Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Apache Lifts Off at Balad
A AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter hovers before takeoff, Jan 3. A 30 mm automatic Boeing M230 chain gun is located under the fuselage. It provides a rate of fire of 625 rounds per minute. The helicopter has capacity for up to 1,200 rounds of ammunition. Photo by Master Sgt. John Nimmo Joint Combat Camera Center
http://strategypage.com/military_photos/military_photos_200812402858.aspx
Looking for Enemies in Iraq
A Kiowa helicopter crew searches for possible enemy activity along the Zaghytun Chay river in northern Iraq, Nov. 20
http://strategypage.com/military_photos/military_photos_200811902040.aspx
Standard Missile 3
Standard Missile-3 is being developed for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) as part of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). The Aegis BMD system integrates SM-3 with the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) aboard U.S. Navy cruisers to provide an umbrella of protection against short to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. SM-3 is compatible with the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) deployed on many U.S. Navy and international surface combatants.
As a ballistic missile threat rises above the horizon, ship’s radar acquires, begins tracking, and the weapon system begins calculating the engagement solution. Upon command from the ship’s weapon system, the SM-3 boosts out of the launcher and establishes radio communication with the ship.
After MK 72 booster burnout, the MK 104 Dual Thrust Rocket Motor (DTRM) ignites. In-flight communications from the ship guide the missile toward the predicted intercept point. After MK 104 burnout and separation, the MK 136 Third Stage Rocket Motor (TSRM) ignites, propelling the third stage out of the atmosphere. Throughout its flight, the missile continues to receive in-flight target updates from the ship to refine the intercept guidance solution. The TSRM contains two separate pulses that can be initiated to optimize the engagement timeline. During flyout, the third stage pitches over and ejects the nosecone, exposing the SM-3 Kinetic Warhead (KW). Following TSRM burnout roughly 30 seconds before intercept, the SM-3 KW separates from the third stage and immediately searches for the target based on pointing data received from the ship. The KW acquires the ballistic missile warhead with its long-wavelength imaging infrared seeker. The KW’s Solid Divert and Attitude Control System (SDACS) precisely maneuvers the KW to enable a hit-to-kill intercept. As the KW closes on the target, it will identify the lethal payload area and shift its guidance aimpoint to ensure a lethal hit, destroying the target with more than 130 megajoules of kinetic energy, or the equivalent of a 10 ton truck traveling at 600 miles per hour.
http://strategypage.com/military_photos/military_photos_200821554053.aspx
Religious Frictions In The Moslem World
May 27, 2008: The West, and non-Moslems in general, aren't the only ones suffering from the effects of Islamic extremism. It isn't just the violence of terrorists, it's the threats and harassment. Moslems suffer from this the most, and that has led to a strange revival of Christianity in Moslem nations. In Algeria, for example, the local Christian community has grown from a few hundred, to over 30,000, in the last 25 years. Moslems are looking for a change, and those that cannot get out, try and find solutions closer to home. This in spite of the fact that Islamic extremists are particularly hostile to Moslems who convert to any other religion.
During the Lebanese civil war of 1975-1990, Christians and Moslems fought bitterly over political, cultural and, ultimately, religious differences. The capital, Beirut, was divided into Christian and Moslem sections by the Green Line. The name came from the fact that in this ruble filled no man's land, only grass and weeds survived. There have been a lot more Green Lines since then. Few realized it at the time, but this war was but the first of many between Christians and Moslems in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Many of the earliest Moslem converts were Christians. And many of the peoples Moslem armies unsuccessfully sought to conquer were Christian. But Islam as a political force was in decline for several centuries until the 1970s. Then things changed, and continue to change. Islam was again on the march, and few have noticed how many places it was turning into religious war with Christians and other non-Moslems.
In Asia we have a green line between India and Pakistan. Inside India, many Moslem communities remain, and feelings aren't always neighborly. Indonesia and the Philippines suffer growing strife between Moslems and non-Moslems. Malaysia has more fanatical Moslems persecuting more laid back ones, as well as some large non-Moslem minorities. China has a large Moslem community that generates an increasing amount of violence. Russia and America have formed a curious partnership to deal with Islamic based terrorism coming out of Afghanistan. And in Chechnya, Russia faces Islamic inspired violence all alone.
Africa has a rather dusty green line south of the semi-arid Sahel region. Many African nations are split by increasingly sensitive religious differences. The Moslems are in the north, Christians and animists in the south. Nigeria, Chad and Sudan are among the more violent hot spots at the moment. Although when the Moslem Somalis stop fighting each other they will return to raiding their Christian and animist neighbors to the south and west.
The Middle East still contains many of non-Moslems. None have their own country, except for Israel. But Egypt contains five million Copts, native Christians never converted to Islam. Similar small Christian communities exist throughout the Middle East, and growing hostility from Moslem neighbors causes many to migrate, or get killed. Moslems have also turned their righteous wrath on dissident Moslem sects. The Druze and Alawites are considered by many Moslems as pagans pretending to be Moslems. Similarly, the Shias of Iran and neighboring areas are considered less orthodox not just for their admitted differences, but because many adherents openly practice customs of the pre-Islamic Zoroastrian religion. These differences are less frequently overlooked today. To survive, the many Druze have allied themselves with Israel, and most of the current Syrian leadership are Alawites who ally themselves with Shia Iran, the better to keep their majority Sunni population under control.
Even Europe as a Green Line. The Moslems in the Balkans (Albanians and Bosnians) have been a constant source of strife for the last decade. Moslem migrants in Europe face even more persecution because of all those Green Lines, and this makes it easier for radical groups to recruit and carry out their crusade against Christians.
But the Green Lines are about more than religion. A lot of it is politics. One of the reasons Islam ran out of steam centuries ago was that the Moslem areas never embraced democracy, or many kinds of political and technological change. Until the 20th century, most Moslems were ruled by colonial overlords or dictatorial tyrants. The colonies are gone, but democracy has had a hard time taking hold. The dictatorships are still there. And the people are restless. Radical Islam arose as an alternative to all the other forms of government that never seemed to work. In theory, establishing "Islamic Republics" would solve all problems. People could vote, but only Moslems in good standing could be candidates for office. A committee of Moslem holy men would have veto power over political decisions. Islamic law would be used. It was simple, and it makes sense to a lot of Moslems in nations ruled by thugs and thieves.
Islamic Republics don't seem to work. The only one that has been established (not counting others that say they are but aren't) is in Iran. The major problems were two fold. First, the radicals had too much power. Radical religious types are no fun, and you can't argue with them because they are on a mission from God. Most people tire of this in short order. To speed this disillusionment, many of the once poor and now powerful religious leaders became corrupt. This eventually sends your popularity ratings straight to hell.
It will take a generation or so for everyone in the Moslem world to figure out where all this is going. This is already happening in Iran, where moderates are getting stronger every day and everyone is trying to avoid a civil war. While the radicals are a minority, they are a determined bunch.
Radicals throughout the Moslem world continue to take advantage of dissatisfaction among the people and recruit terrorists and supporters. To help this process along they invoke the ancient grudges popular among many Moslems. Most of these legends involve Christians beating on Moslems. To most radicals it makes sense to get people agitated at far away foreigners rather than some strongman nearby.
Most radicals lack the skills, money or ability to carry their struggle to far off places. So most of the agitation takes place among Moslem populations. Any violent attitudes generated are easily directed at available non-Moslems. Thus we have all those Green Lines. But the more violence you have along those Green Lines, the more really fanatical fighters are developed. These are the people who are willing to travel to foreign lands and deal with non-believers, and kill them for the cause. We call it terrorism, the fanatics call it doing God's work. All because of religious wars in far off places.
In Europe, many Christians see Moslem migrants as poor, ignorant refugees in need of help. Many of those migrants see Christians as eventual converts to Islam. Many Moslem clerics openly preach of this. And some of these sermons remind the faithful that violence can be used to make the infidels see the errors of their Christian ways.
So it's ironic that so many Moslems back in the old country seek refuge in Christianity, often at great risk to themselves and their families.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/articles/20080527.aspx
During the Lebanese civil war of 1975-1990, Christians and Moslems fought bitterly over political, cultural and, ultimately, religious differences. The capital, Beirut, was divided into Christian and Moslem sections by the Green Line. The name came from the fact that in this ruble filled no man's land, only grass and weeds survived. There have been a lot more Green Lines since then. Few realized it at the time, but this war was but the first of many between Christians and Moslems in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Many of the earliest Moslem converts were Christians. And many of the peoples Moslem armies unsuccessfully sought to conquer were Christian. But Islam as a political force was in decline for several centuries until the 1970s. Then things changed, and continue to change. Islam was again on the march, and few have noticed how many places it was turning into religious war with Christians and other non-Moslems.
In Asia we have a green line between India and Pakistan. Inside India, many Moslem communities remain, and feelings aren't always neighborly. Indonesia and the Philippines suffer growing strife between Moslems and non-Moslems. Malaysia has more fanatical Moslems persecuting more laid back ones, as well as some large non-Moslem minorities. China has a large Moslem community that generates an increasing amount of violence. Russia and America have formed a curious partnership to deal with Islamic based terrorism coming out of Afghanistan. And in Chechnya, Russia faces Islamic inspired violence all alone.
Africa has a rather dusty green line south of the semi-arid Sahel region. Many African nations are split by increasingly sensitive religious differences. The Moslems are in the north, Christians and animists in the south. Nigeria, Chad and Sudan are among the more violent hot spots at the moment. Although when the Moslem Somalis stop fighting each other they will return to raiding their Christian and animist neighbors to the south and west.
The Middle East still contains many of non-Moslems. None have their own country, except for Israel. But Egypt contains five million Copts, native Christians never converted to Islam. Similar small Christian communities exist throughout the Middle East, and growing hostility from Moslem neighbors causes many to migrate, or get killed. Moslems have also turned their righteous wrath on dissident Moslem sects. The Druze and Alawites are considered by many Moslems as pagans pretending to be Moslems. Similarly, the Shias of Iran and neighboring areas are considered less orthodox not just for their admitted differences, but because many adherents openly practice customs of the pre-Islamic Zoroastrian religion. These differences are less frequently overlooked today. To survive, the many Druze have allied themselves with Israel, and most of the current Syrian leadership are Alawites who ally themselves with Shia Iran, the better to keep their majority Sunni population under control.
Even Europe as a Green Line. The Moslems in the Balkans (Albanians and Bosnians) have been a constant source of strife for the last decade. Moslem migrants in Europe face even more persecution because of all those Green Lines, and this makes it easier for radical groups to recruit and carry out their crusade against Christians.
But the Green Lines are about more than religion. A lot of it is politics. One of the reasons Islam ran out of steam centuries ago was that the Moslem areas never embraced democracy, or many kinds of political and technological change. Until the 20th century, most Moslems were ruled by colonial overlords or dictatorial tyrants. The colonies are gone, but democracy has had a hard time taking hold. The dictatorships are still there. And the people are restless. Radical Islam arose as an alternative to all the other forms of government that never seemed to work. In theory, establishing "Islamic Republics" would solve all problems. People could vote, but only Moslems in good standing could be candidates for office. A committee of Moslem holy men would have veto power over political decisions. Islamic law would be used. It was simple, and it makes sense to a lot of Moslems in nations ruled by thugs and thieves.
Islamic Republics don't seem to work. The only one that has been established (not counting others that say they are but aren't) is in Iran. The major problems were two fold. First, the radicals had too much power. Radical religious types are no fun, and you can't argue with them because they are on a mission from God. Most people tire of this in short order. To speed this disillusionment, many of the once poor and now powerful religious leaders became corrupt. This eventually sends your popularity ratings straight to hell.
It will take a generation or so for everyone in the Moslem world to figure out where all this is going. This is already happening in Iran, where moderates are getting stronger every day and everyone is trying to avoid a civil war. While the radicals are a minority, they are a determined bunch.
Radicals throughout the Moslem world continue to take advantage of dissatisfaction among the people and recruit terrorists and supporters. To help this process along they invoke the ancient grudges popular among many Moslems. Most of these legends involve Christians beating on Moslems. To most radicals it makes sense to get people agitated at far away foreigners rather than some strongman nearby.
Most radicals lack the skills, money or ability to carry their struggle to far off places. So most of the agitation takes place among Moslem populations. Any violent attitudes generated are easily directed at available non-Moslems. Thus we have all those Green Lines. But the more violence you have along those Green Lines, the more really fanatical fighters are developed. These are the people who are willing to travel to foreign lands and deal with non-believers, and kill them for the cause. We call it terrorism, the fanatics call it doing God's work. All because of religious wars in far off places.
In Europe, many Christians see Moslem migrants as poor, ignorant refugees in need of help. Many of those migrants see Christians as eventual converts to Islam. Many Moslem clerics openly preach of this. And some of these sermons remind the faithful that violence can be used to make the infidels see the errors of their Christian ways.
So it's ironic that so many Moslems back in the old country seek refuge in Christianity, often at great risk to themselves and their families.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/articles/20080527.aspx
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Secret Weapon Identified
The secret weapon has a name and it's 1Lt Tom "Wheels" Wheeler, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates. The F-16C (84-1223) in the picture flew 49 combat missions.
http://www.strategypage.com/humor/articles/military_jokes_2004617.asp
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Osprey Night Mission
CENTRAL IRAQ (Feb. 2, 2008) An MV-22 Osprey vertical-lift aircraft is refueled before a night mission in central Iraq. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joe Kane
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/military_photos_200826234832.aspx
Foward Operating Base Salerno
An M777 howitzer fires off rounds during a training exercise on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Feb. 28. The howitzer is manned by artillermen from the 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, 18th Fires Brigade. Photo by Spc. Micah Clare 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/military_photos_200831615212.aspx
F-117 Last Refueling
A pair of specially painted F-117 Nighthawks fly off from their last refueling by the Ohio National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing. The F-117s were retired March 11 in a farewell ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Kim Frey)
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/military_photos_200804132219.aspx
F/A-18 Escorts Bear
PACIFIC (Feb. 2, 2008) An F/A-18 Hornet from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) escorts a Russian Tu-95 Bear, long rang bomber aircraft on Feb. 9, 2008 south of Japan. The bomber neared the vicinity of the carrier resulting in the fighter intercept. Nimitz was transiting through the Western Pacific on a regularly scheduled deployment when the incident occurred. U.S. Navy Photo
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/military_photos_200821223417.aspx
Rapid-Reaction Force Afghanistan
March 05, 2008 Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, Task Force Gladius, wait for another CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Forward Operating Base Morales-Frasier, Afghanistan. The Soldiers will fly to Surobi District to protect a CH-47 that made a hard landing there, until mechanics can certify it safe to fly. Photo by Sgt. Johnny R. Aragon
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/military_photos_200838231733.aspx
North Korean Runway
North Korea is building a 6,000 foot runway, that is partially inside a mountain, just north of the DMZ. Google Earth shows that construction of the runway is still underway.
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/20080429233050.aspx
Aggressors on the Prowl
Two F-15 Eagles fly in formation with an F-22 Raptor April 24 during a support mission near Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The F-15s act as "aggressors" to replicate potential adversary air force capabilities, tactics, training and equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Scott Reed)
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/2008050304013.aspx
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Australian Defence Budget Not Enough to Sustain Asia-Pacific Operations
02 May 2008 14:44
The Australian Government's defence budget is not large enough to sustain the country's current commitments in the Asia-Pacific, a former senior advisor says.
Professor Hugh White, who advised the government in the 1980s and is now at thinktank the Lowy Institute, told Radio Australia the government needs to spend more wisely on air and sea weaponry so it can keep launching independent operations in the Asia-Pacific.
"Air and maritime capabilities will be the heart of Australia's strategic weight in Asia," he says.
"To my mind, in particular, that will require large-scale investments in combat aircraft and the systems that support them and in submarines."
The Australian Government is writing the first defence whitepaper in eight years on what military operations the armed forces will undertake in the future.
By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh
http://www.army-technology.com/news/news4694.html
The Australian Government's defence budget is not large enough to sustain the country's current commitments in the Asia-Pacific, a former senior advisor says.
Professor Hugh White, who advised the government in the 1980s and is now at thinktank the Lowy Institute, told Radio Australia the government needs to spend more wisely on air and sea weaponry so it can keep launching independent operations in the Asia-Pacific.
"Air and maritime capabilities will be the heart of Australia's strategic weight in Asia," he says.
"To my mind, in particular, that will require large-scale investments in combat aircraft and the systems that support them and in submarines."
The Australian Government is writing the first defence whitepaper in eight years on what military operations the armed forces will undertake in the future.
By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh
http://www.army-technology.com/news/news4694.html
WATCHKEEPER UAV Completes First Flight
07 May 2008 14:19
Thales UK says its WATCHKEEPER unmanned air vehicle (UAV), developed for the UK Ministry of Defence, has completed its first flight.
WATCHKEEPER will provide the UK armed forces with an essential intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability, and will be a key component of the UK's network enabled capability.
Thales will deliver equipment, training and facilities, with the capability coming into service from 2010.
Managing Director of Thales UK's aerospace business Richard Deakin says 2008 is an important year for the programme as it will also see the testing and integration of the automatic take-off and landing system, the I-Master radar and EO/IR/LTD payloads.
"The I-Master radar flight trials have been extremely encouraging," he says.
"The SAR imagery seen in the initial trials is outstanding and testing the GMTI functionality has just commenced.
"The combination of these sensors operating in a networked manner will certainly provide a transformational step in ISTAR capability for the UK armed forces."
By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh
http://www.army-technology.com/news/news4725.html
Thales UK says its WATCHKEEPER unmanned air vehicle (UAV), developed for the UK Ministry of Defence, has completed its first flight.
WATCHKEEPER will provide the UK armed forces with an essential intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability, and will be a key component of the UK's network enabled capability.
Thales will deliver equipment, training and facilities, with the capability coming into service from 2010.
Managing Director of Thales UK's aerospace business Richard Deakin says 2008 is an important year for the programme as it will also see the testing and integration of the automatic take-off and landing system, the I-Master radar and EO/IR/LTD payloads.
"The I-Master radar flight trials have been extremely encouraging," he says.
"The SAR imagery seen in the initial trials is outstanding and testing the GMTI functionality has just commenced.
"The combination of these sensors operating in a networked manner will certainly provide a transformational step in ISTAR capability for the UK armed forces."
By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh
http://www.army-technology.com/news/news4725.html
Monday, May 5, 2008
G36 Rifles
It has often been said by weapons experts that there are very few new developments on the small arms horizon that are truly revolutionary; that we have reached a plateau. Though the G11 project is dead, and was certainly a harbinger of what is possible over the horizon, the G36 is a combination of old and new, tried and true that when combined makes for the further refinement of the small arms maker's art. Instead of starting from scratch with totally new design, the engineers at HK, led by the young and rising star Ernst Mauch, through the early years of the 1990s made what was internally called the HK50. It now carries the Bundeswehr designation G36.
A first departure from the signature HK operating system, roller delayed blowback, the G36 is gas operated.
They borrowed from other tried and proven designs. There is the short gas system reminiscent of the Kalashnikov and FAL designs. The rotating bolt of the M16 series. The bolt carrier of the AR18. The folding stock of the FAL and SIG 550 series. But in the newest refinement of the gunmaker's art with respect to military rifles, the extensive use of polymer throughout the rifle makes it lighter and more corrosion resistant; two qualities essential to the soldier.
The G36 is a reliable rifle, much more so than the M16 series. Though hard core M16 and AR-15 aficionados will have a difficult time accepting what they might describe derisively as 'Euro-Trash,' there is no denying the fact that the G36 rarely, if ever, jams. The most desirable departure from the M16 design is the fact that the gas used to operate the action is vented in the forearm, and not blown back into the action like the 'exhaust pipe' of the M16 gas tube. The G36 jams so rarely that HK has said that they have a G36K that has been fired more than 25,000 rounds without cleaning and no failures. I defy an M16 to duplicate that.
Though it would be doubtful that the G36 would ever replace the M16 for the U.S. military, it is taking off in the U.S. law enforcement community. Why not? Quality is in high demand.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
MP5 The standard by which all others are judged. Cal. 9mm x 19 NATO
It is simply an opinion, but one shared by the majority of tactical teams at all levels in the United States. You can sense it the first time that you fire one. The MP5 is the culmination of countless efforts to blend reliability, controllability and firepower into a small package. With the MP5, that design objective has been achieved. The MP5 is that by which all other designs are judged.
Appearing in countless movies of late, it does not have the catchy name of some guns that have been demonized by the press and some politicians, who quake in fear at the mere mention of names like 'Uzi' or 'Tec 9' or 'MAC 10.' Your average street criminal might not know what to call the greatest submachine gun ever designed. Chances are, if you laid one down next to a Tec 9 and asked the criminal to choose one, he might opt for the Tec. So much for good taste. There are many photographs of the MP5. I will share some of my favorites with you here. Just for the record, many published articles designate the MP5 as thus: "MP-5." Not correct. There is no hyphen.
MP5 Timeline From "Project 64" by Frank W. James
1964: HK designer Tilo Möller, Manfred Guhring, Georg Seidl and Helmut Baureuter start design work on "Project 64" --the beginning of the MP5.
1966: The first production MP5 is officially introduced, but by mid-1966, the German Border Police adopt the MP5. Also the first foreign sale was to the Swiss Procurement Department for Arms when the Swiss Police adopt the MP5.
1968: The first blank-firing attachments made for the MP5.
1971: First series of modifications and improvements made to the MP5:
* Serrations removed from bolt group.
* Trigger pull lightened for improved accuracy
* Bolt carrier shortened from previous long extension carrier
* Ejection port lengthened (front to back) and a piece riveted to the rear portion to lower the profile and improve case ejection.
1972: Radius changed on chamber from 2mm to 2.5 mm for improved feeding.
1973: The synthetic trigger housing was strengthened with glass fiber.
* The pistol grip changed from the closed, glued on end cap to the hollow open design extant even today.
* The shape of the buttplate is changed from convex to concave
* The scope mounting points are added to the top of the stamped steel receiver for use with the HK quick-detach scope mounting system.
* The R3/3 sling system is introduced.
1974: The first prototype for the MP5SD is designed and built
1975: A new cocking lever is designed for the MP5
1976: The MP5K or Kurz model is developed at the request of a South American sales representative of HK.
1977: A special lacquer coating is developed for increased corrosion resistance on guns sold for export.
1978: Testing begins on the special MP5K firing briefcase.
1978: The rubber buffer is added to the retractable sliding buttstock.
1978: Extensive environmental testing iis completed on the new retractable buttstock.
1978: The tropical or "Export" forearm is tested.
1978: Testing of the new MP5 extractor spring completed.
1979: New MP5 Extractor spring introduced. For identity purposes, it is copper colored.
1980: Bushings in the rear of the MP5 receiver are strengthened by a different welding process.
1982: A new three round burst trigger group with four settings and a polymer housing is introduced.
1983: A special locked bolt version of the MP5SD is tested.
1984: The MP5PT is introduced. Designed specifically for use solely with Dynamit Nobel's plastic training ammo, it cannot fire live ammunition.
1985: Comparison testing conducted between the standard MP5SD and different versions of the SMGI, SMGII and MP2000.
1988: The "Maritim" MP5 is introduced. The Maritim is a special MP5 designed for a saltwater environment. It features special corrosion resistant coatings and finishes.
1988: Chamber flutes are installed by an EDM process, instead of broaching. Additionally, the number of chamber flutes is increased from 12 to 16.
1989: The height of the ejector is raised by .5 mm.
1989: The SP89 is introduced.
1989: Manufacture of the retractable buttstock is changed, with the buttplate being molded onto the buttstock metal.
1990: A special "SEF" trigger group is introduced that "locks out" the full auto function. Full auto fire is achieved when the right end of the safety lever is depressed, to allow the safety/selector lever to the full auto setting.
1991: Improvements made to the bolt head and chamber face. Also the contact moment was changed on the ejector in relation to the bolt group.
1991: The roller holder is changed from the flat plate to a spring or wire type holder previously seen on the HK23E.
1991: Angle on the locking piece for the MP5SD is changed from 120 degrees to 115 degrees.
1991: The PDW folding stock is developed by HK Inc. in the U.S. for personal defense and VIP protection details. When fitted to the MP5K, it allows the short MP5K to be fired from the shoulder, greatly enhancing accuracy.
1992: The MP5 in 10mm Auto and .40 S&W is introduced.
1999: The MP5F is developed and introduced.
2000: The MP5/10 and MP5/40 are discontinued.
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