by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefenseReview recently received an email communication from Bill Pegler, CEO of Television Equipment Associates, Inc. (TEA), about an interesting tactical communications (a.ka. tactical comms) product that TEA is currently marketing. It’s called the RAPID 40 Field Telephone System and it was designed and developed specfically for tactical military communications (tactical military comms). According to Mr. Pegler, …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com This article was updated on 2/26/08. Back in July 2005, DefenseReview published information on the HK416 Weapon System a.k.a. HK416 Enhanced Carbine (5.56x45mm/.223 Rem.) in our article titled HK416 Piston-Driven 5.56 Carbine and High-Reliability 30-Round Steel Mag. Well, Heckler & Koch Defense Inc. (HK Defense Inc.) recently introduced the HK417 Weapon System (7.62x51mm/.308 Win.), which is …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The "Description" section of the latest modification (Modification 04) of Solicitation number: H92222-05-R-0017 for a .45 ACP (.45 Caliber) Joint Combat Pistol (JCP) System–now called the Combat Pistol (CP)–states: "This notification is to inform Industry the Combat Pistol requirement is postponed indefinately. USSOCOM will no longer issue a Request for Proposal." This is an interesting development, …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Back in February (2006), DefenseReview briefly discussed the new and improved MGI QCB (Quick Change Barrel) Upper Receiver system and MGI D-Fender "D-Ring" in our article titled DefRev Quick Hits 3 from SHOT Show 2006: And the Hits Keep Comin’. We got to handle and examine both of these items, as well as MGI’s Modular Lower …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com A company called Tactical Language Training LLC (Los Angeles, CA) is marketing an Iraqi Arabic language course to military and civilian personnel operating or soon-to-be operating in Iraq called "Tactical Iraqi". According to the company website, the Tactical Iraqi language course utilizes… artificial intelligence, computer-game-based interactive-animation simulations, speech recognition, and "advanced educational and human factors methodologies" …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com A company called VirtuSphere, Inc. (Sammamish, WA) has a product called, appropriately enough, VirtuSphere, which can apparently provide a rather unique Mil/LE tactical training and simulation experience. Due to its design, the VirtuSphere provides "infinite space" and claims to also provide "the most immersive [virtual reality a.k.a. "VR"] experience for simulated training, exercise and gaming." The …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Speaking of interesting articles, DefenseReview recently received a mention on Israel21c in David Brinn’s article (8th paragraph) on the Rabintex R-ACH (Advanced Combat Helmet) ballistic helmet (1,400 grams) which is designed to protect the wearer from fragmentation. Mr. Brinn also quoted me in the piece (8th paragraph). Several years ago, DefenseReview published an article on the …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Greg Grant has written an interesting article for DefenseNews.com about Hizbollah’s (Hezbollah’s) "innovative" (Grant’s term) use of man-portable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems. Mr. Grant cites several examples of Hezbollah’s "innovative" urban warfare/guerrilla warfare tactics with ATGMs. 1) Hizbollah guerilla fighters "swarmed" Israeli Merkava MBTs (Main Battle Tanks)–including possibly Merkava Mk4 MBTs–and fired at the sides …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Over the last several months, DefenseReview has been reporting on a visual cloaking technology (a.k.a. adaptive camouflage technology a.k.a. electro-optical camouflage technology a.k.a. chameleonic camouflage technology) that’s claimed to have been developed by Advanced American Enterprise (AAE) for manned ground vehicles, UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles)/Ground Robots (including weaponized UGVs like SWORDS), infantry warfighters (i.e. human beings), and helicopters (both …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Airborne Combat Engineer (ACE) just published a blurb on a potential future force protection technology in the form a a pager/beeper that, if fielded, would reportedly provide infantry personnel with early warning system (a.k.a. advanced warning system) against inbound/incoming rocket and mortar rounds headed their way. It’s called the "Strike Warning System" (SWS), and it’s a …