#INDODefense2018

In what has to be one of the more obvious Chinese reproductions of foreign products this year, we introduce the Shenzhen Bewin Video Electronic Co, Ltd’s “Digital Individual Combat System”. The helmet/body mounted camera system is a painfully obvious and direct copy of the MOHOC company that first introduced their system at SHOT 2016. In 2017 they made a number of upgrades and really remain the only alternative to commercial action cameras when it comes to using them in a Military/Law Enforcement environment.

Profense has been shaking the Minigun game up since introducing their competitor to Dillon Aero’s domination of the international market in 7.62x51mm NATO M134 Minigun platforms manufactured in the United States. Taking things up (or down) a notch, Profense introduced a 5.56x45mm NATO variant of their 7.62x51mm NATO M134 while at AUSA in April this year. A 5.56x45mm version of the Minigun has historically been done before, with the XM214 “Microgun” from General Electric during the Vietnam War. However, the 5.56x45mm cartridge was too inaccurate for fast-moving vehicles such as aircraft and the U.S. Army wasn’t interested in the project as an infantry portable HMG. Fast forward to today and the increasing use of special operations forces combined with small craft such as speedboats and all-terrain vehicles, having a Minigun that takes up less space and weight and is needed for suppressive fire at shorter ranges, a 5.56x45mm NATO Minigun might have some merit.

What captivated many visitors to Indo Defense 2018 this year from Pindad was the defense companies Harimau Modern Medium Weight tank that was a product of a joint venture with a Turkish defense company. However when it comes to small arms, Pindad had some new offerings as well, some that we should be seeing within Indonesian military service soon enough.

The Canadian-based division of Rheinmetall was present at the show with the latest variant of their Field Ranger RCWS system that is designed to accommodate 7.62x51mm FN MAG/.50 BMG M2/ and 40x53mm Mark 19 grenade launchers and machine guns. On display was the “Multi” system, but there are also “Light” versions (7.62x51mm only), “Dual” (designed to take both a GPMG and a Heavy MG), and the “20” designed for a 20mm cannon. Not on display was the “Rapid Obscuring System” (ROSY) which consists of a smoke grenade discharging system mounted below the weapon system. The system has been purchased and has been in active service for around two years with Rheinmetall clients around the world.

Italian handgun company Tanfoglio had their 9x19mm TCMP submachine gun with them at the Tanfoglio booth during Indo Defense 2018. We reported on the TCMP in 2016 when the company was showing the TCMP at the IWA Show, but since then TFB hasn’t heard too much about the design since then. At Indo Defense we were able to talk through the submachine with the president of the company, Massimo Tanfoglio.

In our previous coverage of modern Vietnamese small arms development on display at Indo Defense 2018 we spent some time looking at locally produced M79’s, Lee Enfield No.4’s, a rotary grenade launcher, and even a 9x19mm Bizon! In this post we’ll be looking at some of the other developments that we weren’t able to fit in the first one.

One of the biggest buzzes during the show was the booth from Vietnamese Defence Industries (VDI). This was the first such appearance of the Vietnamese delegation to any major trade show outside of Vietnam with the amount of materiel that was being presented to the public. Vietnam has slowly been building up a small arms production capability for the past decade, taking on serious collaboration with IWI Defense from Israel in addition to what might be some defense collaboration with Russia over technical data packages. Examples of this can be seen in being licensed to produce the 7.62x39mm Galil Ace rifle domestically in 2014 and even the bolt action 12.7mm KSVK anti-materiel rifle as well. Although few of these designs are indigenous to Vietnam and are instead foreign variants being license produced by companies within state-owned VDI, the ability of the country to be outputting small arms is still very significant and should be paid attention to. One piece of the puzzle that we don’t know yet (and asked the booth reps), is how much of each weapon system was actually produced from raw materials in Vietnam and how much was brought in from the original manufacturer. In some cases with developing countries, the most difficult or costly components are imported while the rest of the firearm is actually made in the country. One example of this is the barrel, which can be extremely difficult to manufacture precisely on an industrial basis.

Apart from the standard 5.56x45mm AR15-derivatives and MPT76 service rifles on display, Kale Kalip had two new product entries that were being exhibited for Indo Defense 2018. The first is the .50 BMG KSR50, which appears to be a license produced or at least Kale Kalip-marked variant of the Accuracy International AX50. The rifle comes equipped with AI-marked magazines and was observed with a Schmidt & Bender optic. Images of this AX50/KSR50 in service with Turkish Law Enforcement forces first came out in October of 2017(more about Turkish precision rifles can be found here). Other images since then have shown the rifle with magazines in a tan finish instead of the black finish that was observed at the show.

The Istanbul based ATA Arms brought out their 40x46mm BA40 standalone and UBGL grenade launcher to the show in Indo Defence 2018 this year. The launcher is the first such design from ATA Arms, which actually won a major contract this year for 8,000 launchers from the Turkish Land Forces. Another Turkish company MERTSAV completed a design that appears to have been for the launcher competition as well, known as the TAR-40.

At Indo Defense 2018 this year we at TFB were able to get a hands-on examination of MKE’s KNT-76 Designated Marksman Rifle. The rifle is an upgraded MPT-76 service rifle that has a number of additional design features to increase its accuracy and precision as a squad level DMR rifle. Currently, there aren’t any in service with the Turkish Land Forces, but this is because the rifle hasn’t entered circulation yet. In addition, it appears that only MKE is producing the KNT-76, unlike the MPT-76 which is manufactured by three different Turkish arms companies; MKE, Kales, and Sarsilmaz. However, there have been modified MPT-76s that are in service with Turkish Land Forces, but these are armory level modifications.