One of the more widely used air defense systems in NATO countries is the National Advanced Surface-to-Air System or NASAMS. The system is owned by 12 countries for homeland defense and for integrated air defense capability. The NASAMS are used to identify, engage, and destroy aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.

The NASAMS reached an operational capability in 1994 and was first deployed by the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The short- to medium-range system can engage targets beyond visual range. It is armed with three launchers, each carrying up to six missiles. It is a reloadable system. There are three primary components of the NASAMS – the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar, the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), and the Fire Distribution Center (FDC). The missile launchers can be positioned as much as 20 kilometers away and can be dispersed providing an extended area coverage.

The Department of Defense announced in July 2022 that it would supply two NASAMS to Ukraine for its air defense mission. It was announced in August 2022 that a total of eight NASAMS would be sent to Ukraine. The first system arrived in Ukraine in early November. Currently two of the systems are operational in Ukraine. The DoD has awarded a $1.2 billion contract for the manufacture of the six NASAMS; however, there may be a two-year wait for the production to be completed. The United States is attempting to persuade NATO and Middle Eastern nations to send some of their NASAMS to Ukraine. This would avoid the two-year wait for the six additional NASAMS to be manufactured.

The NASAMS has performed very well in Ukraine. On the first two days it was deployed the system shot down 25 incoming missiles with 25 interceptors. The Norwegian military provided the initial training of the Ukrainian operators. Yet to come is the training on how to do the maintenance and repair work. Since it is a complicated system, so maintenance will need to be done outside of Ukraine.

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References:

National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), Congressional Research Service, CRS IF12230, December 1, 2022, PDF, 3 pages.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12230

NASAMS, Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASAMS

“US Trying to Persuade More Allies to Send NASAMS Missiles to Ukraine, Raytheon CEO Says”, by Marcus Weisgerber, Defense One, December 1, 2022.

Photo: National Air Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). Photo Raytheon Missile & Defense.

By Nick Jacobellis.

There are three war fighting and crime fighting shotguns that continue to serve in a front-line capacity. Even though more rifles and handguns are carried by armed professionals, shotguns also continue to serve in a front-line capacity and serve well. The use of shotguns in police work goes back to the days of the old west, when lawmen augmented their armament, by carrying a double barrel/side by side shotgun. Many of these shotguns had barrels that were cut back, or shortened in length, to make them easier to wield in close quarters.

During World War I, 12 gauge shotguns known as “trench guns” were carried and used by certain U.S. troops. The shotgun was such a feared weapon, that Germany formally protested the use of these firearms by American troops. Needless to say, the German complaint was ignored and the Americans continued to carry their issued shotguns, while fighting in the trenches.

In the period known as the Roaring Twenties, Prohibition and the Gangster Era, law enforcement officers in the U.S. also included shotguns in their armories for a reason. During World War II, the United States in particular, once again made 12 gauge shotguns available for use by their military personnel.

A very interesting true story about the use of shotguns during World War II, is documented in author and U.S.M.C. Lt. Colonel Kerry Lane’s book entitled, Guadalcanal Marine. In this book, Lt. Colonel Lane documents how he ended up electing to carry a pump action 12 gauge shotgun, when he was preparing for the invasion of Cape Glouster. According to Lt. Colonel Lane, Colonel Chesty Puller made it possible for him to do so, because Colonel Puller requested 10,000 rounds of 12 gauge buckshot ammunition, for use by the U.S. Marines, who were expected to take part in the up coming invasion of Cape Glouster. When a U.S. Army General from the Quartermaster Corps questioned the reason why Colonel Puller requested such a large number of shotgun shells, a Marine Lieutenant reportedly responded and said, “To Kill Japanese.” When the Army General informed this Marine Lieutenant, that it was a violation of the Geneva Convention, to use shotguns loaded with buckshot ammunition in combat, the Marine officer, who was acting under the instructions of Colonel Puller, informed the Army General, that “Colonel Puller didn’t give a damn about the Geneva Convention any more than the Japanese did when they bombed Pearl Harbor.”

After having served on Guadalcanal, Colonel Puller knew how intense fighting in the jungle could be. As a result, he obviously respected the fighting qualities of a pump action shotgun, as well as the stopping power of 00 Buckshot ammunition. It is important to note, that at that time, shotgun ammunition / “shells” that were manufactured for wartime use, were made of brass. This was done, because the alternative at the time, was to use a heavy paper/cardboard to construct the cases that contained the actual steel pellets. Even though this manufacturing process made wartime shotgun ammunition heavier to carry and more expensive to make, using brass cases made shotgun ammunition able to withstand exposure to harsh operating conditions.

In the post war years, British troops carried semi-automatic 12 gauge Browning Auto 5 shotguns during the Malayan Emergency. During the Vietnam War, various 12 gauge shotguns were once again pressed into service and were carried by certain front line U.S. troops, as well as by other personnel.

Shotguns known as “Riot Guns” were also widely used by U.S. law enforcement officers before the widespread adoption of the “patrol rifle.” During the Miami Vice Era of the Drug War, I carried two different government issued 12 gauge Parkerized Remington Model 870 pump action shotguns. One was a standard 870 with an 18-inch barrel and the other was an 870 with a cut down 14-inch barrel. Between these two variants I preferred the 870 with the shorter barrel, because this model was better suited for vessel boarding operations and clearing rooms. When I flew drug interdiction missions in U.S. Customs aircraft, including in a Black Hawk helicopter, I occasionally carried an issued Remington 870 with an 18-inch barrel, when I wasn’t carrying my government issued Colt CAR15. I also owned two Parkerized Ithaca Model 37 12 gauge pump action shotguns; one with wood “furniture” and one with a pistol grip.

Bear in mind, that back in the day, we used standard velocity 12 gauge 00 Buckshot, Number 4 Buckshot and Rifled Slugs. We did so, because Reduced Recoil shotgun ammunition was not available at that time. It was also in the last two decades of the 20th Century, that 12 gauge Mossberg pump action shotguns started to become increasingly more popular with legally armed citizens and law enforcement agencies/individual officers. This was especially the case, after Mossberg shotguns were adopted by the U.S. Armed Forces. In fact, Mossberg pump action shotguns were the only 12 gauge shotguns, that were able to meet the extremely demanding U.S. Armed Forces Military Specifications (Mil Spec) 3443 requirements. This was achieved, because all three Mossberg pump action models (the 500, 590, and the 590A1) have complete parts compatibility and were able to pass a grueling 3000 round 00 Buckshot endurance test. Mossberg Model 500, 590 and 590A1 pump action shotguns met these rather rigorous standards back in 1979.

From the Desert War in Iraq Through the Global War on Terrorism

Even though Mossberg shotguns were a proven design by the late 1980s, the reputation of the Mossberg Model 500, 590 and 590A1 skyrocketed to an all-time high, when these amazing pump action 12 gauge firearms were subjected to the rigors of desert warfare. It was during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, that Mossberg Mil Spec shotguns passed one of the most grueling environmental tests imaginable. This occurred when numerous Model 500, 590 and 590A1s remained operational under some of the most adverse operating conditions imaginable. I am of course referring to Mossberg Mil Spec shotguns being used by U.S. military personnel in a very sandy environment.

The use of pump action Mossberg Mil Spec shotguns continued into the 21st Century, when the United States became involved in The Global War on Terrorism; a conflict that involved U.S. and Coalition/Allied Forces fighting once again in Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan. Just as in prior combat deployments, Mossberg shotguns were utilized by force protection personnel, for riot control, for personal protection and as a breaching device. This last application was essential for U.S. military personnel, while searching for high value targets and while conducting urban warfare, where it was essential to quickly gain access to locked buildings and rooms. A pump action Mossberg shotgun in the hands of military personnel were also ideally suited to be used in Close Quarters Battle situations. Mossberg Mil Spec shotguns also served at sea onboard U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels and have held up to another type of harsh operating conditions, involving the continuous exposure to salt air and water.

After the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01, tens of thousands of Mossberg M500, 590, and 590A1 12 gauge shotguns served with distinction during The Global War on Terrorism. Mossberg Mil Spec shotguns continue to serve in a front-line capacity in 2022, with a large number being provided to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

To give you a better idea of the popularity of Mossberg Model 500, 590 and 590A1 Shotguns, the following is a rather impressive list of nations, that utilize these outstanding firearms, in various law enforcement and or military applications: The United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Bermuda, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Iceland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta, Belarus, Serbia, Mongolia, Georgia, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, Chad, Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Rwanda, Somalia, Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Lesotho, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Myanmar, Laos, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Fiji and New Zealand.

Field Testing Mossberg’s Top Go To War Shotgun

Because tens of thousands of Mossberg 12 gauge Mil Spec shotguns earned their stripes while being carried in two different desert wars, as well as in the harsh operating conditions of Afghanistan, I conducted my field test with a 590A1 SPX in high desert terrain. During this evaluation, standard velocity 00 Buckshot, Number 4 Buckshot, Rifled Slugs, Reduced Recoil 00 Buckshot and Reduced Recoil Rifled Slugs were fired through a Mossberg 590A1 SPX. I decided to feature a 590A1 SPX in this review, because this particular firearm is THE MOST well-equipped Mil Spec pump action shotgun on the market today.

Here’s why:

The Mossberg M590A1 SPX Model is equipped with an excellent set of Ghost Ring Sights, that includes a very easy to acquire front sight blade, that is fitted with an orange insert. While I have never had a problem using a front bead sight on pump action shotguns, the high viz Ghost Ring Sights on the 590A1 SPX make this shotgun more user friendly, especially when shooting Rifled Slugs. The rubber pad on the end of the polymer stock is also well designed and helps absorb the sharper recoil that’s produced by standard velocity shotgun ammunition. When using Reduced Recoil ammunition, the 590A1 SPX is even more comfortable to shoot.

The 590A1 SPX also has an 8 plus one round capacity and is very easy to keep loaded, if you have been properly trained to use a tube fed shotgun in a Close Quarters Battle Situation. In order to help the action operate smoothly, when you break in a new shotgun, I highly recommend that you apply some Ballistol, or some other lubricant on the rails.

The SPX is also fitted with a double walled 20-inch barrel, a Parkerized Finish and a bayonet lug. Even though the 590A1 SPX Model is fitted with a 20-inch doubled wall barrel, this model is very well balanced and weighs 7 pounds unloaded, which is lighter than other pump shotguns that have fewer features. This includes other pump action shotguns that have slightly shorter barrels. That’s impressive.

One of the reasons why I am a huge fan of the 590A1 SPX, is because this shotgun is manufactured with a factory applied Parkerized Finish. I developed a profound respect for a Parkerized Finish, after seeing how well numerous firearms with a Parkerized Finish were protected from corrosion, after years of service in harsh operating conditions.

Closing Remarks

The record speaks for itself. Mossberg Mil Spec pump action 12 gauge shotguns have reliably served with tremendous distinction, in some of the most demanding conditions imaginable for over 40 years. As a result of this outstanding track record, I decided to add a Mossberg 590A1 SPX model shotgun to my battery of personal defense weapons. If you are in the market for a 12 gauge pump action shotgun, it will definitely be worth your time, to examine the lineup of Mossberg Mil Spec shotguns.

Author: Nick Jacobellis is a Medically Retired U.S. Customs Agent and a former NY police officer who was physically disabled in the line of duty while working undercover as a federal agent. To date, the author has published 221 magazine articles and ten action-packed non-fiction, historical military fiction, and fiction police procedural books: Controlled Delivery Books One and Two, The Frontline Fugitives Books I, II, III, and IV, Buck Banderas U.S. Marshal Books One, Two and Three, A Special Kind of Hero and The K9 Academy-The Second Edition. These books have received 5 Star reviews and are available on Amazon.com (US) and (UK). The author was born and raised in Flatbush section of Brooklyn N.Y. and has an BS Degree in Police Science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Photo: Photo of author testing a Mossberg 590-A1 12 Gauge Pump Action Mil Spec Shotgun. Photo by Rick Batory, 2022.

Article: This article was previously published by ARGunners.com. Republished with the permission of the author and ARGunners.com.

Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) has demonstrated its use of the palletized Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) from one of its MC-130J Commando IIs. The Rapid Dragon missile system was showcased on November 9, 2022 in the sea area off the coast of Northern Norway. The long-range, precision-guided cruise missiles were dropped on a pallet by a parachute from a MC-130J Commando II. The intent of the demonstration which showcases some enhanced capabilities is to deter Russian aggression and expansionist behavior.

The event was part of the Atreus exercise held near the Arctic region. The Atreus exercise involves several participating nations – among them Poland, Romania, Norway, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The Atreus series began in April 2021 to identify and conduct training opportunities for U.S., NATO allies and partners.

The launching aircraft was from the 352nd Special Operations Wing. The site of the launch was at Norway’s Andoya Space Defense Range. A parachute attached to the deployment box is tossed out of the back of the MC-130. The parachute deploys and pulls the pallet out of the aircraft. The initial deployment parachute is cut away and four more parachutes then deploy. Once the load is stabilized by the four parachutes, the missile is released in a downward direction. In a matter of seconds, the missile’s wings and tail deploy and engine turns on. The cruise missile is then on its way to the target area.

#BREAKING video from 352nd Special Operations Wing successful test fire of a palletized Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). Successful extraction of deployment box, release of JASSM with wing extension, and motor engagement during exercise #ATREUS22 #SOFinEurope pic.twitter.com/3hLcXDJ3bl

— US Spec Ops Europe (@US_SOCEUR) November 9, 2022

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References:

Photo: A palletized effects system falls from the cargo hold of a 352d Special Operations Wing MC-130J Commando II during a live-fire demonstration for ATREUS 22-4 at Andøya Space Defense Range, Norway, Nov. 9, 2022. This is the first time Rapid Dragon, a precision effects capability for medium-sized or larger cargo aircraft that allows U.S. and NATO forces a flexible rapid response option, has been employed in the U.S. European Command theater. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)

Video: Watch a 30-second long video about the JASSM. This is a computer animation to help showcase how the palletized JASSM is loaded and employed. (SOCEUR Facebook, Nov 10, 2022)

Article: “U.S. Special Operations Command Conducts First-Ever Demonstration of the Joint-Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile”, DVIDS, November 9, 2022.

Article: “Special Ops C-130 Tests Pallet-Dropped Cruise Missiles in the Arctic”, by Joseph Trevithick, The Warzone, November 9, 2022.

Foreign Weapons Familiarization Course – Members of Chapter 54 of the Special Forces Association (SFA) recently attended a foreign weapons familiarization course in Ayer, Massachusetts – adjacent to the area of the former Fort Devens. Fort Devens was the installation that housed the 10th Special Forces Group prior to their move to Fort Carson, Colorado in the 1990s. The two-day event included instruction and range firing of a large number of foreign pistols, rifles, assault rifles, and machine guns.

The event, held at the Ayer Gun and Sportsman’s Club on 24-25 June 2017 (Saturday and Sunday), was hosted by Chapter 54. The instruction and range operations personnel was provided by Vinny A. Pestilli & Associates. The gun club was very hospitable providing the classroom, facilities and range. The gun club also put on a barbeque on Saturday night – to include ‘beverages’ (after range firing of course).

Favorable weather was a key factor for the forty-plus strong contingent of retired Special Forces Soldiers that took part in a fun and educational weekend at the gun club. Not everyone was old – as there were some SF off-spring in attendance – learning a little about what their Dad’s did in the Army. There was a three-man element from Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group located in the western Massachusetts area as well.

Although many in the group of retired Green Berets had fired most of the weapons before (especially if they were a former SF weapons man) it probably had been quite a few years since they had handled a tripod-mounted, belt-fed PKM Machine Gun. It was a sight seeing some of the 80-year-old plus ex-SF dudes throw their canes to the ground and pick up the Thompson submachine gun to put some rounds downrange. There was plenty of ammo and quite a few ‘ceasefires’ had to be called to set up new targets.

Vincent Pestilli, President of the Eleven Bravo Training Company located in Brownfield, Maine, provided the numerous instructors and range safety personnel to ensure there were enough firing positions to cycle the participants through all the weapons. There were over 30 different weapons fired on the range. In addition, there were over 70 weapons on display. All the weapons were provided by Vincent as well as the ammunition.

The morning sessions were classroom instruction in a very nice facility of the Ayer Gun and Sportsman’s Club that covered the history, description, and mechanical function (to include hands-on weapons breakdown) of the various weapons. The instruction started off with a presentation of the Russian weapons (AK 47, AK 74, AK 100, SKS Carbine, Mosin Nagant 1944 Carbine, SVD Sniper Rifle, RPK and RPD Light Machine Guns, Soviet PPSH 41 Submachine Gun, and PKM Machine Gun (belt-fed).

Later instruction covered other foreign weapons such as the H&K family of weapons, Israeli Galil SMG and UZI, NATO weapons, sniper rifles, and various tactical machine guns. Some of the more interesting weapons on display and fired on the range included the Thompson Submachine gun and the H&K Briefcase SMG. These weapons prompted a bit of camera action capturing men in poses looking very dangerous despite getting on in years!

Vincent and his group of very knowledgeable instructors travel across the United States and overseas providing foreign weapons familiarization, instruction, and range firing opportunities to various law enforcement agencies and military units from all service components. His courses are custom-tailored to the organization and can be anywhere from one-day to several weeks long. His firm specializes in Russian and NATO weapon systems.

This was the 3rd Annual Foreign Weapons Familiarization Course held by Chapter 54 and plans are to continue the very popular event. There was a nominal charge to attend with proceeds covering the cost of the weekend range firing and the profits going to the Chapter 54 college scholarship fund. This was the first year that I attended the range firing event and I will certainly sign up for next year’s event as well. Chapter 54 of the Special Forces Association is based in the Massachusetts area with members that come from across all of New England. Visit the Chapter 54 SFA website for more information.

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John Friberg, the author of this article, was a SF weapons man in the early years of his Army career. While attending the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) in the early 1970s he went through the Special Forces Weapons Course. He was one of eight students in the months-long class and enjoyed an instructor to student ratio of 3 to 1. Many, many, many long hours were spent on the range trying to expend all the ammo for countless types of U.S. and foreign weapons (light and heavy) allocated to that class cycle accompanied by lots of hands-on training cleaning guns and mortars in the weapons pool on Fort Bragg later in the day.

Upon graduating from the “Q” course he was assigned to a SF ODA and immediately came under the protective umbrella of a senior detachment Weapons Man (a two-tour Vietnam vet with time in CCN). The senior constantly quizzed him on the cyclic rate of fire for obsolete and obsure weapons like the Finnish Suomi KP/-31 or how to train up the team on the “Australian Peel” in a reaction to ambush from the front on a live fire range. Eventually John escaped the harassing fire of the Senior Weapons Sergeant and found comfort in the relative safety of the Detachment Intelligence Sergeant position after graduating from the O&I course (when it was hard).

Sniper Systems Update for SOF – The last several years have seen new developments in training, tactics, and employment of sniper teams and their associated equipment and weapons. Sniper teams have taken a leading role in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, SOF has been employed in the small wars now taking place in Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and elsewhere.

Andrew White, an writer at Defense Media Network, has published (July 3, 2017) an extensive review of SOF sniper equipment, weapons, training, and employment over the past few years.

USASOC Sniper Competition. In March 2017 the annual U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) International Sniper Competition was held. The event high-lighted “. . . the wide-ranging skill sets required to effectively operate as a force multiplying sniper team.” Two-man teams from the U.S. Army’s SOF units as well as sniper teams from European countries participated in a series of sniper events during the competition. The events included many aspects of sniping to include marksmanship, stalking, battle preparation, sniper operations, and target acquisition.

Employment of Sniper Teams. White’s article goes on to explain how U.S. SOF sniper teams are engaged around the world in real-world missions. These operations range from disrupting terrorist networks, direct action (DA), counterterrorism (CT), and other missions. A key development taking place recently is the urban warfare being conducted over the past several months in the siege of Mosul. U.S. and other nation’s SOF snipe teams have been actively employed in fighting the Islamic State fighters in the Mosul fight. Recently a Canadian SOF sniper was recognized for conducting the longest-ever sniper shoot in combat. Snipers are also the ‘eyes and ears’ for commanders for a variety of operations.

USSOCOM and Sniper Systems. The United States Special Operations Command based in Tampa, Florida is actively pursuing advanced sniper systems for its special operations forces across all services (SEALs, Green Berets, Rangers, MARSOC, etc.). White’s article goes into great depth on the full range of these sniper systems currently being purchased or under development.

White concludes his long article on Sniper Systems Update with:

“The role of the sniper across the COE remains as relevant as ever, highlighted by the effort and investment paid to the training teams tasked with identifying personnel with the correct aptitude for such missions. This trend is unlikely to change as the future character of conflict continues to evolve toward a battlespace that will still require the force-multiplying effects of a sniper team.”

The full article can be read at:

“SOF Sniper Systems Developments”, by Andrew White, Defense Media Networks, July 3, 2017.
http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/sof-sniper-systems-developments/