The 2019 Close Combat Symposium (CCS) was held at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (UK) over July 9 to11, 2019. Historically, it has its origins in the Small Arms and Cannon Symposium held for many years at the same venue.

The themes of the symposium this year were to “consider trends and developments in small arms, dismounted weapon systems, ammunition, sensors, optics and protective clothing and equipment. The revised theme of 21st Century Infantry also seeks to examine additional opportunities for capability enhancements in the near-term, some of which will require new development.”

The 3-day symposia has an established format and opened for on-site registration at 0900 hours on the first day, followed by a full day of presentations. On the second day, delegates were able to attend a manufacturers’ outdoor range day, where the opportunity to fire a number of different small arms types and view associated supporting equipment was provided. The final day’s presentations at the Defence Academy location concluded in late afternoon.

The lecture program consisted of short presentations on various aspects of mounted and dismounted close combat together with infantry weapons and ammunition, which provided wide-ranging coverage of a diverse subject matter area to cater to the varied interests of those attending. Over the 3 days, the program offered 19 formal presentations which included panel discussions after each segment and covered the following areas.

Day One

The first day’s presentations included:

• Keynote: The (UK) Close Combat Plan—British Army HQ
• The Future Threat—Defence Intelligence—MoD
• Land Littoral Manoeuvre and Future Commando Force—UK Navy HQ
• Transformation Fund—21st Century Infantry—British Army HQ (Unmanned Aerial Systems, Platoon Robotic Vehicles, Less-than-Lethal)
• Engaging with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)—UK MoD (Soldier Systems, Innovation & Experimentation)
• Force Development—Experimentation Opportunities—British Army
• Unmanned Ground Vehicles: A Strong Ally for Dismounted Soldiers—Rheinmetall Canada
• Development in Small Arms—Dan Shea, Phoenix Defence and Editor-in-Chief Small Arms Defense Journal

Day Two

Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd:

The Range Day was again held at the Cranfield Ordnance Test and Evaluation Centre (COTEC), West Lavington, on the northwestern edge of the UK MoD, Salisbury Plain artillery and field-firing range. The Range Day this year, which provided attendees the opportunity to view and fire selected infantry small arms, also included a demonstration by Rheinmetall Defence of their Mission Master Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UMV).

Demonstrations of equipment and opportunities to live-fire weapons were provided by:

• Beechwood Equipment Ltd
• FN Herstal (UK) (Range Day Sponsor)
• Brolis Photonics Solutions Ltd
• Instro Precision Ltd
• Qioptiq
• NHMD Ltd.
• Viking Arms (Defence)
• Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU) & Amvision-FCS13
• Rheinmetall Defence
• Ultimate Training Munitions (UTM)

Breakfast on arrival and a BBQ lunch were provided for all attending. The Range Day was followed that evening by the now traditional formal dinner held at the Swindon STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway. Pre-dinner drinks provided the opportunity for informal networking, the dinner itself being held within the precincts of the museum with musical entertainment during dinner being provided by a local brass ensemble.

Day Three

The presentations covered on the third day included:

• Precision Versus Rate—Cranfield Defence and Security
• Enhancing Dismounted Combatants Lethality Through Fire Control and Training Systems—FN Herstal (UK)
• Fighting in the Street—CR2 Streetfighter—Ultra Electronics/Royal Tank Regiment
• How to Ensure and Maintain Fightability on Close Combat Operations with an Increasingly Technology-Driven Soldier System—Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA) Ltd
• Reducing the Error Budget—Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU)/Riflecraft
• National Armed Policing Group—Civil Nuclear Constabulary
• When Computers Do the Wrong Thing—Captain W. Shepherd (Ret’d)—USN
• How to Overcome the Problems of Delivering Safe and Reliable Training in Close Quarter Combat (CQB)—Ultimate Training Munitions (UTM)
• Soldier System Integration—Tommy Works—British Army
• Connecting the Dismounted Soldier—Glenair
• UAV Enhanced Digital Networked Mortar Fire Control Systems—KWESST North America (Canada)

SHRIVENHAM 2020: SHOW MASTER INFO

LOCATION

Shrivenham, County of Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, UK is situated to the west of London off the M4 motorway and easily accessible from the main London airports. The nearest large town to Shrivenham for reference purposes is Swindon. Note: In recent years, the immediate area of and access to the Defence Academy has been via the “Watchfield” entrance off the A420 main road.

WEBSITE symposiaatshrivenham.com

CONTACT

Leanne Lawson, Symposium Organizer, Symposia at Shrivenham, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham, Wiltshire near Swindon, SN6 8LA

For symposium details and administration:

Tel: +44 1793 785 648

E-mail: leanne@symposiaatshrivenham.com

NEXT SHOW

Close Combat Symposium, October 20-22, 2020, Shrivenham, UK

FOCUS OF SHOW

This year’s Symposium focused on current UK Infantry-mounted and -dismounted close combat developments and future capabilities and intentions, with opening presentations being delivered by leading members of the UK close combat community. Other presentations focused on infantry weapons, training and support to the UK civil community, supporting the Symposium’s historical Small Arms and Cannon theme.

A concurrent trade show is also held in the adjacent indoor hall that is comfortable for attendees to mix with the vendors. Numerous vendor booths covering broad subject matters related to the themes of the Symposium were available for attendees to meet and talk with industry during coffee and lunch breaks.

STATISTICS

Overall, more than 140 delegates from the UK and the international community took part in the symposia over the 3 days, making this Symposium, again it is believed, the largest of its type in Western Europe.

 DRESS

Business “informal,” meaning jacket and tie, or business casual depending on how you desire to present your company. Military are in duty attire. For the formal dinner, now traditionally held within the confines of the STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway, dress base line for men is a dark suit with tie, ladies’ comfortable evening wear (no jeans or tee-shirts in either case). Symposium staff are  on hand to help with your concerns on this.

HOTEL HINTS

Local hotels are listed with the Symposium information package. Most vendors choose hotels in Swindon or out on the M4 motorway area. There is UK military billeting for those who are eligible.

POWER & PLUG TYPES

220v 50 cycle, British 3-prong plugs

COUNTRY WARNINGS

The Swindon/Shrivenham areas are largely rural with the historic city of Oxford located to the north. The only warnings would be in certain parts of London or other major cities. The Symposium is in a rural area that is very safe. There are currently travel restrictions due to the coronavirus, COVID-19. Consult the CDC before booking travel.

 CULTURAL HINTS

The British are generally very polite, with the exceptions perhaps of rush-hour travel in London and other major cities.

 TIPPING

10% is generally fine in restaurants, less to a taxi. Taxis are either meter fare or pre-booked at an agreed price.

GETTING AROUND

Rental cars will have UK-style right-hand steering, and driving is on the left side of the road. Unless you know how to drive with a left-hand shift, order an automatic. We advise finding the first parking lot in sight after getting your rental car and learning the reverse geometry if you are a European or U.S. driver. Road roundabouts are common and do not pose a problem; always give way to the right, unless the road markings (rarely) advise otherwise. Trains are reliable; however, ticket purchases made on the day of travel can be extortionately expensive, pre-booking is strongly advised. A good guide for the latter is at nationalrail.co.uk. Bus travel is both simple and inexpensive. If driving, the show is within reasonable distance of Heathrow International Airport; travel due west on the M4 motorway to the Swindon exit and look for local directions to Shrivenham. For rail travel from Heathrow or Gatwick International Airports take a direct train service to Swindon.

MILITARY MUSEUMS

The Defence Academy Small Arms teaching collection may be visited by qualified visitors. Inquire with the promoters. In London, the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth and the National Army Museum in Chelsea are worth a visit. To the south of Swindon on the south coast is the Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson Artillery Museum situated in an old Victorian fort (built during the Napoleonic Invasion fears in the 19th century) and overlooking the historic Portsmouth Naval Base. Also within the Portsmouth Naval Base area are the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Further afield is the National Firearms Centre (the former MOD Pattern Room collection of small arms and light infantry weapons) at the Royal Armouries main site located in the northwest of England at Leeds. Admittance to the former is strictly by prior appointment only; although the museum itself is open to the general public.

TOURISM

Shrivenham is located within reasonable driving distances of the university town of Oxford, the Neolithic monument at Stonehenge and Shakespeare’s home town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Try the following websites if planning a pre- or post-Symposium cultural visit: visitbritain.com or visitlondon.com.

 NOTE: All information subject to change. Go to cranfield.ac.uk/events/symposia-at-shrivenham for up-to-date information.

The fifth International Military-Technical Forum <<ARMY-2019>> (aka Army-Forum) was held at the Patriot Park exposition centre over June 25–30, 2019. The venue is located some 60km from Moscow in the Odintsovsky District, Moscow Region, on the site of the former military base and armoured vehicle training area and testing facility known historically as Kubinka Air Base.

Patriot Park, which opened in 2015, features a number of display areas, manufacturers’ exhibition buildings and visitor activity areas. Army-2019 as in previous years was centred on the imposing Exposition (EXPO) pavilion building, with the overall layout of the site comprising of centrally located permanent display areas of armoured vehicles and artillery. Elsewhere on the EXPO site are the Congress Centre building and a number of smaller exhibition buildings used for themed displays.

In addition to the static display areas, there are large areas given over to outdoor display areas, with virtually all of the major Russian defence industry manufacturers participating in some shape or form. A number of individual manufacturers’ outdoor pavilions are also sited on the extensive display areas located in front of the main pavilion. The main pavilion building has four designated halls, A–D, with entry to the pavilion being gained by three external access points which face onto the main display area. This year, Halls A–C contained a mix of major and smaller manufacturers booths, intermingled with exhibitors providing supporting services in the security, Information Technology, specialist product manufacturers and clothing and uniform insignia areas to name just a few. Hall D was again a focal point (but not exclusively so) for the Russian Ministry of Defence with many organizations within the MoD represented, including personnel support/historical groups.

Unexpected was an extensive display area recalling the 70th anniversary of the first Soviet atomic weapon test, with full-scale mock-ups of devices shown, together the original control facilities and posters explaining the development of the programme and notable figures involved.

This year there was an “Innovation” display area where small businesses and individuals could promote their ideas.

The number of foreign exhibitors continues to increase, including this year: Azerbaijan (MoD), China, India, Pakistan and Turkey were represented.

This year an unexpected downturn in the weather resulted in extremely wet and windy conditions for the last 3 days of the EXPO but breaks in the weather allowed access to all external display areas. For those readers interested in current Russian armoured and artillery developments, part of the main display area was again given over to a static display of armoured and other specialist vehicles currently under development.

Additional Activities Within the Patriot Park Area

Although it continues to be called “Army-Forum,” there is large tri-service participation with field/live-fire demonstration “clusters” all within the greater Patriot Park area. The Air Force cluster is based on the airfield at Kubinka, and the Naval Force demonstration cluster is at Alabino, as is the Land Force demonstration cluster. A free shuttle bus service is provided from the rail station Kubinka-1 for the Air Force demonstration area and from the rail station at Alabino for the Naval and Land demonstration areas. There is also a shuttle bus service to/from the demonstration areas, all of which are a considerable distance from the main Exposition site. Visitors to the demonstration areas are strongly advised to plan in advance if they want to attend one or all of the foregoing as visitors are unlikely to be able to cover more than two activity areas in one day.

A comprehensive programme of round-table discussions and briefings under the heading, “Thematic Meetings” was again offered with a total of 32 separate meetings being listed and held in varying locations within the greater Patriot Park area. A comprehensive programme of events and locations in electronic and hardcopy formats in both Russian and English is available well ahead of the Forum, allowing individual agendas to be selected in advance. Those visitors wishing to attend any of the listed events should check eligibility early on—not unreasonable given the event and host nation.

Outside of the exposition area are a number of additional corporate buildings which have display areas open to visitors during the Army-Forum, such as the Concern Kalashnikov building with administration and meeting rooms above; the ground floor has an indoor display area of the group’s military small arms as manufactured by the former Izhmash (AKs) and Izhmek, more commonly known as “Baikal,” which continues to offer a wide range of sporting and hunting firearms. The parent group of Concern Kalashnikov continues to broaden its manufacturing base with subsidiary companies now producing specialist law-enforcement vehicles and riverine patrol craft; and this year a number of robotic vehicles were on display. Visitor advisory: The Concern Kalashnikov indoor display area attracts large numbers, and visitors should be aware that access may be restricted at certain times.

The Tactical Missiles Corporation (АО «Корпорация Тактическое Ракетное Вооружение) also opened its indoor display to visitors. The Rostec building of the State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product (Государственная корпорация по содействию разработке, производству и экспорту высокотехнологичной промышленной продукции «Ростех») provided additional indoor display space for manufacturers, and those exhibiting included JSC Bazalt (АО «НПО «Базальт») which has developed an extended range of special purpose missile launchers and associated munitions. The Central Scientific-Research Institute for Precision Machine Engineering (TSNIITOCHMASH-ЦНИИТОЧМАШ), a subsidiary KBP, exhibited its new Udav 9mm self-loading pistol for the first time in the Rostec building and also provided a display section of prototype small arms rarely, if ever, “seen in the flesh.” These included the 5.6mm Avtomat AO-36 double-barrelled assault rifle developed for the Abakan rifle trials in mid-1986, which was designed to provide an initial cyclic rate of fire of 6,000 rds/min; the 5.6mm bullpup configured Avtomat AO-34 experimental assault rifle, which is believed to have been first developed in the mid-1960s; the rather strange looking 5.6mm Avtomat AO-40 experimental assault rifle; and the 7.62x54mmR AO-22M light machine gun. (Note: Although rifle calibres were listed as 5.6mm, it is believed all were in fact in 5.45x39mm caliber; however, the AO-40 utilized a steel magazine reminiscent of the 7.62mm AK magazine.)

Shooting Opportunities

Within the greater Patriot Park area, Concern Kalashnikov has a purpose-built, multi-lane shooting range. Access to the range, which is by invitation only, is by shuttle-bus from the Concern Kalashnikov pavilion. Visitors wishing to visit the shooting range should inquire in the first instance at the CK Reception desk in the main pavilion.

Show Master Info

Army-2020

Location

Moscow Region, Odintsovsky District, Russian Federation

Venue

Patriot Park Exposition Centre

Website

rusarmyexpo.ru

Next Show

August 23–29 (Note: Venue dates have seen significant changes at short notice in the past)

Focus

Army-Forum is based on and themed around the Army & Air Force displays and exhibitions, in conjunction with defence manufacturers of the Russian Federation and other invited countries. Public and family attendance is encouraged.

Access

Access to the enclosed Patriot Park exposition area is via three entry points: Entrances A–C are

for all visitors, with entrance B also being indicated for VIP visitors and entrance C for Media.

It should be noted that access by the public and general visitors is restricted to the last 3 days of the event; intending visitors should check eligibility to attend on any particular day.

Show Requirements

Proof of identity via national identity document/passport for foreigners.

Ticket Purchase

Entry tickets are obtainable on-site, cost (2019) circa $25 USD /day.

Visa Requirements

With some exceptions, all visitors to the Russian Federation will require an entry visa obtained before travel. Visa requirements are dependent on visitors’ nationalities, and visits to the Russian Federation usually require a Letter of Invitation to support the visa application. It should be noted that visa processing times can be protracted, and intending visitors should begin the process as early as possible or risk the considerable expense of last-minute visa costs. (Intending visitors are in fact advised not to make any travel arrangements until a travel visa has been issued.)

Media

A comprehensive Media facility is on-site and available for use by all registered Media. It is a government requirement that all foreign-based journalists need to be accredited in advance by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Media representatives wishing to attend in 2020 should immediately check current accreditation requirements, as the accreditation process can take some time.

Getting Around

Public transportation: The exhibition centre, which is located approximately 60km to the west of Moscow, is most easily accessed by rail using the main suburban rail station at Belorussky Vauxhall (Белорусский вокзал); trains to Golitsyno or Kubinka-1 and Alabino depart every 30 to 40 minutes. Journey times vary with approximately 50 minutes for all stations’ service to about 35 minutes for the express service (which has limited stops) to Golitsyno, the recommended arrival station for the Patriot Park exposition.

Internal on-site transportation: All rail arrival points are serviced by a free shuttle-bus service with departures every few minutes. There is also an internal shuttle bus service between the exposition centre and outlying demonstration areas. Details of bus services/route numbers are provided online or on-site in hardcopy form.

Car travel: Those intending to travel by car should be aware of heavy traffic congestion at peak hours, not only leaving and entering Moscow but at the arrival/departure points at Patriot Park. Car parking (paid) is available on-site, but it should be noted that the travel advisory suggests travel by other means due to high levels of car park usage.

Travel Expenses

Travel by suburban rail services and Metro services is inexpensive, and officially licensed taxis all charge by the meter. Credit/debit card payments for the latter are limited.

Accommodations

Foreign visitors may wish to stay within the greater Moscow area which is serviced by a very comprehensive public transportation system. For convenience, the Moscow Metro connects directly with the Belorussky Vauxhall station, the main departure point for the exhibition centre. The Tverskaya area in which the Belorussky station is situated is well-provided with reasonable cost hotels with adjacent shopping areas, restaurants and bars.

Languages

The Army Forum 2020 website offers English and Chinese, in addition to Russian. First-time visitors should be aware that while the English language may be understood in the Moscow area, elsewhere Russian is the sole language, and communication for non-Russian speakers can be difficult. However, increasing use is made of dual Russian/English signage on the roads and rail transportation networks. Should you need to enquire in English, it is best to approach the younger generation who now routinely learn the language. At the Forum, helpful multi-lingual speakers can found who will provide the necessary linguistic support.

Security

Moscow like any major city has areas that should be avoided. The Tverskaya-Belorussky station area as already mentioned is convenient for both travel to and from the exposition and for sightseeing within the central Moscow area. First-time visitors would be advised to use a reputable travel agency/airline to book suitable accommodations. Credit/debit cards are widely accepted in the metropolitan areas and at railway stations reducing the need to carry large sums in cash. ATMs in Moscow are generally available in tourist hotels and commercial areas.

Museums

Incorporated within the greater Kubinka area and under the umbrella of the Patriot Park are the large tank and smaller Air Force museums. Visitors wishing to visit either should view the respective museum websites well in advance of any visit. The Kubinka Tank Museum recommends, for a number of reasons, a guided tour with a translator for non-Russian speaking visitors (tankmuseum.ru/kubinka).

The 8^th edition of Enforce Tac was again billed as the “International Trade Fair for Command, Control and Operational Equipment used by security agencies” was held March 6–7 at the NürnbergMesse Exhibition Centre in Nuremberg, Germany. Running concurrently and immediately adjacent with Enforce Tac 2019 was the Unmanned Technologies & Security (U.T.SEC) exhibition, with the latter including a “Summit for Drones” this year. The two 2019 events, which are not open to the general public and require documentary evidence of professional status for entry, attracted around 5,000 visitors this year, up 35 percent in numbers compared with last year. The Patron at this year’s EnforceTac was Horst Seehofer, the German Federal Minister of the Interior, Building and Community.

The event continues to grow in size, and this year Enforce Tac 2019 relocated to the larger area provided by exhibition Hall 12. Exhibitor numbers for both events were also up 25 percent over the previous year with an excess of 304 exhibitors (243 in 2018) attending from around the world. Access to the event is via the conveniently located Messe Mitte (centre) entrance which is adjacent to the various entry points for road, metro and car parking.

The extended exhibitor focus is on law enforcement firearms, ammunition, both operational and less-lethal, ballistic accessories, optics, information and communications technologies, search and rescue apparatus and uniforms, with the latter primarily of a service nature including stab and bullet-proof vests, shields, helmets and training accessories.

To provide added value for those attending Enforce Tac, a series of presentations organized by the European Police Trainer Conference 2019 and sponsored by the Polizeitrainer in Deutschland e.V. (Police Trainers in Germany, PiD), were available to attendees that offered up-to-date briefings on subjects of current interest to police, security agencies and customs officials. Day One of the two-day program consisted of a number of presentations covering such areas as the security response to “Attacks on Nuclear Facilities,” “The Reality of School Violence,” “Use of Firearms in a Knife Attack” and “Ballistic and Wound Ballistic Aspects of Non-Lethal Projectiles”—a subject very much at the forefront of law enforcement agencies.

Day Two consisted of practical training and covered such areas as “Rescue and Evacuation from the Red Zone,” “Low Light Operations for First Responders,” and “Fighting in Urban Terrain with Short and Long Weapons,” the latter presented by B&T. AG provided an insightful briefing on the benefits and disadvantages of short-barrelled firearms and the varying ballistic performance to be expected from the use of such. Presentation commentaries were available in both German and English.

Enforce Tac has, since its inception, traditionally preceded the internationally known International Hunting & Sporting (IWA) Trade Fair also held at the NürnbergMesse Exhibition Centre, allowing those attending the former, to attend the latter, which was held over March 9–11. IWA itself continues to grow in size and popularity (vying with the U.S. Las Vegas Shot Show for size), with individual halls now being themed along specific product lines. Hall 5 remains the home of the large U.S. Pavilion (With SADJ’s booth in its usual location) but is now complimented with a growing craft-custom and utility knife area.

Show Highlights

On display was the innovative “PROTECTILE.” This less-lethal device offered by an Austrian developer (that wishes to remain anonymous) comprises a 2-inch spherical composite material projectile which fits into the muzzle of a pistol. When a bulleted cartridge is fired, the impact is absorbed internally by the projectile while at the same time, by design, only a minimal amount of energy is transmitted to the “PROTECTILE,” which then functions as a “less lethal” device. Carried in a belt pouch, the “PROTECTILE” can be instantly selected for use as an alternative less-lethal response in a rapidly changing threat scenario.

The folding compact M3D pistol was exhibited by Las Vegas’ Full Conceal’s booth. Full Conceal offers various models of Glock Gen4 pistols which have been modified to provide a folding pistol-grip. In the fully folded position and fitted with a large-capacity 22-round magazine, the M3D variant measures only 6.9 inches in length and 3.9 inches in height. A “Micro Conversion Kit” is also available to provide a carbine-type configuration.

Seen for the first time at the show was the Glock 46 self-loading pistol. For several decades now, the basic Glock operating system has remained unchanged, with only the odd tweak here and there (“New York” trigger?), so it was a surprise to discover the Glock Model 46 with a rotating barrel and multi-lug locking system. Developed at the request of the German police to meet regulatory needs, the pistol has already entered service in what has become the internationally standard law-enforcement caliber of 9x19mm.

The Enforce Tac visitor was also offered various briefings held in the indoor presentation area and at outdoor demonstrations, 11 in number, held at different times over the two-day show. Depending on the presenter, commentary was available in either German or English.

Show Reminder

Entry requirements: Enforce Tac has strictly defined credentials for access, which must take the form of an official identity card or written confirmation from an approved security authority. Media access is via application to the Media Centre located at the Messe east entrance (Eingang Ost). Pre-registration is available for both eligible visitors and Media.

Enforce Tac Show Master Information

Location

Nuremberg, Germany

Exhibition Venue

NürnbergMesse Exhibition Centre

Website

enforcetac.com

Contact

Exhibition Service Team

T +49 9 11 86 06-80 00

F +49 9 11 86 06-80 01

Next Show

March 4–5, 2020, NürnbergMesse Exhibition Centre

Focus

Enforce Tac provides the latest developments from the world of law enforcement, security and tactical solutions and opportunities to establish new field contacts. The annual show offers accompanying workshops and conferences that appeal to security experts from the police, judiciary, border protection, customs, military police or armed forces.

Enforce Tac has strictly defined credentials for access, which must take the form of an official identity card or written confirmation from an approved security authority. Media access is via application to the Media Centre located at the Messe east entrance (Eingang Ost).

Dress

Business casual.

Hotel Hints

There are hotels close to the underground train stations, private apartments, rooms or homes to rent, and even a campground at Knaus Campingpark which is within walking distance of the exhibition centre. There are several hotels located near the exhibition centre. For further accommodation information, contact Nürnberg Tel +49(0)9 11.86 06-80 20, Fax +49(0)9 11.86 06-84 47, or hotels@nuernbergmesse.de.

Power & Plug Types

230V/50Hz, use an adaptor.

Country Warnings

Be advised that increased caution should be used in Germany due to terrorism threats. Visitors should be aware of their surroundings in tourist and public areas and have an emergency plan.

Cultural Hints

Nuremberg offers a wide variety of restaurants, nightlife and shops along with its many historical sites.

Tipping

Tipping ranges from 5% for small orders to 10% for good service at restaurants. The 10% rule is mostly aimed at restaurant bills of 10 euros or more.

Currency Type 

Euro (EUR). For conversion rates use www.xe.com.

According to TripAdvisor, some hotels, restaurants and other venues will take credit cards, but by far the majority does not. When shopping or consuming anything, it’s always wise to ask in advance; otherwise you’ll be expected to pay in cash. Personal checks are no longer used in Germany.

Getting Around

Attendees can get to the venue by train and car. Fast trains such as the ICE, IC and EC regularly call at the centrally located Nuremberg Central Station. From the Central Station, the U1 underground line towards Langwasser-Süd gets you to the “Messe” station in eight minutes. You can easily call up these and all other local transport connections to the exhibition centre Nuremberg via the VGN (Verkehrsverbund Großraum Nürnberg GmbH) connections search.

All underground stations are at least equipped with a lift that goes directly from platform level.

By car use the motorways A3, A6, A9 and A73; you can access the exhibition centre directly via a well-developed network of feeder roads. Simply enter the special destination “Messe” or the address “Karl-Schönleben-Strasse, 90471 Nürnberg” in your navigation system as the destination. In Nuremberg, a modern traffic and parking guidance system shows you the way to the exhibition centre. It responds dynamically to the current traffic situation and directs you to one of a total of 14,000 parking spaces at the exhibition centre via clear access roads.

Taxis can take you from the airport to the exhibition centre in approximately 25 minutes, costing about 27 Euros or $33 per journey. Rental cars are available at the Nuremberg Airport from many familiar companies such as Avis , Hertz and Sixt.

Military Museums

Military Garrison Museum located in the former air raid shelter “Hohe Marter” is devoted to the military history of the region, from the Free Imperial City (to 1806), the Royal Bavarian Army (to 1918), the Reichswehr (to 1933) and Wehrmacht (to 1945) to the U.S. Army and the Bundeswehr of the present era.

The museum illustrates military life with weapons, uniforms and objects related to military organization, as well as with large-scale dioramas (including a segment of a 1916 trench, a 1944 command post and a room in a Bundeswehr barrack).

Tourism

Nuremberg has plenty to offer for sightseeing. Dutzendteich Lake is right next to the site of the exhibition centre where locals meet for pedal boating or in-line skating, stroll along by the lake or relax in the beer garden. Walking tours of the city and medieval sites are available. And for those interested in history visit the nearby former Nazi party rally grounds or the largest cultural museum, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum or see Memorium Nuremberg Trials Court 600, the courtroom where the original Nuremberg trials were held. Here you can visit the permanent exhibit in the Palace of Justice which focuses on the background to, course of and legacy of the Nuremberg trials.

By Richard D. Jones

 The fourth International Military-Technical Forum was held at the Patriot Expo Congress and Exhibition Center (Patriot Expo) over August 21-26, 2018. The exhibition center is located about 60km from Moscow in the Odintsovsky District, Moscow Region on the site of the former military base and armoured vehicle training area, the testing facility known historically as Kubinka.

Patriot Expo, which opened in 2015, features an extensive collection of display areas, manufacturers’ exhibition buildings and visitor activity areas. The Army-2018 forum itself is centered in the imposing exposition Pavilion building, with the overall layout of the site comprising centrally located permanent display areas of armoured vehicles and artillery. Elsewhere on the site are the Congress Center building and two additional smaller exhibition buildings used for themed displays. Access to the enclosed Patriot Expo area is via three entry points—Entrance A-C are for all visitors, with Entrance B being indicated for VIP visitors and Entrance C for Media.

In addition to the static display areas there are large areas given over to outdoor display areas, with virtually all of the major Russian defence industry manufacturers participating. Manufacturers’ outdoor pavilions are also sited in the display areas in front of the main Pavilion. The main Pavilion building has four designated halls (A-D) with access to the pavilion being gained by three external access points, which is convenient to the visitor given the large size of the facility. Halls A through C are predominantly those of the smaller manufacturers or those exhibitors providing supporting services in the security, Information Technology, specialist product manufacturers, clothing and uniform insignia areas to name just a few. Hall D is also a focal point for the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) with many organizations within the MoD represented, including personnel support and historical groups.

Excellent weather allowed the keen attendee to view all of the outdoor displays without hindrance and, which apart from those already mentioned, included a special display of the next generation armoured and artillery equipment now under advanced development for the Russian armed forces. Technical specifications displayed for each may be of interest to the readers.

Specification Chart—Basic Technical Details of Next Generation Armoured Vehicles and Artillery

(*) – Vehicle platform is based on BMP-3.

 Additional Activities Within the Patriot Expo Area

Although called “Army-Forum” there is large tri-service participation with field/live-fire demonstration “clusters” all within the greater Patriot Expo area. The Air Force cluster is based on the airfield at Kubinka, and the Naval Force demonstration cluster is at Alabino, as is the Land Force demonstration cluster. A free shuttle bus service is provided from the rail station Kubinka-1 for the Air Force demonstration area and from the rail station at Alabino for the Naval and Land demonstration areas. There is also a shuttle bus service to/from the demonstration areas all of which are a considerable distance from the main exposition site. Visitors to the demonstration areas are strongly advised to “plan in advance” if they wish to attend one or all of the foregoing.

A comprehensive “Congress Program” of round table discussions and outdoor presentations occur throughout the period of the exposition. The foregoing are held in varying locations within the greater Patriot Expo park area. In the past, a comprehensive program of events and locations has been provided in electronic and hardcopy formats. Those visitors wishing to attend any of the listed events should check eligibility to do so in advance and check language requirements, as it is thought most conferences are held in Russian (not unreasonable given the event and host nation).

For Army-2018 there was a concurrent “International Forum—Security Week Russia.” This was based in Exhibition Hall E with related conferences being held in the adjacent Hall F. Both halls are located within the Patriot Expo perimeter and just a short walk from the main entrances of the Expo Pavilion. It was stated that “Security Week Russia” was focused on enhancement of efficiency of federal executive authorities’ activity in order to stimulate the development of national security industry. With participation by Fire, Environmental, Food, Transportation and Emergency Medicine organizations among others, the Security Week Russia conference program is listed in the foregoing Congress Program.

Outside of the exposition area are additional manufacturers’ display pavilions which form part of the overall Army-Forum event and are open to visitors, such as the AO Tactical Missile Armament Corporation (АО «Корпорация Тактическое Ракетное Вооружение), the missile and weapon manufacturer having a large indoor display, with an additional outdoor display of the larger missile systems, giving visitors the opportunity see close-up what is normally only seen at a distance. The Rostex, the building of the State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Products (Государственная корпорация по содействию разработке, производству и экспорту высокотехнологичной промышленной продукции «Ростех») provided additional display areas for manufacturers and included JSC “Bazalt” (АО «НПО «Базальт») which has developed an extended range of special purpose missile launchers and associated munitions.

Another major manufacturer’s pavilion which is outside the exposition site (although separated only by a perimeter security fence) is the Concern Kalashnikov (CK) building with administration and meeting rooms above; the ground floor is given over to an indoor display area for the group’s military small arms as manufactured by the former Izhmash (AKs) and Izhmek, more commonly known as Baikal, continuing to offer a wide range of sporting and hunting firearms. Concern Kalashnikov has also broadened its manufacturing base with subsidiary companies now producing specialist law-enforcement vehicles and riverine patrol craft. Small arms displayed at the 2018 Expo included the newly adopted AK-12 5.45x39mm assault rifle which is a substantial upgrade of the current service issue AK-74M. Its companion AK-15 is offered in the traditional 7.62 M43 caliber. Also replacing the long-serving RPK-74 light machine gun is the RPK-16, again in 5.45mm caliber but featuring a mission exchangeable barrel length option.

The magazine-fed “bullpup” bolt-action anti-materiel rifle currently under advanced development was shown together with two new sporting caliber self-loading rifles: the TG2, based on the AK-74 in caliber .366-inch TKM with Paradox rifling and in a similar vein the TG3, based on the SVD Dragunov, although it’s chambered for the 9.6mm/53 Lancaster cartridge, the rifle having oval-bore Lancaster rifling. Both of the latter currently are being classed as “shotguns” in accordance with Russian firearms legislation.

Visitor advisory: The CK indoor display area attracts large numbers, and visitors should be aware that access may be restricted at certain times.

Within the greater Patriot Expo area Concern Kalashnikov has a purpose-built, multi-lane shooting range. Access to the range, which is by invitation-only, is by shuttle bus from the Concern Kalashnikov Pavilion. This year at the range the company demonstrated several of its new and prototype weapons. Visitors wishing to visit the shooting range should inquire in the first instance at the CK Reception desk in the main Pavilion.

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International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2018 Show Master Info

Location

Moscow Region, Russian Federation

Venue

Patriot Expo Congress and Exhibition Center

Website:

rusarmyexpo.ru

Contact

Stepan Kolnoochenko
Tel./ fax.: +7 (495) 640-55-00, ext. 419
Email: kolnoochenko@icecompany.org

Nikita Lurchikov
Tel./ fax.: +7 (495) 640-55-00, ext. 423
Email: iurchikov@icecompany.org

Next Show

June 25-30, 2019 (This is a change from previous events which were all held in August.)

Focus

Army-2018 is based on and themed around the Army and Air Force displays and exhibitions, in conjunction with defence manufacturers of the Russian Federation and other invited countries. Public and family attendance are encouraged.

Show Opening Times

August 21, Tuesday (Opening Day): Attendance restricted to VIP/Media

August 22–26, Wednesday–Sunday: General admittance

Show Requirements

Proof of identity (National identity document/Passport for foreigners)

Ticket purchase: Entry tickets are obtained onsite; cost (2018) is circa USD $25/day.

Visa Requirements

With some exceptions, all visitors to the Russian Federation will require an entry visa obtained before travel. Visa requirements are dependent on visitors’ nationality. Visits to the Russian Federation usually require a letter of “Invitation” to support the visa application. It should be noted that visa processing times can be protracted, and intending visitors should begin the process as early as possible or risk the considerable expense of last minute visa costs. (Intending visitors are in fact advised not to make any travel arrangements until a travel visa has been issued.)

Media

A comprehensive Media facility is onsite and available for use by all registered Media. It should be noted that in 2018 an unannounced change that required all foreign-based journalists to be accredited by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs resulted in denial of press accreditation by those Media arriving without the aforementioned accreditation, which cannot be obtained at short notice. Media wishing to attend in 2019 should immediately check current accreditation requirements.

Getting Around

Public Transportation

The exhibition center which is located approximately 60km to the west of Moscow, is most easily accessed by rail using the main suburban rail station at Belorussky Vauxhall (Белорусский вокзал); trains to Golitsyna or Kubinka-1 and Alabino depart every 30 to 40 minutes. Journey times vary with approximately 50 minutes for all stations’ service to about 35 minutes for the express service (which has limited stops) to Golitsyna, the recommended arrival station for the Patriot Expo center.

Internal Onsite Transportation

All rail arrival points are serviced by a free shuttle bus service with departures every few minutes. There is also an internal shuttle bus service between the exposition center and outlying demonstration areas. Details of bus services/route numbers are provided online or onsite in hardcopy form.

By Car

Those intending to travel by car should be aware of heavy traffic congestion at peak hours, not only leaving and entering Moscow but at the arrival/departure points at Patriot Expo. Car parking (paid) is available onsite, but it should be noted that the 2019 travel advisory suggests travel by other means due to high levels of parking space usage.

Travel by suburban rail services and Metro services is inexpensive, and officially licenced taxis all charge by the meter. Credit/Debit card payments for the latter are limited.

 Accommodation

Foreign visitors may wish to stay within the greater Moscow area which is serviced by a very comprehensive public transportation system. For convenience, the Moscow Metro connects directly with the Belorussky Vauxhall station, the main departure point for the exhibition center. The Tverskaya area in which the Belorussky station is situated is well-provided with reasonably priced hotels with adjacent shopping areas, restaurants and bars.

Language

The Army-2019 website offers English and Chinese in addition to Russian. First-time visitors should be aware that while the English language may be understood in the Moscow area, elsewhere Russian is the sole language and communication. However, increasing use is being made of dual Russian/English signage on the road and rail transportation networks. Should you need to inquire in English, it is best to approach the younger generation who now routinely learn the language. At the Forum, helpful multilingual speakers can help find who will provide the necessary linguistic support.

Museums

Incorporated within the greater Kubinka area and under the umbrella of the Patriot Expo center are the large tank and smaller Air Force museums. Visitors wishing to visit either should view the respective museum websites well in advance of any visit. The Kubinka Tank Museum recommends, for a number of reasons, a guided tour with translator for non-Russian speaking visitors. The Kubinka Tank Museum website: tankmuseum.ru/kubinka

Security

Moscow, like any major city, has areas that should be avoided. The Tverskaya-Belorussky Station area as already mentioned is convenient for both travel to and from the exposition and for sight-seeing within the central Moscow area. First-time visitors would be advised to use a reputable travel agency/airline to book suitable accommodations. Credit/debit cards are widely accepted in the metropolitan areas and at railway stations reducing the need to carry large sums of cash. ATMs in Moscow are generally available in tourist hotels and commercial areas.

The B&T AG (Brügger & Thomet) Police Equipment Show took place over the 12-13 of June 2013.  The show, which is an invitation only event, is organized by Brügger & Thomet and takes place in their home city of Thun, in Switzerland.

The show, as the name implies, is aimed at the law enforcement community and is held at the large spacious Swiss Army range facility of Guntelsey on the outskirts of Thun.  There were two indoor exhibition areas, the ground floor and first floor of the range firing points where nearly 40 manufacturers and distributers had more than ample space to display their product lines.  Outdoor displays included a full-size electric target range demonstrator.

On both days a number of formal presentations and demonstrations of products were given, these included a briefing by Mark Zimmerman on ‘The Police Carbine,’ B&T’s Proposal for the Future.  The briefing covered new developments underway at B&T that included the rifle calibre modular carbine in addition to the B&T Police Carbine in submachine gun configuration; the latter already in service with a number in service with users, was originally chambered in .45 ACP calibre, but is now being offered in the ubiquitous military and police calibre of 9 x 19mm.  A number of briefings covering regional issues by official agencies were also given.  Reflecting the multi-lingual status of Switzerland the briefings were generally offered in a choice of languages.

On both days, live-firing demonstrations were held of B&T and other attending manufacturers’ product lines on the 50 metre range.  This was also a hugely successful opportunity for those attending to live-fire an extensive range of law-enforcement firearms that also included the opportunity to fire, side-by-side, various weapons fitted with or without B&T suppressor units enabling attendees to appreciate levels of sound suppression obtained with the B&T suppressor product line.

For those not familiar with the host company, B&T AG, as they are now known, began as manufacturers of firearm suppressors in 1991, moving on to manufacture complimentary accessories for use with their suppressor product line.  As an ever growing customer base expressed their wish for a complete weapon system, B&T began production of complete weapon systems in 2004, initially having obtained the manufacturing rights to the Steyr Tactical machine pistol (TMP) their own product-improved MP9 version of the TMP was offered.  The company now designs and manufactures a range of weapons in addition to others described in this article such as the APR308/338 precision rifle, the SPR300 rifle and GL-06 stand-alone grenade-launcher.  B&T is a registered NATO supplier (NCAGE SV178) and certified to ISO 9001: 2008.

A reception sponsored by Brügger & Thomet was held on the evening of 12 June at the Hotel Seepark on the shore of Lake Thun.  The view from the terrace was impressive, reminiscent for those of us who live in less picturesque places, of Swiss chocolate box images.  A lavish spread of food and drink was provided and the event was very well attended.  The social get-together and the ability to meet and talk with not only those exhibiting, but also those attending as visitors provided a unique opportunity for those in the collective law enforcement community to ‘network’ to the mutual benefit of all.

The Swiss Arms SAN 511 large calibre precision rifle in 12.7mm/.50 Browning is available in five barrel lengths.

The author taking advantage of a rare opportunity to test-fire, the now out-of-service 7.5mm Sxxx-57 automatic rifle.

H&K G36 KV compact assault rifle variant – of note is the magazine well adapter now offered by the company to enable the use of M16 type magazines.

Part of the extensive B&T AG product display.

Heckler & Koch GmbH displayed an extensive range from their product line.

Available for examination was the prototype B&T AG multi-shot grenade-launcher with pump or slide-action. This system of operating does away with the requirement for rotary winding of a spring or more complex gas-operation.

Shown was the new B&T AG Carbine, in calibre 5.56 mm NATO, currently under development. It was also available for test-firing on the range.

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As has been commented on before in this journal, there are two conferences that should be on the list of anybody in the small arms and ammunition community to attend.  While the bigger NDIA Small Arms Symposium held in the United States in May of each year is the larger, the Shrivenham Small Arms Symposium held at the Defence Academy in England is the focal point for European developments.

The smaller size of the Shrivenham Symposium gives it a more personal atmosphere though both Symposia provide a vital opportunity to ‘network’ and the 25th annual Small Arms and Cannon Symposium held in August of 2011 was well attended.  The programme consisting of short presentations on various subjects is now well established.  The symposium is spread over three days with the introductory welcoming presentation this year by Brigadier Mark Lacey, Head of Technology Division at the Defence Academy.  Commencing after lunch on day one, the following full day also includes practical range demonstrations and the opportunity for attendees to fire selected weapons on the local test-range facility.  Day three closes at lunch time.  Why days spread over three?  Experience and customer comments have shown that the current format allows, particularly European attendees, the opportunity to arrive on day one and depart after lunch on day three, reducing the need for extended overnight stays.  Shrivenham being conveniently situated within the catchment area of the three major London airports is ideally situated.

Located north of London, ISTEC Services has been supplying the UK MOD with specialist weapon mounts of its own design for over two decades. ISTEC also offers Platform Integration and sighting systems in its services and products line-up. www.istecservices.com

There were in all twenty-one presentations in the busy programme and the varied subject matter of the presentations covered the following subjects:

• Global Overview of Small Arms Development – Richard D Jones, Editor Jane’s Infantry Weapons yearbook
• UK Lethality Programme Update – Colonel Peter Warden, UK MOD
• The Future Dismounted Close Combat Research Programme – Colin Rainment, SEA, Ltd.
• Improving Explosive Effects at a Dismounted Level – Gregg Bazley, SDE, Ltd.
• Reducing the Burden on the Dismounted Soldier – Jeremy Smith, Cranfield Defence & Security
• XM25 and P30 Colour Marker – Markus Staiger & Hans-Jurgen Kron, H&K GmbH
• What can a Social Scientist Teach the Small Arms Community about Weapon Design? – Dr Matthew Ford, University of Hull
• Developments in Small Arms Ammunition – Tony Williams, Independent Consultant
• No Place to Hide – Weapon Sight Technology to Enhance Small Arms Effectiveness – Steve Rickard, Qioptiq Ltd
• 40mm Ammunition and Weapons from Rheinmetall Germany – Franz von Stauffenberg, Rheinmetall Weapon Munition, Germany
• Rapid Acquisition of Crew Served Weapons Accessories – Jason Davis, NSWC Crane
• Barrel Hygiene and Long Range Accuracy – Andrew Evans-Hendrick, Riflecraft, Ltd.
• Long Range Ammunition Precision for Shooters – Janne Boström, Nammo Lapua OY
• DISD Introduction – Jörg Wenderoth, Rheinmetall Soldier Electronics GmbH
• Can your Femur Fracture even if a Bullet Doesn’t Hit the Bone?  –  Dr Debra Carr, Cranfield Defence & Security
• Tungsten Carbide Material Research and the Development of Armour-Piercing Small Arms Ammunition – Thomas Mauritzson, Nammo Vanäsverken AB and Manfred Wolf, Kennametal Shared Services GmbH
• FN FCU Fire Control Unit for 40mm Low Velocity Grenades – Michaël Barone, FH Herstal
• State of the Art and Future in Thermal Imaging for the Dismounted Soldier – Andreas Peterhanwahr, AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH
• The Canadian Vision of Future Small Arms – Major Bruce Gilchrist, National Defence Headquarters, Canada
• The Development of Task Specific Ammunition for Special Forces – Stephen Higgs and Allen Clarke, Primetake, Ltd.
• The Utilisation of Forensic Ballistics in the Battlespace – Andre Horne and Jack Tiernan, LGC Forensics

Accuracy International 7.62mm AX308 sniper rifle fitted with suppressor. www.accuracyinternational.com

New subject matter presented this year was the LGC Forensics “The Utilisation of Forensic Ballistics in the Battlespace” presentation, which covered forensic support in military operations in providing internationally acceptable court reports linking suspects to weapons and improvised explosive devices (IED’s), through the intelligence gathering activities of a forensic science provider.  Otherwise the main thrust of the presentations was the continuing development of sighting equipment to provide the war-fighter with an enhanced 24 hour capability across the range of equipment issued to today’s infantryman and the development of specialist small arms ammunition to further increase the effectiveness of small arms at greater ranges, particularly for the sniper.

A long-established feature of the Shrivenham Small Arms and Cannon symposia is the formal dinner held on the evening of the second day.  Long held in the adjacent Kitchener Military Officers Mess, times have moved on and the venue this year was the Steam Railway Museum of the Great Western Railway in nearby Swindon town.  The museum is situated in the renovated premises of the former Swindon Railway Works and guests were seated among the major and minor historic artifacts of the museum for an excellent four-course dinner, with pre-dinner drinks (with a chance to wander around the museum) and wine in abundance.  A good time as the British would say was had by all.

Small Arms Defense Journal would like to encourage the small arms community to lend their support to the XXVIth Small Arms & Cannon Symposium to be held in the last full week of August 2012.

Qioptiq is the largest UK manufacturer of night vision, image-intensified and surveillance optics. www.qioptiq.co.uk