For a brief 200-year period, the Pecheneg Khanate sprawled from Southern Trans-Carpathia across the Dnieper to Southern reaches of the Volga, occupying one of the most strategic swaths of land for trade between the Turkic and Slavic peoples. Ultimately, their history of fighting all their neighbors (the Slavs, the Byzantines and the Uzes, just to name a few) led to their demise and the division of their land. In backhanded admiration for the thorn in their side, monks in Kievan Rus’ described them as “the godless sons of Ishmael, who had been sent as a chastisement to the Christians.” The Pechenegs occupied one the most socially tumultuous territories of land, where religion, ethnicity and political systems all in violent competition with each other would intermingle, and upon which a bloody history would be set down that has persisted since 860 A.D. at the Khanate’s founding.

Heat shroud assemblies

I found myself within the boundaries of the Pecheneg Khanate in early December, now in the region known as Chechnya. The air in Chechnya is dry, saddled up in the mountains and valleys tucked between the Black and Caspian seas. The smell of soil and spiced shawarma inundates the streets. It is a place where the sun makes the faces hard and wrinkled before their time, and where religion permeates life not so much in devotion, but in identity. I was worried that my flannel and tactical pants would seem out of place in a region that has so little to do with my own home. This was not the case, and a quick change into a multicam jacket brought me into spec with everyone around me, all of whom were armed and likely connected with Russian intelligence. It is for this sort that the PKP Pecheneg was made. Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, means “fearsome,” and it witnessed some of the harshest city fighting the Russians have faced since the Second World War, as those age-old divisions of race and religion cannot seem to die.

Arriving at a pristine Spetsnaz training compound, the smell of fresh paint still in the air, an operator pulled a PKP out of the back of a camel-drab SUV and handed it to me. I carried the lug of steel to a wooden table engraved with “Spetsnaz 2018” and immediately got to work.

Heart of the beast

Like many other weapons in the Russian stable, the PKP Pecheneg was a development from the PK design of Mikhail Kalashnikov and his collective design team in 1958 as a 7.62x54R general-purpose machine gun. The original PK design was adopted in 1961 and was characterized by reliability and durability known to the Kalashnikov name. However, when designing the PKP, the goal was to improve the machine gun for increased sustained fire and incorporate the hard lessons learned from combat experience in Afghanistan, Chechnya and other fierce firefights in regional conflict zones. Soldiers of the new Russia needed to meet intense direct contact with the enemy with continuous sustained fire without a barrel change. The Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering of the Ministry of Defense at TsNIITochMash in the small Moscow suburb of Podolsk was up to the task. Their design was adopted in 2001 and entered production at the V.A. Degtyaryov Plant in the city of Kovrov in Russia’s Vladimir Oblast region. The design team chose to keep the PKM receiver and focus on creating a new barrel assembly with a heavy profile and improved temperature control. Cooling ribs and a slotted heat shroud run half the length of the barrel to increase the surface area. These slots pull air up from to the bottom of the barrel and use convection to wick off heat. The cooling ribs, the convection heat shroud and the enlarged barrel profile create impressive sustained fire capabilities. The barrel service life is noted to be 30,000 to 40,000 rounds.

Disassembled PKP

Allegedly, there are internal changes as well, but apart from a milled oval section on the right and left side of the receiver, I could not see a difference from a standard PKM. The changes resulted in a 2.5-pound increase to the 16.5-pound base weight of the PKM. Nonetheless, at 19 pounds, the gun is still lighter than the U.S. M-240B general-purpose machine gun and surpasses it in sustained fire. My Russian companions highlighted that the gun could allegedly run for 600 rounds continuously (at a rate of 600 rounds per minute) with no degradation to the barrel. Within an hour, including time for cooling, the PKP could fire 1,000 rounds.

The barrel assembly of the PKP is removed in the same fashion as that of its parent PKM machine gun. One lifts up the top cover and feed tray and pushes over the locking block to the left. Then the barrel can be pulled forward via the barrel carrying handle. In fact, a PKM barrel can be installed in the PKP and vice versa, but the headspacing must be aligned. The PK series has a feature on the barrel locking block to adjust headspacing. The adjustment window allows for headspacing changes as the barrel wears over extended service. Headspacing the PK series is determined by where the lip of the barrel meets the rim of the 7.62x54R cartridge. The locking block has a flat-head screw that turns clockwise or counterclockwise to index the barrel forward or rearward depending on the reading of headspace gauges. While the PKM is issued with two barrels matched to the weapon from the factory, the PKP is issued only with one that is not intended to be removed.

Barrel assembly

A bipod is fitted behind the front sight block of the PKP, and a new flash hider provides improved performance. ZenitCo designed a suppressor with two configurations, one long and one short, specifically for the PKP as part of their Pathfinder line. In the long configuration, the suppressor is fitted with an extended flash suppression chamber and flash hider end cap. The extended flash suppression chamber can be removed to reduce overall length and the end cap is placed onto the suppressor body. When the ZenitCo Pathfinder is used in the extended configuration, there is no visible flash, as has been extensively evidenced on night operations with night vision. The only drawback is that the suppressor requires sustained fire to be limited, so as not to destroy the can.

The GRAU (Russia’s Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Ministry of Defense) indexes the PKP Pecheneg as 6P41 and 6P41N Pecheneg-N (night). The PKP was originally intended for Special Forces and mobile infantry, but it is currently fielded alongside the PKM in standard Russian Army applications.

As I held the 6P41N PKP, I noted that the weapon is slightly front-heavier than the PKM. This is natural, as the weight additions were almost solely in the barrel. Behind the PKP, one has a smaller window of traverse than with the PKM. On the PKM, the bipod is located behind the gas block, which allows for a wide sweeping angle and supports the weapon when the barrel is removed. On the PKP, the bipod is mounted forward, just behind the front sight block, forcing the shooter to adjust position more often.

6P41 optics mount

Based on the weapon’s success, newer versions are currently being tested. The ones that I photographed were the night version with side rails intended for night vision or any standard Soviet/Russian side mount optics. The side mount lever is spring-loaded and pulled back when an optic is mounted. This allows for the optic to swing out to the left, out of the way of the top cover for reloads. With no optics mounted, the reload procedure is the same as in the PKM. ZenitCo also offers M1913-railed top cover adapters, as well as additional accessories for both the PKM and PKP machine guns.

On the range

When firing, recoil is noticeably smoother than with the PKM, as the added mass helps to dampen the recoil impulse. The weapon can be fired while standing to address initial contact by placing the support hand on the gas tube. This is only viable for short bursts, as the gas tube becomes too hot to hold after 50 rounds and prone firing with a bipod becomes necessary. Some operators choose to use the weapon’s ammunition can as an expedient monopod. Seeing professionals handle the PKP is an impressive sight. In the hands of local operators, it looked as if the gun were floating in space, not reacting to firing. They were able to manipulate the ammunition can and reload the PKP in under 10 seconds.

On the range, using the can as a monopod to reduce the weapon’s profile

In total, I spent a week in Chechnya, and the cultural shock was immediate. I have spent quite some time in Russia prior to this adventure, but as those in Moscow have learned, Chechnya requires special consideration. Weapons—like food, art and clothing—can tell you about a people’s history and how they fit into the world. By naming the gun “Pecheneg,” Moscow harkens back to a time before the Russian state, to a more timeless conflict.

By Dan Shea

I’m writing this in the first person for a reason; I want to speak to our readers as directly as possible about a great influence in my life that I hope they can share in. After my Army time I went back to college in the mid-1970s—a much more serious young man than I had been in the 1960s. Courses in business and mechanical engineering were started. Unfortunately, I never finished—necessity was that I had to go to work, then wanted to start a family and finally start into business. The work I did included electrical and electronic. I integrated the first PCs into a robotic production line for one company and designed controls for DuPont’s robotic plywood manufacturing. This was all pioneering tech. My company did alternative energy homes and business construction, and it became a good-sized electrical contractor in New Hampshire. All the while, I was studying and working on weapons—military weapons. I designed my first suppressor in 1981. This is not a brag sheet; the readers have a general idea of the work I’ve done for military, governments, industry and the historical record.

What it is about is that I’m a guy who never completed my college degree. I’ve been offered honorary PhDs a number of times and didn’t take them because, well, I didn’t do the doctoral thesis to earn a PhD and didn’t believe I was really qualified anyway. I felt like I would be insulting people who spent 10 years excelling in academia while I was essentially in the dirt and working manual labor.

So, here’s a guy who was an Army grunt and then a cook, didn’t finish college, and yet over 45 years, I was able to work inside several complex technical industries and work at top levels. No subterfuge; I’ve always been upfront about not having a degree. Aside from all the other reasons for this success, such as having a loving wife/partner and great family, there has always been an organization I could turn to.

That is ASM International. It started in 1905 sharing the lore of steel making and blacksmithing, and by WWI it had become a shaker and mover; a Colonel from U.S. Army Ordnance joined to help sort the group a bit and gain direction. In 1933, the organization became the American Society for Metals (ASM).

In 1952, ASM formed the ASM Materials Education Network, then the ASM Metals Engineering Institute, and in 1957 seminars were started. Heat treating conferences were started in 1974. By 1989 the Ninth Edition of the Metals Handbook had grown to a 17-volume set comprised of 15,000 pages, 25,000 illustrations and 7,500 tables. In 1999, the now 20-volume set went onto 4 CDs.

I was introduced to ASM in the late 1970s. It has been a guiding light to me, even though I have not attended their countless professional seminars. They have amazing courses for beginners as well as for advanced professionals. What they have that I’ve been able access all this time is an unending pool of specific technical information and guidance. (Usually purchased second-hand, because, well, I’m frugal at times.)

Need to study up on failure in metal structures like firearms? ASM has fracture analysis and failure analysis handbooks, databases and courses. Trouble with heat-treating a new product? They have a whole society devoted to Heat Treatment. Crystallography—do you want to understand alloys and surface issues and what happens as you create a new product? You’re covered.

Need to really know what 7075 T6 means, on a gut level, not just reading words in some gun magazine written by an author who is parroting what a manufacturer said? How about the ASM Handbook Volume 2A: Aluminum Science and Technology (latest edition 2018)? It’s only $297, member price is $225. Sometimes members sell collections of the handbooks when they retire or whatever. At night you can sit and read the technical issues that will continue your life-long education. Many people think I have my PE, ME or EE, and I quickly explain I didn’t finish college and then tell them about ASM International.

This article in Small Arms Defense Journal is simply me trying to pass on to you, the reader, a place where you can get the real information on materials, metals, working with them and identifying issues. I hope you at least look up their website and explore a bit (asminternational.org). You might find a new home for your future growth. And not only that, when you join, as you should, you get a subscription to one of their magazines. I’ve always been partial to Advanced Materials & Processes.

The real subject of this article is passing on knowledge. I’ve spent a lifetime passing on that research and lore from the military/machine gun world. When we started “The Archive Project” on smallarmsreview.com it was to digitize and preserve the hundreds of thousands of manuals, test reports, photos, articles, etc., that had been preserved in my library as well as those of the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England and Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham. The goal? To ensure future generations could do research quickly and surely and that this information would not be lost.

Likewise and on a much larger scale, ASM International has met that calling and is very actively promoting STEM subjects to high school students. That’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The United States is falling far behind other countries in the STEM areas, and it’s critical that we keep our youth interested and charging forward into innovation and new designs. My grandparents were born with a horse and buggy, then early automobiles and lived to see cars everywhere. I started with little tiny black and white TV screens and testing tubes at the hardware store on Saturday mornings with my father (an Electrical Engineer on nuclear power production in the 1950s-60s), and now I have a computer-integrated flat screen that covers a wall. The United States was a shaker and mover (not to disparage the brilliant people around the world; I’m an American and well, as world-traveled as I am, it still affects my perspective a bit). To get back in the saddle, the U.S. needs to teach the new generations that they can take part in exciting worlds to come—new innovations, new solutions, a better world, if they’re strong enough.

The ASM Foundation is a key to this. I encourage all of you to go to the ASM Foundation website and see what you can do on a local level to help students meet the STEM subjects—how to grow stronger, how to learn, how to participate in the future on a real level, not a superficial, snowflake level of selfies and symbolic gestures. Real, solid research and innovation that they can sink their teeth into, regardless of race, creed, color or sex. STEM doesn’t discriminate; it rewards commitment and hard-core study as much as natural talent. There is the high level of satisfaction that comes from personal initiative and success.

See how you can help the new generations … asmfoundation.org.

By Jason M. Wong

Draft regulations have been published regarding the transfer of USML categories I, II and III from the U.S. State Department to the U.S. Commerce Department. Once the new regulations become effective, the change will represent the single largest change to small arms export policy in decades. Thankfully, the changes to the export of small arms will not be without precedent—the changes to USML categories I, II and III represent the last categories to undergo export reform. Thousands of commodities have already been transferred from State Department jurisdiction to Commerce jurisdiction, and the process for export licensing has mostly been worked out.

The 600 Series

Nearly all items formerly under State Department jurisdiction have been classified under a scheme designated the “600 series.” The series isn’t new but rather are an addition to existing Export Control Classification Numbers, or ECCNs. Military aircraft propulsion systems formerly controlled by the ITAR under USML category VIII are now classified by Commerce as ECCN 9A610 or 9E610. The “600 series” classification comes from the middle number of the ECCN. The 600-series is not a “new” ECCN category but rather new additions to existing ECCN categories, with the “6” designator to show that the commodity was formerly ITAR classified. As with the rest of the ECCN, the alpha classification (A through E) designate what type of commodity is being exported. Items can be easily classified by looking at the ECCN: (A) designators are for physical items, (B) designators are for test inspection and production equipment, (C) designators are for raw materials, (D) designators are for software, and (E) designators are for technology.

As a general rule, Commerce treats 600 Series commodities in nearly the same manner as the ITAR. Exporters of USML items must obtain an export license before exporting any item on the USML, barring use of any available exemption. Export of 600-series items will almost always require an export license. As a general matter, the 600 Series ECCNs are subject to the following export controls: National Security Column 1 (NS1), Regional Stability Column 1 (RS1), Anti-Terrorism Column 11 (AT1) and United Nations embargo (UN). In addition, all exports of 600 Series items must be reported via the ACE export system, regardless of value or destination. 600 Series items are also subject to U.S. arms embargoes; they cannot be exported to countries subject to a U.S. arms embargo.

Exemptions—Know the Rules of the Game

The stated goal of export reform was intended to make exports of U.S.-made goods easier and simpler. While nearly all 600-series items will require an export license, there are a number of exemptions that may apply to 600-series commodities.

Recall that under the proposed reform of USML Category I, the U.S. State Department is retaining jurisdiction over most NFA classified weapons—machine guns, suppressors and destructive devices. Items shifted to the 600 Series have been deemed to be less militarily significant. As a result, Commerce has indicated that license exceptions for the export of 600 Series items should be more available than comparable ITAR exemptions. One potential exemption currently available for the export of 600-series commodities includes the Strategic Trade Authorization (STA) exemption, allowing the export of 600-series items to government end users within 36 countries in the A-5 Country Group listing without an export license. As with any exemption, the details matter, and exporters should carefully review the requirements of any license exception relied upon for export. Also recall that the final version of the regulations concerning small arms has not been released; there may be additional restrictions on the use of the STA exemption as applied to small arms and ammunition.

Facing Forward

The next few years are likely to be challenging for manufacturers, exporters and foreign end users. Manufacturers will potentially no longer need to register under the ITAR if they are not manufacturing ITAR regulated items. The export of small arms and ammunition may become easier, with less governmental oversight for some transactions. Exporters will likely face lower registration fees, as fewer export transactions will require a DSP-5 export license. It is likely that there will be many new faces in the arms export field within the next few years, as barriers to entry (via ITAR registration) are eliminated. There are no financial costs associated with Commerce license applications, and exporters who formerly only handled Commerce regulated items (or were unwilling to register under the ITAR) are likely to claim expertise in small arms exports. There are likely to be many new entrants to the field of arms exports, as there are no longer registration costs associated with conducting an export. U.S. Customs will likely face increased numbers of export violations and seizures as exporters work their way through the new regulatory requirements. Foreign end users should be cautious, as those without practical experience in arms exports (whether they have experience as an exporter or are new to the field) may not be the best choice for delivering product internationally. The end result should be increased arms exports from the United States, in an easier and less restrictive environment—as long as the regulations are followed. The new regulations should be published for final rule making in mid-2019, with the rules being implemented before the end of the year.

Jason Wong is a licensed attorney that manages Hurricane Butterfly, a U.S.-based company that specializes in the import and export of small arms. He may be reached via email: Jason at HurricaneButterfly.net. The foregoing is not intended as legal advice, and readers should not rely upon the foregoing without additional research. If readers have specific questions, they should seek competent legal counsel.

For a long time, Serbia was a part of the Ottoman Empire; it became self-governed in 1830 but obtained independence only in 1878. Several wars engulfed the country and other Balkan countries: Bulgaria in 1885, Turkey in 1912 and Bulgaria again in 1913. The assassination of Austrian Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo is credited as initiating the start of WWI.

In 1915, Germany, Austria and Bulgaria attacked Serbia and after some success, Serbian troops retreated. Recovered by the French Orient Army, under general Franchey d’Esperay’s command, the Serbian Army regained the offensive and marched to Belgrade and Vienna.

At the end of WWI, South Slavic countries joined Serbia to become the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The country became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.

Neutral at the beginning of WWII, the country was occupied by Germany and Italy but recovered independence after the war. Under Marshal Tito, Yugoslavia became a communist republic, but he veered from Moscow and joined the Neutral countries.

After his death in 1980, the relationship between the Yugoslavian areas became more and more damaged, and a civil war occurred between them in 1991 and 1995. All former Yugoslavian countries became independent; however, the situation declined, and NATO intervened by air bombing Serbia in 1999. In 2003, the last of the former Yugoslavia became Serbia-Montenegro, but they separated in two in 2008.

Zastava Arms Tour

We recently visited the Zastava Arms factory in Kragujevac, Serbia (60 miles Southeast from Belgrade), a leading producer of firearms and artillery. We met the managers, and after a presentation of the company, we examined all the small arms produced, shot with them and visited the former cannon foundry museum.

Cannon Foundry

Since 1836, a small arms factory existed in Zastava. Between 1851 and 1853, German factory owners built a cannon foundry in Kragujevac. Some years later it was destroyed by flooding. It was rebuilt in another location by a French engineer under agreement of Imperator Napoleon III.

After 1860, the factory built rifles and small caliber small arms. The factory won six medals at the international exhibition in Paris in 1889. It also built other items for industry, farming, tools, ironmongery, bells, musical instruments, electrical materials, and so on.

After independence of the country a military board decided to choose a new rifle.

The president of the board was Major Kosta “Koka” Milovanovic who developed a variation of the Mauser Model 1871. The ammunition used was different, and the barrel grooves were progressive; the rear of the frame had a rail to guide the bolt when opening. The cleaning rod was longer, and the rings were different; 120,000 rifles were made, including cavalry and artillery carbines.

Later a repeating rifle with magazine in a tube under the barrel was made: the M1880-87. Another model, the M1880-07 that shoots the 7mm Mauser cartridge in a vertical magazine was also created.

In 1899, Serbia adopted a Chilean-style Mauser (in 7×57) and in 1910 a new type Mauser 98 rifle in the same caliber.

The Kragujevac small arms factory also repaired and converted old muzzle loading rifles for Serbia and other countries at the end of the 19th century.

During WWI after the retirement of the Serbian Army, many Kragujevac factory workers came to France and worked at the Saint-Etienne arsenal or Le Creusot Schneider factory. After WWI, Serbia received 1,500 rail trucks with various small arms from France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Russia, but the Army did not utilize this disparate materiel; after considering adopting French small arms, they finally retained the Czech Mauser Vz 1898/22. In fact, they adopted the Belgian FN Mauser 1924 sold by Fabrique Nationale Herstal. In 1939, more than one million were made.

The Kragujevac factory also converted old Turkish or Austrian rifles to the 7.92x57mm (8mm Mauser) cartridge, and the 1915 Chauchat light machine gun was also converted.

Since 1937, the factory produced the ZB 26 under license (5,000 were made). In 1939, 12,000 people worked at the Kragujevac factory.

After 1946, the factory, though damaged during WWII, was reactivated, and old German, Czech or Yugoslavian rifles could be repaired.

In 1948, a new line for production of the Mauser 98k was installed, but it had a shorter action (0.1 inch) and the forend was longer.

Two variations of the 98k exist:

• M48A, produced from 1953 to 1956; all parts are forged, lathe turned and milled (+ 300,000 rifles);
• M48B, produced from 1958 to 1968, with stamped parts such as trigger guard and buttplate (+ 430,000 rifles).

An M53 Mauser rifle exists with a wide indentation on the left side of the frame, a flash hider and a bayonet lug set up on the barrel with a collar. An M60 model has a grenade launcher.

These rifles were used by many countries: Yugoslavia, Burma, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Syria and many revolutionists such as the FLN in Algeria. On January 18, 1956, the French Navy examined the Yugoslavian vessel Ljubljana in the Mediterranean see with 148 metric tons of military material for the Algerian rebels.

The Zastava factory also produced:

• M49 submachine gun, a synthesis of PPSh 41 and Beretta 38;
• M56, very close in appearance to the German MP40;
• M84, local copy of the VZ61 Skorpion;
• M97, similar to the Mini UZI;
• And a copy of the belt-fed MG 42: the Sarac, called the M53.

Since the 1960s, Yugoslavia produced improved models of Russian weapons.

Zastava also built licensed 20x110mm Hispano-Suiza HS 804 20mm automatic guns.

Since the 1950s the company made various small arms, but also metallurgic items from pans to tanks, including cars and trucks.

After the NATO bombing, small arms production was preserved, and car production was sold to Fiat.

Zavodi Crvena Zastava

Handguns

Present-day small arms production is various:

• Both Colt and Smith & Wesson revolver variants;
• M57 pistol (Tokarev) and M57A with manual safety;
• M70 pistol (.32 ACP);
• M70A pistol the same as M57 in 9mm Luger;
• M88 and M88A pistols (9mm Luger);
• CZ99, similar to the SIG SAUER P226 (9mm Luger);
• CZ999 with SA/DA or DAO trigger (9mm Luger);
• EZ9 and EZ9 Compact, with de-cocking lever and Picatinny rail (9mm Luger);
• EZ40 and EZ40 Compact (.40 S&W).

Military Small Arms

• M59 carbine, domestic production of SKS rifle in 7.62×39;
• M59/66 carbine, domestic production of SKS with grenade launcher;
• M64, M65, M70 assault rifle, AK-47 Kalashnikov (7.62×39);
• M70 B, M70 B1, M70 AB2 and short barrel M92, AKM assault rifle (7.62×39);
• M71, M71 A, M77, M77 BX, assault rifle (7.62×51);
• M65 LMG, similar to RPK;
• M72 LMG, same as RPK-M and M72A (RPKS);
• Semi-automatic sniper rifle M76 (7.92×57);
• M77 B1 LMG (7.62×51);
• M82 LMG (5.56×45);
• M85, M90, M90 A, M95, M95A assault rifle (5.56×45);
• M99 assault rifle (7.62×39 or 5.56×45);
• M21, M21 A, M21 S, M21 BS assault rifle (5.56×45), with an ambidextrous selector, folding stock and Picatinny rail;
• M05 E1, M05 E2, M05 E3 assault rifle, similar as above but in 7.62×39;
• M05 N1, M05 N2, M05 N3, M05 N1 FS assault rifles (7.62mm NATO);
• Semi-automatic sniper rifle M91, similar to M76 with a stock like the Dragunov (7.92×57 and 7.62×54 R);
• Semi-automatic sniper rifle M91 N (7.62mm NATO);
• Sniper rifle M07, with bolt action, magazine loaded and folding stock (7.62mm Mosin or 7.62mm NATO);
• Heavy sniper rifle M93 and M12, bolt action (12.7×108 or .50 Browning);
• M84 infantry machine gun, same as PKM and tank machine gun M86 similar to PKT (7.62x54mmR);
• M87 machine gun, similar to NSV; made for 12.7×108 Russian cartridge or 12.7×99 (.50 BMG), but in this case Russian links have to be used. Other models using improved tripods are designated as M02 Coyote and M07;
• Automatic grenade launcher M93, same as AGS 17 (30×29 B);
• Single shot under-barrel grenade launcher BGP (40mm VOG-25 series).

Hunting and Shooting Carbines

The Shotgun Shop was destroyed during the NATO bombing in 1999 and was not restored. The company produces today a large selection of hunting and shooting carbines:

• M70, Mauser bolt action with a wide variety of caliber and stocks;
• M720 carbine, same as above made with Inox steel and fiberglass stocks;
• M808 carbine, same as M70 with detachable magazine;
• M07 shooting carbine, same as the sniper rifle (7.62mm Mosin, 7.62mm NATO, 6.5×55 and .300 Winchester Magnum);
• M85, bolt action carbine for .22 Hornet, .222 Remington, .222 Remington Magnum, .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington and 7.62×39 cartridges;
• MP 22 and MP 17, bolt action carbine (.22 Long Rifle, .22 Magnum, .17 HMR);
• PAP M2010, semi-automatic carbine (7.62×39, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, 7.62×51, .243 Winchester) for the U.S. market.

All the parts of small arms are made by Zastava except the optics.

Bibliography

Serbian and Yugoslavian Mauser Rifles, Branko Bogdanovič, North Cape Publications (2005).

Пешалијско Аутоматско Оружје Другог Светског Рата (World War Two Infantry Automatic Weapons), Dejan Milivojevič & Vuk Obradoivič – Odbrana (2012).

Војни Мчэеј Ъеоград (Military Museum Belgrade), Predrag Lazevič & Andeliza Radovič – Odbrana (2013).

Encyclopédie de l’Armement Mondial (Vol. 7), Jean Huon, Grancher (2015).

A guide through Old Foundry Museum, Zastava Arms (2018).

By Frank Iannamico

The FightLite/Ares Defense Mission Configurable Rifle (MCR®) is an updated and improved version of the Ares Shrike belt-fed upper receiver assembly for the M16/AR-15 platform, first introduced to the public around 2002. The MCR upper is designed to interchange with standard M16, AR-15 and M4 upper receiver assemblies and readily attaches to any MIL-Spec (small front pin) lower receiver without any permanent modifications.

The MCR is based upon the older ARES-16 AMG-2™ that has been on the Military/Law Enforcement market for almost a decade and is an AR-based solution to the M249 SAW. Now in its 6^th generation, FightLite has improved various components of the system to make the weapon much more durable for sustained full-automatic operation. Updates include: a heat-treated, steel-feed plate designed to reduce feed ramp wear from steel core 5.56mm cartridges; an enhanced breech bolt lug profile; reinforced charging handle assembly; a reconfigured feed roller housing; and a proprietary method of mitigating cook-off risk, while maintaining a select-fire, closed-bolt system of operation that is more accurate and user-friendly than standard open-bolt light machine guns (LMGs).

Some additional key elements of the MCR are that it shares a 52-percent part commonality with existing M16-M4 components. The MCR with the use of an adapter can utilize GI M249 SAW 100- and 200-round soft pouches and 200-round plastic boxes of linked ammunition. The FightLite MCR can also feed from standard M16-M4 magazines or a 100-round Beta C magazine if desired.

Things You May Need or Want

If you’re anticipating, or have already purchased, a FightLite MCR upper for your rifle, there are a number of accessories available that you may need to best utilize the MCR.

M27 Links

The link, cartridge, metallic belt, 5.56mm, M27 used for feeding the MCR is a metallic disintegrating link issued by the United States Armed Forces for use with the 5.56x45mm FN Minimi LMG / M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). Each link consists of a single piece of metal curved into two partial cylinders, into which adjacent rounds slide. The M27 link is a push-through design in which cartridges are fed by pushing them forward out of the link. With the round freed, the link is ejected. This is in contrast with older, non-disintegrating belt systems that were typically made of fabric and were fed straight through the weapon intact. The M27 links can be collected and reused. The links are considered expendable by the military.

The MCR belt-fed upper uses U.S. M27 disintegrating links, which means, unlike a belt, when cycled the links don’t stay together. They fall to the ground and can be hard to find unless you use a tarp to catch them. A magnet with a long handle will save you a lot of time and effort looking for and picking up links. The chances are good that over time, links are going to be lost; it is suggested that lots of them be procured.

The MCR is designed to feed from linked belts that are carried and normally fed from soft pack pouches: magazine, cartridge, 5.56mm, 100rd, (NSN 1005013341507 / NIIN 013341507) or the magazine, cartridge, 5.56mm, 200rd, “Soft Pack” NSN 1005015605162 / NIIN 015605162. Both were designed for the M249-Series Machine Gun. Although the official nomenclature is “soft pack,” they are better known by the euphemism “nut sack.”

U.S. military soft packs are used to store and feed the linked belts of ammunition. Shown here are the 100-round packs in ACU and Woodland camo patterns.

The soft packs are available in several camo patterns including Army ACU Digital, Woodland Camo and Coyote Brown. Hard plastic black or green boxes also designed for the M249-Series Machine Gun are also available.

Soft Pack Adapter

To attach the soft pack or hard plastic boxes to the FightLite MCR, you will need an adapter that fits into the host rifle’s magazine well and is retained by the magazine catch. The black anodized aluminum adapter permits mounting of GI M249 soft packs and plastic boxes of linked ammo to the weapon. The adapters are available from FightLite Industries.

Bipods

There are a substantial number of bipods available for attaching to the MCR’s handguard available from TangoDown, Harris, Magpul and others. The one attached to the rifle in the photographs accompanying this article is from Magpul. When considering a bipod, be sure it will fit the MCR’s handguard that features a 1913 Picatinny rail.

Tripod Adapter

At an unloaded weight of 7.5 pounds, the MCR is relatively light for a high-volume, belt-fed weapon. For the most accurate, sustained long-range shooting, use of a stable platform such as a tripod is required. There are adapters for tripod use available from KNS Precision that are designed to attach from a Picatinny rail to a standard .30 caliber GI pintle or M60 gooseneck. The adapters are CNC-machined from 7075 aluminum with black anodized finish.

Buffer

The MCR comes with a proprietary recoil spring, which is longer in length than a standard M16 spring. Reliable operation may require a heavier than standard 3.0-ounce CAR buffer. A standard buffer has three steel weights. The H buffer has one tungsten and two steel weights and weighs 3.8 ounces; the H2 buffer has one steel and two tungsten weights and weighs 4.6 ounces; the H3 buffer has three tungsten weights and weighs 5.4 ounces.

Spare Barrels

If you purchase an MCR belt-fed upper for your select-fire M16 or M4 rifle, one might assume that you are probably regularly going to perform 100- or 200-round, full-auto mag “dumps” more often than using the semiauto feature of your weapon. With a full-auto cyclic rate of approximately 800 rounds per minute, a barrel can be overheated in a short period, to the point of being dangerous. Fortunately, the MCR is designed with a quick-change barrel feature, which includes an integral insulated handle to easily change out a hot barrel. Instead of loitering around waiting for the barrel to cool down, you may want to consider a spare barrel or two. Spare barrels are available in 20-inch, 16.25-inch or 12.5-inch lengths. A handheld, infrared, non-contact thermometer is a handy tool to monitor barrel temperatures to avoid overheating and preventing dangerous cartridge cook-offs.

Linker

To save time and fingers, a linker for loading the M27 links is available from Kendall Ordnance.

The M27 links can be loaded by hand but linking several 100- or 200-round belts can be time-consuming, labor-intensive and hard on the fingers. Fortunately, a linker for loading M27 links is available from Kendall Ordnance. The linker is well made from high-grade, durable 6061 T6 aluminum. Key steel components are parkerized; cartridge guides are heat-treated spring steel. After placing cartridges and links on the loader, 25 rounds can be linked with a pull of the handle. The loader weighs 15 pounds and can be attached onto a board or table.

Specifications

Maxim Defense Industries, an information tech company based in St. Cloud, MI, recently introduced their PDX short-barreled rifle at the 2019 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

About Maxim Defense

Maxim Defense is an information and development company whose goal is to provide to the military, law enforcement and first responders the next generation of tools and equipment to succeed in today’s most extreme environments. The company primarily engages in small arms manufacturing focusing R&D on producing better, lighter and more reliable weapons and accessories. Maxim seeks to improve and enhance existing weapons platforms alongside developing cutting-edge technologies.

SOCOM Requirements

U.S. special operators are in the market for a new small assault rifle. On March 9, 2017, US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) posted a request for information regarding a new personal defense weapon (PDW) on FedBizOpps, the federal government’s main contracting website. All interested companies would have to provide information on a kit that uses the standard M4A1 lower receiver as the core of the gun.

The request went on to specify that the weapon could not be more than 26 inches in length with the stock extended, be no more than 7.5 inches high and come in at 5.5 pounds or less. With the stock folded, SOCOM required that the overall length dropped to 17 inches. The preferred length would be 15 inches. This weapon would be ideal for troops engaged in close-quarter battle, especially in confined spaces, as well as be easily deployable when carried by either vehicle or helicopter crews.

The Maxim Defense PDX™ is an answer to the SOCOM request. It’s a weapon that is based around the Maxim SCW stock system that has a total overall length of 4 inches when closed but extends instantly to a solid, shoulder-mount weapon. It has no buttons to operate and can be instantly deployed to a preset length controlled by five detents in the operating rods.

In this configuration, for an individual the weapon will have to be transferred with a $200 tax stamp and an ATF form as a Short Barreled Rifle. However, Maxim Defense has said that the PDW will be available with their proprietary pistol brace which removes the requirement for a stamp.

Barrel length is a short 5.5 inches. Seeing as how it’s chambered for either 5.56 NATO, or 7.62x39mm, recoil or short-cycling could be a problem. This is where Maxim’s patented HATEBRAKE comes into play. More than a muzzle brake, the HATEBRAKE muzzle booster is designed to regulate exhaust gasses to aid in cycling the weapon. Side benefits include a redirection of the sound signature, decreased muzzle flash and improved accuracy. The HATEBRAKE installs with a 3/8 drive socket from the front. This enables it to be installed without removing the handguard. The HATEBRAKE uses tapered threads to lock in place on the barrel. Its design allows it to be used with M-Slot-compatible handguards.

A note on accuracy: Part of the requirements for the PDW is an accuracy at 300 yards of 8-inch groups. The possibility that this firearm will be used at such a distance is slight. Its mission is more in line with the old World War II M1 or full-auto M2 carbines. At 100 yards, the PDW can deliver groups between 3 to 5 inches, sufficient for its intended purpose as a close-range defense weapon.

HATEBRAKE Specifications

Vortex Flash Eliminator

Report Says Flash Hider Passes All the Tests

By Tom Murphy

A flash suppressor, also known as a flash eliminator, is a device attached to the muzzle of a firearm that reduces or eliminates the muzzle flash by cooling or dispersing the burning gases generated when firing the gun. The flash suppressor both reduces the possibility that a shooter would be blinded by the flash and lessens the chance that the shooter will be visible to the enemy. A flash suppressor differs from a muzzle brake in that the muzzle brake is designed to reduce felt recoil and provides little, if any, flash suppression.

Prior to World War I, rifles tended to have longer barrels than modern military arms. The long barrel insured that all the gunpowder in the cartridge would be burned before the bullet left the barrel. A side effect of the longer barrel was that with all the propellant being consumed within the barrel, only a cloud of smoke appeared from the muzzle.

When barrel lengths decreased with the introduction of shorter-barreled carbines like the M4 Carbine and SIG SAUER 552 Commando, flash suppression became a serious problem. Limiting the amount of powder to what can be burned in a short barrel is one solution. However, a reduced powder load produces a lower projectile velocity and so do fast-burning powders that begin to cool before they leave the barrel, so neither of these is a viable solution to reducing muzzle flash.

Smith Enterprises’ Report

The Vortex Flash Eliminator is a design developed in 1984, with a patent secured in 1995. It is somewhat similar to the original three-pronged flash hider installed on the Vietnam-era M-16. The Vortex is more robust and uses four solid tines that are evenly spaced and angled six degrees from the centerline, with the slots of the body forming a 5-, 10- and 15-degree twisted helix design, which eliminates almost all visible light from the muzzle flash by having the flash break up at multiple locations and different angles.

In 2018, Smith Enterprises, manufacturer of Vortex Flash Eliminators, issued a report in the form of a letter to the U.S. Army, with the subject “Existing compensator does not meet the standard–recommend new flash hider for the M4 Carbine, M249, M14, M2 and other weapons systems.”

Smith Enterprises stated that the existing compensator does a horrible job of blocking much of the flash at night and gets brighter as more rounds are fired through the weapon’s system as the barrel heats up. They went on to say that our troops are sitting ducks at night because the bright flash gives away their position.

The report went on to state that the Aberdeen Proving Ground–a U.S. Army weapons testing facility near Aberdeen, Maryland–had tested the M4 Carbine compensator and found it to be substandard and did not block the flash at night. It specifically said that the bird cage GI compensator to be the worst out of all flash hiders tested.

The Smith Enterprises Vortex Flash Hider was identified as the best hider tested. Aberdeen stated, “The best flash hider that shows minimum to no flashes has helical twisting prongs that help prevent the mixing of the escaping gasses by allowing the temperature and velocity of the gasses to reduce before mixing with the atmosphere.”

In a different test, the .50 caliber Vortex Flash Hider was tested by the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Division and was selected to be the flash hider for the .50 cal. machine gun. These tests included corrosion control, thermal mitigation, drop test, low temperature test, high temperature test, humidity, salt fog, dust and sand, vibration, icing and several others. As expected, the Vortex Flash Eliminator passed all the tests and is now in service with Special Operations Command.

It is to be noted that Vortex has a quick-disconnect flash eliminator for the .50 cal. that will not loosen under sustained fire. It can be retrofitted to older weapons and actually improves accuracy.

Smith Enterprises manufactures the Vortex Flash Eliminator for 5.56mm, 6.8/6.5mm, 7.62/.30 cal. and .50 BMG firearms. They also have a heavy M249 NATO flash eliminator for the M249 weapons family. Their quick-detachable Wind Talker series of sound suppressors can be mounted on all their flash eliminators.

With the Bolshevik victory in 1922 bringing the cold and bloody Russian Civil War to a close, the multitude of Soviet directorates on defense and engineering scrambled to lay out the future socialist weapons manufacturing systems to rearm the Red forces with the technological advances of the young 20th century. For modern designs, the Tula Weapons Factory created a sub-organization for new designs and prototype drafting at the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. This department managed to survive the turmoil of both the Second World War and the collapse of the Soviet Union and continues to create weapons to face the Kremlin’s enemies in the new Russia. Along the way, it has witnessed the careers of many designers come and go, been decorated with a litany of Communist-era orders and medals and introduced prolific designs such as the TT pistol series, the Gsh-18 and an entire suite of anti-aircraft systems, like the Pantsir-S1. Now a joint-stock company, KBP has become one of the largest military arms suppliers in the Russian Federation. Modern rocket systems set aside, the most famous weapon from KBP in the hands of the modern Russian warfighter is arguably the PP-2000, a unique personal defense weapon (PDW) style submachine gun, and a design that gives the more conventional Vityaz design a real run for its money.

Development began in 2000 with two designers out of Tula, each with their own Soviet-era accolades. Arkady Georgievich Shipunov was a talented man with a sullen glaze over his eyes, but he hid behind his squinty gaze a lifetime of work that earned him the highest civilian honor in the Soviet Union: Hero of Socialist Labor. Shipunov got his start at TsNIITochMash in Klimovsk, but by 1962 he had earned his place as the General Designer and Head of the Tula Instrument Design Bureau (KBP).

At KBP, Shipunov worked with Vasiliy Petrovich Gryazev, another prolific designer with 38 weapon designs, 76 publications and extensive experience working in aviation, naval and small arms ammunition design. Gryazev was a near-replica of Shipunov—down to the matching hairlines—and together they made a formidable team in modern Russian weapons design, as exemplified by the GSh-18, which was named after them.

The rise in terrorism prompted KBP to seek a simple weapon for specialist forces, including the police—also known in Russia as the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)—and special tactical groups of the armed forces. Over a six-year development cycle, the two produced a compact submachine gun chambered in 9×19 NATO that easily filled the role of a personal defense weapon and was similar in size to the Czechoslovakian vz. 61 Škorpion. With its ease of manipulation, control layout and low weight of a little over three pounds, the PP-2000 is commonly seen in the hands of close security details and rapid response teams.

The firearm uses a simple and reliable delayed blowback closed bolt operating system which relies on the weight of the bolt to delay the opening of the breech until the pressure in the barrel has dropped to safe levels. On the left side, the gun has a three-mode selector from semi to full-auto as well as the magazine release.

The gun has an ambidextrous reciprocating charging handle above the barrel, nesting behind the front sight in a similar way to another KBP design: the PP-90M1. The PP-90M1’s charging handle was itself reminiscent of that of the Heckler and Koch G36, capable of flipping to the left or right. Distinctively, the gun’s magazine well is in the pistol grip, as on an SR-2 or Uzi. A vertical foregrip is connected to the pistol grip, creating an enlarged trigger guard, ideal for gloves and adding rigidity to the polymer frame of the lower receiver.

The weapon is disassembled by pulling a plunger down inside the vertical foregrip, which frees the lower receiver from the steel upper receiver and barrel. The front sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation, and the barrel has a non-removable birdcage-style flash hider integrated into the front sight block. The PP-2000 has a fixed rear sight recessed in the M1913 rail along the top of the receiver.

For accessories, the PP-2000 also has a light mount that attaches to the inside of the vertical grip. Manufacturing literature suggests the gun can accommodate an optional suppressor, but no photos are available. On the left side of the lower receiver is a single sling loop. ZenitCo offers a laser mount that attaches to the top of the M1913 rail with a recess to allow for the use of iron sights as well as a white light that mounts to the bottom of the foregrip. Originally, the design used a spare 44-round magazine in place of a stock. The use of the 44-round magazine was replaced in development with a traditional right side folding wire stock. However, 44-round magazine stocks are still in the inventory and fielded by Russian security forces. Both the 44-round and 20-round magazines feature heavily texturized floorplates for use as the butt plate if the magazine is used as the stock. The trigger is slightly bowed, with a long trigger bar located on the left side of the lower receiver which connects the trigger in front of the magazine well to the trigger hook. A disconnector sits on the left, while the auto sear sits on the right side of the receiver to correspond to the sear trip on the bolt. The hammer has a distinct “Y” shape and contacts an angled spring-loaded firing pin. The recoil spring assembly is in line with the charging handle.

The submachine gun was designed to utilize standard ball 9×19 NATO and high-velocity +P+ armor-piercing ammunition, such as the 7N21 and 7N31 with a muzzle velocity of 1,510 to 1,970 feet per second, with sufficient armor penetration within 50 meters. The gun runs at a rate of fire of 750 to 800 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 100 meters and 200-meter maximum range. From the factory, a few quality control and design issues have been reported. The thin polymer frame, despite attempts to strengthen the design, is prone to cracking at the bottom behind the pistol grip; this is something I’ve seen on deactivated models. The small low-profile rear sight and the uncomfortable wire stock make effective cheek weld difficult and contribute to the gun slipping during continuous fire. Due to the short bolt travel and abrupt bolt stop against the rear of the receiver, the recoil impulse is sharp when compared to other submachine guns but manageable with experience.

Having shot the PP-2000, I can attest that it is ideal for close quarters or when driving a vehicle. Its lightness and controllability are well-balanced, while its safety and fire controls were clearly well thought out. However, the 20-round magazines run empty quickly under its high rate of fire. Operators often prefer the 20-round magazine as it improves the concealability of the weapon, but sources familiar with the application of the PP-2000 in Russia’s Spetsnaz comment that the stock is by far the biggest issue in the weapon’s design and the only trait needing immediate improvement. Overall, the weapon is a pleasant shooter, particularly in semi-automatic fire, with outstanding ease of handling, and it will likely continue in service with Spetsnaz units.

SIG SAUER and Caracal International LLC are courting the Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) to secure a $503 million contract to provide the Indian Army’s infantry troops with over 72,000 SIG 716 battle rifles and an undisclosed amount of CAR816 carbines to replace the Indian Army’s problematic 1B1 INSAS.

According to MilitaryTimes.com, the shift from 5.56 NATO with the 1B1 to the larger-caliber 7.62 NATO with the SIG 716, provides the Indian Army’s infantry troops a more reliable weapon which they currently lack. Troops have complained of the 1B1’s untimely stoppages and mechanism failures. The Indian MoD had hoped the 1B1 INSAS would have a long and storied career for its (at-the-time) next-generation gun.

The SIG 716 uses a short stroke piston-driven operating system with a heavier push rod than its smaller version, the 516 (chambered for 5.56 NATO) and a 16-inch hammer-forged free floating barrel. An ambidextrous mag release, tons of rail space for electronics and optics, plus a telescoping Magpul stock round out the features on the rifle (sigsauer.com).

CAR816

Caracal International LLC is a UAE-based defense contractor, but the CAR816 is manufactured in the U.S. (caracalusa.com). The CAR816 is similar to the M4, firing the 5.56 NATO round. Similar to the SIG 516 and the SIG 716, the CAR816 uses a short-stroke push rod gas piston design controlled by a 3-position gas valve and has a 16-inch barrel. The CAR816 will be used as a close quarters battle (CQB) weapon, replacing the smaller caliber 9mm Sterling.

ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL LTD. AWARDED CONTRACT TO UPGRADE GERMAN ARMY’S G22 SNIPER RIFLES

Accuracy International Ltd. announced it has been awarded the contract to upgrade the German Army’s G22 Sniper Rifles through its German agent POL-TEC. Accuracy International (AI) will refurbish and upgrade the current G22 and G22A1 rifles to the new G22A2 platform. The rifles will remain in the 7.62×67 caliber.

G22A1

“Thank you to the German Army for awarding us with this contract to upgrade their sniper rifles to the G22A2, a superior rifle with full capabilities,” said Tom Irwin, Director of AI. “We look forward to working with our German agent POL-TEC and the BAAINBw to deliver these rifles.”

G22A2

The updated G22A2 rifle was introduced by Accuracy International in 2018. It is an all-weather, day and night, AX-style rifle with user configurability and mission adaptability. The rifle features a full-length action and a forend rail with right-side folding stock over the bolt. The updated G22A2 is in AI Pale Brown with modern accessories.

The German Army ordered 780 which will be delivered by 2020.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AWARDS OLIN-WINCHESTER A 9MM CALIBER RITA AMMUNITION CONTRACT

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently awarded Olin-Winchester a major ammunition contract. Starting delivery this year, the contract provides for up to 62.5 million rounds of 9mm caliber “Readily Identifiable Training Ammunition” (RITA) to multiple Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement components and other federal agencies for up to 5 years. This contract will provide the organization’s agents and officers with 9mm caliber training ammunition.

The 9mm/115-grain FMJ product, assembled with a distinctive “purple” colored brass shell case, will complement existing Winchester .40SW and .223 RITA products that have been in service for DHS training efforts for several years.

What is a Holding Company?

Think of a holding company as a parent corporation. It can be a limited liability company (LLC) like Blackwing Holdings, LLC, or a limited partnership that owns enough voting stock in another company to control its policies and management. In the case of Blackwing, they entirely own their subsidiary companies. Distilled to the basics, a holding company’s operations consist of overseeing the companies it owns. If necessary, it can hire and fire managers, but those companies’ managers are responsible for their operations; the holding company is not. Although the holding company does not manage the day-to-day operations of its subsidiaries, Blackwing’s owners personally understand their subsidiary companies’ operations and product lines, allowing them to evaluate the businesses’ performance and prospects on an ongoing basis. Interestingly, the two companies held by Blackwing, support one another’s product offerings and share manufacturing facilities to create unique capabilities.

Therefore, Blackwing Holdings represents the investment office of a U.S.-based, family-owned holding limited liability company created to diversify their holdings and create future cash flows. Blackwing Holdings does not have any product manufacturing operations or active business itself. Instead, it owns two companies—IEC Infrared Systems LLC (IEC) and Precision Remotes LLC (PRL) —and these are where product manufacturing takes place. So what products do these two companies offer?

IEC Infrared Systems LLC

IEC Infrared Systems LLC (IEC) was formed in 1999 by research scientists from the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Formally recognized as a NASA spinoff company, IEC operates out of a 23,000-square-foot facility in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. IEC is an engineering and manufacturing company that specializes in the design, development and manufacture of integrated thermal and visual imaging surveillance systems. IEC has an in-house technical staff possessing diverse expertise across mechanical/aerospace systems, controls, power conditioning, communications, high-speed digital video processing, software (both imbedded and GUI) and infrared spectroscopy.

When the first line of defense involves surveillance, IEC Infrared Systems is the solution of choice. IEC’s in-house engineering talent allows it to retain complete design control and unique individual customer customization of infrared cameras, thermal imaging products and counter-UAV equipment.

IEC detection technologies are optimized to provide persistent detection of threats in an integrated operational environment using a middleware system they call “IntrudIR Alert.” This system is a combination of hardware and software that allows integration of a variety of sensors and subsystems. It is specifically designed to process and coordinate the data from a range of sensors and subsystems and disseminate real-time alerts to allow the user to take the most appropriate counter measures against threats or attacks.

In conjunction with the IntrudIR Alert system, IEC offers its Raptor Series surveillance platform. Raptor is aptly named after birds of prey with exceptionally long-range eyesight. These customizable surveillance platforms are typically configured with long-range EO/IR optics and other co-located sensors such as ground radars and other optic systems. Raptor can be installed on facilities, forward operating base or on mobile platforms, whether wheeled or tracked. Raptor can integrate with other systems and be networked wirelessly for perimeter or border security. Essentially a “plug-and-play” system, Raptor only takes about 30 minutes to unpack, set-up and connect (or uninstall) the complete system.

The Raptor Series is designed to meet performance requirements for detection and assessment at ranges from 5km to 18km+. IEC can configure the Raptor system to accommodate just about any ground radar systems in conjunction with other complex sensors. Raptor can also be equipped with an optional laser illuminator and laser range finder, and through IntrudIR Alert can not only control the system, but can communicate with other command and control systems.

One of the Raptor Series’ primary ground surveillance radars (GSR) is the SR Hawk pulse Doppler radar; Raptor uses this radar to detect distant targets, then cue the Werewolf pan and tilt platform with long-range visual and thermal optics and detectors through the IntrudIR Alert middleware. This system is ideal for detection and assessment for both short- and long-range perimeter and border security operations. Raptor is intuitive, simple to operate and provides unmatched situational awareness and force protection. Raptor is a fully developed surveillance solution product with a TRL-9 technology readiness level. It is used globally by both commercial and military customers. ITAR restrictions control its thermal cameras and detectors.

Another unique IEC product is their Lycan Counter-UAS system. Lycan detects, tracks and mitigates Unmanned Aerial Systems using both radar and RF detection paired with an Artificial Intelligence engine to find the target (and avoid false targets), long-range imagers to assess, verify and optically track the target and multi-frequency RF and GPS jamming to stop the threat. This causes the UAS to immediately lose control and navigation capability. The Lycan is much like the Raptor in its line replaceable unit configuration and tools-free / cable-free payload that swaps out in seconds. Its capabilities include 360º panoramic image creation and optical target tracking (to 3km) with a mid-wave infrared (MWIR) 40mm–825mm continuous zoom imager. Like Raptor, it has a small footprint that allows it to stand-alone or is mounted almost anywhere, static or mobile. Moreover, it can be powered by nearly any electrical power source available. The Lycan is a genuine advancement in counter-UAS technology and therefore falls under ITAR restrictions.

Blackwing Holdings’ subsidiaries produce many other quality devices that realize operational imagination. For more information on Blackwing Holdings’ product line see blackwingholdings.com.