by David Crane david@defensereview.com On March 17th, 2005, it was announced that iRobot (headquartered in Burlington, MA) has won an $18.4 million Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) contract to provide 150 of its PackBot EOD Hazardous Duty Mobile Robots to the U.S. Navy by the end of 2005 for the purpose of explosive ordanced disposal operations. These robots, already battle-proven/combat-proven …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The following Sources Sought Notice looks like it’s essentially the same solicitation as that covered in the previous article, just in alternate form (a previous version, if you will): "General Information Document Type: Sources Sought Notice Solicitation Number: W15QKN-05-X-0427 Posted Date: Nov 05, 2004 Original Response Date: Dec 07, 2004 Current Response Date: Dec 07, 2004 …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefenseReview just received a message from one of our U.S. Army sources regarding the solicitation below for an "Objective Individual Combat Weapon, Increment One, Family of Weapons". The OICW project, apparently, has been resurrected, albeit in different form. To put it another way, IT LIVES (if you can believe it). DefRev will most likely be doing …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com All photos of the Cobb MCR Prototype/SCAR candidate weapons accompanying this article were taken by DefenseReview.com and are the property of DefenseReview.com. Click on photos to view them full-size. DefenseReview was fortunate to get the opportunity to view and handle the Cobb SCAR candidate/MCR (Muli-Caliber Rifle) prototype weapons at Cobb Manufacturing Inc.’s booth at SHOT Show …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Click on images below to view them full-size. All photos were taken by Arnold Crane, Photographer, and are the property of DefenseReview.com. I recently wrote several articles for a print publication after I test-fired a few weapon systems–the select-fire Lewis Machine & Tool Monolithic Rail Platform/Quick-Change Barrel System (LMT MRP/QCBS), Barrett M468-A1 subcarbine (6.8x43mm SPC), and …

by David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com January 17, 2005 In the future, our infantry forces might employ non-lethal "laser dazzlers" to blind and disorient enemy soldiers, insurgents, and terrorists in order to capture them alive and preclude the need to kill them, so we can interrogate them. Or, the high-tech weapons can be used as a precursor to …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Remington recently introduced a new take on an old shotgun, the venerable Remington 870 pump-action shotgun. The new incarnation is called the 870 MCS, which stands for "Modular Shotgun System". The key word in that phrase is "modular". The Remington 870 MCS pump-action shotgun can be configured for an operator’s specific mission requirements. Military and law …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) out of Tula, Russia recently introduced their PP-2000 SMG/PDW (submachine gun/personal defense weapon) at the Interpolytech-2004 exhibition in Moscow, last year. Intended as either a PDW for non-infantry military personnel or as an close quarters battle (CQB) weapon for military special operations (SPECOPS) units and law enforcement SWAT/SRT teams, the newly-introduced …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com This just in: DefenseReview has been told by one of its sources that FN Herstal’s/FNH USA, Inc.’s SCAR/SOFCAR (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle) program competition winner utilizes an updated/upgraded FN FNC upper receiver w/M1913 Picatinny rail system, mated to a modified M4/M4A1 Carbine-config/type lower receiver. Supposedly, the M4/M4A1 Carbine-config/type lower features an HK M4 (a.k.a. …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen has just introduced a new subcompact version of the Walther P99 pistol. The new pistol is called the Walther P99 Compact. The P99 Compact sports a Glock 26/27-style/sized grip that only allows a two-finger hold. However, a factory-supplied magazine extension allows a three-finger hold. The Walther P99 Compact pistol’s trigger mechanism is …