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 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 …

The following is a feeback email DefRev received today from one of our readers in Australia, along with our reply, which has been edited/modified for publication as a story on "Defense Review". DefRev would like to thank "Eddy B" for the information and links he provided to us. One of the links will launch the General Dynamics Armament and Technical …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com May 27, 2004 This article was modified/updated on 12/16/04. Pinnacle Armor Inc., out of Fresno, California, is currently producing some of the most advanced hard and soft ballistic armor solutions in the world. This includes Pinnacle’s flexible hard armor systems, which employ a combination of highly advanced ballistic ceramic composite and titanium composite technology and ballistic …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Metal Storm recently conducted a live-fire demo of its robot-mounted electronic ballistics system for the U.S. military. According to the Metal Storm website, "The demonstration included the remotely controlled firing of stacked pyrotechnic and inert 40mm rounds from a four-barrel pod with recoiling system mounted on a ‘Talon’ robot manufactured by Foster-Miller Inc. (Foster-Miller) and supplied …

by Noah Shactman The U.S. Army is betting $92 billion that the wars of the future should be fought with smaller, lighter, more manueverable vehicles. But some military officials and defense contractor executives are saying that that these technology-laden Future Combat Systems (FCS) are too weak to withstand urban conflicts, like the one currently playing out in Iraq. Like the …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com There’s a new sniper/long-range-interdiction rifle builder in town, and his name is Jered Joplin. Jered took over Patriot Arms Inc. in 2000, and is, according to gunwriter Al Paulson, currently one of the youngest builders of high-end custom sniper rifles in the United States. He’s particularly unique in that he guarantee’s, in writing, 1/2 MOA five-shot …

by David Crane defrev at gmail dot com May 11, 2004 Combined Tactical Systems, Inc. (CTS) is currently developing a mini-flash-bang (mini-tactical grenade) called the 7290M. The 7290M will be roughly half the size of their standard 7290 flash-bang/tactical grenade, but it will deliver the same amount of sound and flash (candela output). Pretty impressive. The standard 7290 flash bang …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The following story has been updated (5/10/04): DefRev wrote a short piece on the .408 CheyTac M-200 "Intervention" long-range interdiction (sniper) rifle awhile back. The CheyTac M200 rifle can be used by a skilled operator to effectively engage enemy targets at distances out to 2500 yards. While it looks like a scaled down Windrunner M96 .50 …