Air Warrior Col. John W. Thompson - KMI Media Group

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
Boeing delivered the 40,000th Combat
Survivor Evader Locator (CSEL)
combat search and rescue communications
system to U.S. joint services,
expanding their ability to reach and
rescue isolated pilots or combat personnel.
“CSEL provides U.S. forces with
a tactical advantage by serving as a
Boeing Delivers 40,000th CSAR Comms
SureFire Wins Two
USSOCOM Contracts
SureFire LLC won two contracts from USSO-
COM for weapon lights. One pact will provide
forces with the VBL-H (Visible Bright Light-
Heavy) fire control device for the crew-served
weapon systems used by U.S. special operations
forces. The $16.6 million contract procures an
indefinite quantity of SureFire HellFighter heavygun
WeaponLights. In the second deal, USSOCOM
will obtain the Visible Bright Light III (VBL-III)
in support of the USSOCOM weapons accessories
program, under a $14.9 million indefinite quantity
agreement.
HellFighter has been used in combat operations
in both Iraq and Afghanistan and has proved
to be an effective target illuminator and searchlight,
as well as a non-lethal escalation-of-force
preventer, the company stated. In addition to
mounting to the .50 caliber M2HB, M134 Mini-
Gun, and M240-variant machine guns, Hell-
Fighter can also be hand carried as a searchlight
or mounted to a vehicle or watercraft.
In the other contract, the company will supply
new “V-Series” LED WeaponLights—the M620V
Scout Light and M720V RAID light—both of which
feature high-output white-light and infrared illumination
from the same sealed unit. Unlike incandescent
weapon-mounted lights, which require an
infrared filter to produce enough infrared illumination
for use with night vision devices, V-Series
LED lights require no IR filter. To convert from
white to IR light (or vice versa), the user need
only twist the light’s self-locking selector ring.
Work on the contracts will be performed by Sure-
Fire at their Southern California facilities and is
expected to be completed by September of 2015.
The contracts were awarded by the Naval Surface
Warfare Center, Crane Division, in Crane, Ind.
global emergency-call system for downed
personnel,” said Michael Bates, Boeing
CSEL program manager. “Rescue forces
can quickly locate, authenticate and
communicate with isolated personnel for
urgent recovery operations.”
The CSEL system uses a flexible,
modular communications architecture
over multiple satellite links for dependable,
secure communications. “This
network-centric system combines everything
downed pilots and combat forces
need in one easy-to-use, multifunction
radio,” Bates added. “Boeing is currently
working with the U.S. Air Force on nextgeneration
system improvements.”
Remington Upgrades
M24 Sniper Weapon
The Army awarded Remington Arms Co. Inc. a five-year
contract worth up to $28.2 million to upgrade as many
as 3,600 M24 sniper weapon systems. That system, now
called the M24E1, will be improved by Remington under
the firm fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity
contract. The improvement will center on converting from
the 7.62 mm NATO caliber, which is the .308 Winchester,
to the .300 Winchester Magnum, enhancing both precision
and range. Further, the upgrade will involve a new chassis
(or stock) assembly, and a folding buttstock for easier
transport and greater concealment.
Further, the improved weapon will boast a 6.5-20x50
variable power Leupold riflescope with a reticle within the
first focal plane, and a .300 Winchester Magnum bulletdrop
compensator. Other advancements include a quick
attach/detach Advanced Armament Corp. suppressor with
muzzle brake, a five-round detachable box magazine and
advanced corrosion-resistant coatings.
Jason Schauble, Remington Defense Division vice
president, explained the goal in the program. “Remington
has made significant investments in manufacturing modernization,
end-user driven research and development, and
complementary technologies to provide a wide range of
reliable, durable and maintainable small arms solutions,”
he said.
Winning in a competition this year that lasted nine
months, Winchester received the award from the Army
Joint Munitions and Lethality Contracting Center. Executing
the program will be the Project Manager Soldier Weapons
at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., and its Product Manager
Individual Weapons unit. Remington thus far has produced
almost 15,000 M24 sniper weapon systems over 22 years.
The payoff for combat troops is that the upgraded weapon
will be able to chamber a longer and more powerful round,
giving soldiers an edge in operations in Southwest Asia.
jason.schauble@remington.com
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