#USA

Kalashnikov USA had a number of different offerings this year, everything from an all-American 7.62x39mm AKM rifle to competition entries from Decedent Arms who are putting their competition modifications to the AK-patterned platforms. Probably the most important point that readers are interested in is the 7.62x39mm AKM that Kalashnikov is putting out, in addition to the 9x19mm “Vintorez” pistol. Also out is the 12 gauge ‘firearm’ that Kalashnikov USA is releasing this year for 2020. Kalashnikov also has a California compliant 9mm PPC that will be available with California featureless regulations.

In this Picture Of The Day, we are looking at something as odd as U.S. Reserve Soldiers shooting a Swiss B&T APC9 in Italy.

The lockplate on this ca. 1745 musket is, to me, the ultimate symbol of the American Revolution. Edward Jordan was a British gunsmith, active between 1733 and 1760. This example of his work found its way to the colonies and was originally in the hands of a Redcoat. At some point, the gun became a battlefield pickup and was given a US stamping over his name once before being pressed into service with one of the American soldiers.

In some areas of the World, there are serious restrictions on what you are allowed to hunt with. There are restrictions on the action of the rifle, the barrel length, how the stocks are designed, magazine capacity when the rifle was designed and so on.

As an aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the United States transferred 2,500 night vision helmet mounted monoculars to Ukraine. The ceremony was held in the US embassy in Kiev, Ukraine. The US side was represented by Marie Yovanovitch, the United States ambassador to Ukraine and the representative of Ukraine in this event was Viktor Muzhenko, Chief of the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The mentioned number of the night vision devices is enough to arm ten battalions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The sum of transfer is $5.8M.

In today’s episode, we follow Miles to Shot Show 2018 and visit the FN Herstal booth.

In today’s episode, we follow Miles to Shot Show 2018 Media Day at the Range and visit the UTAS booth.

In today’s episode, we follow Miles to Shot Show 2018 Media Day at the Range and visit Caracal USA.

According to Levan Izoria, the Minister of Defense of Georgia, United States have approved the deal of selling FGM-148 “Javelin” anti-tank missiles to Georgian Armed Forces. The total sum of the contract will be $75 Million. The subject of the contract is 72 launchers (Command Launch Units) and 410 Javelin missiles. In his speech, Levan Isoria added that Georgia needs these systems solely for defensive purposes.

The US Army’s new centralized procurement organization has been named: In his address at the Eisenhower Luncheon at the 2017 Association of the United States Army, US Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley announced the creation of a Futures and Modernization Command (FMC), which would oversee the process of research, development, testing, evaluation, and procurement (RDTE&P) from start to finish. In his address, General Milley outlined a new process which would fundamentally change the current procurement model to a new one based on that used by US Special Operations Command:

US Army, what on earth are you doing?

After being cancelled in mid-2016, could the M4 Carbine upgrade program still be alive? That is the suggestion from a line in the US Army’s justification for its research budget in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which references an “M4A2 Plus Rifle” as a new weapons development effort:

With the termination of the Interim Combat Service Rifle, the CSASS program on hold, and the XM25 CDTE dead and buried, many are wondering: When will the Army get its act together on small arms? Given the long history of Army program failures, though, maybe a better question would be: If the Army can’t take the lead on small arms development, who can?

In the rush to augment the infantry’s firepower with new advanced small arms technologies, we may be on the precipice of crippling their ability to fight wars. The push to equip the infantryman with more powerful rifles and machine guns risks reducing his mobility to critical levels, and “locking out” his capacity to carry powerful supporting arms. Although more potent basic infantry weapons are undeniably desirable, current attitudes towards their purpose – exemplified by the concept of “overmatch” – may compound problems that already have reached crisis levels.

I try not to be possessive of Holidays, knowing that everyone from around the world can celebrate them. In fact, I try to welcome as much as possible. However, Independence Day is a sacred day to me, having served my beloved country. So, it feels just a tinge of “cultural appropriation” that Sig Sauer (admittedly, Sig Sauer USA, but the German-owned company nonetheless) puts out the “We The People” 1911. This is something I would expect Colt or Wilson Combat to do.