Piasecki X-49A Speeedhawk Compound Helicopter: 250-mph Black Hawk?

by David Crane defrev@gmail.com October 22, 2007 Piasecki Aircraft Corp. (PAC) has designed and developed a compound helicopter called the X-49A Speedhawk, which utilizes a Sikorsky YSH-60F Seahawk helicopter as the base airframe. The Seahawk is a marine version of the UH-60 Black Hawk heliocopter series. The Speedhawk’s “compound” aspect is comprised of wings for additional lift and a vectored-thrust …

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U.S. Army Stops Independent Testing of Interceptor Body Armor (UPDATE 1)

By Roger Charles DefenseWatch 10-17-2007 UPDATE to following article: Two congressional sources report that the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (on the staff of the Secretary of Defense) caught the Army’s attempted exemption of current Interceptor vendors from independent testing, as allowed in the original solicitation. Under pressure from DOT&E, in August the Army issued a modification not listing …

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FERFRANS FAS (Fast Acquisition Sight) HUD-Style Red Dot Sight/Combat Optic for Urban Warfare Applications

By David Crane defrev@gmail.com October 18, 2007 While we’re on the subject of MOUT / urban warfare tactics a.k.a. urban combat tactics, DefenseReview was recently sent information on a new combat optic (optical sight) being introduced by FERFRANS Specialties for tactical / urban warfare applications. DefRev readers might remember the piece we published on the SOPMOD M4/M4A1 CQBR-type FERFRANS SOAR …

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New MOUT Tactics: Mirror-based Sighting Devices For Tactical Small Arms

By GySgt Will Falcon, USMC (res.) Tampa, Florida October 16, 2007 One of the primary challenges of MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) / Urban Warfare Operations (a.k.a. Urban Combat Ops) is how to use the urban surroundings so that the physical environment becomes an advantage rather than a handicap to our soldiers. Accomplishing this goal will provide both defensive …

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Why the U.S. Army Acquisition Mafia Fears Side-By-Side Body Armor Testing

by Roger Charles DefenseWatch October 15, 2007 When NBC News had a German lab conduct side-by-side, comparative tests of Pinnacle Armor’s Dragon Skin and the Army’s Interceptor Body Armor System on May 3 earlier this year, the real surprise was how well the Interceptor ESAPI (Level IV) plates performed. Yes, that’s right. The Army acquisition mafia "got lucky" in Germany, …

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Has the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Been Corrupted?

by David Crane defrev at gmail.com October, 15, 2007 On August 29, 2007, DefenseReview published an article on U.S.T.L. (United States Test Laboratory), an NIJ-certified lab, validating Pinnacle Armor’s 6-year warranty for Dragon Skin SOV-2000 Level III, per NIJ’s requirements. Pinnacle’s SOV-2000 Dragon Skin passed the U.S.T.L. test, and proved that it will hold up and maintain it’s ability to …

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Milkor USA M32 MGL 40mm Multi-Shot Grenade Launcher Range Session

by David Crane defrev at gmail.com All photographic images contained in this article were taken by DefenseReview.com, and they are the exclusive property of DefenseReview.com. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these photos. All photos were shot with a 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot digital camera (Model #: DSC-P150). The individual pictured in photos is David Crane, owner/editor-in-chief of DefenseReview.com. October 4, 2007 …

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‘Intelligent’ Video Surveillance/Security Going City-Wide in Chicago

by David Crane defrev at gmail.com It looks like Chicago is soon going to have the most advanced city-wide intelligent video surveillance system (i.e. intelligent security system) in the United States. The Associated Press is reporting that the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is teaming up with IBM and Genetec on the project, which is …

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Robotic FX Lands Big Military Contract for Negotiator Tactical Manipulator Robot

The following is a Robotic FX press release: Robotic FX, Inc. Awarded Contract for Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) to be Used for Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detection and Identification ALSIP, IL, September 14, 2007 — Robotic FX, Inc., has been awarded a $279.9 million contract to manufacture its Negotiator Tactical Manipulator Robot, issued by the U.S. Army. The contract is …

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