the receiver (accounting for various means of supporting the weapon and weight of existing attachments and aiming devices)  Rail must include continuous 1913 Picatinny rail at the 12 o’clock position with no interruption from the receiver rail to the handguard rail (semi-monolithic). Must include anti rotation features, may integrate into upper receiver.  Rail must have integral forward 1913 Picatinny rail sections at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock of 2-3” in length. Remainder of rail shall be M-LOK (like on SURG and ASR) at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. Other surfaces may include holes/cutouts for air circulation and weight reduction. 4  Rail must be field strippable in a manner similar to the M27 with captured bolts  The rail may include a steel, or 7075-T6 aluminum barrel nut, but it must be non indexing in nature  Rail must accept heat resistant rail covers of a similar nature and material to those found the M27 Desired Characteristics  Ability to fire AB39, .264 USA, .260 Remington, M80A1, etc.  Modular bolt/barrel/magazine & magazine insert conversion packages for caliber changes (compatibility with A059, AB49, AB57, Mk255 Mod 0, etc) and optimized for respective caliber, charge, burn rate, and pressure curve (barrel threads can be 1/2X28 or 5/8X24)  Novel approaches to lightweight rifle and ammunition  Ambidextrous bolt catch and non-reciprocating charging handle  Reversible magazine release and selector  Adjustable length of pull stock, integral storage for spare bolt and QD sling attachment points  Upper receiver will arrive with modular rail mounted sling attachment point  Pistol grip sized for a 5th-95th percentile Marine  Handguard sized 11-13” consideration to accessory use (lights, lasers, etc)  Minimum mass cycling components to create no higher G-load than unsuppressed M110 SASS when fired  High use of corrosion resistant alloys, coatings or treatments  System deliberately built to perform at optimal level while suppressed – must divert gasses away from the shooter’s eye  Bolt and barrel life greater than 15,000 rounds with no more than 200 FPS velocity loss  Entire system serviceable at no higher than 2nd echelon maintenance level  Coating or surface treatment in coyote brown in order to not stand out visually in combat environment, and desired reduction in IR signature.
5 4. Infantry Rifle Suppressor The Marine Corps is interested in new and emerging suppressor technologies. The Marine Corps is interested in a rifle that is guided by the following specific requirements: Required Characteristics  Advanced venting to reduce back pressure, cyclic rate, and gas blowback  Gas flow improvements to reduce or eliminate first-round flash  Effective attenuation of noise and dust signatures – desired to be hearing safe  Minimal and consistent point-of-impact shift of no more than 1.5 MOA  Constructed of advanced high-temperature, corrosion resistant alloys with advanced coatings or treatments  Service life of 24,000 rounds firing AB49 through a 14.5” barrel  No longer than 6.5”, desired length 5” (overall length of suppressor), may fit over muzzle device  Must include locking capability (fast QA/QD capability desirable, but primarily intended to prevent unthreading of suppressor and inevitable baffle strikes)  May not weigh more than 20 oz.  Suppressor shall not be capable of disassembly at 1st echelon maintenance level (cleaning interval shall be recommended by manufacturer on basis of weight gain due to carbon buildup if any)  May include muzzle break/flash suppressor. If included, will utilize existing 1/2X28 threads. May use shims or washers to index properly. May require use of Rocksett to prevent unthreading during use. May not exceed 25 inch pounds of torque for installation. Signature reduction through mitigation of flash and blast overpressure (velocity of redirected gasses as well) is highly desirable.  Existing NSNs, safety certifications, use or testing by other military agencies is highly desirable
6 5. Infantry Rifle Optics The Marine Corps is interested in optics that incorporates technologies that are applicable to current and future battlefields. The Marine Corps is interested in upgrades that meet the specifications of one of the following items: Required Characteristics  Magnification from 0/1-8 power to PID threats (presence of weapon) out to 600M, and engage threats in close proximity  Must possess large and forgiving eyebox and extended eye relief  Included ambidextrous capable feature to rapidly adjust magnification with non firing hand  Reticle features for engaging moving threats out to 150M and rapid ranging feature that accounts for average width of human head and of shoulders  Compatible with clip-on current night vision or thrermal imaging devices (e.g PVS-24A, PAS-27, etc)  Low profile elevation turret or cap – turrets locking or capped to prevent inadvertent loss of zero in combat conditions  Scope base/rings must return to zero after removal  Center of reticle must have daylight bright illuminated dot for close quarter use at 0/1 power.  Must meet MIL-STD 810G environmental/durability requirements Desired Characteristics  Scalable and modular to accept future digital feature set and new reticles  Potential low end setting as red dot sight (RDS)  Form factor comparable to existing COTS optics with similar mid range magnification  Optimized for mounting height over rail at 1.54-1.93”  Battery life comparable to that of Aimpoint M4S CCO (Army standard optic).  Squad level networking and target designation capability  Visually displayed point of impact cue (drawing information from laser rangefinder and ballistic solvers, integral and/or external)

US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King

Jura The idiot

General

FORBIN

Lieutenant General

broadsword

Brigadier

FORBIN

Lieutenant General

Jura The idiot

General

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King

Jura The idiot

General

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King