04 Jan 12. S-400 deployment in Kaliningrad planned. The latest round of
‘missile diplomacy’ intended to display Russian opposition to the deployment of NATO missile defences in Europe has included plans for the forward deployment of long-range defensive systems and radars. The air defences of the Kaliningrad enclave are to be upgraded by the deployment of S-400 Triumf (SA-21 ‘Growler’) series surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), according to recent official Russian statements. (Source: Jane’s, JMR)

04 Jan 12. Pentagon calls time on airborne laser experiment. The US
Department of Defense (DoD) has decided to end development of the Boeing
YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed (ALTB). A Boeing spokeswoman told Jane’s that the company would focus “over the next few months” on long-term storage of the 747-400F aircraft and its weaponry, as well as “preservation of critical intellectual capital” for use in other potential directed-energy programmes. The Airborne Laser (ABL) programme, as it was previously known, was established by the US Air Force (USAF) in 1996. (Source: Jane’s, JMR)

04 Jan 12. USMC begins fielding of IMTV. The US Marine Corps (USMC) has
begun fielding new Improved Modular Tactical Vest (IMTV) body armour systems that are intended to replace its legacy MTVs. In November 2011 marines began fielding the vests in response to an ‘urgent universal needs statement’, USMC spokesperson Lieutenant Jamie Larson told Jane’s. (Source: Jane’s, JDW)

12 Jan 12. Silynx Communications, Inc. announced the launch of
its new, state-of-the-art 20m immersible hearing protection/enhancement headset system, the H2Ops. Derived from Silynx’s combat proven C4OPS, the H2Ops is a modular headset designed for maritime, urban and covert missions. This dynamic product includes a new 20m immersible low profile micro wireless Push To Talk (PTT) designed to fit on a Picatinny rail or MOLLE vest. In addition to the H2Ops, Silynx’s products include the C4OPS, the Micro C4OPS, and the smart C4Grip. The smart C4Grip is a 2m immersible assault rifle smart forward grip with a Surefire ® IR/VIS KM2 flashlight head. As an enhancement to the C4OPS, the C4Grip incorporates built-in wireless PTT and controls to activate laser aiming devices, the Surefire ® KM2 Flashlight Head, and tactical radios, thus reducing weight and cable clutter on the weapon. The combat-proven C4OPS and Micro C4OPS have been widely used in the past 3 years and adopted by US Special Operations Forces (US SOF), NATO Special Forces, FBI SWAT, and the Land 200 Australian Modernisation Program. The C4OPS is a recent addition to the U.S. Army’s FY12 Rapid Fielding Initiative Equipment List.