#NextGen

Suppressor manufacturers, start your engines. The United States Marine Corps Systems Command (MARSYSCOM) has issued a new request for information (RFI) to the industry regarding future suppressors for the M4 and M4A1 Carbine and M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). The request is intended to tap potential industry partners for future suppressor production, possibly in preparation for a new contract. The RFI’s requirements are, in the usual military fashion, detailed and stringent:

In a surprising turn of events given the recent public motions towards an all-M27 fleet, the United States Marine Corps has just released a new request for information (RFI), soliciting proposals from the industry for a whole new suite of infantry equipment, including rifles, upper receivers for existing weapons, optics, suppressors, and targets. The new RFI is very explicit as to what the industry can and/or should bring to the table as far as proposals. Below is replicated the “Infantry Rifle” segment of the RFI document, which is just one part out of five:

Gentlemen, it has begun: The Silencing is upon us.

Last year, at the 2015 SHOT Show, Polish gun manufacturer Fabryka Broni told us that they would be working to bring the MSBS modular rifle to the United States civilian market. Speaking with them at the 2016 SHOT Show, I learned that this effort is ongoing. In 2015, the company submitted 10 weapons – rifles and pistols – for approval to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, but only one – a .22 rifle – was approved for importation. The MSBS pistols that were submitted were apparently rejected on the grounds that a removable vertical foregrip was mounted to a Picatinny rail section on the handguard. Fabryka Broni’s representatives told me that they are continuing to work with the ATF to get approval for the importation of their weapons, including the MSBS and BRS99 semi-automatic pistol.

Light? Strong? Tough? Cheap? A new material developed in Korea promises all of the above, and could throw open wide doors in many industries, including small arms development.

Czech small arms manufacturer Česká zbrojovka has introduced an improved, lighter variant of its 805 Bren rifle, called the 806 Bren 2. Altair.com reports:

Russia’s next-generation infantry modernization program is in full swing, and while here at TFB we’ve covered two of the rifles, the AEK-571/A545 and AK-12, competing for orders as part of the program, but the program as a whole is more extensive than just a new infantry weapon. The project, called Ratnik (a Russian word equivalent to “warrior”) is a total modernization of infantry equipment, introducing over 40 new items, including camouflage, comms gear, sights, body armor, navigation equipment, designators, and, of course, small arms. A three-year order for Ratnik equipment was placed in October of last year, and is expected to consist of deliveries of 50,000 units per year.

Since we blogged about it a year ago, neither hide nor hair of the Iranian Fateh rifle has been seen, save the images previously released. Now, new photos released by poster ShahryarHedayatiSHBA are reported to be of the rifle – but they depict what appears to be an AR-15 variant, not the Masada-esque weapon previously displayed. The images are displayed below:

The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has released a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to the industry, regarding new infantry weapons that could replace the troubled G36 rifle. A PIN is the European equivalent of the American Request For Information (RFI), which usually precedes a tender for a contract. A machine translation of the PIN is reproduced below: