by David Crane david@defensereview.com Milkor Marketing (PTY) LTD has just improved their MGL Mk-1 Multiple Grenade Launcher, creating a new low-velocity 40mm (40x46mm) multiple grenade launcher (MGL) called the Milkor MGL Mk-1S Multiple Grenade Launcher. The MGL Mk-1S sports a stronger stainless steel frame than the original MGL Mk-1, as well as a NATO standard sight rail. Milkor Marketing has …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com This article’s content and links have been updated as of 7/31/06. The HG85 fragmentation grenade, a.k.a. HG85 hand grenade, made by RUAG Ammotec (formerly RUAG Munition), is currently regarded by many experts to be the best hand grenade currently in service, in the world. The British Army apparently agrees, since they’ve acquired the RUAG HG-85 fragmentation/hand …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The industrial design firm, Crye Associates, designed and developed a unique universal-type camouflage pattern for the U.S. Army’s Scorpion program back in 2001-2002. Scorpion was the experimentation/concept-development project for (and precursor to) the Objective Force Warrior (OFW) program, which has now become the Future Force Warrior (FFW) program. This picture shows the original Scorpion camo pattern, …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Just found this at "Wired News" (Wired.com). The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center (a.k.a. Soldier Systems Center) is currently developing lightweight, flexible solar panels for troop tents and uniforms. The project’s goal is to lighten our soldiers’ loads and reduce their thermal signatures. Reducing thermal signature will help our troops to avoid detection by enemy forces. …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com This article contains high-resolution scanned photos (JPEG format) of the Shiva Ki Fightin’ Bowie Knife, which is a custom combat/fighting bowie knife.  In trained hands, this knife can be utilized effectively for anti-personnel applications.  Click on photos (below) to view them full-size. Back in January (2004), DefRev published an article on Shiva Ki Custom Knives. The …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is in the process of adopting the FN MK 48 MOD 0 7.62mm Lightweight Machine Gun (LWMG) as it's new 7.62x51mm machine gun. Basically, the MK48 MOD 0 is a beefed-up version of the FN MK46 MOD 0 5.56 LMG/SAW (Light Machine Gun/Squad Automatic Weapon), a MK46 MOD 0 on …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com The U.S. Army has just unveiled their new combat uniform that will replace the current Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). Their calling the new uniform the "Army Combat Uniform" (ACU). The ACU is a wrinkle-free, and features a digitized camouflage pattern (digital camo). The U.S. Army Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier) has a page that explains …

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 One of DefRev’s close contacts in the Mil/LE tactical training community just called our attention to this document. It’s an after-action report on/assessment of U.S. infantry small arms performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The Soldier Weapons Assessment Team’s report focused on "current state of weapons, ammunition and accessories directly managed by PMSW: M9 Pistol to …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com DefRev’s previous article on te 6.8x43mm SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge), a.k.a. "6.8mm Remington SPC", was titled "6.8x43mm Round for Urban Warfare CQB and Short-to-Medium-Range Sniping." The 6.8x43mm SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge) was developed with the help of the U.S. Army Special Forces community (specifically, the U.S. Army’s 5th Special Forces Group) to create a significantly superior …