The Latest Innovations in Military Equipment and Systems
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SHOW REPORTMODERN DAY MARINE EXPO 2017 |BY ROBERT BRUCE USMC/Corporal Samantha Braun In his Wednesday morning keynote address to an overflow crowd in the spacious Briefing Center, General Robert Neller, Commandant of the Marine Corps, provides his perspective on “Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment,” the recently developed official doctrine for near-future amphibious warfare. Briefing slides for his presentation and those of other presenters are clearly visible to all on twin giant screens. https://marine- corpsconceptsandprograms.com/concepts/littoral-operations-contested-environment ow in his third year as Commandant with a third visit to Modern Day Marine (MDM), four-star General Neller delivered his key- note address, “Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment,” The Latest Nto an overflow crowd on Wednesday in the cavernous Briefing Center tent at the 2017 Modern Day Marine Expo. With “littoral” defined as that portion of the world’s land masses adja- cent to the ocean within direct control of and vulnerable to the striking power of sea-based forces, Neller emphasized that the Navy and Marine Innovations Corps will have to “fight to get to the fight,” facing adversaries with long- range precision weapon capabilities. (Editor’s Note: The official MCO document on which Commandant Neller’s presentation was based is available for download at https:// marinecorpsconceptsandprograms.com/concepts/littoral-opera- in Military tions-contested-environment) Much More Than a “Trade Show” Commandant Neller’s hard-hitting predictions add tremendous weight to the importance of MDM Expos as essential, multifaceted resources for the Marine Corps’ warfighters at all levels and for the Equipment defense industry to anticipate and offer solutions for both present and future needs. These needs include everything from hydration to hyper- sonic weaponry, from biscuits and boots to battlefield digitizing and and Systems much, much more. Small Arms Review Vol. 22, No. 3 42 MARCH 2018 USMC/Lance Corporal Sarah Petrock October 2016, MCB Twentynine Palms, California. Live-fire training with a suppressed M4 carbine in preparation for a deployment. As outlined in the presentation by Colonel Michael Manning, Portfolio Manager for SYSCOM’s Ground Combat Element Systems, small arms suppressors and improved fire control are two of the Marine Corps’ top priorities for near-term purchase and fielding. marcorsyscom.marines.mil “Our adversaries are not going to let us get to the fight uncontested. We are going to have to fire away across the ocean, under the ocean and in the air. We have to be able to prepare to implement offensive and defen- sive, lethal and non-lethal capabilities to prosecute these campaigns. And at the end we have to conduct operations ashore.” –General Robert B. Neller 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps Sobering Sessions and Preparedness Panels Near term equipping for the Corps to fight and win in extraordi- narily lethal littoral zones is a daunting challenge but ably addressed in a series of open briefings kicked off on Tuesday morning by Brig- adier General Joseph Shrader, who heads up Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC). MCSC’s managers laid out needs for Command elements, Ground Combat, Logistics, Support, Training and Wargaming. Naturally, Ground Combat was our main focus, with Colonel Mike Manning detailing 15 specific areas of primary interest. Among these are opportunities to provide improved vehicle protection from various explosive warheads and more sophisticated weapon sights. Specific requirements are noted in several RFIs/RFPs including Squad Common Robert Bruce Optics and Suppressors. Brigadier General Joseph Shrader, Commander, MARCORSYSCOM, (Editor’s Note: All of these Planning Briefs to Industry are available for emphasizes a point in his introduction to Tuesday morning’s Planning download at MARCORSYSCOM.marines.mil Click the COMMAND BRIEFS Briefs to Industry. marcorsyscom.marines.mil TO INDUSTRY bar.) www.smallarmsreview.com 43 Small Arms Review Vol. 22, No. 3 Robert Bruce Visiting from HK’s headquarters in Germany, Bernard Haertenstein (center) joins Mike Thornton (left) and Robbie Reidsma in manning the exhibit booth. They have lots of reasons to smile given HK’s recent victories including award of the Army’s CSASS contract (up to 3600 rifles) and USMC’s latest acquisition of an additional 50,800 M27 IARs. hk-usa.com Rounding out Tuesday’s program were briefings on Science and Tech- nology, Non-Lethal Weapons and a very welcome tutorial for small busi- nesses on how to do business with the Corps. Wednesday kicked off with the colorful Enlisted Awards Parade, immediately followed by General Neller’s keynote address. Then, there were two panel discussions building on the Commandant’s remarks. USMC Intelligence Activity examined Challenges to the Future Opera- tional Environment and Warfighting Lab/Futures Directorate providing perspective on Challenges and Opportunities in Littoral Operations. Thursday’s panels included a report on experimentation by Warfight- ing/Futures—including robots and the new fielding of quadcopters— and next generation requirements like beachhead-swarming mini-bots foreseen by Capabilities Development Directorate. For specific solicitations and contract awards see FEDBIZOPPS. Also, Defense Innovation Marketplace is a comprehensive resource: defen- seinnovationmarketplace.mil Show and Tell Robert Bruce AAI/Textron’s leading edge CT (Cased Telescoped) duo of 5.56 and The Corps wisely uses the timing of the annual Expo in a number of ways 7.62mm belt-fed guns will soon be joined by a handy 6.5mm CT Car- as an efficient opportunity for meaningful interaction with large and small bine, seen here in preliminary mockup form as engineer Kevin Ayotte sources in the defense industry. It’s a two-way information superhighway details its features and benefits. While its overall weight is a bit more at that bypasses many of the bureaucratic bottlenecks encountered in deal- this stage than an M4, a standard combat load of “lipstick-tube” plas- ing with other services making up the US Armed Forces. tic-cased telescoped cartridges will be much lighter than conventional Following Tuesday’s Planning Briefings, show exhibitors who had brass-cased ammo. Overall length (stock collapsed) is 32 inches, feeds made on-site arrangements were given the opportunity for face- cartridges pushed forward from a detachable box magazine, fires from to-face meetings with decision makers. This facilitates meaningful a closed bolt for accuracy, clean gas-operated tappet and piston, select show and tell right at the vendor’s booth or in Tent B’s distinctive fire with full-auto at 600 rpm. textronsystems.com/what-we-do/weap- “Marine Zone.” on-sensor-systems/LSAT Small Arms Review Vol. 22, No. 3 44 MARCH 2018 SHOW REPORTMODERN DAY MARINE |EXPO 2017 Robert Bruce Optics-1’s Integrated Compact Ultralight Gun-Mounted Range- finder has recently been selected for the USMC’s Sniper Range Finder program. “I-CUGR is a small, lightweight and rugged weap- Robert Bruce on-mounted laser rangefinder with integrated illumination and aim- While not selected as the Army’s new Modular handgun, the 9mm Glock ing lasers that will give the USMC the ability to quickly range targets 19 got the FBI’s substantial contract. Seen here is the new Gen 5 ver- without taking hands off their rifles–providing more accurate first sion. “The Marine Corps is equipping Marines with a new weapon, pro- round hits.” While not necessarily a direct result of Warfighting Lab’s viding enhanced concealed carry capabilities at an accelerated rate and annual Marksmanship Technology Demonstration, it clearly demon- lower cost to the Corps. The Glock 19M–called the M007 by the Corps– strates “commercial off-the-shelf technologies with potential to replaces the M9 service pistol for personnel requiring a weapon that can address Marine Corps marksmanship gaps.” optics1.com be easily concealed. The M007 offers enhanced concealed carry capabil- ities, which include a smaller frame, ambidextrous slide stop lever and Show, Tell, Shoot flared magazine well. Marine Corps Systems Command recently fielded nce per year, Weapons Training Battalion, in conjunc- the M007 to Marine and civilian CID agents and members of Helicopter tion with Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, will Squadron One.” us.glock.com invite select industry participants to the Marksman- “Oship Technology Demonstration to demonstrate commercial off- the-shelf technologies with potential to address Marine Corps marksmanship gaps. The Marksmanship Technology Demonstration is not a tradeshow” (RFI for 2017 MTD) While making the rounds of gun-oriented exhibits we caught wind of some live-fire show and tell underway on Quantico’s ranges—by invitation only and closed to press. We followed up later through offi- cial USMC channels and got the straight scoop on what and why. A formal RFI (Request for Information), issued months earlier, invited industry participation in an MTD exclusively for “Marine Corps units/agencies that are within the capability development process.” This year’s focus was on targets and rifle components, specifi- cally Automated Smart Static and Mobile Target Systems, Infantry Rifles, Suppressors and Optics. Naturally, we asked for info on par- ticipating entities and their products. That was a no-go, but that’s understandable, and we don’t choose to reveal here the ones we know about. The RFI made it clear the potential payoff for participants was by no means assured, “... promising technologies may be selected for extended user evaluations.” Robert Bruce Officials also emphasized that, “The MTD held in 2016 and 2017 Richard Berry of Knight’s Armament shows their belt-fed 5.56mm Light were not associated with MDM. The MTD 2017 was aligned with Assault Machine Gun, a significant improvement over standard M249 MDM to make it easier for the vendors. The MTD scheduled for 2018 SAWs. At 8.6 pounds dry, Knight’s says it “delivers the needed sustained will NOT be an MDM event even if held during the same period.” volume of fire to an assault element at a low enough weight to keep We read you Lima Charlie (loud and clear) and urge purveyors pace with an assault.