Defense

Kalashnikov Concern has announced the delivery of a second batch of tools and equipment which will be used to manufacture India’s AK-203. The Indian AK-203s are being procured under India’s Make in India scheme through a joint venture, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), which is a partnership between India’s Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Russia’s Rostec subsidiaries Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport.

2024 marks the 135th anniversary of the founding of the FN factory in Herstal, Belgium. No Herstal Group, FN’s parent company, will be changing its name to FN Browning Group. This encapsulates the company’s two major brands - both of which have a lot of history behind them.

In the early 80s, Iraq Military Industry was quite impressive for a Middle Eastern country. With the help of Yugoslavia, the country produced several different AK-pattern rifles, light machine guns, and various sniper rifles.

Colt Canada have unveiled their C8A4 at the CANSEC 2024 trade fair in Ottawa. The new rifle is seeking to fulfill the Canadian Army’s ‘Canadian Modular Assault Rifle’ requirement which has been shaping up over the last couple of years. The ‘Canadian Modular Assault Rifle’ project is the latest element of the Canadian armed forces’ small arms modernization program which has seen the adoption of the SIG Sauer P320 as the C22 to replace the long-service Browning Hi-Power and the adoption of the C20 designated marksman rifle.

In  Part 1 of this article, I talked about the first prototypes of Yugoslav AKs, in  Part 2 we dived into the history of M70 rifles with milled receivers, Part 3 was dedicated to the most common Zastava M70, Part 4 went over rifles that Zastava developed during the collapse of Yugoslavia. In this final chapter, I will talk about modern Serbian AKs that I’ve seen over the years.

The US Marine Corps is replacing its M72 LAWs, with M72 LAWs! Marine Corps Systems Command announced on 20 May 2024, that currently in service M72 variants will be succeeded by the M72 LAW Fire from Enclosure (FFE). The M72 FFE family includes two variants: the anti-armor specialised M72A8 and the multi-purpose, anti-structure M72A10.

FN Hersal has a new variant of its famous FN Minimi Mk3. The new variant has a longer one-piece top rail, to be able to accommodate two optics in-line. A lot of FN Herstal’s customers have a need to mount a red dot with a magnifier, or a day optic with night vision or thermals for 24-hour use. A single rail will improve repeatability and accuracy. The new Minimi has a small folding backup rear peep sight integrated into the rail.

Like many defense material administrations, the Swedish FMV is busy sourcing new firearms and consumables, for future needs. FMV is a governmental agency acting under the Swedish Ministry of Defence. They are responsible for making sure that the Swedish Armed Forces have the equipment and logistic services they need to execute their mission. FMV has now signed a contract to secure small caliber ammunition from the suppliers Nammo Sweden AB and Norma Precision AB, to meet the demand for the Armed Forces’ needs in the years 2024–2025. The total value of the contracts is approximately SEK 2.8 billion (about 268 million USD). The ammunition will be used for handguns, carbines and machine guns – in Sweden’s case that would mainly include 9×19 mm for Glock 17s, 5,56x45mm for the Ak5 (FN FNC variant) and potentially the upcoming Sako carbines, as well as 7,62x51mm for the Ak4 (H&K G3) as well as sniper rifles.

At SHOT Show 2024, Ohio Ordnance Works unveiled the REAPR lightweight medium machine gun. The REAPR or Recoil Enhanced Automatic Rifle is chambered in .338 Norma Magnum and can also be calibre converted to 7.62x51mm.

In September 2023, Beretta unveiled their next generation combat rifle, the project is collectively termed the ‘New Assault Rifle Platform’ or NARP. Beretta were kind enough to speak to TFB and give us a detailed rundown of the rifle, the project and its aims.

Dive deep into the Beretta GLX-160 grenade launcher in our comprehensive video from Enforce Tac 2024. This detailed exploration showcases the launcher’s state-of-the-art design, emphasizing its lightweight profile due to the innovative use of polymer and aluminum materials. The GLX-160 also features an ergonomic stock system, closely mirroring the acclaimed Benelli M4, enhancing both comfort and usability. Gain insights into its adaptability, precision, and the technological advancements that make the GLX-160 a standout in modern ordnance.

The CZ Bren 2, alongside a plethora of other Western rifles, has seen extensive use in Ukraine over the past two years. Rifle transferred from the Czech Republic as aid have equipped numerous elements of Ukraine’s armed forces including special operations units and regular infantry alike. Feedback on the rifles has been largely positive and the war in Ukraine represents a significant combat test for the platform.

Carrington Textiles, Lancashire (United Kingdom), will show their new textile technology for defense purposes at Enforce Tac, in just a few weeks. The new textile is designed for superior thermal signature management, to protect soldiers from thermal detection on the battlefield. The textile is called Circuitex Sigma, made by Noble Biomaterials, and is designed to mitigate thermal detection in military environments. I think the attached image speaks a thousand words.

Colt CZ Group, via its Colt subsidiary, has secured possession of the Mk 47 40mm Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher system, along with the Fire Control. The transaction comes from General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS). The Mk 47 is a portable 40mm grenade launcher designed for use in light infantry vehicles and tripod setups.

The Haenel MK556, despite having been rejected by the Bundeswehr following a patent infringement, has recently been seen put to use training Ukrainian special forces operators. The 5.56x45mm short-stroke piston carbines were once poised to replace the German Army’s G36s, now they’re helping Ukraine’s operators prepare for operations on the frontline.

Around the world, at any given time there is probably at least one armed conflict going on. Right now we’re experiencing a handful of them and while there are plenty of politics to be talked about when it comes to those conflicts, today what Pete and Matt (Editor of Overt Defense) have to talk about specifically is the tools that are being used. The various conflicts around the globe currently going on have been quite interesting as it seems we’ve not only seen the first large-scale deployment of small drones for combat purposes, but also a return to trench warfare, and the appearance of firearms from virtually every corner of the globe winding up in every country but the one they were manufactured in. Pete and Matt will discuss all of that today in addition to some of their predictions in regards to how some of these situations might turn out.

Earlier this year NIOA acquired Barrett Firearms and now they are looking to expand their reach in the US by taking up a tenancy at the US Army’s Picatinny Arsenal which is home to the Army’s Joint Centre of Excellence for ammunition and weapons.

Photo Of The Day – the best online place to view the coolest images of firearms and soldiers. Here we’re aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), watching a live fire exercise somewhere in the Philippine Sea. The handguns are the good old M9 service pistols.

Poland’s FB Radom have celebrated their 100,000 MSBS Grot coming off the production line. The Grot was developed in the mid-2000s and entered production in 2017, with it entering service with the Polish armed forces in 2018, first with the Polish Territorial Defence Forces. It has also been used in large numbers by the Ukrainian armed forces since 2022. The rifle has gone through a number of iterations since entering service with an A3/M3 model in the works and the 7.62x51mm designated marksman rifle, the Grot 762N, also preparing for large-scale production.

French arms manufacturer Verney-Carron, through its defense brand Lebel, has signed a framework contract with Ukrspecexport, a Ukrainian state-owned arms trading company, for a substantial number of small arms. The contract covers carbines, precision rifles and 40mm grenade launchers.

Japan has ordered more than 300 new Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles. This represents the latest in a series of procurements that will modernize Japan’s infantry weapons. Other recent procurements include the new Type 20 rifle and the HK SFP9.

France has donated several hundred FAMAS bullpup rifles to Suriname’s armed forces. Suriname borders French Guiana and has a military partnership with France. The press release from the French embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, noted that 55 cubic meters of equipment ‘mostly FAMAS rifles and their ammunition’ had been delivered. Press reports note that this equates to around 300 rifles.

Back in January 2023, Russia’s Rosoboronexport announced that the first batch of India’s AK-203s had been completed. The rifles are being procured under India’s Make in India scheme with a joint venture, named Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), which is a partnership between India’s Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Rostec subsidiaries Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport of Russia. This will see production of the rifles shift from Russia to India and Kalashnikov Concern have announced the shipment of machinery and tools to allow India to establish production in Korwa.

Back in March, Lithuania announced that it had signed a contract with FN Herstal to procure an unspecified number of FN Minimi 7.62 MK 3s through a contract is worth $34 million Euros or $35 million. The first of Lithuania’s new FN Minimi 7.62s has arrived according to a recent update on the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense’s social media.

The Slovak Republic has announced plans to procure 5,000 M4A1 carbines from the US. The $17 million procurement will be financed through Foreign Military Financing (FMF), which ‘enables eligible partner nations to purchase US defense articles, services, and training’ through either a US government loan or a grant. The Slovakian Ministry of Defense also shared the announcement in their social media, explaining the benefits of the M4A1. Announcements also noted the carbines would be procured from Colt.

Saab have been awarded a fresh order for AT4 anti-armor systems and ammunition for the Carl Gustaf Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) worth $105 million. These systems will be utilised by the US Army, US Special Operations Command and the US Marine Corps. Building on earlier orders as part of an ‘indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity’ contract originally awarded in 2019, the latest order is for the AT4 Confined Space, Reduced Sensitivity variant of the AT4.

The U.K. might be considered the Old World by us Americans, but the U.K. Royal Marines are on the absolute cutting edge with their newest DMR. Specifically, the Royal Marines have adopted an LMT AR-10-type rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor with HUXWRX suppressors and the Leupold Mk5 HD – a wonderful combo.
The Royal Marines, along with the British Army’s Rangers, also recently selected the KAC KS-1 as the L403A1 Alternative Individual Weapon.

Knight’s Armament Company have released a statement on the selection of the KAC KS-1 by the UK military. The selection of the KS-1 for elements of the UK’s Royal Marines Commandos and new Ranger Regiments was announced last week.

For the past few days, Heckler & Koch Germany has been teasing their new HK 421, a newly developed compact and lightweight machine gun. At DSEI 2023 in London (12-15 September 2023), an exhibition with over 2,800 defence and security suppliers, it was finally unveiled in various configurations.

Beretta have unveiled their new rifle, the New Assault Rifle Platform or NARP. Chambered in 5.56×45 NATO, the NARP program has developed an AR-pattern rifle that uses a short-stroke gas piston system and a rotating bolt locking system. According to EDR, NARP is the name of the development program rather than the rifle itself, with the weapon to be named at a later date.