24 May 12. A military utility assessment held at Fort Benning, Ga., in September 2011 has concluded that all participating Soldiers immediately noticed the reduced weight of a prototype light machine gun and most would prefer it to the current squad automatic weapon used in battle. The light machine gun, known as the LMG, is part of the Lightweight Small Arms Technologies, or LSAT, program at the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal. In September 2011, nearly 20 Soldiers participated in a two-week assessment of the LMG. The purpose of that event was to help engineers and developers understand and validate any adjustments or improvements the weapon and its unique ammunition may need from the perspective of the warfighter. Another purpose was to demonstrate its potential impact on mission effectiveness. The results of the study conducted by the Maneuver Battle Lab at Fort Benning were presented March 13 to a group of military and civilian personnel interested in the program during an LSAT Leadership Familiarization Shoot at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. Last year’s military utility assessment, or MUA, demonstrated the advantages that the LMG provides for the warfighter, and helped in developing a Capability Development Document , or CDD. A CDD is required before the system can transition to a program of record and enter the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the acquisition life cycle. More than 25,000 rounds were fired from eight prototype LMG’s during the assessment. Participating Soldiers overwhelmingly preferred the LMG to the M249
SAW, which is the machine gun currently used in Afghanistan. Fifteen of the 19 Soldiers who participated stated that, if given a choice, they would rather take the LMG to war over the M249. The study also revealed a significant reduction in the time it took the Soldiers to zero the LMG compared to the M249 SAW. Zeroing the weapon means customizing it for a more accurate shot since each weapon is unique and no two are exactly the same. The Soldiers had to qualify on a known distance range with both the SAW and the LMG. One Soldier repeatedly failed to meet qualification standards while firing the SAW, but passed on the first try with the LMG. Compared to the M249 SAW, the light machine gun is 21.5 pounds (41 percent) lighter for the gunner, and there is a 12 percent reduction in ammunition volume. This decrease in weight was evident when all the Soldiers maneuvered the woodland obstacle course faster while carrying
(Source: US Army/ASD Network)

25 May 12. MoD in the UK buys Clip-Lok box for RWS. Clip-Lok UK has supplied the UK MoD with a bespoke designed box for the transportation of a remote weapons station. Managing director of Clip-Lok SimPak UK, James Milne, was approached by a REME armorer who was responsible for the servicing of the RWS unit. Realizing that the Clip-Lok reusable box might provide an ideal answer to his need to move the system between his armory and place of use, he asked whether Clip-Lok could suggest a reusable solution. He was interested in Clip-Lok because the plywood used in a Clip-Lok box is weatherproof, extremely durable and certified as being environmentally friendly. Even with pressure, vibration, impact, stacking etc. the boxes can be used over and over – typically over 100 transports with normal handling. And customized loading plans and flatpack returns reduce costs and pollution. When loaded, the boxes can be stacked saving costs on transport. When emptied, the box can be flat-packed in just a few minutes. This reduces the box volume to a minimum, saving costs on return shipment and storage. Another reason the customer was interested in a Clip-Lok solution, is that the Clip-Lok box is built with heavy-duty plywood panels manufactured to bespoke sizes, and held together with strong and durable spring steel clips. Custom designed dunnage keeps heavy equipment secure and stable within the box. The top a