US Army News and updates general discussion

[FormerDirtDart]

The US Army is testing a 6.8mm round to replace the 5.56mm cartridge. They are trying to lighten the case as well. It will be interesting to see what they come up with.
So Long, 5.56: The Army Is Testing A Bigger Bullet For Its SAW And Carbine Replacements

New Zealand has purchased the the New Carbines made by Lewis machine tools to replace the Steyr will they be able to be chambered to take the 6.8mm round.?

I would not expect that to be possible.To throw a bullet likely nearly twice as heavy at the typical 5.56mm projectile significantly further, with higher energy is going to require more propellant and larger casing. Make no mistake, they're not talking about upgrading to 6.8 SPC, it will be a whole new intermediate cartridge. I would expect it to be relatively similar to the dimensions of the US Army Marksmanship Unit's .264 USA (6.5mm) round. They needed to use new rifles, the AR-12, based off the AR-10 platform. Of course, they could be focused on adopting a 6.8mm bullet fired from a cased telescoped round, which would likely not be compatible with any conventional 5.56mm firearm currently fielded.

 

[FormerDirtDart]

I would not expect that to be possible.To throw a bullet likely nearly twice as heavy at the typical 5.56mm projectile significantly further, with higher energy is going to require more propellant and larger casing. Make no mistake, they're not talking about upgrading to 6.8 SPC, it will be a whole new intermediate cartridge. I would expect it to be relatively similar to the dimensions of the US Army Marksmanship Unit's .264 USA (6.5mm) round. They needed to use new rifles, the AR-12, based off the AR-10 platform. Of course, they could be focused on adopting a 6.8mm bullet fired from a cased telescoped round, which would likely not be compatible with any conventional 5.56mm firearm currently fielded.

Sorry, small typo I missed. The USAMU .264 USA cartridge is a 6.7mm round. But then again, so is the 6.5mm Grendel and 6.5mm Creedmoor

 

[John Fedup]

A new engine from DARPA. This rotary diesel prototype sounds pretty interesting, a 30 KW (40 hp) engine, light weight, and fits in a 10 inch box. Other users besides the military will no doubt be interested. MOD note: feel free to relocate this or create new topic e.g. Misc tech?

LiquidPiston to continue developing 30kW X4 engine - MLF - Military Logistics - Shephard Media

 

[Ranger25]

The US Army is purchasing another 474 BFVs

A new Large purchase of 474new Bradley variants has been approved. It most significantly provides new M2A4 platforms. The new version has additional protection and firepower but increases mobility with new power packs.



Army Makes Massive Bradley Buy - Up to 473 Vehicles to Prep for Major Power War - Warrior Maven

 

[FormerDirtDart]

The US Army is purchasing another 474 BFVs

A new Large purchase of 474new Bradley variants has been approved. It most significantly provides new M2A4 platforms. The new version has additional protection and firepower but increases mobility with new power packs.



Army Makes Massive Bradley Buy - Up to 473 Vehicles to Prep for Major Power War - Warrior Maven

If I were to guess, I would think they are probably going to the 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. They are set to begin transition from an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) to an Armored Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). And, these will more than likely be old hulls pulled out of the boneyard and sent through a remanufacture process.

 

[FormerDirtDart]

The US Army is purchasing another 474 BFVs

A new Large purchase of 474new Bradley variants has been approved. It most significantly provides new M2A4 platforms. The new version has additional protection and firepower but increases mobility with new power packs.



Army Makes Massive Bradley Buy - Up to 473 Vehicles to Prep for Major Power War - Warrior Maven

Turns out i's only 164 M2A4 and M7A4 Bradleys. And, based on the language in the DoD release, it does not appear they are new builds
BAE lands $347 million US Army contract to produce upgraded Bradley Fighting Vehicles

"... “BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., York, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $347,999,966 fixed-price-incentive-fee contract for production of up to 164 Bradley M2A4 and M7A4 vehicles, and procurement of authorized stockage list spares, and additional packages for legacy component repair using M2A3, M7A3 and Operation Desert Storm-Situational Awareness vehicles as a baseline,” the Thursday, June 15 release said. ..."

"... Note: The original release said 473 Bradley M2A4 and M7A4 vehicles. The Department of Defense corrected the quantity to 164 on June 15, 2018. ..."

 

[Ranger25]

The US Army has award a contract to Raytheon for the purchase of the Coyote Drone system. System indicated for ISR as well as KInetic missions. Used individually or swarms and has an endurance of approx one hour. Tube launched similar to sonobouys.

Details from video feeds appear to be used primarily for counter drone with a proximity fuse



Army, Navy Buy Raytheon’s Coyote Drone Weapon


Raytheon: Coyote UAS

 

[Ranger25]

The US Army is defining its next list of upgrades to the AH64E. A large focus seems to be maritime with longer range sensors and radars. These will be particularly meaningful in areas like the Persian Gulf, SCS, and the Baltic.



Here's The Army's Plan For Making Its Apaches More Capable At Sea And Deadlier Overall

 

[t68]

The US Army is defining its next list of upgrades to the AH64E. A large focus seems to be maritime with longer range sensors and radars. These will be particularly meaningful in areas like the Persian Gulf, SCS, and the Baltic.



Here's The Army's Plan For Making Its Apaches More Capable At Sea And Deadlier Overall

I wonder if the ADF are watching this for a possabile ARH replacement?

 

[John Fedup]

This article describes a rather innovative design for a new rifle. The US army has asked for a military grade prototype to be built. Pretty amazing for what is basically a garage project. Mind you, this guy put $500k into this project. Wonder how much Colt, HK or FN would have needed?

Army might have found its new rifle in Colorado Springs garage

 

[ngatimozart]

This article describes a rather innovative design for a new rifle. The US army has asked for a military grade prototype to be built. Pretty amazing for what is basically a garage project. Mind you, this guy put $500k into this project. Wonder how much Colt, HK or FN would have needed?

Army might have found its new rifle in Colorado Springs garage

A real innovator. The next John Browning? A very interesting weapon that could have lots of potential.

 

[oldsig127]

A real innovator. The next John Browning? A very interesting weapon that could have lots of potential.

The world is full of inventors with rifles that will fire a bazillion rounds per second.....and no notion of how the supply of ammo to the troops will be managed. Concept weapons come and go and often excite people who will never have to carry them. Let's see how it goes but call me a cynic.

oldsig

 

[FormerDirtDart]

This article describes a rather innovative design for a new rifle. The US army has asked for a military grade prototype to be built. Pretty amazing for what is basically a garage project. Mind you, this guy put $500k into this project. Wonder how much Colt, HK or FN would have needed?

Army might have found its new rifle in Colorado Springs garage

I question the systems usefulness. A large protruding fixed magazine, likely very expensive to produce multi-shot cartridge/chamber/clip "charge blocks" (which everyone keeps calling "caseless" for some damn reason). I'm interested in how they will redesign the system to keep dirt from feeding into and collecting in the large protruding fixed magazine. I wonder what mechanism is inplace to prevent something (like a branch, rock or clump of dirt) from inadvertently moving the "charge block" out of battery and back down into the large protruding fixed magazine.

Promotional video

And, a video at this year's 'Shot Show' (you can see the promotional video playing in the background)

 

[ngatimozart]

The latest on the US Army's SAW and M4 replacement with the calibre being 6.8 mm. Interestingly enough Textron have a new weapon telescoped ammo, the round encased within the propellant, the case made of plastic and apparently it is significantly lighter than the traditional brass round. The ammo is in 5.56 mm, 6.8 mm and 7.62 mm.

The Army’s SAW and M4 replacements will both fire this more accurate and deadly round

 

[barney41]

IIRC one of the drawbacks of telescoped ammo is heat buildup.in the weapon. Conventional ammo got rid of some of the heat by ejecting the metal casings.

 

[FormerDirtDart]

IIRC one of the drawbacks of telescoped ammo is heat buildup.in the weapon. Conventional ammo got rid of some of the heat by ejecting the metal casings.

Simple answer. That is incorrect. Since the CT weapons chamber is physically separated, heat transfer from the barrel is drastically reduced. And, the polymer casing of the CT ammo acts as an insulator, limiting heat transfer to the chamber through the cartridge wall. And, likewise, insulates against any heat transfer from the heated chamber walls to the propellant in the unfired cartridge sitting in the chamber.
LSAT Cased Telescoped Ammunition, and the Problem of Cookoff (Brief Thoughts 002 Follow Up) - The Firearm Blog

 

[steve33]

Report: Green Beret’s reprimand rescinded after Mattis pushes DoD to revisit punishments for Niger ambush

Good to see Mattis do this the lower ranks were going to be thrown under the bus for what happened.

It was a very sad video to watch and it should never have happened and didn't need to the captain in charge of the patrol told them he didn't have the equipment or intel to do the mission and hey sent them anyway they had no .50 cal or mk 19 automatic grenade launchers in the convoy and no mortars and of the two M240 belt fed machine guns they had vehicle mounted one of them run out of ammo.

 

[Ranger25]

The US Army has committed funding for APS for the M2 Bradley fleet. Initial budget is for one brigade set of the “Iron first light” APS. The line item also increases the APS systems beyond the initial 4 Brigade sets for M1s and include USMC M1s for the first time



M2 Bradley Gets An Iron Fist; Rival Trophy APS Wins $67M For Army, Marine M1 Tanks

 

[Ranger25]

The US Army has purchased two complete Iron dome Batteries. Purchase included up to 370 Tamir missiles and associated equipment for two full batteries. Goal is to operational by 2020.

Will be interesting to see where they may be deployed. Guam? Maybe one in Romania or Poland to protect the Aegis ashore?


The Army Wants Israel's Iron Dome Missile System To Swat Down Cruise Missiles

 

[John Fedup]

Interesting article detailing the army’s special company Echo, dedicated to drone operations against terroists. They utilize Gray Eagle UAVs and the operators reside in combat areas. The company has been very active against ISIS.

The Army's killer drones: How a secretive special ops unit decimated ISIS