SOTECH 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 2 (March)

The new camouflage material, CamoTraction, allows for both next generation functionality and customizable precision camouflage for specific areas of responsibility. This will allow camouflage designs so precise that they can look like a digital photo-duplicate of their environment. The material can also be extended to almost any surface, including areas in the past that were difficult or impossible to camouflage like grips, handholds and footholds on most all varieties of weapons, hardware, equipment, structures and vehicles. “CamoTraction works because it allows highly complex camouflage patterns as precise as site-specific digital photographs, to be applied and modified—even in theater—at an amazing rate of speed and at a sharply contained cost,” said K. Dominic Cincotti, president of MW Research and Development.

CamoTraction’s semi-transparent outer surface is a frictionally enhanced micro-terrain. Underneath this unique tactical grip surface is precise camouflage to match any design or specific area of responsibility.

“To boil down the science, CamoTraction is essentially instant adhesional frictionalization of a camouflaged or concealed surface,” Cincotti said. “Just about any place you’d want camouflage, slick-surfaced or non-slick as required or desired, with zero negative operational impact. CamoTraction bonds and conforms to the object underneath it, and you thus have uniform customization for the specific battlescape—and it’s also removable for an easy retrofit for the next mission.”

Small Arms Trainer

Digimation, a developer of high fidelity virtual training, has announced the immediate availability of its Glock 19 small arms trainer. Using photorealistic interactive 3-D animation and graphics, their virtual trainer familiarizes students with the weapon’s individual parts, functionality, safety procedures and cycle of operations.

“ D i g i m a t i o n virtual trainers are designed to help students become familiar with complex equipment, learn operational skills, and master complex maintenance and repair procedures,” said David Avgikos, CEO of Digimation. “Numerous studies confirm the advantages of this type of ‘learn by doing’ approach over traditional paper and PowerPoint.”

Digimation’s new high fidelity virtual training solutions are completely customizable with any subject matter and training criteria specifics. “Our goal is to achieve a level of realism that can stand up to the closest scrutiny by those most familiar with the real world counterpart,” said Grant Niesner, technical director at Digimation and project lead for the weapons trainer. “Our tolerance for bad graphics is pretty low. This generation of students in particular expects an extremely realistic experience when it comes to interactive training.”

Rochelle Free: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Case Protection

Shoddy carrying cases often are the reason weaponry for U.S. military and law enforcement personnel are lost, stolen or damaged. Substandard gear harms the mission to stop terrorism. Police and the more than 30,000 troops to be deployed to Afghanistan this year require a rugged, shockproof and reusable transport solution. To meet this need, CaseCruzer created the GunCruzer KR-20

The case, with an empty weight of 20.51 pounds, is fitted with reinforced hinges, side and front folding handles and wheels for mobility in any terrain. The exterior dimensions of the case are 45 inches long, 17 inches wide and 6.38 inches high, and can accommodate a range of weapons such as the M4 or the M16 rifle, as well as many handguns such as the M9 and M11 (or P228).

To allow easy access, once the trigger latches are thrown, the lid opens but does not tilt back but stays upright on its own. It also is shockproof, watertight and airtight (with an O-ring seal). Each case is reusable and is fitted with an automatic pressure release valve.

The top lid interior of the case is cushioned with convoluted egg-crate style foam. The base of the KR-20 is padded with Polyethylene foam that includes multiple removable plugs. There are cut-outs for seven rifle magazines, accessories, rail-mounted optics and one desiccant, plus cutouts for a number of handguns.

Tatiana Briceno: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Universal Handset

Accusonic Voice systems recently demonstrate four different pre-production versions of their new Tactical Talker universal handset. The units, which are derived from the concept prototype developed last year that incorporated mission related features and scaling metrics identified during field tests conducted by potential users over the past year. Tactical Talker is a lightweight, universal handset that offers multi platform radio connectivity and rapid tactical network access in a lightweight, man wearable enclosure. It is designed to replace existing conventional radio specific handsets including the popular H-250.

The unit’s suitability as a single replacement for a number of conventional units is mainly a factor of its combined ergonomic and performance advantages. Already lighter and smaller than other handsets, the Tactical Talker’s open platform architecture allows it to be custom configured to specific mission requirements if desired. In addition, the units electro-acoustic design affords a level of signal intelligibility that is significantly superior to older units in the field.

The four units debuted range from a mini version, which measures less than four inches in length and weighs under a pound, to two slightly larger versions, which can incorporate added features, and a full size version that is roughly comparable to the size of the standard H-250. Because of its size, the mini handset will be a stripped-down version, capable of radio interconnect only. The other units will be equipped with different combinations of dual or single PTT’s, a gain control knob, and a separate earpiece. All units are made of highly durable polycarbonate and have water submersible tolerance of up to two meters, helping to assure survivable performance even in the most adverse weather conditions.

HMMWV Protection Capsule

Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, Textron Inc., and Granite Tactical Vehicles Inc., recently announced the receipt of a contract to deliver three upgraded High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) to the United State Marine Corps War fighting Lab for testing.

The three upgraded HMMWVs in M1114, M1151-A1/REVB and M1165 configurations are scheduled to be delivered in March 2010 for mobility, thermal and durability performance testing. Independent and USMC blast and ballistic testing on the vehicle has been completed.

“Working with Granite Tactical Vehicles, we have modified the up-armored HMMWV platform to increase the vehicle’s survivability, while enhancing its mobility and payload capabilities,” said Tom Walmsley, Textron Marine & Land Systems’ general manager.

“We have been working diligently since 2004 on a solution to better protect our soldiers against the evolving threats they face in combat situations around the world,” said Chris Berman, Granite Tactical Vehicles’ president. “We are confident in our solution’s performance and survivability, and look forward to the outcome of the USMC testing.”

Textron Marine & Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles have teamed on the development of affordable, lightweight, crew survivability solutions for light tactical vehicles.

Tactical Lights

Elzetta has introduced its new line of ZFL-M60 LED tactical lights with 235 honest lumens of light output. All ZFL-M60 models feature optical beam projection for uniform lighting, electronic current management circuitry for optimized battery life, fully potted electrical components for ruggedized performance, and a patent-pending heat sink device for efficient thermal management. Hard Anodized 6061-T6 aluminum components are microtextured for a durable ultra-flat matte black finish.

Available in 2-Cell and 3-Cell models, tactical lights can be configured with standard bezels or crenellated strike bezels and a choice of three tailcaps: rotary, clicky, or high/low clicky. The high/ low tailcap allows the operator to switch between a 15-lumen navigational beam and a blinding 235-lumen tactical beam with a simple twist of the tailcap.

Dave Elzetta: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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