#Misc

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 include them all here for readers to examine and compare. Although the United States has fielded multiple versions of vehicle mounted remote weapon systems, probably the CROW being the more well known design throughout the U.S. Army, some of these other countries are much lesser known. Specifically at DSEi 2017 were designs from Slovenia, Slovakia, Belgium, and the UAE.

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 with Model 17 Gen 4 9x19mm NATO handguns.

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 trigger bar in the Gen 5, in addition changing the trigger housing. That means that previous trigger designs made for any of the generations beforehand will not work in the Gen 5. This applies to previous Apex triggers made for earlier Gen Glocks as well. Ever since the Gen 5 was publicly released, the company has been working on and testing the compatibility of various parts in addition to prototyping their own. One part that has fit from earlier Generations is their Apex Failure Resistant Extractor.

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 configurations. Strike claims that the largest advantage over going with a proprietary integrated sighting option over a Picatinny mounted sight is that the ring sights will allow a shooter to gain a more natural and better cheek weld than with a Picatinny mounted version that will raise the sight up. In addition, the integrated solution is drop tested to NATO standards and should theoretically be slightly more rugged than a Picatinny solution because it is actually integrated into the submachine gun/rifle. All models are secured to the submachine gun/rifle via replacing the standard factory sights or the Picatinny rail that comes installed. To adjust these sights, a user has to mechanically adjust the entire sight in its place, rather than any individual clicks through some sort of turret. All the models also come with their appropriate mounting hardware.

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 Vector pistol, and folds to the left of the firearm. It locks in position on the left, and then unlocks via a button on the mechanism itself, allowing a user to unfold the stock to the right and lock the pistol brace into position to fire the pistol. Customers have to purchase their own brace buffer tubes that thread into the mechanism on their own. Be sure to not purchase an AR rifle tube as this constitutes a rifle stock, thus turning the pistol into an illegal SBR.

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 the market today, this product is attempting to provide Military/LE forces with a mobile capability of protection, being able to advance towards a known enemy threat while being protected. Currently the shield is rated to NIJ 0108.01 Level III for multiple hits, while still maintaining a weight of 78.4 kilograms (172.8 pounds) with the full extent of options that can be added, trolley included. From the Morgan Advanced Materials product description-

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. These wires (which weigh 60 grams) are designed to sense if there are cracks or other imperfections that might develop in plates over time ( Read more about the intricacies of steel and ceramic plates here). Although anyone who has ever worn a set of plates realizes the importance of not dropping them outright, the fact of the matter is that plates get treated very roughly over the course of their operational use. Jumping out of vehicles, being thrown to the ground, etc… all takes a toll on them.

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 battery that lasts for approximately 5 hours of continuous use. It has three laser settings, an IR illuminator with an electronic zoom feature, an IR laser pointer, and a visible laser that is offered in either a red or a green version. It is waterproof to a depth of 30 meters. The battery cap is positioned at the front of the unit, while a push button activation is on left side if mounted at the 12 o’clock position on a rail. Elevation and windage adjustments can be made through set screws on top and to the right of the unit. Mode selection is made from a switch at the rear, while a port for a trigger wire is incorporated at the rear as well.

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 within the United States, Canada, and even Mexico in an attempt to broaden the companies international customer base. Mexico has only a single legal gun store for civilian purchase, so the Mexican option is probably aimed at government or police purchases. However the Canadian and U.S. markets appear to be for civilian purchase. If Indumil does have a successful run in the United States, it could very well be competition for Taurus when it comes to semi-automatic handguns from South America.

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 the extremely controversial and embarrassing brawl that occurred outside the Turkish embassy when the President visited the United States in May of this year. The President himself made comments about the loss of the sale, criticizing the United States for freely supplying Kurdish groups with small arms while halting actual purchases by Turkey. What makes this particular case noteworthy is the direct tie to the attack on the protesters. Usually countries halt arms sales due to much larger events such as wars or human rights violations.

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 through his Gunner Fact or Fiction Youtube videos, commented that the service would probably be more interested in the compact version over the full size version, because it offers similar capabilities in a smaller package, saying that,

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 being an actual functioning magazine fed machine gun, like the .303 Lewis it was based off of. The media mentioned that some of the firearms turned in were of “strange shapes and sizes”, in addition to some of the “quirkiest guns” seen. An elderly woman from Queensland turned in the Lewis Hythe, along with some some actual firearms such as extremely rare Lugers and a 1911 missing a grip panel. Altogether 26,000 small arms were turned in during the amnesty. Similar amnesties in the United States have turned in similar rare finds, such as this STG44 in Los Angeles.

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 Jack”. Apart from the barrel length, the rifle differs from the companies Jack rifle with a non standard Kalashnikov rear sight base (incorporating a Picatinny rail at 12 o’clock), a folding Egyptian “Maadi” style stock (folds to the right, locks at swivel point), a receiver cover that has a Picatinny optics rail which connects to the rear sight base (appears to be similar to a swivel Krinkov design), and folding iron sights affixed to the Picatinny rail segment. The handguards are the same as those found on the full size Jack rifle.

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.

Alton C. is a guest writer for TFB and has contributed a number of articles in the past.