by David Crane [email protected] Ibis Tek is making some very interesting "High-Performance Stealth Vehicles" with Remote Control Weapons and Sensor Control Systems, right now. These vehicles come primarily in the form of tactically-armed and armored SUV’s/4×4’s (GMC/Chevolet Sierras and Chevy Suburbans) and HMMWV’s (Humvees), outfitted with mobile, retractable gun mounts. When not in use, the gun and mount sit discreetly …
Read More »Springfield Armory GI .45 1911 Pistols: Something New from WWII
by David Crane [email protected] Springfield Armory has just introduced their new GI .45 1911 pistols. The new 5" parkerized version looks to be a virtually identical copy of the World War II era 1911A1 pistol issued to U.S. troops. The 5" GI .45 is very reasonably priced ($498.00 retail for the parkerized GI .45 and O.D. green GI .45, and …
Read More »SoldierTech Report: Latest Military Gear and Gadgets
by David Crane [email protected] Military.com has a feature on their site that I recently discovered while I was searching the web for links I could include with my recent article on the Nikonov AN-94 "Abakan" assault rifle, titled "Nikonov AN-94 ‘Abakan’ Assault Rifle: Advanced Russian Small Arms Tech". The feature I discovered is called "SoldierTech: Military Gear and Gadgets". It …
Read More »kbs/kbk wz. 96 Beryl Weapons Family: AKM/Kalashnikov Perfection from Poland
by David Crane [email protected] While we’re on the subject of Russian assault rifles, we might as well mention a couple of their Polish cousins, the Z.M. Lucznik, Radom-made 5.56x45mm kbs wz. 96 Beryl assault rifle and kbk wz. 96 Mini-Beryl carbine/subcarbine. Basically just updated and improved versions of the Radom wz. 88 Tantal assault rifle and wz. 89 Onyks subcarbine, …
Read More »Nikonov AN-94 ‘Abakan’ Assault Rifle: Advanced Russian Small Arms Tech
by David Crane [email protected] DefenseReview has been interested in the Nikonov AN-94 "Abakan" assault rifle for a pretty long time, now. I believe I first read about it in 1994 or 1995. Designed by Russian small arms designer Gennadiy Nikonov, the AN-94 is an interesting rifle, as it enjoys one of the same (major) advantages as the Ultimax 100 Mk3 …
Read More »Military Security (PSD)/Special Operations Training Schools
by David Crane [email protected] In the near future, DefenseReview will be publishing articles on security and Special Operations (SPECOPS) training currently being conducted for military, intelligence, and private military company (PMC) operators. This type of training will become increasingly important in the 21st Century, as the demand for, and reliance upon, private military company (PMC) operators by Western governments will …
Read More »SPLAT: Explosives/Chemical Weapons-Detection Tech Meets Paintball
by David Crane [email protected] U.S. military and law enforcement personnel may soon have a new high-tech, albeit small, weapon at their disposal in the "War on Terror". Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has teamed up with some graduate students at the University of Florida in Gainseville to create a small, ballistic "sticky" round/projectile, originally conceived to aid U.S. Armed …
Read More »Video of Roadside Ambush Against USAF OSI Protective Detail Vehicles in Baghdad
by David Crane [email protected] New DefRev articles are on the way. In the meantime, Military.com has some very interesting video footage that, according to one of their sources, is footage of an ambush in Baghdad, Iraq that was perpetrated against a USAF OSI protective detail team on July 13th, 2004. The video footage takes you inside one of the vehicles, …
Read More »AFJ Shoot-Out at Blackwater 2004 Weapons/Product Videos
by David Crane [email protected] If you’ve already read my recent article, "AFJ Shoot-Out at Blackwater, the Milkor MGL Mk-1S, and the HK XM8 Rifle/Carbine", be sure to also check out the AFJ Shoot-Out at Blackwater 2004 videos page. There’s some really great stuff on there. DefenseReview has, in the past (over time), already written articles on most of the weapons …
Read More »Diamondback Tactical Introduces the Rugged Terrain Vehicle for Military SPECOPS
by David Crane [email protected] Diamondback Tactical is marketing the Rugged Terrain Vehicle (RTV) as "the premier light tactical vehicle to meet today’s and tomorrows threat." The Rugged Terrain Vehicle (RTV) appears to be a modified "Prowler". More accurately, it appears to be a modified/upgraded Prowler Weapons/Reconaissance Platform that’s now been private-labeled by Diamondback Tactical. The Diamondback Tactical Rugged Terrain Vehicle …
Read More »Ultra Mag 50 .50 BMG Rifle: Heavy Punch in a Lightweight Package.
by David Crane [email protected] Safety Harbor Firearms is currently manufacturing and marketing a side-mounted magazine-fed bolt-action .50 BMG rifle, called the Ultra Mag 50, that DefenseReview would like to learn more about. Developed by Dennis Cheney and Dave Finnie, the Ultra Mag 50 .50 Cal. rifle utilizes an AR-15-based lower receiver and lightweight upper. The Ultra Mag 50 .50BMG rifle …
Read More »Springfield Armory (New-Version) Operator, TGO 1, and TGO II 1911 Pistols
by David Crane [email protected] Not content to just sit around on their laurels, the folks at Springfield Armory have been busy little bees, churning out some new 1911 pistols (single stack). The first new pistols we’ll mention are the new TGO 1 Service Model 5" Bi-tone and TGO II Service Model 5" Bi-tone 1911 pistols. Both pistols have been designed …
Read More »S&W 325PD: .45ACP power for armed professionals and CCW’s who prefer revolvers
by David Crane [email protected] If you like the idea of a .45ACP caliber carry gun, but prefer revolvers over 1911 semi-auto pistols, Smith & Wesson has THE carry gun for you. It’s a member of S&W’s AirLite series, and it’s called the Model 325PD. I’m actually a big fan of Smith & Wesson’s AirLite Scandium alloy carry revolvers. They’re the …
Read More »AFJ Shoot-Out at Blackwater, the Milkor MGL Mk-1S, and the HK XM8 Rifle/Carbine
by David Crane [email protected] Armed Forces Journal (AFJ) recently held their annual Shoot-Out at Blackwater USA. The AFJ Shoot-Out at Blackwater has become a real big deal annual event among small arms experts and military defense/tactical industry people. At this year’s Shoot-Out (2004), Armed Forces Journal editor John Roos and his merry band of shooters/evaluators put a plethora of tactical …
Read More »New MultiCam Multi-Environment Camouflage Pattern by Crye Precision
by David Crane [email protected] The Crye Precision website is now active. The industrial design firm, Crye Associates, launched the Crye Precision website to promote their new MultiCam multi-environment camouflage pattern. MultiCam, according to the Crye Precision website, "is a Multi-Environment Camouflage™ system, which was developed by Crye Precision in co-operation with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research Center {a.k.a. U.S. …
Read More »