Compendium by Armada: Issue 2 - April/May 2012

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Special Ops &Soldier Small Arms,Sights & Accessories

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01Compendium Special Operations 2/2012

L ETHALITY IS one of the major issuesand is a combination of situationalawareness, firepower, ammunitionterminal effect and accurate sighting.

So let’s start with the infantryman’s bestfriend, the assault rifle.

Urban warfare has heavily impacted thebasic infantryman tool in terms ofdimensions, compactness being the choice asevidenced in America when the GreenArmy shifted from the M16 rifle to the M4

carbine. Reducing dimensions of a non-bullpup rifle means reducing barrel length,which in turn generates a drop in the V0,usually with dire consequences on lethality.

Among western armies the M4 with its356-mm-long barrel remains the benchmarktype, although reports from the field haveshown some criticism regarding its reliabilityin sand and dusty environments due to thedirect impingement or ‘gas-tube’ system thattends to bring carbon blow-back into thechamber, while the very hot gases used tocycle the weapon generate heat problems.

The idea of replacing the M4 was

cancelled in 2006 but has surfaced again,although a mild approach has been adoptedknown as “Dual Path Strategy”. In otherwords the US Army intends to continuewith the M4 upgrade in a phased approach,but in the mean time carry on with theIndividual Carbine (IC) competition –service requirements having been approvedin August 2010. The open competitionoutcome will see the three best performersbeing awarded indefinite delivery/indefinitequantity contracts before limited userexperiments by the Army. The winner willthen fight against the upgraded M4 for the

Fitted on a sniper rifle theMerlin LR sight offers a

two-kilometre detection rangeunder quarter moonlight.

Paolo Valpolini

Assault RiflesLooking at a soldier from a platform perspective, key factors are firepower, mobility,protection and C4I. Mobility is affected by the other three elements thoughweight alsoplays its distorting role in this department. Firepower is the kinetic winner of theengagement with the enemywhile C4I provides the situational awareness andthereby an edge over the enemy. Protection is now being extended from the torso toother parts of the body, particularly as a result of the wounds inflicted by new threatssuch as roadside bombs. For ease of use, this survey is divided into four sections,namely Assault Rifles, Weapon Sights, Indirect Fire and Vital Peripherals.

final contract.Whether the newweapon orupgraded M4 will completely replace thecurrent carbine is still open to questions asindeed limited funding might call for amixed solution. What is sure is that theArmy intends to buy the Technical DataPackage rights in order to run a productioncompetition to obtain the best possiblemanufacturing price.TheM4 improvement phased approach

includes the acquisition of 25,000 M4A1carbines featuring the ambidextrous firecontrol assemblies and that of 65,000 kits toconvert M4s into M4A1s, those numbersdepending on budgets. The A1 adopts aheavier barrel and is fully automatic whilethe original M4 fires in semi-auto andthree-round-burst modes. Phase II will see

the adoption of a new forward rail, boltsand bolt carrier assemblies, aiming atimproving durability and increasingaccessory integration. Phase III will lookinto an alternative to the current gasimpingement system.Under Socom pressure Heckler & Koch

(HK) developed an M4 derivative, theHK416, fittedwith a proprietary gas systemderived from that used in the G36 assaultrifle. Here a short-stroke piston drives theoperating rod that controls the bolt, firstsuppressing propellant gases and carbonfouling from coming in contact with thebolt, and secondly reducing heat transfer tothe bolt and bolt carrier.Availablewith fourdifferentbarrel lengths

(264mm, 368mm, 419mm and 505mm), a

firstbatchof500HK416swasacquiredby theSpecial Operations Command for itsOperational Detachment Delta. Numerousspecial forces units worldwide have adoptedthe HK weapon, which obtained its firstsuccess in a “green army” inNorwaywhere afirstorder for8200rifleswas filed in2007.HKalsoprovides theupper receivermodule tobeinstalled on lower receivers for upgradingexistingM4/M16.The HK416 is amongst the competitors

running for the Army IC. No details wereprovided by HK USA, which only refers toconsiderable improvements (the onlypicture released shows an M4 type stockand a different pistol grip). TheHK416wasselected by the US Marine Corps for atotally different role. Equipped with the16.5-inch barrel cumM16-style flash hiderand a series of accessories it won the M27Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) bid thatlooked for a magazine-fed weapon toreplace theM249 Saw light machine gun, aderivative of theMinimi.The IAR includes Knight’s Armament

600-metre micro/backup iron sights andTrijicon’s Acog 3.5 x 35 Squad AutomaticWeapon Day Optic. A low-rate initialproduction order for 500 rifles was signedin early 2010, with deliveries completed byNovember that same year. Followingoperational trials in the first half of 2011,September that year saw theM27 IARbeinggiven the green light for full-rateproduction. Each Marine squad will fieldthree M27s, one per four-man team, for atotal of over 4000 such rifles which, fullyloaded, weigh less than half a Saw.Back to the US Army carbine, Colt itself

developed an upgraded version of the M4

02 Compendium Special Operations 2/2012

A picture of theIndividualCarbine versionof Heckler &Koch’s HK416.No furtherdetails weregiven on thatversion of theweapon.(Heckler & Koch)

A US Army soldier shooting with his M4 carbine. The shortbarrel of that weapon has commanded the development ofnew rounds to compensate for the poor penetration capacityof the original M855. (US Army)

Themalfunctions due to theM4 direct impingement system started a dual pathprocess that might lead to the acquisition of newweapons and to the upgrade ofcurrent ones. (US Army)

Heckler & KochM27 IARadopted by the USMarine

Corps as a replacement for theM249 Saw. (Heckler Koch)


known as P0923 or Advanced PistonCarbine,which adopts theArticulatingLinkPiston operating system that reducesstresses in the piston strike. The weaponfires in semi-auto and automaticmodes andmaintains the samemetrics as theM4with aweight increase of about 400 grams.Remington is following both paths of the

US Army approach, providing an upgradeto the existing M16/M4 type weapons aswell as a newly developed weapon. Theupgrade comes in the form of the RGP, forRemington Gas Piston, which can beprovided either as a new weapon or as adrop-in kit for existing carbines.The new upper receiver is built around a

mid-length gas-piston operating system thatallows firing inunsuppressedandsuppressedmodes without the need for a gas regulator.Thekit comeswithcoldhammer-forged10.5-inchor14.5-inchbarrels inmediumorheavyprofile,whichcanbechanged in less than fiveminutes. The free-floating handguard isprovided with cable routing guides andremovable Picatinny rails. The RGP isproposed by the company as the upgradesolution forPhase III of theM4upgrade.Adifferent solution is proposed in the IC

bid, theAdaptiveCombatRifle (ACR)beinga new weapon based on a developmentcarried out by Magpul Industries thatentered a licensing agreement withBushmaster, a sister company toRemingtonArms part of the Freedomgroup.The ACR is a fully modular system that

can be quickly converted from 5.56 mm to6.8 mm calibre in less than two minutes;barrel, stocks and accessories being alsointerchangeable allowing to tailor theweapon to themission. Fully ambidextrous,

it adopts a gas piston operating system, anon-reciprocating bolt handle and a free-floating handguard rail system.Three barrels are available for both

calibres, respectively 10.5, 14.5 and 16.5inches long.According torecent information,Remington developed an advanced andlighter version of its ACR and this is themodelproposed for theArmyICbid.With experience gleaned with the

Socom’s 7.62-mmScar, FNHerstal is facingthe IC bidwith its ScarMk16 5.56mm.Thestandard version seems best in linewith theIC requirements, with its 14-inch barrel,

with a ten-inch barrel available for closequarter combat while the LB versionfeatures an 18-inch barrel that considerablyincreases accuracy. Also based on a short-stroke gas piston system, its gas regulatorallows maintaining a constant rate of firewhen using a sound suppressor.Adcor Defense proposes another M4

based weapon, the Brown EnhancedAutomatic Rifle. Also known as the Bear, itfeatures a gas-driven piston that is locatedin theupperhalf of the forward rail system. Itthus never touches the barrel, making it afree-floating barrel, which increasesaccuracy. To further avoid the entry of sandand dust in the weapon a dust shield ismounted directly on the bolt carrier.Many other American producers of AR-

type weapons were to have submitted theirproposals before the 27 October 2011deadline.KnightsArmament, LandWarfareResources, Stag Arms, Ruger, all have intheir catalogues upgraded versions ofAR15rifles and carbines. Not many details haveemerged about the internationalparticipation to that bid.According to the latest information

provided by theUSArmy test firingwill runthrough 2012 and lead to shortlisting inearly 2013, followed by an evaluation phasewith soldier feedback. The winner willemerge after a best-value assessment, whilethe decision to go for an M-4A1replacement will be based on cost-benefitanalysis, which does not exclude a hybridsolution keeping in service the currentweaponwhile fielding the new carbine.

I ELSEWHEREThe US Army is not the only service that is

A Remington Adaptive Combat Rifle equippedwith suppressor. Fully ambidextrous, it can beequippedwith barrels of three differentlengths. (Remington)

ASSAULT RIFLES/CARBINES IN 5.56 X 45 MMMMaannuuffaaccttuurreerr CCoolltt CCoolltt CCoolltt HHeecckklleerr && KKoocchh HHeecckklleerr && KKoocchh RReemmiinnggttoonn RReemmiinnggttoonn

Model M16A4 M-4 APC / P0923 HK416 (14.5”) M27 IAR ACR (14.5”) RGP (14.5”)

Mode 3 rds burst 3 rds burst Semi-auto/Auto Semi-auto/Auto Semi-auto/Auto

Length extended 1000.3 mm 838 mm 838 mm 900 mm 953 mm 829-902 mm 863 mm

Length stockfolded/retracted

n.a. 757 mm 757 mm 804 mm 851 mm 654 mm 777 mm

Barrel length 508 mm 356 mm 356 mm 368 mm 420 mm 368 mm 368 mm

Barrel twist 1 in 7 1 in 7 1 in 7 1 in 7 1 in 7 1 in 7

Rate of fire 700-950 rpm 700-950 rpm 700-950 rpm 850 rpm 700-900 rpm 650-700 rpm

Magazine 30 rounds 30 rounds 30 rounds 20/30 rounds 30 rounds 30 rounds 30 rounds

Weight 3.26 kg 2.77 kg 3.18 kg 3.49 kg 3.70 kg ** 3.57 kg * 3.15 kg *

* Without magazine; ** Weapon only, without magazine and accessories

looking at newweapons. Italy is fielding theBeretta ARX160, France should soonlaunch a competition for a new assault riflefor its troops, although timing is stillunclear. Czech units started receiving thenewCZ805BrenA1 in late 2011.Theproductioncontract for80005.56x45

mmrifleswasassigned toCeskaZbrojovka inearly 2010. A typicalmodularweapon, it canbe quickly transformed into a 7.62 x 39 mmriflebychanging thebarrel, bolt andgas tube,thedevelopmentof a6.8x43mmRemingtonversionbeingalsopossible.Gasoperatedwitha rotating bolt, the new Czech rifle can betransformed intoa carbineadopting the277-mm-long barrel, while a longer barrel mightsoon be available to transform it into adesignatedmarksmanrifle.It might well be among the many

competitors for the Indian bid, the DelhiMinistry of Defence having issued on 18November an RfP to 43 weapon

manufacturers,withproposal deadline set atmid-February 2012.At stake are 66,000 riflesin 5.56 mm calibre that must be able toquickly convert in 7.62 x 39 mm, to replacethe Indian-made Insas 5.56mmrifle.In late 2010 the army already issued a

tender for nearly 45,000CQBcarbines. Thisshould lead to massive acquisitions, theoverall need being for around 400,000carbines and over twomillion assault rifles.The requests include a transfer of technologyto allow local production of the weapons.The Indian bidwill be platform-centric (therifle being a the heart of the system) toguarantee maximum efficiency in themechanical coupling between the weaponand the accessories in all operationalconditions.Weaponmanufacturers are thusasked to provide a whole package that willinclude ammunition, sighting systems andaccessories.It is worth remembering here that in the

early 2000 India acquired over 3000 Tavor21 assault rifles from Israel WeaponIndustries. These are in service with itsArmy special forces units, and a furthercontract for 10,000 such rifles has beenplaced for paramilitary special forces units.Beretta Defence Technologies, with

ARX-160 research and development effortunder its belt, is proposing themodular rifletomany countries. It was designed based onfive functional sub-assemblies, namely lowreceiver, barrel, bolt assembly, case andmagazine. Beretta does not wish to expandon customisation for the US IndividualCarbine bid but confirms its participation.The Italian company also developed a

customised version aimed at the Frenchcontract, and is working on the package tobe proposed to India, the 7.62 x 39-mmbeing ready. Beretta is alsoworking hard onthe 7.62 x 51-mm calibre weapon, whichwill be even more modular and quicklytransformable into a marksman rifle, anassault rifle or a carbine. It will be fullymulti-calibre, and the first prototypes in thebase calibre are soon expected. To be able toanswer complex requirements involvingcomplete packages Beretta is heavilyinvesting in the acquisition of companiesoperating in collateral fields.The Indian bid is not the only one

requiring the capability to fire 7.62 x 39mmrounds. Many manufacturers are thusincluding in their portfolios new riflescapable to fulfil that requirement.One year ago, Sig Sauer introduced its

SIG556 Russian, based on the provenSIG556 design but able to fire AK-47rounds. It features a 16-inch barrelwith fourgrooves and a 1 in 9.5 inches rifling andaccepts AK magazines. Based on a gaspiston mechanism with two-position valveand rotating bolt adjustment, it weighs 3.17

Knights Armament’s M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper Systemwas selected by the US Army as itsnew designatedmarksmanweapon. (US Army)

kg without magazine and is 911 mm long(660mmwith the polymer stock folded).

Besides thewell known 550 series whichbuilds on the proven Swiss Army rifleadopted in 1990 and known as theSturmgewehr 90, Sig Sauer markets the516/716 AR rifles respectively in 5.56 x 45mmand 7.62 x 51mmcalibres.

One company not tanking part in theAmerican bid is Steyr Mannlicher, whoseAug assault rifle evolved considerably. TheA3model answers the needs formodularity,with a long Picatinny rail at 12 o’clock andtwomore on the barrel sleeve and onemoreon the receiver. A bolt-catch system wasimplemented while an AR15-like magazinerelease was developed for those used to that

system,which is retrofittable to existing rifles.In late January Thales and Steyr

Mannlicher signed an agreement, the twocompanies having decided to offer theimprovements introduced in theAustralianArmyF88A2 rifle to the rest of theworld.

I AMMUNITIONWaiting for developments in new calibres ortypes of rounds, producers remain linked tomass production of current standardisedammo.TheUSArmyuses yearly 1.6million5.56-mm rounds for training and combatand owns some 1.1 million rifles betweenM16 and M4 models. It is understandablewhy the first move was thus to develop a

more effective round in that calibre.The Soldier Battlefield Effectiveness

paper published in August 2011 by the USArmy PEO Soldier contains someinteresting statements about the newM855A1 Enhanced Performance Round(EPR). According to Lt. Col. JefferyWoods,PEO Ammo, Picatinny Arsenal, “Aftertesting and measuring combatperformance, theArmy concluded that onlyone general-purpose round was moreeffective than the current 5.56mmM855 todefeat the wide range of targets faced bysoldiers and that’s the new the M855A1Enhanced PerformanceRound.”

Produced by ATK, the new roundmaintains the samemetrics as theM855witha 62-grain bullet weight but withconsiderable changes in configuration. Thepenetrator is nowmade in aharder steelwithanarrowhead, is twice asheavyas the formerand is fully exposed as it extends beyond thecopper jacket, the latter being now “reversedrawn” and formed from the back of the

Originally part of the Italian “Soldato Futuro”programme, the Beretta ARX-160 rifle is nowbeing acquired “off-programme” and isalready distributed to other units operating inAfghanistan. (Armada/PV)

A Beretta ARX-160 assault rifle equippedwiththe GLX-160 40-mmunderbarrel grenadelauncher. Beretta is answering numerous bidsfor new rifles such as the IC in the UnitedStates, and in India. (Armada/PV)


ASSAULT RIFLES/CARBINES IN 5.56 X 45 MMMMaannuuffaaccttuurreerr LLWWRRCC IInntt.. CCZZ AADDCCOORR FFNN HHeerrssttaall SSiigg SSaauueerr SStteeyyrr MMaannnnlliicchheerr

Model M6A1-S (14.7”) CZ 805 BREN A1 B.E.A.R. (14.5”) SCAR Mk16 SIG516 AUG A3

Mode Semi-auto/Auto Semi-auto/2 rds burst/auto Semi-auto/Auto Semi-auto/Auto Semi-auto/Auto

Length extended 856-932 mm 915 mm 883 mm 826-889 mm 885 mm 745 mm

Length stockfolded/retracted

n.a. 670 mm 787 mm 635 mm 805 mm n.a.

Barrel length 373 mm 360 mm 368 mm 356 mm 368 mm 455 mm

Barrel twist 1 in 7 1 in 7 1 in 7

Rate of fire 700-900 rpm 625 rpm 750-800 rpm 680-750 rpm

Magazine 30 rounds 20/30 rounds 30 rounds 30-42 rounds

Weight 3.27 kg * 3.58 kg 3.11 kg 3.27 * 3.15 kg * 3.9 kg

* Without magazine

bullet up to the penetrator; the original leadslugwas replacedby a copper slug.

The WC-844 propellant powder wasreplaced by the SMP-842; this provides areduced flash and contains a de-copperingagent for longer barrel life. However themost important effect is the muzzle velocityincrease, although the difference from the949 metre/sec of the M855 remainsclassified as well as the increased chamberpressure. This affects significantly theterminal ballistic performances, the newround delivering “improved hard-targetpenetration, more consistent performanceagainst soft targets and a significantlyextended range of these desired effects along

its trajectory”, accordingto Lt. Col. Woods.

The M855A1 canpenetrate a 9.5-mmmild steel plate at over350 metres, comparedto 160 metres with theM855. Army ResearchLaboratory tests againsthard targets within theeffective range of theM4/M16 weapon

systems demonstrated that the M855A1outperformed the 7.62-mmM80ball round,which does not have a steel penetrator. Thismeans that the new 5.56 mm roundpenetrates some types of body armourdesigned to stop the 7.62 mm ball.

Although not participating inthe US IC bid, Steyr Mannlicheris continuing with thedevelopment of its Aug,here in the A3 Special Forcesconfiguration.(Steyr Mannlicher)

I BRITAIN: WEAPONS ON DIETWith weight being an ever-critical issue, Cranfield University wasasked by the Ministry of Defence to carry out an aggressive studyto reduce the current 70-kg soldier load to a mere 25. A firsttarget was to reduce the weight of weapon and ammunition by50 % without losing effectiveness. The final report was handedover to the Ministry in March 2011. Stellite barrels for general-purpose machine guns should allow weight cutting, better heatdissipation, wear and degradation reduction at high temperaturesand therefore allow to removal of the second barrel. Britain isalso looking at the Lsat programme (see picture). GeneralDynamics OTS corrosion-resistant steel cases allow saving aboutfour grams per 7.62-mm round and an estimated two grams per5.56-mm round, while plastic links developed by Ares save 2.25grams per 7.62-mm link. As for the SA80 assault rifle, weightsaving could come from alternative materials for the rifle “skin”while finite element analysis has identified possible weight savingareas. Titanium steel rods save 90 grams per rod, while carbonnylon for upper receiver and trigger mechanism housing alsoreduce weight. A new underbarrel grenade launcher interfacesaves another 430 grams. Two weapons were completed inearly 2011, the Mk 1 and the Mk 1A and were submitted to athree-day testing at the Infantry Trials and Development Unit.The Mk 1 prototype is 461 grams lighter than the 5.29-kgSA80A2 with Picatinny, downgrip and Elcan, while the Mk 1Aweighs 872 grams less than the 5.5-kg SA80A2 in “theatreentry” configuration with HK AG36 UBGL.


Performances obviously depend on thekinetic energy, which, in turn, is influencedby the barrel length. The above-mentionedfigures against themild steel plate are for theM4, theM16providing respectively 385 and240 metres, while against a concretemasonry unit, an obstacle that the M855won’t penetrate, the EPR overcomes it at 41metres when fired from an M4 and at 97metres when anM16 is used. The M855A1provides consistent performance againstsoft targets too, regardless of yaw angle or

I LOW WEIGHT AND NEW AMMO FORUS SMALL ARMSLaunched in FY04 theUS Army’s Lightweight Small Arms Technologies(Lsat) programme aimed at delivering a new family of lightweight, scalableand affordable weapons and ammunition. AAI was chosen to lead theprogramme, with Textron putting together a team that includes Ares, ATK,Battelle, Cubic, MSC Software, St. Marks Powder and Veritay Technology. Thefirst target was to reduce theweight of theM249 Saw from17.4 kg to 10.8kg. Two types of ammunitionwere considered, the cased telescoped (CT)and caseless telescoped (CL) seen here in belted form. The CT adopts a fullpolymer cartridge and ensures up to 40%weight and twelve per centvolume savings over standard 5.56 rounds. The CL has the advantage of nocase ejection, weight being reduced by half and volume by 40% (see bargraph). The AAI teamdeveloped CT and CL ammobased on theM855bullet. A gas-operated lightmachine gun using CT roundswith a rotatingchamber that improves reliability thanks to the in-line feed and ejectionmechanism; a long-stroke, soft-recoil system improves controllabilityenhancing accuracy. Three designs weighing 4.52, 4.45 and 4.18 kgwereproduced and tested. The latter, featuring semi-automatic and automaticfiringmodes, was fired at theManoeuvre Battle Laboratory in Fort Benning ina three-weekMilitary Utility Assessment in September 2011. Eight weaponswere used to spend over 25,000 rounds. The LMGwas also submittedwithsuccess to TRL7 testing. In 2008 an Lsat Caseless LMGwas tested using“Spiral 2” ammunition (an effort is underway to reduce the propellantmaterial cost and to improve the fabrication process). Further CLweapontests are pending completion of a revised “Spiral 3” ammunition design. Thecarbine, whichwas first test-fired inmid 2010, has anM4 look although it is100mmshorter, the new ammunition design allowing for a 42-roundmagazine. A second operatingmechanismwas demonstrated inmid-2011,

but due to the IC programme the army is focusing on the LMG. A firstequipped unit with the new LMG is foreseen for FY16. As for the ammo,integration tests ofM855A1 bullets in the CT cartridge are complete andTRL7 testing is pending. CT technologymight soon be applied to 7.62mmand 12.7mmcalibres, AAI having conducted preliminary packaging studiesfor those calibres as well as for the .338 LM.

The Lsatmachinegun (seeboxherewith) beingtested. The latest version of theweaponweighsonly 4.18 kgwithout ammunition. (USArmy)


whether in close quarters or longer-rangeengagements.As for accuracy at 600metres, 95%of the

rounds fall into a 20 x 20 cm square.M855A1 goodpoints are not only limited tothe terminal effects and precision; theelimination of the lead slug also reduced theenvironmental impact, the new roundbeingadvertised by ATK as the “Green Bullet”.The M855A1 has also been cleared for usewith the M100 Grenade Rifle EntryMunition andwith theM249 Saw.The first shipment to Afghanistan was

made in June 2010, and in October thatsame year the US Army ordered nearly 300million EPRs fromATK. The tracer round,the M856A1, based on the same bulletsolution, has recently passed all designreviews and is currently undergoingvalidation tests. Low-rate productionshould start inmid-2012.

The M855A1 nearly cancelledperformance differences between the 5.56mm and the 7.62 mm rounds, the formersometimes exceeding the latter. Accordingto Lt. Col. Henthorn, small arms divisionchief, U.S. Army Manoeuvre Center ofExcellence, Fort Benning, “Once the EPRupdates get incorporated into the 7.62-mmround therewill be another significant jumpin performance that we will be able to putinto the soldier’s hands”. The bigger calibreround completed preliminary designreviews and, upon design completion ATKlooks an initial production start in late 2012.M855 criticism did not come only from

the Army. The US Marine Corps was alsounsatisfied with its performance inAfghanistan, especiallywhen fired from theM4. Instead of following theArmypath, theCorps decided to adopt a round developedfor the Socom to be used in the Scar carbine,

I HANDGUNS:LAST-DITCH DEFENCEIn the military, with the exception of specialforces, handguns are considered last-ditchdefence weapons. However, growinginvolvement in urban combat is givingsemi-automatic pistols greater importancethan in Cold War days. While in the USdiscussions about the replacement of thecurrent M9 pistol, the Beretta 92F in 9 x 19mm calibre, are a never-ending story, theonly major handgun replacement bid isunderway in Britain, where a requirementfor a substitute of the venerable BrowningHP was issued in 2010 with some generalconstraints such as weight and calibre, theoften criticised 9 x 19 mm Nato calibrebeing that of choice. A series of steps havealready been fulfilled, such as technologyand functionality evaluation and companyqualification, the major world handgunproducers having submitted their proposalsas well as specimens of their pistols thatare currently being tested in the harshestconditions, from Greenland to Australia. Atstake are 27,000 handguns and 35,000holsters, the latter being required to be amultiple platform that can be worn on thebelt, chest, shoulder and can be detachedto be placed i.e. in a vehicle. Handgunchoice is awaited within 2012.

DMRS IN 5.56 MM CALIBREMMaannuuffaaccttuurreerr SSiigg SSaauueerr SSiigg SSaauueerr RReemmiinnggttoonn

Model SIG516 Precision Marksman SIG556 DMR ACR (16.5”)Mode Semi-auto Semi-auto Auto/Semi-autoLength extended 915 mm 1,041 mm 879-953 mmLength stock folded n.a. n.a. 705 mmBarrel length 457 mm 533 mm 419 mmBarrel twist 1 in 7 1 in 10 1 in 7Grooves 6 6Flutes No No NoTrigger pull 24 N 25 N 28 NMuzzle brake Yes No YesEffective rangeMagazine 10 – 20 – 30 rounds 10 roundsWeight 3.65 kg * 5.44 kg * ?? kg

* without magazine; ** loaded with optics

The M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round was developed to improve the performance of theM4, the short barrel of which had reduced the effectiveness of the standard M855 round. (ATK)

Produced by ATK, these M855A1 rounds haveconsiderably increased 5.56 mm weaponeffectiveness. They have recently been clearedfor use in the M249 Saw. (ATK)

which was capable of defeating a threatbehind a barrier such as a windshield or acar door.

Developed by Federal Cartridge, an ATKcompany, from law enforcement projectiles,the front part that defeats the barrier is

made of lead and has an open tip while therear penetrator is solid copper. Themunition was developed in 5.56 x 45 mm,the Mk 318 Mod 0 with a 62-grain bullet,and in 7.62 x 51 mm, the Mk 319 Mod 0 witha 130-grain bullet, optimised respectively

for the 14-inch barrel of the Scar Mk 16 andfor the 16-inch one of the Mk 17.

The 892-metre/sec muzzle velocity isidentical for the two calibres fired in therespective weapons and remains constanteven when fired in weapons with longer

DMRS IN 7.62 MM CALIBREMMaannuuffaaccttuurreerr SSiigg SSaauueerr SSiigg SSaauueerr MMccMMiillllaann MMccMMiillllaann LLMMTT HHeecckklleerr && KKoocchh AArrmmaaLLiittee

Model SIG716 Precision SIG751 M1A M3A MWS G28 AR-10 DMCMarksman

Mode Semi-auto Auto/Semi-auto Semi-auto Semi-auto Semi-auto Semi-auto Semi-auto

Length extended 1,000 mm 960/870 mm n.a. n.a. 883-959 mm 913-993 mm 927-1,010 mm

Length stock folded n.a. 921/831 mm n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Barrel length 508 mm 570/455 mm 457 mm 457 mm 406 mm 419 mm 457 mm

Barrel twist 1 in 11 1 in 11 1 in 11 1 in 11 1 in 11.25 1 in 12 1 in 10

Grooves 4 6 6 6 6

Flutes Yes No No No No No No

Trigger pull 24 N 35 N 22.3-26.7 N 22.3-26.7 N 20 N 28 N 17.8-22.2 N

Muzzle brake Yes Yes Yes Y Yes Yes

Effective range 800 m 600-800 m

Magazine 10 – 20 rounds 20 rounds 10 rounds 10 rounds 20 rounds 10-20 rounds 6-15 rounds

Weight 4.8 kg * 3.63 kg * n.a. n.a. 4.49 kg 7.89 kg *** 4.42 kg

* without magazine; ** complete; *** fully loaded with optics


barrels, while the Mk 319 V0 is reduced to828 metre/sec when fired from the 13-inchbarrel of the Mk 17 CQC. Propellant wasdesigned for short-barrel use, ensuringminimal muzzle flash and barrel wear.Accuracy is under 2 MOA at 600 metres.The US Marine Corps filed a first contractfor a couple million rounds in September2009, around 200,000 rounds havingreached Afghanistan in January 2010. Thedecision to acquire the Mk 318 fullymatchingM855 external ballistics does notmean that the Corps will not join the Armyin adopting theM855A1EPR in due time, adecision that will take into count not onlyperformance but also environmental andcost considerations.In Europe the driver for new

ammunition in 5.56 x 45 mm was therequirement by aNato country for an LMGround with better penetration capabilitythan the SS109 butwith a lesser cost than anarmour piercing (AP) round. RuagAmmotec of Switzerland thus developed theLFHC+ SXHorizon, which was in the veryfinal testing phase in lateDecember 2011.Whilemaintaining a 62-grain bullet, two

thirds of its weight is due to the hardenedsteel core that is backed with a brass shoe.The round maintains the tumblingcharacteristics of the SS109. The effect inwax is similar, but has much betterpenetration in hard targets. Tests provedthat the new round could penetrate a seven-mm-thick 350Hb steel plate at 300 metres

and a ten-mmmild steel plate at 600.Designed for barrels with a 1 in 7 inches

twist, the HC+ also showed considerableaccuracy, with standard deviation of 25 to 35mm at 300 metres compared with 45 to 55mm for an SS109 fired from a 480-mm-longbarrel. Ruag Ammotec uses a proprietarypowder thatensuresastablemuzzlevelocityof930 metre/sec: less than five per cent spreadwasmeasuredovermore than7000 rounds.The new powder ensures minimal

muzzle flash, additives reduce barrel wearand smoke residue build-up while the

adoption of a Ruag Sintox non-corrosiveprimer increases barrel life and reduce lifecycle cost. RuagAmmotec aims at selling itsLFHC+ SXHorizon at a price between halfand one third of that of an AP round androughly 60 % more than standardammunition. The new round, which istotally green and thus also considerablyreduces environmental issues, should beavailable in the first quarter 2012.

I DESIGNATED MARKSMAN RIFLESWhile the sniper role remains a dedicated

M855A1 PERFORMANCE VS. M855’MM885555AA11 MM885555

SSOOFFTT TTAARRGGEETT Consistent Effects BBAARRRRIIEERRSS Car Window

Car Door

9.5 mm mild steel

Concrete Masonry Unit

Soft Body Armour (24 layer Kevlar)

AACCCCUURRAACCYY Wind Drift

Ranging Error

MOA

Dispersion

Trajectory Matchwith M856 (Tracer)

PPRROOPPEELLLLAANNTT Velocity

Temperature Coefficient

Flash Suppression

YES MEDIUM NO

The 5.56-mm Horizonround developed byRuag ensures goodpenetration at long

distances with less thanhalf the cost of an AP

round. (Ruag)

The Heckler & Koch G28 adopted by the Bundeswehr is the militarised version of the MR308.(Heckler & Koch)


business carried out by specifically trainedsoldiers using mostly bolt action weapons,the designated marksman (DM) is called into engage targets at short-to-mediumranges,usually with a semi-automaticweaponderived fromastandardrifle sporting a14.5 to16.5-inchbarrel and an optical sight oflimited magnification ensuringa good accuracy (usually 1.5minute of angle at 800 or 1000metres). Some DM weaponsmaintain, however, a full auto firingcapabilitywhile others have longer barrels.In September 2011, the German

Bundeswehr chose as its new DM rifle theHeckler & Koch G28. This semi-automatic7.62x51-mmrifle is themilitarisedversionofthe MR308 sport weapon, heavily derivedfrom the HK416/417 series (it maintainsaround75%commonalitywith the7.62-mmversionof the assault rifle/carbine family).Gas-operated with short-stroke piston

and pusher rod, it is fitted with a 16.5-inchheavy barrel that provides 1.5 MOAaccuracy at 600 metres. The stock can be

adjustedover a lengthof 80mm,while 10- or20-roundmagazines are available. The free-floating HK rail system allows theinstallation of multiple accessories on fourPicatinny rails.The Schmidt & Bender PMII 3-20 x 50

telescopic sight can be complemented by animage intensifier such as the QioptiqMerlin-LR or by a thermal sight like the L-3Insight CNVD-T3 uncooled clip-onsystem. A Rheinmetall LLM01 lasermodule is also installed. If themission doesnot require shooting at ranges over 600meters, a lighter telescope is proposed asoption in the formof the Schmidt&BenderPMII 1-8x24 sight.TheG28 is also available in patrol version

with a shorter receiver, a simpler stock, andwithout forward handle and bipod, cuttingweight by 1.6 kg.FN Herstal introduced the Scar-H PR

(the last two letters standing for “PrecisionRifle”), which can be considered an exportversion of the 20-inch barrel Scar Mk 20Mod 0 Sniper Support Rifle adopted by USSocom and for which production wasapproved in late 2010 with first deliveriesachieved in early 2011.

Compared to the Scar-H 7.62 x 51 mmrifle it features a 20-inch heavy floatingbarrel, a 120 mm longer receiver and adifferent two-stage with a 2.5 to 3-kg pulltrigger. A foldable stock was adopted foreasier carrying and vehicle access/egress.The Scar-H PR flash hider is designed toallow the adoption of a suppressor. Thesight of choice is the Schmidt&Bender 3-12x 50 PM II telescope with FN stating thatwith this sight the rifle achieves 1.5 MOAaccuracy. In late 2011, FN said that a firstcontract for its new DM rifle, which hasbeen tested by numerous potential users,was imminent.While the British Army adopted the

Accuracy International AWM .338 LM asits new sniper rifle – or L115A3 in BritishService – the service also decided toreplace its Accuracy International L967.62-mm bolt action rifle for thesharpshooter role. In Afghanistan the needemerged for infantry squads and platoonsto have a semi-automatic 7.62-mmweapon to engage enemy machine guns.The idea was to deploy one such weaponper infantry section.In December 2009 the British chose the

Equippedwith the Schmidt &Bender PMII 3-20 x 50 sight

the G28 is the perfectweapon for a designated

marksman. (Heckler & Koch)

The HK G28 fires insemi-automatic mode only and

features a tunable buttstocksimilar to those adopted on

sniper rifles. (Heckler & Koch)

With a 20-inch barrel the Scar H PR, for Precision Rifle, is FN Herstal’s proposal in the 7.62-mmdesignatedmarksman rifle niche. (FNH)

.308 Modular Weapon System developedand produced by America-based LMTDefense (Lewis Machine and Tool). TheUOR contract was worth over $ 2.5 millionand included 440 rifles, with an overall need

exceeding 1000weapons.TheBritishArmyL129A1“Sharpshooter”

is an AR15 derivative with a direct gasimpingement equipped with a 16-inch, 1 in11.25 inches rifling stainless steel flat matte

blackened barrel. Fully ambidextrous, itfeatures a two-position selector and two-stage trigger group,while theMonolithicRailPlatform hosts the upper receiver andsurrounds the free-floating barrel. This

DMRS IN 7.62 MM CALIBREMMaannuuffaaccttuurreerr NNSSWWCC CCrraannee DDiivv.. UUSSMMCC KKnniigghhttss AArrmmaammeenntt FFNN HHeerrssttaall RReemmiinnggttoonn

Model Mk14 EBR M39 EMR M110 SCAR-H PR R11 RSASS

Mode Semi-auto Semi-auto Semi-auto Semi-auto Semi-auto

Length extended 889 mm 1,120 mm 1,190-1,200 mm 1,011-1,070 mm 1,003 mm

Length stock folded n.a. n.a. n.a. 816 mm n.a.

Barrel length 457 mm 560 mm 508 mm 508 mm 457 – 559 mm

Barrel twist 1 in 10

Grooves

Flutes Yes

Trigger pull 15.7-22.6 N

Muzzle brake

Effective range > 800 m 800-1,000 m

Magazine 10 – 20 rounds 19 rounds

Weight 5.1 kg 7.5 kg ** 7.0 kg 4.5 kg * 7.14 kg **

* without magazine; ** complete; *** fully loaded with optics


solution allows the optics to remain in placewhile thebarrel is being replaced.The British Army adopted the Trijicon

Acog 6 x 48 already in service on machineguns of the same calibre, a Trijicon RMR(RuggedizedMiniature Reflex) being oftenadded over the optical sight for close-quarter battle. The L129A1 stock, grip andrail covers are all in coyote tan. The LMTweapon alsowon the bid forNewZealand’sdesignated marksman rifle requirement,but features a 20-inch barrel while the sightis a Leupold Mark 4 4.5-14 x 50 LR/T M1.For close combat, Dueck Defense Rapid

Transition Sight iron sights angled at 45°have been adopted. A number of these havealready been deployed toAfghanistan.In America the addition of a marksman

to a squad or platoon has been underdiscussion for years. At the turn of thecentury the Marine Corps decided tointroduce the Squad Advanced Marksman(Sam)with the Army 3rd Infantry Divisionlooking in the same direction shortly after.Modified versions of the M16A4 rifle wereadopted as well as derivatives of the 7.62 x51mmM14, theM39EnhancedMarksmanRifle for the Marines and the Mk 14EnhancedBattle Rifle for theArmy.The M14EBR-RI is issued to units

deployed inAfghanistan, each squadhavingtwo in its armoury. Initially developed for

US Navy special forces with an 18-inchbarrel, the EBR-RI produced byTacomhas a22-inch (560 mm) barrel with a new flashhider, a lightweight stock and is equippedwith a Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10 scope,ammunition being hosted in 20-roundmagazines. The M39 EMR also features a22-inch barrel and is equipped with theM-8541 Scout-Sniper Day Scope (Schmidt &Bender 3-12 x 50 PMII LP).In the Us Marine Corps it will soon be

replaced by a new semi-automatic rifle ofsimilar calibre, the M110 Sass (Semi-Automatic Sniper System) developed by theArmy to be used as the spotter’s weapon ofchoice in the two-man sniper team. Aderivative of the SR-25 7.62 x 51 mm semi-automaticweaponmanufactured byKnightArmaments, it is fully ambidextrous andfires M118LR 118-grain rounds at 784metre/sec from10- or 20-roundmagazines.Army M110s are equipped with a

Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10 x 40 mm scopemounted on the Upper Receiver Extending(URX) fore end (which features an integralfolding front sight), to achieve an under-one-MOA accuracy at a range of over 800metres. TheMarine Corps, which acquiredover 800 M110s, went for another scope inthe formof PremierReticlesHeritage 3-15 x50 (another difference being that theMarines use only 20-rounds magazines).The M110 is currently in service anddeployed downrange by the Army, whichstarted fielding it in Iraq in 2008.Remington and JP Entreprises joined

The British Army L129A1 7.62mmnew designatedmarksman rifle is a derivative of the LMT.308ModularWeapon System. (Armada/PV)

Dueck Defense developed the RapidTransition Sight, an M4/M16-line back-upsight mounted at 45°offset that allows toquickly shift from a long range scope to ashort range iron sight. (Dueck)

their efforts to develop the R11 Rsass(RemingtonSemi-Automatic SniperSystem)with the aimofproducing a sub-MOAsemi-auto rifle in 7.62 mm calibre. Based on JPEntreprises’ LPR07 receiver, it can beequipped with 18- or 22-inch barrels. Therifle features a fully adjustable Magpul PSRstock and aLeupoldMark 4 6.5-20 x 50mm.TheR11Rsass is equippedwith aHarris LM-S bipod. The base rifle weighs 5.44 kg,ancillaries adding1.7 kg to theweapon.Beside the various versions of the M14

numerous other DM rifles have beendeveloped in the United States in the recentpast. Armalite is proposing its AR-10 DMC(Designated Marksman Carbine) in 7.62mmcalibre from fittedwith aBroughton18-inch 5CCustom stainless steel free-floatingbarrel. A Smith Vortex flash suppressor isadded together with a Magpul CTRcollapsible stock that allows an 83-mmtravel. The two-stage trigger andanadequatescope (Armalite does not provide optics andmounts), ensure an accuracy of 1MOA.Using experience gained with the MFS-

14 folding stock developed for specialforces units that wanted to be able toshorten their M14s during transport,McMillan developed amodernised versionof the M1A Springfield semi-automaticrifle (a civilian version of the M14) whichis now equipped with a short upperPicatinny rail. Another version, theM3A ishowever equipped with a fixed McMillanstock and features amuch longer Picatinnythat can host various types of scopes. Thoseweapons might well be used as DM riflesconsidering their accuracy and calibre. SigSauer is proposing variousDMRversions ofits rifles both in 5.56 and 7.62 mm calibres.The Sig516 with the 18-inch heavy free-floating barrel, two-stage trigger and fixedbuttstock is known as PrecisionMarksman.An AR rifle based on an advanced short-stroke pushrod gas system, it works only in

semi-automatic mode and its long upperPicatinny can host a series of scopes andnight attachments while flip-up back-upiron sights are installed.The threaded barrel cap allows installing

muzzle brakes/flash hiders or suppressors.Its limited weight is among its advantagesover more dedicated weapons in the samecalibre, such as the Sig556 DMR. The lattercan be equipped with two different coldhammer forged heavy contour barrels, 21-or 18-inch barrels respectively with 1 in 10and 1 in 8 inches rifling.Built around a full-length gas piston

operating rod system with a two-positionadjustable gas valve, the Sig556 DMRfeatures a rotating bolt and is equippedwitha two-stage trigger and a fully adjustableMagpul PRS buttstock. The short barrelversion has a weight of 4.31 kg without its20-round magazine and is 46 mm shorteroverall, and is thus better suited for DMduty, especially in urban terrain.In the larger-calibre range the Sig Sauer

catalogue features the Sig716 Precision

Marksman. This is the 7.62-mm version ofthe AR series with a 20-inch free-floatingbarrel, but otherwise pretty similar to theSig516 PM. The same applies to the Sig751,a 550 series on steroids, the standardversion of which works in automatic, burstand semi-automaticmodes (but which canbe supplied with only semi-auto function).The rifle is available with 18- and 20.5-inchbarrels, other options including anadjustable buttstock and a handguard withaccessory quad rail. The demand forDMRsstarted to appear in 2009 and Sig Sauer hasalready provided its 7.62-mm rifles to twocustomers.

TheM14 Enhanced Battle Rifle has been issued to the units deployed to Afghanistan, eachsquad having two of them. (US Army)

Thanks to its long upper Picatinny rail theMcMillan M3A can accept most scopes andnight vision attachments. (McMillan)

The Remington Semi-Automatic Sniper System,or Rsass, was proposed for theUSArmy EBRreplacement programme. (Remington)


19Compendium Special Operations 2/2012

F OR EXAMPLE, Dueck Defense hasdeveloped theRapidTransition Sight(RTS), which replicates the standardM4/M16 iron sight design while

adopting a 45° offset. The RTS is made inaluminium and is mounted directly on thePicatinny rail, rising only five mm over therail thanks to its lowprofile.The sights canbemounted either on the right or left andfeature _ MOA elevation and windageadjustments. The RTS adds a mere 129grams to the rifle, and according to Dueck

Defense the shooter can learn touse thenewsights withinminutes. Besides ensuring fullavailability of a back-up in any condition, theRTS is well suited for short-range shootingeven if a magnifying scope is fitted. It wasadopted by New Zealand for its newdesignatedmarksman rifle and is in servicewith other undisclosed countries.In early 2012, Carl Zeiss Optronics

introduced a number of new and upgradedsights formarksmanand sniper use. TheZO6x36 is compact and lightweight (174mmin

length for 697 grams) and its 5.3° field ofview enables the shooter to survey an ampleportion of terrain without moving the rifle.Being short it allows the addition of a clip-on night attachment, even on standardPicatinny rails. It features an illuminatedreticle with six daytime and three nighttimebrightness levels, and canbeprovidedwith acustomer-chosen reticle.Lessons learned in the field ledCarl Zeiss

Optronics to modify its ZF 4-16 x 56telescope and the new ZF 4-16 x 56 TLfeatures locking elevation and azimuthturrets, settings being adjustable only afterlifting turret caps to avoid unintentionalmodifications.Anentirelynewsight is theZF3.5-26 x 56 FF; its minimummagnificationprovides for short-to-medium-range use,thoughat x26magnification the target canbeidentified with maximum reliability. With alength of 370 mm and a weight of 1300grams, it features a red illuminated reticlepoweredbyaCR123Abattery.CarlZeiss alsodeveloped the1.77-kgSpotter 45with a15 to45 magnification range offering a FoVbetween49 and19metres at 1000metres.Three new products have entered the

The Meprolight M5 is aperfect option for close-quarterbattle situations.

Weapon SightsWith the widespread adoption of optical sights forstandard assault rifles and carbines, the trend is to fitthose weapons with various forms of back-up ironsights. Some are fixed while others are of the flip-uptype and the resultant compatibility betweenoptical and iron sights is often matter for conjecture,but solutions have been found.


Leupold military line in early 2012. Two ofthem belong to an entirely new family, inwhich the Mark 6 is built around a rugged,dependable six-times erector system. TheMark 6 1-6 x 20mmhas a 35.3 to 6.4-metrefield of view at 100 metres, is 262 mm longand weights 482 grams. It features most ofthe typical Leupold scopes characteristics(low profile, Mil-based Zerolock windageand elevation adjustments with availablebullet drop compensation options) and anew selection of calibre-specific, front focalplane reticles to complement the time-proven tacticalmilitary reticles.Thesecondproduct is theMark63-18x44

mmM5B2, which at only 305 mm and 669grams, is some 20% smaller and lighter thansimilar rifle scopes. The sight is similar butadds an auto-locking adjustment thatprovides 20 Mils of elevation travel in tworevolutionsof thedial, allowingengagementsbeyond 1500 metres with no inadvertent

zeroing alteration.Thesameauto-lockingadjustments, taken

fromthecompany’sMark81.1-8x24CQBSS,have also been transferred onto the Mark 83.5-25 x 56 mmM5B2. Its field of view is of10.8 to 1.6metres at 100metres, higher thanmost scopes of similar magnification,providing quick target acquisition and hightarget discretion at long range. A 3rdgeneration, seven-position illuminationcontrol allows operators to match the reticleillumination to the ambient light conditionsornight visiondevices.The most recent addition to the Trijicon

catalogue is the SRS (Sealed Reflex Sight).This x1 sight adopts anewoptical design andits aluminium casing, only 97 mm long,eliminates the typical “tube effect” ofstandard red-dot sights, ensuringmaximumsituational awareness at short distances.It has a field of view of 23 metres at 100

metreswith a 100-mmeye relief and featuresa 1.75MOAdotwith ten brightness settings(three forNVG, six for daylight use and onesuper bright for extremely sunny days). Indaylight use aphotovoltaic cell helps save thebattery (a single AA ensuring continuous

The ZF 4-16 x 56 sight, here mountedon an assault rifle, is a good compromisefor medium- to long-range shooting.(Carl Zeiss Optronics)

A light x6 sight, the new ZO 6 x 36 from CarlZeiss Optronics ensures good accuracy atmedium range. (Carl Zeiss Optronics)

A perfectly well suited sight for designatedmarksmen, this Carl Zeiss Optronics ZF 3.5 - 26 x 56FF is here seenmounted on an assault rifle. (Carl Zeiss Optronics)

The Carl Zeiss Optronics Spotter 45 is thelatest addition to the Spotter family;its magnification varies from x15 to x45.(Carl Zeiss Optronics)

13

operation for more than three years). TheSTS is waterproof to 50 metres, weighs 310grams with battery, or 390 grams withbattery and mount.

Trijicon also added a new member to itsAdvanced Combat Optical Gunsight (Acog)

family, the4x32BatteryAcog. Itprovides thesoldier with six levels of reticle intensity, butobviously comeswith aweight penalty at 514gramswith the singleAAbattery (over12,000hourson settingn.4) and theTA51mount.

Aimpoint of Sweden, whose sights are in

use inmostNato countries, has introduced a2MOAreddot versionof itsMicroT-1.The4MOA version of this miniaturised sight wasintroduced in 2009, but the development ofthenewversionwas launched that sameyearfollowing the requirements voiced by somespecial forces requiring a smaller red dotreticule.

Aimpoint invested heavily in newtechnologies to introduce a2MOAemitter inthe existing sight and managed to maintainthe characteristics of the existing Micro T-1with a length of 62 mm and a weight of only84 grams (105 grams with the integratedmount). The company system-of-systemsphilosophy proved again successful in late2011 when Norway placed two majorcontracts. In October a first order for 2000CompM4 sights, an equivalent number of3xMag magnifiers and 10,000 Micro T-1 4MOA was signed, followed in January 2012by a second order for 12,000 CompM4s and3000 3xMags, adding to the approximately

The Aimpoint system of systems approachshowed again its appeal in recent contractsfor the Norwegian Army. (Aimpoint)

22 Compendium Special Operations 2/2012 15

40,000 sights already delivered to theNorwegianArmy.Following its customers’ “lessons

learned”,Meprolight of Israel (part of the SKgroup) has introduced three new sights. TheM5 is a 280-gram red-dot sight with a rapidtarget acquisition display. Powered by asingle AA battery providing over 8000operating hours, theM52MOAred-dot hasfour settings, one for NVGs and three fordaylight, plus the off position.Users of the Meprolight NOA x7

uncooled thermal sniper sight had voicedthe need for a dual magnification sight thatwould maintain the same maximummagnification, but that offered awider fieldof view for better situational awareness in thesurveillance phase. This led to the NOADual-Field sniper sight that provides 10.2°and3.4° FoVs at x3 andx7positions (with x2or x4 electronic zoom). Another recentaddition is the NOA Nyx, a x2 optic with a15.6° field of view that also features a x4digital zoom.With its opticalmagnification itensures detection at 900 metres and

identification at 350.TheNOANyxuses the same computer as

the thermal sniper sights, but hosts threeinsteadof five ballistic tables. Pictures canbecaptured and transferred via serial output.TheNyxhas the same continuous operationtime as the otherNOAseries sights butwithonly fourAAbatteries andweighs less than akilo without batteries. Meprolight confirmsthat the Nyx has already been acquired bytwo countries but declines to provide moreinformation.In early 2012 Inteco, another SK Group

company, officially launched the MiniHunter. Based on an 18-mm Gen II or GenIII tube, this x2 image intensification sighthas an 18° FoV and weighs only 390 gramssans adaptor, cover and battery (an AA thatprovides 40 hours operation at 20°C ortwelve hours at 0 to -30°C).In 2011Qioptiq introduced a new line of

clip-on image intensifiers and extended itsportfolio in the thermal sight field. TheMerlin family of II systems includes threemodels optimised for assault rifles,

designatedmarksman rifles and sniper rifles.They are all based on the Photonis 18-mmXR5 II auto-gated image intensifier, but theShort Range (SR) andMediumRange (MR)versions are poweredby a singleAALithiumbattery providing over 40 hours ofcontinuous operation at 20°C, while theLong Range (LR) version is powered by twoAlkaline AA batteries that ensure over 90hours continuous operation.All Merlin sights can be attached via a

quick-release mount onto a Picatinny railand be installed and removed without re-zeroing the weapon, boresight alignmentbeing less than0.5MOA.TheMerlin SRandMRhave a clear starlightdetection rangeonamanof 730 and 836metres respectively, and1590 and 1780 metres with moonlight. Thefield of viewvaries from17° for the SR to 13°for the MR, while respective weights sansbatteries is less than 820 and 1060 grams.The LR version weighs 1450 grams, has a2040-metre detection range with quartermoonlight and 2940 metres with fullmoonlight, with a 9° field of view.Still with Qioptiq, but on the thermal

theme, theDragonSR,MRandS (for Sniper)sights join the LR and C (for Compact)launched in 2010. The latter is particularly

suited for carbines and assault riflesas it weighs only 390 grams sansbatteries and weapon mount, andensures a detection range of 910metres, which increases to 1070metresusing the x2 electronic zoom.

The LR, aimed at designatedmarksmen, candetect aman at 2750metres with the standard x.2.7magnification and at nearly 3 kmwith the x5.4 optical magnification

At the Shot Show 2012 Leupoldintroduced its newMk 6 series.This is the 1-6 magnificationsight providing goodshort- andmedium-rangesighting. (Leupold)

The wide field of viewof the new Leupold Mk8 3.5-25 x 56 ensuresgood acquisition andtargeting capabilities.

(Leupold)

The longer-rangemember of the Mk 6family is the 3-18magnification sightthat weighs less than670 grams. (Leupold)

Trijicon’s latest development, the SealedReflex Sight, eliminates the “tube effect”of standard red-dot sights. (Trijicon)

The Trijicon Acog4 x 32 wasrecently developedin a battery-poweredversion that providesnumerous lightsettings to matchvarying light conditions. (Trijicon)


(and even slightlymore when adding the x2electronic zoom). At 1075 grams, theDragon LR is powered by six AA Lithiumbatteries that provide over eight hours ofcontinuous operation,while theCuses onlytwo such batteries that provide over fivehours operation.

The three new Dragons are all poweredby fourAALithiumbatteries providing overeight hours of continuous operation andhave respectively 8° (SR) and 5.9° (MR andS) horizontal fields of view.

Detection ranges increase from the 2300

metres for the SR (2390 with zoom) to 2740metres for the MR (3120 with zoom), theSniper model having the same range of theMR.Weightswithoutbatteries rangefrom730to 930 grams. All models but the LR have an8-12 µm320 x 240 pixel uncooled sensor, theLongRangehavinga640x480-pixel sensor.

All Dragons feature an RS232communications port, a video output andcan be linked to an external power source.Both theMerlin and theDragon sights havegenerated much interest worldwide and arecurrently being assessed, evaluated andtrialled by Nato and non-Nato forces. Somecontracts have already been signedalthough no details were available fromQioptiq due to non-disclosureagreements.

L-3 EOTech introduced two newholographic hybrid sight kits based on

two of its holographic red-dot sights, the

The NOANyx x2 developed byMeprolight of Israel provides thermal imaging capabilities for aweight of under one kilogram. (Meprolight)

In 2011 Qioptiqlaunched the Merlinfamily of imageintensificationclip-on night sights,which includes, fromleft to right, thelong-range LR, themedium-rangeMR and theshort-range SR . (Qioptiq)

Qioptiq’s Dragon family of thermal imaging sights includes five different versions, short,medium, long range, compact and, seen here, the Sniper. (Qioptiq)

Thanks to its reduced dimensions andweight(under 400 grams) the four-kilometre PLRF25Crangefinder recently introduced by Vectronix isattracting considerable interest. (Vectronix)

Meprolight’s new sights include (from topto bottom) the reflex 2MOA red dotM5,the x2 compact image intensificationMini-Hunter and the thermal imagingNOADual Field. (Meprolight)

night vision compatible EXPS3-4 and non-compatible EXPS2-2. Bothweigh 317 gramsand have a x1magnification, but the formerhas a four-dot reticle calibrated for 300, 400,500 and 600 metre ranges, while the latterhas a two-dot reticle for fast targetacquisition. These two sights are combinedwith the new G33 magnifier with an eyerelief of 56 mm and a field of view of 7.2°.The G33 features the new Quick Switch toSide Mount that allows twisting themagnifier on the side for short-range shots,while quickly putting it back into

position for longer-range shots.Vectronix of Switzerland, part

of the Safran group, unveiled itsNitespot MR, the medium-rangeversion of the company clip-on imageintensifier devices for designatedmarksmanor sniper support rifles. The 270-mm-longMR is a typical clip-on devicewith no opticaloffset providing a 7° field of view with nomagnification. Gain and focus controls arecarriedoutmanuallybyremotecontrol.The900-gramthe systemwill be available

with Photonis XR5orOnyx tubes, althoughGen III tubes can be used on request. It ispowered by aCR123Abattery but can alsoworkwith a 1.5VAAbattery. The sight isequippedwith auniversal surface that canbe fitted with different types of railgrabbers, while at 9, 12 and 3 o’clock thesight features integrated interfaces for upto three accessory rails.Vectronix also recently introducedother

equipment for snipers, marksmen andforward observers. One of those is thePLRF25C,a500-gramrangefinderbasedona1550-nm laser with a measuring range ofover 4000 metres with an accuracy of ±2metres (2.5kmonaNato target).Consideredthe smallest andmostpowerfulMilspec laserrangefinder on the market, its single CR123battery ensures a minimum of 3000measurements, all operations being carriedout using a single button.

The L-3_Eotech G33 x3.25magnifier (left) issmaller and has a wider field of viewcompared to its predecessor, the G23. TheHHS2 suite combines an L-3 EOTech EXPS reddot sight with the G33magnifier, the latterbeing equipped with a system that allows it tobe quickly emplaced in front of the sight orflipped to the side depending on therequirement of the moment. (L-3 EOTech)

At Milipol 2011 in Paris Vectronix showed thenewmedium-range Nitespot MR imageintensification clip-on sight, here seeninstalled on a Sako TRG rifle. (Vectronix)


I N THE 40-mm category of grenades,medium-velocity/increased-range (MV)rounds allow to improve range,accuracy and lethality, butMVair burst

typeswill further increasing lethality againsttargets behind cover. Grenade producershave followed two different approaches inthe development of these weapons, namelyby increasing the muzzle velocity of low-velocity rounds or by decreasing that of

high-velocity types (the latter having aheavier payload thus a greater lethal effect).

MVgrenades, with aV0 slightly over 100metre/sec, will have an impact on grenadelaunchers. The higher impact of MVgrenades makes it impossible to use themfrom stand-alone systems as these are toolight, butwithunderbarrel configurations theimpulse is loweredby the intrinsic combinedweight of the rifle and launcher.What has to

be checked is the resistance of the couplingbetween the rifle and the launcher itself.

Following those considerationsRheinmetall Weapons and Munitions hasdeveloped two dedicated MV roundlaunchers that remain compatible with low-velocity rounds. The single-shot Cerberuscan be used either as a stand-alone or as anunderbarrel launcher, at respective weightsof 2.8 kg and 2.1 kg. The key element is therecoil damping system that reduces theimpulse on the shooter’s shoulder in thestand-alone mode and on the Picatinny railinunderbarrel configuration.The350x240x60 mm launcher, which can use up to 123-mm-long rounds thanks to its rotatingbreech,will soonenterpre-productionphase.

The second development is the Hydramulti-round launcher, which can fire insemi-automatic and three-round bursts,automaticmode being available on request.The hydraulic breechwas tested in late 2011and 2012 should see the Hydra coming upas a prototype. Various magazines areavailable: linear ones are produced in three,six and nine round versions, while a double

Also known as the “Punisher”, the XM-25fires 25mm air burst grenades that proved

their effectiveness in-theatre againstinsurgents hiding behind obstacles.

Indirect FireIndirect fire support at squad level is always a criticalpoint given the weight soldiers have to carry. In additionto kinetic rounds, indirect fire systems allow soldiers tocreate smoke screens or to illuminate the battlefield.Underbarrel grenade launchers and 40-mm low-velocitygrenades are the standard indirect fire weapons of thefire team, however, other types of systems are emergingthat increase range and terminal effects.

stack magazine with two per five roundcapacity and a rotary one with nine roundsare also being developed. The Hydrareloading systemautomatically adapts to thetype of ammunition being used as theweapon can fire both LV andMVgrenades.Its dimensions are 850 x 240 x 60 mm and

itsweight unloaded is about four kilos. BoththeCerberus and theHydrawill also be ableto fire air burst munitions, which are in anadvanced development stage.Steyr Mannlicher is developing its own

40-mm system, but based on a 180-mm-long barrel that can quickly be replacedwith

Rheinmetall has launched thedevelopment of the Hydra multi-roundgrenade launcher optimised for thecompany’s 40-mmMV grenades, hereshown with the nine-round linearmagazine. (Armada/PV)

The Cerberus single-shot 40-mmgrenade launcher is beingdeveloped by Rheinmetall for its medium-velocity rounds and isequippedwith a recoil absorbing system. (Armada/PV)


Mithras illumination rounds fired at a recentRheinmetall demonstration. IR Illum andsmoke versions are also available.(Armada/EHB)

19

a 38 or 42-mmcalibre type and enable to fireless than lethal rounds.Working in double-actionmodeonly, it can be attached througha Picatinny rail or using its own very-low-profile quick-mount system that reduces thedistance between the two barrels andthereby the parallax effect. SteyrMannlicheris refining its launcher and plans to startproduction in early 2012, in time for theAustrian Army tender for 140 pieces. Thelauncher is 270mmlong and can also be hadas a stand-alone system. Respectiveweightsare 1.02 and 2.18 kg, the stand-alone lengthwith stock extended being 640mm.

I DO YOU HAVE A LIGHT?Hand-heldrocket launchersareoftenused forillumination or smoke screening, and somecompanies recentlydevelopednewsystems.

In 2011, Chemring introduced the latestevolution of its Multiple Effects RocketSystem, orMers,with ranges of 300, 500 and600metres. The latest extended-rangeMers-ER, however, stretches out to 1000metres. Itis in final development and qualificationphase andwill be available in late 2012.

The rockets incorporate a three-stagesafety, requiring theoperator to first turn thetwist initiator clockwise from the Safe toArmed position, pull it to Fire position and

I FIELD TESTING FOR THE XM-25Known as the Counter Defilade Target Engagement weapon system and renamed IndividualSemiautomatic Air Burst System, ATK’s XM-25 has become one of the favourite weapons used inAfghanistan, although only five such systems are currently deployed downrange. Developed withHeckler & Koch USA and L-3 Communications Brashear (the latter being responsible for the firecontrol system), the XM-25 “Punisher” (as unofficially called by soldiers that use it inAfghanistan) employs 25-mm HEAB (High Explosive Air Burst) grenades. Fuses are set by theFCS to explode over the enemy position, which allows engaging enemies behind an obstacle.The sight features a day optic channel, a thermal channel, a laser pointer/illuminator and a laserrangefinder, the latter being the key element to establish the target distance because this istransformed into the number of spiral rotations the grenade will have to achieve before the fusetriggers the detonation. HEAB grenades can be used also in point detonation mode. Apart fromHEAB, only training rounds are currently available, but ATK is in the last stages of development ofarmour-piercing ammunition. The XM-25 point target range is about 500 metres, while that forarea targets is around 50% further. The Punisher is 749 mm long and weighs 5.67 kg withunloaded four-round magazine. Its performance was strongly appreciated by soldiers as it giveshigher probability of effect compared with traditional weapons. Forward Operational Assessmentended in January 2011, and the two units that had the chance to deploy the XM-25 fired in total55 rounds in anger while many more rounds were fired for training purposes. Proposedimprovements include greater range (up to 1000 metres), and possibly weight reduction. TheUS Army raised $ 24.7 million in November 2011for the production of 36 more weapons (theequivalent of a battalion’s worth considering two XM-25 per squad), already incorporating someof the suggested modifications, and 10,000 HE and 5000 practice rounds. Deliveries areexpected in late 2012 for downrange deployment in the first half of 2013. In March 2011 ATKreceived $ 65.8 million from the US Army's PEO Soldier for the Engineering and ManufacturingDevelopment phase. By the end of this contract, in early 2014, the design should be frozen toallow mass production. Depending on force structure evolution, the Army might buy between10,000 and 12,500 Punishers as of 2014.

only then the twist initiation can beactivated, either clockwise or counterclockwise (the system is fully ambidextrous).The 300-metre range illumination rocketsare 260 mm long with a 47-mm diameter,weigh some 550 grams and reach amaximumaltitude of 200metreswhen firedat 45°. It provides 200,000 Candela for up to30 seconds; the IR-Illum version burns formore than 30 seconds. While a 600-metrerange was available, a lighter 500-metreversion was developed following a specificcustomer’s reduced-weight requirement(less than470gramsboth in the Illuminationand IR-Illumversions, but same length).The1000-metre type is 340mm long andweighsapproximately 600 grams. A new smokelesspropellantwas introducedwith twobenefits:it does not generate a smoke trail that can beused by the enemy to trace back the firingposition and increases the rocket speed andthus stability andaccuracy.Current payloadsinclude smoke screening, 200,000 Candelawhite light illumination and IR illumination.

Followingqualification in 2010, 2011 sawRheinmetall starting production of itsMithrasmodular rocket systemwith rangesof 300, 600 and1000metres.Mithras rockets

(above) Originally a French product, the Fly-Klight mortar system’s license has been acquiredby Rheinmetall, which plans product upgrades.One of them is this new digital clinometer (left),which will improve accuracy andwill make itmore user-friendly. (Armada/PV)

are waterproof down to twometres and canbe equipped with payloads for variouseffects, such as white or IR illumination,signalling, screening smoke, radar chaff orradar tracking. All rockets adopt the sametwist ignition mechanism that guaranteesmaximumsafety against accidental ignition,to Stanag 4497. To fire the rocket theoperator must keep both hands on thesystem to ensure maximum accuracy. Therockets come in the form of 350-mm long,40-mm calibre tubes with weight rangingfrom 500 to 800 grams depending on rangeand payload type. Maximum altitude isabout 250 metres, while burning time ofilluminating or smoke payloads variesbetween 20 and 40 seconds. The launchcustomer was the British Army, whichcarried out a tough qualification processincluding vibration tests for helicoptertransport, and thenadopted the IR IllumandSmoke versions. It was followed by Canada(with deliveries to start in early 2012) andbyThailand. Denmark also selected theMithras and a contract is expected in 2012.Thailand adopted among others amultiple-star signalling warhead (many other typesare being developed).

Another product from the Rheinmetallportfolio is the Fly-K, a light launcher theroundofwhichprovides effects that are close

to those of light mortars, but at considerableweight savings.Thesystemisnotnew,asyearsago it was produced by a French company,rights having been acquired by Rheinmetallin December 2006. A M4 Mk1 60-mmCommandomortarwitheightbombsweighsover 21 kg. Although it has a more limitedrange (currently 650 metres versus 1500 formost 60-mm mortar rounds fired fromcomparable lengthbarrel), the612-mm-longFly-Kweighsonly4.7kgand itsHEround780grams (the heavier among operationalrounds),meaning that over 20 rounds canbecarried within the 21-kg limit, or, for a samenumber of rounds the Fly-K systemwill addless than eleven kilos to the patrol burden.Another major advantage of the Fly-K is itsflashless andalmost soundlessoperation thatreduces its chances of being spotted. Whenthe round is dropped in the tube its rear partengages a spigot, acting on themanual firingsystem, which ensures that the soldier keeps

both hands on the tube for maximumaccuracy, the operator ignites the launchcharge that accelerates the round up to itsmuzzle velocityof around97metre/sec.Thatgas remainswithin thebombrearpropulsionsection as it pushes backwards a piston thatseals thegas in thebombwhen this leaves thelaunch tube, thus considerably reducing thesound and flash signature. According toRheinmetall, the launch of a Fly-K bombgenerates 52 dB against 80 dB for a 40-mmlow-velocity round and 100dB for a 60-mmbomb. Five round types are available, HE(M101), smoke(M105), illuminating (M106),IR-illuminating (M116) and target practice(M108).TheHEroundhasa lethal rangeof16metres and generates 580 fragments, whileilluminating roundsprovide their effect forover25secondsata rangeof550metresand

a height of 190. A clinometerattached to the launcher is usedfor range aiming, with a 0.3%accuracy in rangeand0.16%inazimuth according the

company. A digital clinometer isbeing introduced that automatically

provides the rangeona three-digit screen. Itwill be available by late 2012. New

developments inammunitionarealso in the pipeline. Extended-rangeammunitionhasalreadybeen tested, reaching nearly1000 metres, howeverRheinmetall is carefully

lookingat safety, resistanceandsystem wear aspects. A decision

about the production of a new range ofammunition or that of a new longer systemhas still to be taken and will depend oncustomer interest. The availability of thedigital clinometer will certainly help, as thiscan work with more than one ballistic table.Rheinmetall has just qualified its first batchof production TP, IR Illum, WP and HErounds, which have been accepted by theFrench Army. A French Army SpecialForces officer explained to the author thatthe Fly-Khad beenused inAfghanistan andIvory Coast with very positive results.Rheinmetall considers the Fly-K as a nichesystem mostly aimed at Special Forces andlight infantry. Besides the French SpecialForces and the FrenchArmy infantry units,the only other Fly-K customer is theUnitedArab Emirates Special Forces. A modular,multi-spike launcher is also proposed byRheinmetall for base protection. Known astheProtector, it is able to launchup to twelverounds in 2.2 seconds.


The launch customer for the RheinmetallMithras hand-launched rockets is the BritishArmy, soon followed by numerous othercountries. (Armada/PV)

With the most recentdevelopments of its AUGSteyr Mannlicherovercame the limitations ofthe original rifle in terms ofsights and accessoriescapacity. Steyr Mannlicher

TURNING FIRST to acousticdetectors, Raytheon BBNTechnologies’ BoomerangWarrior-Xis being extensively employed

downrangewith good results.Anewentry inindividual acoustic sensors will beintroduced at Eurosatory in June, where01dB Metravib of France will unveil theproduction version of its Pilarw WeaponMounted System (WMS) acoustic gunshot

detection system. The WMS is theminiaturised version of the Pilar, atetrahedral microphone suite that has beenminiaturised and installed in amushroom-like dome where the lower part houses the

The latest version of 01dBMetravib’s Pilaracoustic detection system, the rifle-mountedW,provides direct cueing towards the source of fire.

VitalPeripheralsWhile accurate aimingis of paramountimportance whenresponding to a threat,that threat and itsparticular origin areoften difficult to pick in anopen environment.Manageable acousticdetectors have nowcome of age, andsee-through-wall devicesno longer are sci-fifilm props.

32 Compendium Special Operations 2/2012 23

processing unit, the display and the twoeight-hour endurance AA batteries. Thealgorithms used for the soldier version arethe same as vehicular version. Thecompany’s choice was to install the sensordirectly on the weapon, with the system’sread arrow display indicating to the gunnerwhere to point the gun with a ten per centaccuracy in azimuth and a central green ledtelling the soldier when he can start usingthe gun’s sight. The display intensity can beadjusted to ambient lighting, the systembeing NVG compatible. The Pilarw can beattached to the rifle via a Picatinny rail, doesnot require a cable and can be mountedeither right or left to avoid interferencewithoptical sights. It weighs less that 350 gramsand can provide the threat distance with a15 % accuracy. 01dB Metravib is talking tonumerous sight producers with a view tointegrating the system’s generated data intothe sights.

I PEEPING TOMSWith the increasing engagement of troopsin urban scenarios came a series of newsensors to increase their situationalawareness. Sense-through-the-wall devicesare starting to be fielded. In 2010 the USArmy supplied its troops in Afghanistanwith tow versions of Tialinx Eagle 5 radarscanners, one to identify human beingsbehind walls and the other to unveiltunnels and culverts. Themillimetric-waveEagle5-P capable of identifying a live objectmoving behind awall was unveiled inApril2009. Used by the US Army downrange,feedback indicates that soldiers wouldprefer a single-hand device. Tialinx thusdeveloped the Eagle45-W (wearable) witharm-mounted sense-through-the-wall unitemitting nanosecondwideband pulses thatpenetrate glass, wood, concrete, dry walland bricks. The receiver hardware andalgorithms build a depth-from-sensorimage based on the effective strength of thereceived signals from a target. Commandsare reduced to four keys, the image beingprojected on a featherweight high-resolution display integrated within a pairof glasses or goggles. The sensor weighs 3.2kg with batteries.In 2010 PEO Soldier placed two multi-

million dollar contracts with RaytheonSpace and Airborne Systems and L-3Communications Cyterra for theproduction of 30 Sea-Through-The-Wall(STTW) units each for testing purposes.Known as the AN/PPS-26 SSTW, they will

BCB International Blast Boxers ensure the protection of groin and inner thigh areas andthereby considerably reduce genital and femoral artery injuries. (Armada/PV)

allow the soldier to detect moving orstationary targets behind a non-metallicobstacle. The system should be capable ofpicking up targets when used against thewall as well as when activated at standoffdistance. Development was carried outduring FY11, operational testing andMilestoneCallowing the productionof finalprototypes being scheduled for FY12 whileFY13 should see the first unit equippedwiththe AN/PPS-26. Very few details on thatprogramme are available.

In Israel, Camero-Tech, part of the SKGroup, developed the Xaver family ofsystems that ranges from the 3-DXaver 800through the tactical 2-D Xaver 400 to thehand-held Xaver 100 unveiled in October2011. The smaller system is 196 x 81 x 50mm in size and weighs 550 gramsincluding the four AA batteries that ensurethree hours operation time. Using

The Xaver 100 developed by Camerotech ofIsrael is amono-dimensional lightweight sensorthat allows one to sense the presence of ahumanbeing behind awall and to estimate hisdistance from the sensor. (Armada/PV)


micropower, ultra-wideband pulsed radarsignals in the three to ten GHz band it candetect a person behind concrete, plaster,brick or drywall at eight metres with arange resolution of less than 0.15 metresover a 120° field of view in azimuth andelevation. A graphic on its colour screenshows a distance axis graduated from 0 to 8metres with the symbol of a person eitherstatic or on themove.

I PROTECT!Issues such as protection and battlefieldidentification have become of considerableimportance.

Statistics show that soldiers on footinvolved in IED accidents in Afghanistanface increasing double amputations andgenital injuries. Besides body armour,which defends the soldier’s torso, otherareas of the body absolutely need to beprotected, like the groin-inner thigh areawhere reproduction organs as well asfemoral arteries are found. The systemsused to counter that risk have nothing to dowith usual ballistic groin protection addedto body armour. They come in the form ofunderwear or outside blast boxers,depending on the protection level required.The US Army adopted a British-made

system, developed by Cooneen Watts &Stone. This comes in two tiers, a lightweightsilk underwear with no fly to maximiseprotection, and an outside garment withKevlar inserts to protect the pelvic andinner thigh area.

The US Marine Corps adopted theArmorworks Pugs, short for ProtectiveUndergarment.Alsowithout fly, it ismadeoffire/flame resistant breathable andantimicrobial fabrics based on silk and theylook like bicycle shorts. An initial order for15,000 Tier 1 garments was followed byothers, all Marines operating downrangewearing them when operating out of base.Kevlar basedTier 2 garments have also been

This photograph of a Chamerotech Xaver 100screen shows the presence of a humanmoving away from the sensor, and it displaysthe distance. (Armada/PV)

Cyalume is developing a series of items thatare not only dedicated to lighting, but also toin-field identification with a view to reducingblue-on-blue accidents. (Armada/PV)

issued,worn only byMarines exposed to specific threats such asIEDdisposal teams.

BCB International in Britain has developed a two-tiersystem. Tier 1 is provided by Blast Boxers, which according tothe company ensure 30% higher protection compared to silkproducts. They are flame retardant andweigh only 150 gramsin medium size. Two types of Tier 2 systems are provided byBCB, Blast Chaps protecting the upper leg and groin area andBlast Breeches that extend below knee. Both solutions featurea waist band that fits outside the body armour and deflects theblast away from the body, Blast Breeches also including anaramid “split strap” that helps reducing hips and pelvicdislocations, another frequent secondary effect of IEDexplosions.

Ear protection is another major issue, various in-ear andout-ear solutions having been adopted, both solutions showinggood and bad points. The latest in-ear development byNacre, aHoneywell company, is the Quietpro 400 that allowscontrolling up to four different communication devices,providing full jump-on/plug-in transition throughout allmobility platforms. The Quietpro 400 is equipped with a fit-check system that is run upon ear tip insertion and alerts thesoldier if the level of protection is not met. Externalmicrophones catch the signal that is processed by the digitalnoise reduction system that brings downnoise to an acceptablelevel while optimising communications. The soldier can alsotune hearing amplification to x5 normal hearing. Powered by arechargeable Li-Ion 3.7 V cell or by two Lithium CR123

disposable batteries that provide over 60hours with typical user profile, the QP400control unit weighs 290 grams while theheadset weighs only 36 grams. An evenmore comfortable headset was introducedin early 2012 while a system that allows in-ear noise recording should also be availableby mid-2012. Honeywell is proposing itsQuietpro 400 for the UK Tactical HearingProtection Programme that should belaunched in the current year.

The latest development of Peltor, a 3M

company, is the Comtac IV hybrid headset.The new version is based on the ComtacACH (III) but earmuffs are replaced byearplugs. The inside shape has beenredesigned and the cup is shorter andgenerates less interference with the riflestock. The ear bud is attached to the frame,thus taking the strain andweight off the earcanal.New earplugs are under developmentto further increase comfort.

Another key issue is battlefieldidentification. Awaiting the advent of abattlefield IFF, lighting and IR devices arecurrently used. Cyalume,well known for itsvisible and IR chemiluminescent sticks, isproducing IR-reflectant patches that can beseen some 600 metres away and identifiedat a range of 100metres. The company alsodeveloped the Cypad, a small pouch withtwo compartments with a piercing systemthat puts in contact the two elementsgenerating visible light (in different colours,or in IR spectrum. Cypad Visible andCypad IR are lighter than Cyalume batonsand ensure respectively ten and eight hoursof light. A third version, the CypadThermal, generates heat up to 45-50°Cproviding a beacon for thermal imagingsystems. Currently CypadThermal ismadeof a pouch containing a chemical to whichwater must be added to start the reaction,which ensures duration of four to six hours.HoweverCyalume isworking to improve itsdesign and to make its activation muchsimpler, the production version beingawaited for the second half of 2012.


Compendium Special Operations 2012Supplement to Issue 2/2012Volume 36, Issue No. 2, April/May 2012

INTERNATIONALis published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd.Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd.

Publishing Office:Media Transasia Ltd,Room No. 1205-1206, Hollywood Centre 233,Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.Tel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2815 1933Editor-in-Chief: Eric H. BiassRegular Contributors: Roy Braybrook,Paolo Valpolini, Thomas Withington

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ON THE COVER: A Remington Adaptive CombatRifle being put through its paces. The rifle is oneof themany competitors for the US Army IndividualCarbine competition. Fully ambidextrous, it is amodular weapon that can be converted from 5.56mm to 6.8mm calibre in less than twominutes.

ADVENTURE LIGHTS 7

AIMPOINT 27

AR MODULAR 13

ARGON 35

CERADYNE 31

COLT DEFENSE 5

ELBIT ELOP 21

INVISIO 33

L3WESCAM 3

LEUPOLD TACTICAL OPTICS 23

PHOTONIS 29

REMINGTON DEFENSE C4

REVISION 9

SAGEM C2

SELEX GALILEO 15

SOFEX JORDAN C3

TEAHEADSETS.COM 17

TRASER 35

TRIJICON 11

VECTRONIX 25

I INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

The US Marine Corps selected ArmorworksProtective Undergarment to improve thesafety of its Marines deployed downrange.(US Marine Corps)

AABBCC

Compendium by Armada: Issue 2 - April/May 2012

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