Entwicklungen und News, ...rund um die Infanterie Einstellungen

[goschi]

Nachfolge des MG3 in der Bundeswehr ausgelagert

[Panzermann]

Soldiers could have a new carbine by 2012, unless a Congressional budget impasse slows it down.

The Army requested $9.9 million for fiscal 2010, money needed to start the solicitation process for a competition that stands to draw dozens of small arms companies waiting for the chance to unseat the M4 as the Army's primary soldier weapon.

In July, the service took control of the design rights to the M4 carbine from its sole maker, Colt Defense LLC. The transition of ownership of the M4 technical data package marked the end of an era and Colt's exclusive status as the only manufacturer of the M4 for the U.S. military for the past 15 years.

The transfer of the licensing agreement also frees up the Army to give other companies a crack at a carbine contract.

Last November, Army senior leadership announced the service's intent to open a competition for a new carbine this fall. Then Army Secretary Pete Geren directed the Army's Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Ga., to update the carbine requirement in preparation for a search for a replacement for the M4.

At the same time, the Army is slated to finish fielding the last of its 473,000 M4 requirement some time next year.

Small-arms companies waiting for the chance to compete for the Army's next carbine view Colt's loss of the M4 TDP as a new beginning for the industry and for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Now that the sole-source era is over, we hope to see free and open competition of any interim or long-term solution for the service rifle or carbine for the American soldier," said Jason Schauble, vice president of the military products division of Remington. "Now there is a chance to get something better in the hands of the soldier."

The company displayed the latest version of the Adaptive Combat Rifle at the International Infantry & Joint Services Small Arms Symposium in May.

Army officials stressed throughout the symposium, however, that the service has to evaluate more than just the weapon. The larger equation also includes the soldier training, optics and ammunition, Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, commander of Program Executive Office Soldier, said at the symposium.

"We have to recognize that it all combines together," he said.

The M4 became the subject of congressional scrutiny in 2007 when lawmakers expressed concern about whether soldiers had the best available weapon.

In November 2007, the weapon finished last in an Army reliability test against other carbines. The M4 suffered more stoppages than the combined number of jams by the other three competitors: the Heckler & Koch XM8; FNH USA's Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle, or SCAR; and the H&K 416.

Army weapons officials agreed to perform the dust test after a July 2007 request by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Coburn took up the issue after a Feb. 26, 2007, Army Times report on moves by elite Army special operations units to ditch the M4 in favor of carbines they consider more reliable.

U.S. Special Operations Command began fielding the first SCARs to its elite forces this spring. The command decided to move away from the M4 in November 2004 when the command awarded a developmental contract to FN Herstal to develop its SCAR to replace its M4s and older M16s.

Of course, the Army's plan to replace the M4 carbine is on hold until Congress can agree on a budget plan for fiscal 2010. Unable to resolve differences over the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill by Oct. 1 - the start of the new fiscal year - lawmakers approved a continuing resolution to maintain 2009 funding levels for 31 days, or until the 2010 defense appropriations act is passed by lawmakers and signed by the president.

For Col. Doug Tamilio, the budget setback means he cannot launch a competition to search for a new carbine until Congress approves 2010 "new start" funding.

"Until funding is allocated and appropriated, I really don't have new start approval for a carbine competition," said Tamilio, who runs Project Manager Soldiers Weapons.

Despite the funding delay, Tamilio said "the Army is still fully committed to holding a new carbine competition."

In addition to funding, the Army must have its updated carbine requirement approved by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, Tamilio said. The requirement is now under review at the Army senior staff level.

If that happens, the Army plans to release a draft request for proposal to the small-arms industry in the fall and a formal RFP early next year, weapons officials maintain.

The first round of testing will likely begin late next summer and last though summer 2011.

Once a weapon is selected in late fiscal 2011, weapons officials hope to have operational testing and a full rate-production decision by late summer in 2012, Tamilio said.

One of the most critical parts of this process will be the three to five months between the draft RFP and the release of the formal RFP, when the industry has the chance to digest and understand what the Army wants in a new carbine, Tamilio said.

"Those discussions we have with industry will be vital to getting the real RFP on the street and that should really make for a solid competition," he said.

http://www.defensenews.com/osd...hp?sh=VSDA&i=4302166


Entscheidung bis 2012? Das will Ich sehen. Und ansonsten mal sehen ob sich nur die üblichen Verdächtigen melden oder ob noch ein paar Unbekannte dazukommen.

[SLAP]

Army Times

Major revamp possible for M4 carbine

Army wants new barrel, faster fire and 4 other improvements

[...]
Army weapons officials presented the proposed changes to Congress on Oct. 30. They are:

• Adding a heavier barrel for better performance during high rates of fire.

• Replacing the direct-impingement gas system with a piston gas system.

• Improving the trigger pull.

• Adding an improved rail system for increased strength.

• Adding ambidextrous controls.

• Adding a round counter to track the total number of bullets fired over the weapon’s lifetime.

[...]

[Almeran]

Ist das dann nicht effektiv ein HK416 oder ähnliches?

[Nightwish]

Das dachte ich auch gerade...

Aber die Amis bringen ja oft Ausschreibungen/Wünsche, um dann doch beim alten zu bleiben.

[Almeran]

Immerhin sind die von Ausschreibungen wie OICW oder XM8 weg und wollen "nur" eine Kawestierung des M4. Das könnte sogar was werden.

[groza]

• Adding a round counter to track the total number of bullets fired over the weapon’s lifetime.

Interessant, gabs sowas davor schonmal?

[SLAP]

Ja.
Schusszähler werden seit 2000 (fast) jährlich auf dem "JOINT SERVICES SMALL ARMS SYSTEMS SYMPOSIUM" vorgestellt.

Ein Hersteller: Accu counter

[Panzermann]

Hoffentlich führt das dazu, daß ausgelutschte Waffen rechtzeitig getauscht werden und nicht weiter in der Truppe bleiben, wenn gleichzeitig im Arsenal neue, verpackte Waffen liegen im Neuzustand.

Trennung:

so von wegen ausgeschossen:
COTS receiver for use in building USMC MEU(SOC) .45 caliber pistols

The procurement of 1800 M45 .45 cal pistol slides..

Das MEU(SOC) bekommt wohl neue Pistolen.

[Gortos]

Hk45 vielleicht? Würde doch genau passen...

[SLAP]

Hk45 vielleicht? Würde doch genau passen...

Nein, das sind zwei Ausschreibungen für die Fertigung dieser beiden Bauteile. Na wer erkennt's?

Der Beitrag wurde von SLAP bearbeitet: 24. Nov 2009, 19:40

[lastdingo]

Ja.
Schusszähler werden seit 2000 (fast) jährlich auf dem "JOINT SERVICES SMALL ARMS SYSTEMS SYMPOSIUM" vorgestellt.

Ein Hersteller: Accu counter

So etwas wurde gegen Anfang des 2. WK für Jagdflugzeuge eigeführt. Manche wollten es unbedingt haben, für Andere war es unnötiger Schnickschnack. Bei Gewehren hat man den Infobedarf tendenziell mit transparenten Kunststoffen oder einer Leuchtspurpatrone (z.B. drittletzte) gehandhabt.

[Nite]

Laut dem von groza zitierten Punkt geht es hier aber wohl um einen (vermutlich von außen nicht einmal sichtbaren) Zähler, welcher die abgegebenen Schüsse über die gesamte Lebensdauer der Waffe zählt, und nicht um ein System welches auskunft über den aktuellen Munitionsstand gibt.

[lastdingo]

Hmm, dann sorry.

[Funker Andreas]

Laut dem von groza zitierten Punkt geht es hier aber wohl um einen (vermutlich von außen nicht einmal sichtbaren) Zähler, welcher die abgegebenen Schüsse über die gesamte Lebensdauer der Waffe zählt, und nicht um ein System welches auskunft über den aktuellen Munitionsstand gibt.

Und was hat man davon? Ein Zähler, der die Schüsse, die noch im Magazin zählt, finde ich durchaus sinnvoll. Nicht unbedingt notwendig, aber eben sinnvoll. Aber einer, der die Schüsse für die gesamte Lebensdauer zählt?

[agdus]

Laut dem von groza zitierten Punkt geht es hier aber wohl um einen (vermutlich von außen nicht einmal sichtbaren) Zähler, welcher die abgegebenen Schüsse über die gesamte Lebensdauer der Waffe zählt, und nicht um ein System welches auskunft über den aktuellen Munitionsstand gibt.

Und was hat man davon? Ein Zähler, der die Schüsse, die noch im Magazin zählt, finde ich durchaus sinnvoll. Nicht unbedingt notwendig, aber eben sinnvoll. Aber einer, der die Schüsse für die gesamte Lebensdauer zählt?

Waffen haben nur ne Gewisse Lebenserwartung. Ich meine gelesen zu haben, dass sie bei H&K Waffen bei 22000 Schuss liegen und beim G22 der Bundeswehr bei 6000 Schuss. Danach is mit mangelnder Präzision zu rechnen und evtl verfällt der "Garantieanspruch". (Sicherheit)

[SLAP]

Die schwingbelasteten Bauteile von Waffen haben in der Regel eine endliche Lebensdauer (Lauf, Federn, Verschlusskopf, Auszieher). Schäden treten nicht plötzlich auf, sondern sind das Ergebnis von vielen Lastwechseln. Jedes Metallteil hat von Anfang an Mikrorisse, die sich mit jedem mal wenn es belastet wird vergrößern. Irgendwann ist dann der Moment gekommen, in dem das verbleibende Material nicht mehr ausreicht und das Teil bricht.

Anhand von Versuchen kann man ermitteln, wie viele Lastspiele (=Schüsse) ein Bauteil hält. Durch die Versuche erhält man natürlich keine absolute Größe sondern eine statistische. z.B.: Ein Lauf hält durchschnittlich 10.000 S kann aber auch nur 5.000 S oder bedeutend länger halten. [Edit: Läufe sind ein schlechtes Beispiel da die in der Regel schon lange nicht mehr Präzise sind -aufgrund von Verschleiss- bevor sie brechen.]

Wenn eine Waffe mit Schusszähler nun zur Inst kommt, kann der Mechaniker auslesen wie viele Schüsse abgefeuert wurden. Dadurch weiss er, welche Bauteile als nächstes (statistisch gesehen) ausfallen müssen und kann dementsprechend Teile ersetzen.

Durch Feuerstöße, Korrosion, usw. kann die sogg. Dauerfestigkeit stark vermindert werden. Durch aufbringen einer Spannung an der Oberfläche kann die DF verbessert werden (Kugelstrahlen: wird unter anderem gerne bei Verschlussköpfen gemacht).



Typisches Schadensbild an einem Verschlusskopf. Der Riss verläuft in 45° zur Beanspruchungsrichtung und beginnt an einer "scharfen Kante" (Kerbe).


http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwingbruch

Der Beitrag wurde von SLAP bearbeitet: 24. Nov 2009, 21:19

[Panzermann]

Wie der Betriebsstundenzähler bei anderem Gerät.

Trennung.

Hk45 vielleicht? Würde doch genau passen...

One day Sasquatch walked in dropped his HK1911 on the table and nodded towards Elvis and JFK...

Wait! HK1911? Now I know you are lying!



Aber ernsthafter: Die HK45 wurde iirc für eine Army Anforderung gebaut.
Das USMC will offenbar die aus alten M1911 zusammengebauten "Pistol, Caliber .45, MEU(SOC)" der MEU(SOC) durch neue ersetzen. Und das Kind bekommt jetzt sogar einen offiziellen richtigen Namen mit M. Hatte Ich aber eigentlich schon geschrieben?!

[SLAP]

The Korea Times

South Korean troops to be deployed in Afghanistan will be armed with the latest K-11 airburst assault rifles for self-defense, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

The ministry unveiled the timeline as well as the troop numbers and equipment to be sent to the Central Asian nation, last week.

About 350 soldiers will be dispatched to Afghanistan with the main mission of protecting 120 South Korean civilian reconstruction workers, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said in a National Assembly session. Two dozen civilian reconstruction workers have already been sent to the war-torn country.

[...]

Der Beitrag wurde von SLAP bearbeitet: 1. Dec 2009, 12:53

[Panzermann]

Das OICW lebt!


Dann können wir uns ja auf den Schwanzvergleich mit dem XM25 freuen, daß ja auch grad nach AFG geht...

[polo]

Heckler & Koch gewinnt IAR Ausschreibung des USMC

[Nite]

die MG-Diskussion hat ein eigenes Topic bekommen
Magpul AFG ebenso

Der Beitrag wurde von Nite bearbeitet: 6. Dec 2009, 16:33

[Panzermann]

Die British Army will wohl AR-10 als Präzisionsgewehr kaufen:

PRESS RELEASE

The UK Ministry of Defence awarded a contract to Law Enforcement International (LEI) for a new 7.62mm semi-automatic “Sharpshooter” rifle.

The new rifle will bear the official service designation “L129A1.” It is manufactured by Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) in the USA.

The L129A1 is based on a proven design with new features including a one piece upper receiver and a “free floating” barrel which offers better accuracy at longer ranges.

LEI was short listed and awarded the contract with final award based on overall performance and price. Deliveries start early in the new year.

http://www.lei.co.uk/ ist nicht so wirklich viel zu finden

Auf der LMT Seite ist auch nix zu finden.

Also ist das wohl erstmal RUMINT, wenn Ich keine Quelle finde.

Der Beitrag wurde von Panzermann bearbeitet: 7. Dec 2009, 14:09

[Panzermann]

U.S. Army Focuses On New Body Armor

By Paul McLeary


In the past several years, the U.S. Army has developed an advanced generation of protective ballistic plates for soldiers in what it calls the “X-Sapi” (Small-Arms Protective Insert) program. But, despite buying 120,000 plates from Ceradyne and BAE Systems, it has yet to issue the gear to troops in the field—and it may not ever do so.

The Army’s product manager for Soldier Protective Equipment, Lt. Col. Jon Rickey, says the plates are designed to defeat an “X-threat” that hasn’t yet fully emerged, but delivery of the plates began late this year. “We are in the middle of doing lot-acceptance testing . . . in case we see that threat emerge in theater.”

Rickey declines to comment on the “X-threat,” only saying that the Army is trying to get ahead of “what we believe will appear.” (Press reports and government studies speculate that the threat is higher-velocity and armor-piercing rounds.) The plates are made from the same types of materials—silicon carbide and ceramic, and high-molecular-weight polyethylene (HMW-PE) and aramid fibers—as the E-Sapi plates in use, Rickey says. “It’s just how you put it together that provides the additional capability,” he notes. At a congressional hearing last February, the extra 0.5 lb. beyond the E-Sapi’s weight that the X‑Sapi plates would add to a soldier’s already heavy load caused Army leaders to say they would not field the plates just yet.

The issue of protection for troops was given a big push in 2007, when Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), and then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), asked the Government Accountability Office to launch an investigation into the reliability of body armor worn by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. When the report was issued last month, it focused instead on what it said were flaws in testing the new plates, as opposed to performance in the field.

The GAO was critical of the Army’s X-Sapi testing methods, but Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, chief of Program Executive Office Soldier, says the Army is still in the testing phase, and “we are interested in taking all this data, Phase II testing, Phase III testing, additional surveillance testing—wrap[ping] it up in one report and provid[ing] it back to the Hill.”

Even with the new, sturdier, heavier plates, Rickey says, “we’ve only tapped into about 40% of where the industry can go in terms of HMW-PE fiber. In aramid fibers, they’re continuing to look at ways to improve the resin and unidirectional weave to give them more capability at a light weight.”

Weight has long been an issue with the body armor the Pentagon issues to troops. Rickey’s office has signed an $18.6-million contract with KDH Defense Systems to send 57,000 new, lighter plate carriers to Afghanistan to decrease the load soldiers carry. He told DTI in November that the plate carriers were undergoing first-article testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., to be followed soon by lot-acceptance tests. Deliveries are expected to begin in late December and be complete by March.

BAE Systems is also working on weight reduction, according to Joe Colyman, vice president of Personnel Protection Systems. BAE’s Ultra Lightweight Warrior (ULW) program is about “trying to find ways to decrease weight for the soldier,” Colyman says, adding that the company expects to see products “start spiraling out and into the marketplace in the next 2-3 months.”

BAE previously developed the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) for the U.S. Army, which took 25-30% of the weight off the previous vest, and the ULW program seeks to gain an additional 20-30% in weight savings across four areas: helmets, soft vests, plates and load-carriage equipment.

“In some cases, we’ll see savings by offering systems that work better together,” Colyman says. “In some cases, we’ll see savings on the individual piece by better design or the use of new materials.” While BAE has signed no contracts for the gear and needs to perform user trials, the U.S. Defense Dept. is “aware of our intent.”

Rickey’s shop is also involved in working on programs to make future tactical vests compatible with the Army’s evolving Land Warrior suite of wearable communications and sensor gear. The Land Warrior kit gives small-unit leaders in the field the ability to track the location of friendly forces by viewing maps and other information on small, helmet-mounted computer screens. The program, still very much a work in progress, is being used in Afghanistan by the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Div., and had previously deployed to Iraq with another Stryker Brigade. There are also plans to equip a Special Forces battalion with the technology kit next fall.

If the fielding continues to go well, indications are that the Army will begin issuing the technologies across a broader swath of the force, meaning the gear the soldiers wear will have to change to accommodate the extra sensors and communications tools that accompany it.

Rickey says soldiers using the system in theater report “they need a little extra stability on the helmet so their display is stable.” His office is looking at ways of making this improvement. As a result, he asked for a study to see how they can upgrade chin straps for more stability, and he says so far he has identified three technologies that “look promising.”

Given the increasing attention that has been given to the issue of traumatic brain injuries as a result of roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan, helmets are a big part of what the Army is working on. Rickey’s office is developing a helmet sensor that measures blast overpressure and head acceleration during explosions or other traumatic events. The Army has culled data from the first generation of helmet sensors—7,000 of which were deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2008 to March 2009—which is being used to create a combat helmet that is lighter and equipped with sensors more capable of downloading real-time data.

The first-generation helmet sensors measured head acceleration in three degrees of freedom, while the newer version will be able to measure head acceleration in all six degrees, including rotation of the head. The improved sensors are expected to be ready by March 2010, and will feature a wireless capability, allowing information to be downloaded without plugging the sensor into a USB port. This capability will enable the retrieval of information on the sensor’s power consumption, memory and functionality. The Army plans to equip the equivalent of six brigade combat teams with the sensor.

Rickey also tells DTI that his office is working with the Marine Corps on a new Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) that will provide protection against rifle fire as well as the 9-mm. ballistic threat and others against which the current ACH protects.

BAE is working on the experimental Integrated Warfighter System, which Colyman says is “focused on the way we fight today,” by trying to design equipment that can act as “the platform for electronic communications and sensor systems” instead of just carrying them.

“Our approach with the Integrated Warfighter System is to think of that soldier-protective equipment as the platform, much like a truck or armored personnel carrier, on which other mission-critical equipment can be placed,” Colyman says. Specifically, “our focus is to take equipment like Land Warrior and integrate it directly into the protective equipment. True weight savings and mobility improvement will come when that equipment is embedded directly into the protective equipment.” This includes optical systems, night-vision equipment, sensors, antenna and power systems.

The company is focusing on the helmet, working on a design that can “accept different components so they can change over time” without replacing the helmet. While Colyman maintains that the company is “years away” from fielding the kit, he notes that “power systems and power management are the farthest along, and we’re actually demonstrating systems to the user today.”

Quelle:U.S. Army Focuses On New Body Armor

[Panzermann]

Die British Army kauft wohl ein Crye Muster:

UK Armed Forces will be issued with combat clothing in a new camouflage optimised for operations in Afghanistan and across a wide range of environments.

• It will be issued to all personnel deploying on Op HERRICK from March 2010 then issued more widely to the UK Armed Forces from 2011.

• This is the first time the Armed Forces have changed to a new camouflage pattern in 40 years, operational effectiveness being the driver for change.

• The camouflage is a multi-terrain pattern that, following extensive scientific trials, performs consistently well across a wide range of environments encountered both on current operations and worldwide. MTP provides the best possible camouflage

A wide range of camouflage colours were trialled in UK, Cyprus, Kenya and Afghanistan by Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU) with Dstl support. The trials consisted of Defence Clothing Team and Dstl generated camouflages compared with in-service and commercially available camouflages. The trials included visual comparisons, objective assessments of the time to detect the different camouflages against different backgrounds, and subjective user opinions on the efficacy of the performance. Crye’s Multicam® technology was found to be the best performing across the widest range of environments by a significant margin and was selected as the new UK Camouflage, based upon the UK DPM pattern. The new camouflage is to be known as Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP).

Quelle: http://www.militaryphotos.net/...wthread.php?t=170889

[anschobi]

also multicam mit einem anderem muster, warum nicht direkt das orginal multicam?

[Panzermann]

Die Briten experimentierten ja schon seit einiger Zeit mit DPM Variationen herum um ein Universalmuster zu entwickeln. Und DPM ist einfach "britischer" und paßt auch besser zur vorhandenen Ausrüstung wie Gerödel, Rucksäcke etc.

[Nite]

Laut Soldiersystems wollte man ein Muster mit eindeutig "britischem Look" auf Multicam-Basis.

[Panzermann]

Ich sollte mir eine Kristallkugel kaufen und auf Jahrmärkten auftreten.

[Nite]

Neues von den Briten:

from janes
UK selects 7.62 mm Sharpshooter weapon for Afghan ops
Andrew White Jane's Land Reporter
London

UK forces are to receive a semi-automatic 7.62 mm x 51 mm 'sharpshooter' weapon to combat Taliban forces engaging beyond the maximum effective range of the 5.56 mm L85A2 assault rifle.

In a USD2.5 million deal the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contracted Law Enforcement International (LEI) to supply 440 LM7 semi-automatic rifles.

The urgent operational requirement follows calls from troops on the ground for a weapon that can be comfortably patrolled with, can be rapidly initiated and provide an increased range for contacts out to 800 m.

To be redesignated the L129A1, the gas-operated weapon carries a 20-round magazine, is 945 mm long and weighs 5 kg. It will be manufactured by Lewis Machine & Tool Company in the United States, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2010.

Features of the weapon include a single-piece upper receiver and free-floating, quick-change barrels available in 305 mm, 406 mm and 508 mm. It has four Picatinny rails with a 540 mm top rail for night vision, thermal and image intensifying optics. Stock options include fixed or retractable versions.

Industry sources told Jane's that LEI beat competition including Heckler & Koch's HK417 (already supplied to specialist units within the MoD), FN Herstal's SCAR (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle) and an offering from Sabre Defence Industries.

To date UK soldiers must complete a marksmanship course to become qualified as 'sharpshooters' and are regarded as being a grade below that of a sniper. Following the introduction of Accuracy International's (AI's) .338-cal L115A3 sniper rifle, sharpshooters have been armed with AI's outgoing 7.62 mm L96 rifle. However, the latter's bolt action does not make it a suitable option for a patrolling soldier.

With the majority of contacts occurring at either very close range or at ranges out to between 500 m and 900 m, the "only organic asset" available to responding UK forces in a small-arms capacity is the 7.62 mm General-Purpose Machine Gun, with MoD sources saying that "5.56 mm weapons lack the reach to engage the enemy at those ranges".

"The 5.56 mm is sufficiently lethal at the right range, but troops need 7.62 mm for longer ranges. We should be looking at higher performance rounds with higher lethality at longer range. Research is going to filter into user requirements for the soldier system lethality programme," one MoD source told Jane's .