Infidel-6 said:
Seems the Army in its infinite wisdom :
has decided there is no doctrine for a DM system and the AR10's and C7CT's are no longer to be procured.
DLR is aboout inside the box (and they prefer it closed with the light off..) as you can get...
Kev,
Don't be so sure. Despite all DLR institutional intent to the contrary, the low-shoe-wearing, completely-out-of-touch-with-operational-reality DLR types have apparently been sorted out WRT the AR-10s. Just last night I was told by someone who definitely knows, that certain DLR types have been been given a big (figurative) wedgie from the field force, and been told by the Army's leadershp (who are now thankfully listening to the coal-face) to get on with rebarrelling the existing AR-10 fleet. "42 Enemy KIA" appears to have provided some justification for sustainment of the AR-10 fleet pending a "better" DLR solution.....
The "Sniper" versus "Designated Marksman" debate continues to rage. Which is a good thing, provided that we finally reach institutional consensus after 10-odd years of debating the issue. But for now, the in-theatre value of the AR-10 and the maintenance of same appears to be a "done deal". As it ought to be.
On a related note, DLR may not have yet received their "marching orders" regarding the Tactical Vest, but the time is fast approaching based on 3 PPCLI's impending CLS-directed trial of a variety of COTS tac vests. C Coy 3 VP (TF 1-07) had a fortuitous visit fom MGen Leslie recently, during which the manifest shortcomings of the existing vest were pointed out in no uncertain terms by the rank and file. To the CLS's credit, he immediately (as in right there, right then) authorized a "buy and try" of COTS vests for C Coy. The DLR "Soldier Systems" types wedded to their personal pet project were predictably in a snit. To frigging bad. The trial is going to happen, and good things are on the horizon. 3 PPCLI's fully UCR-documented complaints regarding the inadequacies of the Tac Vest (submitted 2 years ago, and never acknowledged by DLR) are about to be superseded by CLS-directed COTS trials. That is a good thing, if long overdue. I suspect that with MGen Leslie in charge, DLR are about to be summed the frig up. Lets not forget that these are the same operationally-disconnected staff weenies who have in recent years champioined removal of the .50 HMG and 60mm mortar from the Infantry inventory. Only to see those same systems employed (and shown on network news) as essential enablers during current operations.... :
Good things are happening, despite entrenched institutional idiocy. Keep the faith.