In October 2017, for example, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support agreed to an €11 million contract with Heckler & Koch to provide a total of 1,745 5.56 x 45mm HK 416A7s to replace German SOF G36 carbines as part of the Sturmgewehr Spezialkräfte (SSK) program.
Left to right: A 300 AAC Blackout (BLK) round with a 125-grain plastic tip bullet; 300 BLK 125-grain match; 300 BLK 220-grain subsonic round; 5.56 x 45 mm NATO round; and Russian 7.62 x 39 mm round. Silencertalk image via Wikimedia Commons
Meanwhile, sources confirmed to Special Operations Outlook that force components from across USSOCOM continued to consider an additional series of alternative caliber types, ranging from 6.5mm and .260 Remington through to 6.8mm and .270 Winchester cartridges.
USSOCOM is also closely monitoring progress in the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle (NGSAR) program, which is considering alternative lightweight ammunition and weapon systems to replace the 5.56mm x 45mm Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).
Having published a Prototype Opportunity Notice (PON) on March 1, 2018, the Army is seeking to build a series of demonstrator weapons (Technology Readiness Level 6 or above) to participate in an extensive evaluation program designed to identify lethality, precision, and range effects of a light machine gun in the form factor of an assault rifle.
Maneuverability Requirements
Also seeking to exploit emerging requirements for increased maneuverability in confined battlespaces is Belgian company FN Herstal, which late in 2017 unveiled the latest variant in its Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) family.
Revealed at the Milipol conference in Paris on Nov. 15, 2017, the SCAR Sub-Compact (SCAR-SC) PDW has been designed as a reduced form factor carbine for special operations teams, with availability in NATO standard 5.56 x 45mm caliber.
The SCAR-SC, according to an official spokesperson for FN Herstal, was specifically designed in response to emerging requirements from the SOF community with “mobility and flexibility” in mind.
Similar to other PDWs available in the market, the SCAR-SC has been designed to support urban operations as well as covert operations.
The SCAR-SC was specifically designed in response to emerging requirements from the SOF community. FM Herstal photo
The semi-automatic PDW measures 21 inches in length when fully retracted and 25.7 inches when extended with a telescopic stock. However, the weapon can also accommodate foldable and fixed stocks, dependent upon customer preference.
The PDW comprises a total weight of 6.9 pounds when loaded and features a 7.5-inch barrel length. The SCAR-SC retains the same magazine capacity of the larger SCAR-Light carbine for 30-round magazines and includes a standard Picatinny-style 360-degree rail adaptor system for the attachment of tactical accessories, including modular foregrips for enhanced weapon handling. The SCAR-SC also retains the capability to house a suppressor for improved acoustic and physical signature management.
Handguns
Echoing operational requirements for PDWs, the use of handgun technology remains a critical component to the successful execution of any special operation, particularly relating to urban and subterranean warfare.
However, unlike the PDW and assault rifle markets, the handgun is failing to witness any proliferation in alternative caliber developments beyond in-service 9 x 19mm; .40-caliber; and .45-caliber cartridges, defense sources explained to Special Operations Outlook.
Instead, handgun upgrades continue to focus on the integration of tactical accessories as well as more modular designs allowing for the integration of personalized handgrips for improved ergonomic fit.
USSOCOM continues to monitor deliveries of the Department of Defense’s new 9 x 19mm Modular Handgun System (MHS) to conventional units following the selection of SiG Sauer’s P320 in January 2017. Due to designate the handguns as the “M17” (full size) and “M18” (compact) toward the end of 2018, the U.S. Army continues to learn lessons during the fielding process, which started last year.
The M17 will replace legacy M9 Beretta handguns while the M18 will replace SiG Sauer P228 systems, all weapons of which feature the same 9 x 19mm caliber.
According to U.S. Army program officials, the development has seen the M17/18 suffer from problems when firing ball ammunition instead of special purpose ammunition. However, the handgun has successfully passed evaluation with hollow point ammunition during product verification tests.
SiG Sauer’s M17 (top)and M18 sidearms. SiG Sauer photo
Responding to emerging requirements identified by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) SOF units across the COE, Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) has also launched a new handgun family aimed specifically at the SOF market.
Speaking to Special Operations Outlook, company officials explained how the 9mm x 19mm and striker-initiated Masada handgun would provide operators with an alternative to the in-service hammer-action Jericho handgun of the same caliber.
Developed in collaboration with IDF SOF, the Masada was unveiled to the international market at the Defense and Security 2017 exhibition in Bangkok, with a company source explaining how the Masada featured “special emphasis” on operational safety and simplicity of maintenance, as well as a high level of ergonomics and ease of use.
The Masada has been developed with reduced form factor in mind for operation in confined spaces, with IWI sources describing how IDF SOF operators are becoming more and more accustomed to conducting operations in subterranean environments. Hence the reason why the handgun measures 6.6 inches in length and has been designed with a glass-reinforced polymer frame to reduce its total weight to 650 grams. The Jericho handgun weighs approximately 720 grams in comparison.
The handgun also features upgraded safety specifications, including a firing pin block safety and enhanced trigger reset with or without manual safety system. Designed for ambidextrous operations, the handgun also includes front and rear cocking serrations for optimal grip as well as a low barrel axis designed to reduce recoil, company officials added.
IWI also confirmed that Masada would be made available in 9 x 19mm; .40-caliber, and .45-caliber configurations, dependent upon customer preference.
Suppressors
Finally, suppressor technology continues to play a critical role in the small arms development of the SOF community.
On Nov. 22, 2017, USSOCOM published details regarding the first live demonstration of its Thunderstorm Technology Demonstaration Program aimed at enhancing the combat effectiveness of SOF small unit teams operating across potentially hostile regions with “physical and electromagnetic environmental constraints.”
Experimentation 18-1, which was completed by representatives from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command as well as the Applied Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University and Georgia Tech Research Institute, considered future technology upgrades regarding suppressed weapon systems.
Defense sources associated with the program described to Special Operations Outlook how the classified demonstration had considered next-generation solutions designed to provide accurate fires with less noise and flash, reduced recoil, and reduced size and weight specifications. This, sources added, could contribute to greater signature management by operators, which could consequently generate more efficient SA and C2 understanding in a high-stress combat situation.
The Brevis III suppressor on a Heckler & Koch MP7 personal defense weapon. Photo by Scott R. Gourley
Examples available to SOF customers include Delta P Design’s latest suppressor – Brevis III – which has been designed with “special operations input” for the Heckler & Koch 9 x 19mm MP7 PDW.
This 3-D printed suppressor, manufactured by direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) of titanium, comprises a smaller form factor over legacy solutions, measuring 4.8 inches in length and 8.3 ounces in weight and thereby promoting increased maneuverability in confined areas.
This article first appeared in the Special Operations Outlook 2018-2019 Edition publication.