MCSC Articles

Marine Corps searches for new hard armor plate to lighten the load August 15, 2018 — The Marine Corps has released a request for information for a lightweight hard armor plate to lighten the load for Marines and allow commanders to adapt to the environment, mission and threat on the battlefield. Marine Corps Systems Command will assess industry’s capability to make a plate that would supplement the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert, or ESAPI plates, and provide sufficient protection for low intensity threat environments. Vendors should be able to produce a minimum of 40,000 lightweight armor plates within a year of First Article Test approval, which is expected 180 days after contract award. MORE

Harvested HMMWV parts will save Corps millions, increase survivability of JLTV July 24, 2018 — A harvesting effort by Program Executive Officer Land Systems and Marine Corps Systems Command could save the Corps millions and make one of its newest vehicles more survivable. The Gunner’s Protection Kit, managed by Infantry Weapons within MCSC’s Portfolio Manager Ground Combat Equipment Systems, is currently installed on High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. As a cost-savings measure, the kits will be removed from HMMWVs and installed on Joint Light Tactical Vehicles as they are fielded to the fleet next year. Using harvested parts instead of buying new potentially saves the Corps more than $100 million. MORE

Marine Corps explores graywater capability to reduce logistical footprint July 19, 2018 — When it comes to Marines and their equipment, the Marine Corps is focused on the concepts of smaller, faster, lighter and modular. The Fuel and Water Systems Team at Marine Corps Systems Command put this focus into action in the spring when it explored graywater recycling aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, with Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 25. MORE

MCTSSA supports live-fire exercise with 5th Battalion 11th Marines July 12, 2018 — Technical experts from Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity tested various communications systems in support of Marine Corps operating forces during ongoing exercises in May and June. MCTSSA engineers and Marines with 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, evaluated pathways for passing digital targeting information from joint systems to the M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, which culminated in a successful live-fire event at Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah, June 21. MORE

MCSC introduces students to STEM possibilities July 5, 2018 — More than 40 students from Quantico Middle/High School participated in the 8th annual Quantico Summer Science, Technology, Engineering and Math—or STEM—Academy June 25-29 aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The camp, hosted through a partnership between the school and Marine Corps Systems Command, gave sixth through eighth graders the opportunity to get hands-on experience through various STEM challenges. MORE

Marine Corps adds MV-22 Osprey to Networking On-the-Move family of systems June 28, 2018 — Marine Corps Systems Command is enhancing Marines’ ability to communicate in the air with a new iteration of Networking On-the-Move, or NOTM. In May 2015, the first NOTM-Airborne Increment I (also known as the Hatch-Mounted Satellite Communication Antenna System) was fielded to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces. It provides embarked ground personnel real-time access to networks during airborne operations aboard KC-130 aircraft. The capability enabled mission commanders to conduct en route planning and execution across several types of missions. MORE

Marine Corps Systems Command awards contract to produce ACV June 19, 2018 — Marine Corps Systems Command awarded a contract to produce Amphibious Combat Vehicles—a much-needed modernization to the Marine Corps’ ground combat element. Following a successful Milestone C decision by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, the contract options worth $198 million will allow BAE Systems to build 30 low rate production vehicles, which will start delivering in the fall of next year. These vehicles will begin the transition of a portion of the Assault Amphibious Vehicle fleet. MORE

Next gen binoculars increase survivability for Recon, EOD Marines June 18, 2018 — Marines will have better situational awareness on missions in dark areas thanks to new night vision goggles. The Binocular Night Vision Goggle II, or BNVG II, is a helmet-mounted binocular that gives operators improved depth perception at night, and uses white phosphor Image Intensification technology to amplify ambient light, with a modular thermal imaging overlay capability. BNVG II helps Marines identify potential buried explosive devices, find hidden objects within foliated areas and safely conduct tasks that require depth perception. MORE

On-the-move communications system set to field this fall June 5, 2018 — Marine Corps Systems Command is improving the way Marines communicate with a reliable and convenient on-the-move system. The Mobile User Objective System, or MUOS, is a narrowband satellite communication system that uses commercial cell phone technology to increase access to voice and data communication while on the battlefield. The Marine Corps will be the first service to widely deploy the system as it has already fielded thousands of MUOS-capable AN/PRC-117G radios over the previous six years. Ultimately, the firmware within the radios will be updated to support the MUOS waveform and three new antenna kits will be added to support multiple operational configurations. MORE

Corps to award sole source orders for cold weather boots and socks June 1, 2018 — Marines will stay warm during ambient cold weather operations with new boots and socks. Marine Corps Systems Command intends to award sole source purchase orders for two types of Intense Cold Weather Boots and Intense Cold Weather Socks to improve Marines’ performance in cold weather environments. A total of 2,000 boots and 50,000 pairs of socks will be delivered from four vendors by Sept. 28. MORE

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