by David Crane david@defensereview.com Advanced body armor is going to be increasingly important for 21st Century infantry combat. However, just as important, or perhaps even more important, will be to have effective camouflage, so your enemy doesn’t see you in the first place. It’s simple logic, "what you can’t see, you can’t hit." Effective disruptive camouflage is thus going to …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The U.S. Army has just unveiled their new combat uniform that will replace the current Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). Their calling the new uniform the "Army Combat Uniform" (ACU). The ACU is a wrinkle-free, and features a digitized camouflage pattern (digital camo). The U.S. Army Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier) has a page that explains …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Tactical Design Labs (TDL) was at TREXPO West 2004 introducing and demonstrating their unique LEO (law enforcement officer) duty holster, called "The Professional Real Performance Duty Holster". What sets The Professional Real Performance Duty Holster apart from other duty holsters is its unique (and I’m assuming, patented) retention system that’s at once super-secure, yet still permissive …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefRev’s recent article, "GDATP XM307/XUV OCSW Video, ATK/HK XM29/OICW, HK XM8, and Metal Storm" contains an email communication in which I discuss some of my views on the ATK/HK XM8 "Lightweight Modular Carbine System" (LMCS) . We also recently published an update on the ATK/HK XM8 Lightweight Modular Carbine System (LMCS) titled "U.S. Army Requests Additional …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefRev’s previous article on Spray-On Elastomeric Polymer Armor was titled "U.S. Military Testing Spray-On Polymer Armor". The spray-on polymer armor is being used to reinforce evertything from Humvees to Government buildings against both ballistic and explosive threats. In that story, we didn’t include the name of the company that is applying the polymer armor coating because …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com One of DefRev’s close contacts in the Mil/LE tactical training community just called our attention to this document. It’s an after-action report on/assessment of U.S. infantry small arms performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The Soldier Weapons Assessment Team’s report focused on "current state of weapons, ammunition and accessories directly managed by PMSW: M9 Pistol to …

by Gabe Suarez Suarez International SO here we are mid-year. It is amazing how quickly the time goes by. Between the last newsletter and now we have taught six classes in places as different as Elko, Nevada and Battle Creek, Michigan. We’ve worked with Federal folks as well as members of the Norwegian marinjeagerkommado. I will be posting debriefings on …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The SFCTB Special Forces Liberator Soldier System (LSS), which incorporates the excellent Sordin Supreme Pro Active-Electronic Hearing Protection/Tactical Shooting Muffs, is an interesting 2-way tactical communications system that’s currently in use with U.S. Armed Forces, specifically U.S. Special Operations forces. It’s put together by Tactical Command Industries, Inc. (TCI), out of Antioch, CA. According to Tactical …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefRev’s previous article on G-Code Kydex tactical holsters by Edge-Works Manufacturing was published in late September, 2002. It was titled "Looking for a Kydex Holster for Tactical Use or CCW? It’s G-Code Time." The article mentioned Edge-Works’/G-Code’s excellent REAC Ready Rig and SOC Rig, both of which are tactical thigh rigs, made from Kydex. The SOC …

by David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com June 10, 2004 Last updated on 6/22/12. IC Technology, out of Port Orchard Washington, is making some extremely interesting high-end and high-tech-looking semi-custom pistols. All of them are different versions of the same design (by pistol designer Fred Craig). IC Technology purchased the rights to manufacture and market the design, which is …