In the mid-2000s, India began looking for a carbine to replace their 9mm L2A3 Sterling submachine guns which they inherited from the United Kingdom. Two weapons were developed, one by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), and another by the Armament Research and Development [Read More…]
At this year’s IPAS 2017 held in Tehran, the Iranian state owned Defense Industries Organization unveiled a new anti-material rifle based on the U.S. produced .50 BMG M82 Barrett anti-material rifle. Similar to the U.S. version, the Iranian production variant is [Read More…]
What was most telling about Iran’s Defense Industries Organization’s display at this years IPAS 2017 was what was not present at the show. Previously we’ve reported on Iran’s attempt at an AR15 copy (currently in service with some units, in a [Read More…]
At IPAS 2017, Iran’s Defense Industries Organization showcased various grenade launchers and anti-material rifles the state owned company is bringing to the Iranian (and possibly Iran’s allied customers) market. Displayed first is almost an exact copy of the [Read More…]
This year’s IPAS 2017 held in Tehran featured a number of designs seen previously such as Iran’s 7.62x54mm PKM GPMG, and 12.7x108mm Dshk Heavy Machine Gun copies. But of particular interest was what appears to be a shortened PKM with a barrel cut to around [Read More…]
In an ongoing national conference where the top Indian Army generals are convening to discuss issues and ways to improve the military, one of the top issues is small arms program reform, especially in regards to the 5.56x45mm INSAS infantry rifle currently in use by [Read More…]
Marcolmar makes semi-automatic, legal copies of the Czech Uk.59, and similar copies of the Soviet PKM General Purpose Machine Gun. So why not clone the two together and bring the resulting creation into the 21st Century, with polymer furniture, an updated design, and Picatinny rails? Meet the UKM, [Read More…]
The defense forces of Cyprus will soon be turning in their H&K 7.62x51mm G3 rifles for 5.56x45mm X95s in a recent deal between the government of Cyprus and Israeli Military Industries. The X95 is already seeing limited issue, most recently at an annual independence [Read More…]
While the majority of the defense industry is fixated on the adoption of the 7.62x51mm NATO MPT-76 select fire rifle by the Turkish Land Forces (which is still not complete in the least), or the more recent release of a 5.56x45mm version, MKEK has quietly been rolling [Read More…]
Recent images have emerged of the Pakistani Special Service Group (SSG), the countries Naval Special Operations component, with New Hampshire based Sig Sauer, Inc. 5.56x45mm NATO SIG 516PDW carbines with 7.5 inch barrels, along with Steiner DBAL I2 ATPIALs mounted [Read More…]
In the recent battle of Hawija, in northern Iraq, Iraqi security forces and Paramilitary forces lost two marksmen in the fight against the so-called Islamic State. Both of these snipers were very effective in the counter insurgency war that Iraq has been waging for [Read More…]
The Turkish national law enforcement special response teams (Police Special Operations Department, Polis Özel Harekât Dairesi) have recently adopted Accuracy International’s .50 BMG AX50 anti-material rifle according to Aybars, a Turkish defense analyst on [Read More…]
This guest post has been submitted to TFB on behalf of Marawan M, an Egyptian firearms designer currently working in Turkey for a civilian Turkish firearms company. Recently he visited the Istanbul Military Museum and wrote up a summary of his visit along with [Read More…]
Marcolmar is a small but very dedicated company in northern Indiana that produces semi-automatic beltfed versions of historically significant small arms from the Soviet era. Tackling a very difficult task such as taking the Czech Uk.59 GPMG and turning it into a legal, semi-automatic, ATF approved [Read More…]
An online Italian firearms news website Gunsweek.com has published an article on a digital design concept put out by Italian firm Tecnostudio Engineering that consists of an interesting “Bullpup” submachine gun/PDW. The design incorporates a 15 (appears to [Read More…]
This year at DSEi 2017 a number of countries had their lesser known and newly developed vehicle mounted Remote Control Weapon Stations (RCWS) on display for the defense industry exposition in London. Rather than list each entry individually, it is fitting that we [Read More…]
This summer Glock has emerged as the winner of not only one, but two very substantial contract victories to supply the Philippines National Police and the Armed Forces. The first contract was awarded in June of this year to supply the Filipino National Police Forces [Read More…]
Unlike previous Glock models where triggers and trigger bars can be more or less switched between models of the same caliber and frame, Glock changed some of the design features, most prominently being the ambidextrous slide lock which therefore changes the shape of the [Read More…]
Strike Industries has just released a series of integrated Ring Sights for the FN Herstal PS90 civilian rifle, and P90 submachine gun. There are four different versions, each one different from another in terms of power options, reticles, and back up power [Read More…]
American Built Arms Company has recently released a version of their MOD*X™ Side Folder Mechanism for the KRISS Vector series of pistols to allow a user to mount an ATF approved pistol brace on. The side folding mechanism simply threads directly onto the rear of a [Read More…]
Morgan Advanced Materials has come out with a Mobile Shield, mounted on a trolley. The company calls it the LASA Ballistic Shield Mobile Variant, and has recently showcased it at DSEi 2017 in London. Essentially a modification of various ballistic panels out there on [Read More…]
Rheinmetall has introduced a new take on the ability to check ceramic or metal plates used in plate carriers and vests by Military/LE/Security forces across the world. The idea is to have an extremely lightweight system of electrical wires hooked up to a users plates. [Read More…]
Rheinmetall has introduced a new Laser Aiming Module (LAM) unit at DSEi 2017. The picatinny mounted LAM unit is extremely compact, measuring in at 83 mm in length, 63 mm in width and 34 mm in height, also weighing in at 155 grams. It runs off of a single 3V CR123 [Read More…]
Representatives from the Columbian state arsenal Indumil recently talked to Jane’s Defense about the companies direction in trying to market their 9x19mm NATO Cordova handguns for civilian sale in the United States. Indumil is reaching out to various dealers [Read More…]
In an interesting twist of events, the State Department has refused an export license from Sig Sauer valued at $1.2 Million to sell firearms to the personal security detachment that protects Turkish President Recep Tiap Erdogan on a daily basis. The move has come after [Read More…]
A recent article in the Marine Corps Times highlighted Marine Corps Systems Command’s interest in the XM18, the compact version of the recently adopted XM17 that the U.S. Army will begin fielding en-masse in the oncoming months. Gunner Wade, known popularly [Read More…]
At a recent firearms amnesty in Australia, a Lewis Hythe Mk III Gun Camera was recently turned in, and appeared to be mistaken for an actual firearm. Although the Hythe MkIII does share the receiver, grip and drum magazine attachment point, it is very far from ever [Read More…]
Polish small arms company Wytwornia Broni Popinski (Popinski’s Weapon Manufacturing), has brought to market a short barrel (10.2 inch barrel, compared to the 16.3 inch full length Jack from WBP) Kalashnikov chambered in 7.62x39mm, called the “Mini [Read More…]
Irfan Z. is a long time friend of TFB, and has contributed tips about various subjects, particularly within Southeast Asia. This is his first guest post entirely written by him, for TFB. Malaysia has just completed Independence Day 2017 celebrations and just like every [Read More…]
Alton C. is a guest writer for TFB and has contributed a number of articles in the past. The HK G3 is still soldiering in active service on more than fifty years after its introduction, but its ergonomics requires updating in the modern age. The long length-of- pull is [Read More…]