From the press release ...
FN Herstal, S.A. (FN) received notification from the USSOCOM Program Executive Office—SOF Warrior (PEO—SW) that the SCAR Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) was approved and signed on April 14, 2010, moving this FN program into the Milestone C phase.
This decision authorizes the production and deployment of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) MK 16 and MK 17, as well as the Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module (EGLM) MK 13.
Following a worldwide solicitation to the military firearms industry, nine vendors submitted a dozen different designs for a new modular, multi-caliber weapons system. The FN SCAR submission was the only weapons system to pass all of the Go/No-Go criteria and was unanimously chosen in November 2004 by the selection board composed of senior operators from every SOF component.
[ Many thanks to Daniel E. Watters for the info ]
A while back the government awarded Colt a contract to manufacture the FN designed M240B machine. FN was none to happy about this! They filed a protest which has just been overruled by the US Government Accountability office. From the ruling ...
As a final matter, FN challenges the SSA’s best value tradeoff decision. In this regard, FN argues that the SSA’s decision to select Colt’s lower-priced proposal was unreasonable because it did not afford any weight to the superiority of FN’s proposal under the technical and past performance factors as compared to the proposal submitted by Colt.
It is well-settled that an agency properly may select a lower-rated, lower-priced proposal, even where price is a less important evaluation factor than technical merit, where it reasonably concludes that the price premium involved in selecting the higher-rated proposal is not justified in light of the acceptable level of technical competence available at a lower price. The extent of such tradeoffs is governed only by the test of rationality and consistency with the evaluation criteria. Thus, a protester’s disagreement with the agency’s determinations as to the relative merits of competing proposals, or disagreement with its judgment as to which proposal offers the best value to the agency, do not establish that the evaluation or source selection was unreasonable. General Dynamics--Ordnance & Tactical Sys., B-401658, B‑401658.2, Oct. 26, 2009, 2009 CPD para. 217 at 8.
[ Many thanks to Daniel E. Watters for the info ]
Lots of fun can be had with miniature cannons.
The powder he is using looks suspiciously like matchstick head scrapings.
[ Many thanks to cameron for emailing me the link. ]
Danger Room reporters got the opportunity to test the Army's new airburst grenade launcher.
This screen grab from a high-speed camera shows the round detonating just inside a window target. Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, the head of PEO Soldier, told reporters that the $30,000 weapon had already been delivered to the Special Forces and they “going to be taking it downrange this summer.”
Military.com said the following about the new weapon system ..
Back when we spoke with Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway, we mentioned this gap and he said that from his perspective the XM-25 has great promise. Seems this is really a weapon Grunts could appreciate.
When the snake eaters put the system through its paces in Afghanistan, we’ll truly see the effectiveness of the weapon and its durability. But in the end, it will surely be useful for Joes – and anyone else in the U.S. military – to have this precision, direct fire weapon that can eliminate threats from 700 meters.
[ Many thanks to J.T. and Mik for emailing me the link. ]
A Winchester Ammunition rep disclosed to Joe @ ArmsTalk the top five pistol cartridges that they produce ...
- 9mm- Winchester also has a military contract
- .40 S&W- Number one LEO round
- .38 Special- I found this surprising
- .45ACP
- .380ACP- our topic finally shows up!
- .357 Sig
I too am very surprised to be .38 Special right up there!
This is what the recently published Army Modernization Strategy 2010 report says about the M4 competition ...
"Additionally, the Army will enhance SaaS lethality capabilities through several individual weapon initiatives. In an effort to provide our Soldiers with the best individual weapon available, the Army will sponsor a full and open competition for a new carbine. This competition may provide a possible replacement for the current M4 Carbine. Simultaneously, to meet immediate needs, the Army will
improve the durability and reliability of the M4 Carbine."
[ Many thanks to Lace for emailing me the info. ]
The Telegraph posted this photo of a captured Mexican drug lord gun collection ...
The Infomador had this to say about the raid (Kindly translated by Ztryfe)...
A drug lord "El Lobo" (The Wolf) was arrested in October 2009 in Jalisco, tearing appart its organization, from there the military and Federal government have been continuing the take down, today has been revealed that a "small" arsenal was seized, 6 Rifles, 32 hand guns and about 700 units of ammunition. The guns and rifles have custom gold and silver finishes with diamonds, emeralds and rubies. The weapons apparently belonged to "El Lobo" since many of them have engravings with his name and alias.
More proof that money does not buy class.
[ Many thanks to Fred, Ztryfe and Mik for emailing me links about this story. ]
The F.LLI Pietta's MK-85 is a .22 LR pistol that is a scaled down semi-automatic clone of the British Sterling submachine gun. Its single stack magazine holds 15 rounds. The barrel is 7" long. It weighs 3 lbs.
Apparently the F.A.P. (Fabbrica d'Armi Fratelli Pietta) MK85 pistol was on
display at SHOT Show. Because of all the new black rifles which debuted, they decided to hold launching it until next year.
I can't wait to take this baby Sterling to the range 
[Hat Tip: Casatic ]
Below is part of an email I received from Laura Burges whose marketing firm does SIG Saur's PR. At the SIG Editor/Writer seminar they did a torture test of the upcoming SIG 516 rifle.
Have all ingredients ready and set the temperature to a raw New England day to about 46 degrees. Add occasional rain.
Step One: Take one well-abused (20,000 rounds in already) demonstration SIG 516 rifle and bury it in sand. Cover well.
SIG 516 Covered in Epping, NH sand
SIG 516 Covered in Epping, NH sand
Step Two: After mixing thoroughly some nice dirt and good old pond water, place rifle in mud. Cover and pat down mud.
Step Three: Now to add more liquid. Immerse the SIG 516 in some very still, well aged pond water (preferably freezing cold too) and allow for bubbles to dissipate.
Step Four: Bake rapidly for that smokey flavor!
SIG's Defense Program Manager, Robert Hirt (seen above), demonstrated for all of us the testing program the new 516 undergoes. He shot a full magazine between each torture test of different manufacturer's ammo. Never a failure. I guess I could end this little piece by saying "with a SIG 516 you can have your cake and eat it too."
... so don't be worried if I do not get back to you in the near future.
