two advances in ballistic technology

The KN-24 is a solid-fuel ballistic missile launched from a mobile launcher, and is similar to the U.S. Armys Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). It comes as no surprise that the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) revised ballistic-resistant body armor standard 0101.07 is still awaiting implementation. Given all these data, the question is fairly asked: Why isn't NIBIN doing a better job of helping investigators identify and arrest suspects in violent crimes involving a firearm? Experts say the test would shed more light on how far North Korea has advanced in its goal to miniaturize nuclear warheads to mount on tactical weapons aimed at South Korea or Japan. At this point, the firearms examiner will review the scores and view only those with significant scores at the Signature Analysis Station (SAS). These databases provide the foundation for accurate match statistics. (safariland.com). The solid propellants are more cost-efficient in terms of management, storage and deployment, said Shin Seung-ki, a research fellow at the Seoul-based Korea Institute for Defense Analysis. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, Diplomacy remains far out of reach, and North Korea has dug in its heels over its nuclear ambitions. with high levels of ballistic performance and minimal backface deformation and impact trauma. The PH4.FR is equipped with a rear drag strap for emergency extraction and telescoping padded shoulders for added comfort and weight distribution. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. ", The researchers also found that although NIBIN contains an incredible amount of information on crimes and weapons that goes well beyond what is contained in a hit report, "the majority of evidence in NIBIN is never connected with other offenses, events or weapons.". That race began in earnest in the 1950s as both nations feverishly developed nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to carry them, according to Air Force Global Strike. Shell casings are much simpler to acquire requiring no manipulation of the specimen. If youve got a place thats a one-stop shop, that makes your job much easier, Vince said. SEOUL North Korea has been firing off missile after missile after missile this past year in fact, Kim Jong Uns regime has launched more than 100 since the beginning of 2022. Again, keep in mind that there are really two parts to this question: (1) the science of firearm and tool mark examinations and (2) NIBIN's operation in solving crimes. Robert Thompson, a 30-year veteran forensic scientist who works at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), compares modern ballistics to a doctor diagnosing a patient with the flu he can check common symptoms to reach a diagnosis. From 2005 to 2008, Promising advances in rocket propulsion. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 BVP application funding period was open from April 29, 2021, until June 23, 2021. Addressing delays in processing ballistic evidence and identifying hits through better cooperation among all stakeholders (that is, beyond crime laboratories). For instance, to test whether a bullet found at a crime scene was fired from a specific gun, experts test-fire that gun to produce a second bullet. Without testing, the doctor cant offer odds that his diagnosis is right. It also features a 100 percent composite ballistic construction. It is important to note that the NIJ-funded researchers faced some challenges in obtaining data due, in part, to a 50-percent budget cut to the NIBIN program in 2011. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Official websites use .gov These marks are like ballistic fingerprints. You catalogue scans there, but you can also compare and filter them, Barrett said. Law enforcement can use a confirmed hit in two ways: tactically or strategically. In 1940 the British generously disclosed to the United States the concept of the magnetron, which then became the basis for work . "In the last 10 years, we've seen significant advances in the technology our adversaries are fielding. One of the most prestigious awards presented to forensic experts has been awarded to two separate ballistics labs as a direct result of their exceptional use of IBIS TRAX-3D. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. These arent real bullets or cartridge cases, but precisely manufactured replicas of fired bullets and cartridge cases with known ballistic fingerprints. Copyright 2023 Police1. Joe Vince, director of the criminal justice program at Mount St. Marys University and a former chief of the firearms branch at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said that ALIAS was flexible enough to integrate data and make matches very quickly. 3-D ballistic imaging provides specific mathematical data that can be shared nationally and internationally, quickly reducing the pool of potential suspects. I see this as the future. What is forensic ballistics? The system is described by North Koreans as that of super-large caliber.. Are you on Telegram? These sites were not randomly selected; rather, the researchers chose them in an effort to ensure a range of geographic representation and practices. We seek to, The NIST Ballistics Toolmark Research Database is an open-access research database of bullet and cartridge case toolmark data. Also new from BlueRidge is the VENGEANCE series hard armor ballistic shield which features an ambidextrous weapon mount design in Threat Level III+ rifle protection, along with a well-designed viewport. A missile launched from a submarine has a complex trajectory that is hard to intercept, making it a major maritime threat. Safariland has released two new highly customizable armor systems. This leaves bullets scraped, scratched and nicked as theyre loaded and then fired. With software like Pyramidal Technologies ALIAS system, the work of forensic ballistics experts stands to get much easier. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community Within just days (short work for crime-solving), detectives discovered that distinct markings on the bullets from the apartment matched others from violent crime scenes across the Phoenix area. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The technologys military pedigree offers NIJ-certified ballistic performance along with up to 30% weight savings for the user. An official website of the United States government. It then becomes necessary to "confirm" the hit. There are a variety of reasons for these delays. It gives officers leads very quickly and allows detectives to close cases very quickly.. Duritium is a portfolio of technologies including a proprietary formula of polyethylene fibers or ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. Other forensic scientists are creating similar databases. Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. The U.S. military has four systems to shoot down ballistic missiles, most focusing on the second and third phases. The NRC report stated that "a full evaluation of the program's performance would consider what happens after a 'hit' is made using NIBIN whether the information leads to an arrest or a conviction and how large a role the ballistics evidence 'hit' played in achieving those results." 3D methods are not yet widely used in forensic labs. Advances in these systems demonstrate a shift toward solid propellants and satellite guidance systems; advances that could carry over to larger, more Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. These silos are especially useful for sheltering long-range missiles that North Korea is developing. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS April 28, 2023 at 6:21 a.m. EDT This photo from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency purports to show the new Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which state. The Gen 3 FAV (Fast Attack Vest) provides front, back, shoulder, and side soft armor ballistic coverage. Agilent Technologies Inc. The new standards are: These standards give labs guidance on purchasing and setting up a 3D system, validating it to ensure that it produces accurate results, and implementing it into their workflow, said Erica Lawton, a firearms examiner at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences who, as the chair of OSACs Firearms and Toolmarks Subcommittee, helped guide the new standards through the approval process. Its not a simple matter. The team has scanned thousands of cartridge cases to amass a dataset big enough to gauge the likelihood that more than one gun could produce identical marks on casings. ALIAS images are incredibly clear, and Barrett says they offer a resolution of 2 microns, or 1/50th the diameter of a human hair. For many years, experts used a comparison microscope to measure the similarities between two or more bullets or cartridge cases, but since the 1980s, ballistic scientists have relied on computer software that allows them to manipulate and compare images. Barrett should know he was the original developer of IBIS and has worked in the field of forensic ballistics for more than 25 years. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). The forensic science system, they discovered, often lacked scientific rigor and uniform standards. The breech mechanism also leaves distinct markings on the cartridge case. Detailed data from 2007 to 2012 on 8,231 NIBIN hits from 19 sample sites. For many years, experts used a comparison microscope to measure the similarities between two or more bullets or cartridge cases, but since the 1980's, ballistic scientists have relied on computer software that allows them to manipulate and compare images. Only after this visual examination can a hit be confirmed, at which time a "hit report" is generated and sent by the crime laboratory to police investigators. The NIJ-funded examination of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network referred to simply as "NIBIN" by everyone in law enforcement revealed that the timeliness of processing evidence varies greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. One analysis station can handle the data from several acquisition stations. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Data can be manually transported and entered into the analysis station from a disk or electronically transported through a communication line. If evidence is stored at another laboratory or law enforcement agency, the laboratory originating the unconfirmed hit must secure the evidence and examine it. NIBIN is a program operated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in which firearms examiners at state and local crime laboratories compare tool marks on spent cartridges or bullets found at a crime scene to digitized images of ballistic evidence in the database. Nearly every time, the regimes propagandists claim they have made significant advancements in their nuclear and weapons program. Early experts discovered that firearms leave distinctive marks on bullets and cartridge cases, and since that discovery the science of ballistics research has essentially dealt with comparison: This bullet bears marks similar to that one, therefore they must have been fired from the same gun.. For decades, advances in materials and manufacturing technology have enabled improvements of combat helmets, and the current ballistic helmets can provide the protection against ballistic and blunt threats. Webmaster | Contact Us | Our Other Offices. per plate and is made from ceramic and UHMWPE materials, covered with 1000 denier CORDURA material. The fuel and oxidizer need to be loaded on-site ahead of launch, which can be time-consuming. Firearms examiners are able to examine bullets and cartridge casings to determine if they were expelled from the same firearm. They added information to hit reports (such as geocodes and information from criminal records databases) that improved hits' investigative value. A new industry first feature available from BlueRidge Armor is the 3D Shield Builder.This new Web-based service allows officers to customize their BlueRidge shield, including being able to view it in 3D before purchasing. The researchers explore a number of explanations but primarily point to the often considerable delays in identifying hits. This requires that the bullet or cartridge case change hands from one examiner to the next. Meanwhile, the technique became nearly universally used: American investigators now collect hundreds of thousands of cartridge cases at crime scenes every year. Questions about a news article you've read? The KN-23 is similar to the Russian SS-26 but has a significantly greater range, according to research by the Council of the European Union. These systems are known to be operable and are mature systems with sufficient sophistication that could present a real threat against the South, said Go Myong-hyun, defense analyst at Asan Institute in Seoul. Reach out to the author: contact and available social following information is listed in the top-right of all news releases. It comes as no surprise that the National Institute of Justices (NIJs) revised ballistic-resistant body armor standard 0101.07 is still awaiting implementation. Lock Plus, agencies can also send in their own artwork or logo to add to their personalized shield. Its new external cummerbund system provides enhanced fit and adjustability with proprietary attachment options for VELCRO or FirstSpear Tubes. These are the 100th and 101st standards to be placed on the registry by OSAC, which works to strengthen forensic science in the U.S. by facilitating the development and adoption of high-quality standards. The severe stress and eye strain on the firearms examiner slow the process. Forensic experts can often link a bullet or cartridge case to the gun that fired it based on microscopic marks left on the bullet as it exits the barrel, or on the cartridge case as it is ejected from the firearm. That match statistic expresses the amount of uncertainty in the analysis, and police investigators, jurors and others can use it when weighing the evidence. The carrier is equipped with top-loading front and rear 10 x 12 plate pockets and is constructed of 1000 denier CORDURA nylon. Based on their study of 19 of the 150 nationwide NIBIN sites, the researchers made three overarching findings: Certainly, as the number of ballistic images in the NIBIN database increases and as more law enforcement agencies turn to the database for investigative support the tactical and strategic value of NIBIN will alsoincrease. Forensic experts can often link a bullet or cartridge case to the gun that fired it based on microscopic marks left on the bullet as it exits the barrel, or on the cartridge case as it is ejected from the firearm. Hypersonics are emerging as one of the biggest threats we have. These images are uploaded into the NIBIN database, which searches for possible matches or hits. Recently ATF purchased the newest technology, IBIS BrassTrRAX. The field of forensic science called ballistics deals with the examination of firearms used to commit crimes. In most forensic labs, the analysis done for each case is reviewed by a second examiner for quality control. Hit information is sent back to the local jurisdiction, where a firearms examiner views the possible-match images, side by side, on a computer screen. Forensic scientists around the world currently rely on a roughly 100-year-old tool called a comparison microscope, which offers a split view to study two objects at once. Laser optics focus on the bullets land markings, and a computer digitally maps and records the significant areas on the bullets surface. Once the scans are uploaded, experts then use the ALIAS software to compare images in dozens of different ways. It is only 3/8 thick, yet, when fully deployed, still provides 3.1 square feet of NIJ Level IIIA (NIJ-STD-0108.01) ballistic protection, stopping pistol rounds such as 9mm, .40, .45 and .357 Mag. However, the system does produce a short list of candidates for the match. Lexipol. Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine. North Koreans are saying, if you want to play whack-a-mole with our nuclear force, were going to have more moles than you can track and going to be hiding them in places you previously didnt have to think about, said Ankit Panda, nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace. A 2012 survey of publicly funded crime laboratories in the U.S., with a 33 percent response rate from laboratory directors and a 49 percent response rate from firearms sections in crime laboratories. For the latest on the accuracy, reliability and validity of firearm and tool mark examinations, see "The Science Behind Firearm and Tool Mark Examination.". Copyright 1997-2015, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC. Most of North Koreas recent testing has been of short-range ballistic missiles, as the country works to improve capabilities in this range which can reach South Korea. The ACH-style helmet is manufactured from advanced metal alloys and exceeds VPAM-3+ Special Threats ballistic requirements. At only 2.9 lbs., the M3 stops special non-armor piercing threats and is equipped with Radio Frequency Embedded Verification (RFEV) tracking for inventory management. and manufacturers. A lock ( In the United States, there is no regulatory authority that sets mandatory standards or requirements that crime laboratories must follow. There are a lot of benefits in terms of both reliability and efficiency, and the discipline is moving in this direction., Having these standards available now, rather than after labs have already installed new systems, will help ensure that people get this right the first time around. Erica Lawton, Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Prior to the NIJ-funded study, two other entities had looked at NIBIN's operation: the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (2008) and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General, which conducted an audit in 2005. ", Also compounding delays is that investigators who want to search NIBIN must go through the firearms section in the crime laboratory; the researchers noted that "[t]his access is not easy for investigators to attain and requests for searches create additional work for firearms personnel.". The latest IBIS technology solutions include advanced comparison algorithms and 3D imaging. His mom and stepdad were dead inside. Having these standards available now, rather than after labs have already installed new systems, will help ensure that people get this right the first time around.. Putting Statistics into Forensic Firearms Identification, Two New Forensic Firearm Examination Standards Added to the OSAC Registry of Approved Standards, NIST Launches an Updated Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science, Divide and Conquer: New Algorithm Examines Crime-Scene Bullets Segment by Segment, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity Marcha/April 2023, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH March/April 2023, New Report: Transforming Police Recruit Training 40 Guiding Principles. Bulletproof clothing, clothing with built-in protection like a bulletproof vest. North Korea said last week that it is ready to launch its first military reconnaissance satellite, which would also help the regime hone its ICBM technology, Shin said. With a traditional 2D light microscope, an examiner views two samples simultaneously and subjectively concludes whether they were fired from the same firearm. Captain Dowd of the Boston Police Department receiving the Vollmer Award for his agency's work with BulletTRAX-3D. This list can be found at https://tinyurl.com/pp8huznj, Since 1999, the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) has awarded more than 13,000 jurisdictions a total of $522 million in federal funds for the purchase of over one million vests (1,441,013) as of November 2020. More standards are in OSACs registry approval pipeline, including ones for fire and explosion investigations and toxicology. By doing automated searches, the system speeds up and optimizes time spent on comparisons. This guide will teach you all there . This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. North Korea has not disclosed the anticipated timeline of the launch but its neighbors are already braced for it. Learn more in our news story, blog post, and photo essay. The Norths rhetoric and advancements have only fueled South Koreans desire for their own nuclear deterrent, and during South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols visit to the United States, President Biden pledged that any North Korean nuclear attack on the South will be met with a swift, overwhelming and decisive response, with a full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear.. That is still subjective, he says. For more information on OSACs role in the standards development process, visit the OSAC website. With the traditional method, an expert can only give a subjective opinion as to whether two bullets or cartridge cases were fired from the same gun. For example, in some crime laboratories, procedures for routing firearms and evidence to the firearms section create delays that the firearms examiners do not control. These 3D surface maps produce more detailed comparison data than the two-dimensional images that are traditionally used to match bullets. (shotstop.com). To do this, the actual piece of evidence (the spent cartridge or bullet from a test-fire or from a crime scene) must be manually reviewed using a comparison microscope. North Korea is looking for distant testing grounds to perfect its reentry technology. We partner with hundreds of public safety agencies in nearly 70 countries and territories, providing cost-effective and sustainable solutions. On the strategic level, NIBIN hits can help law enforcement understand larger patterns of gun crime, including gun usage; gun sharing; and the gun-related criminal activities of street gangs, drug cartels, outlaw motorcycle gangs and other organized crime entities. We are right at the cusp of this transition, she said. Ballistic Comparison System Currently, ATF is utilizing a unique ballistic comparison system that allows technicians to digitize and automatically sort bullet and shell casing signatures and aids in providing matches at a greatly accelerated rate. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The software has exited the R&D phase, and Pyramidal has been touring the world giving demonstrations to departments. 7 After SBIRS or DAS/IRST-equipped aircraft detected a possible booster plume, this AI-fueled tactical decision aid could filter the location These markings are produced by the breech face itself, the firing pin, extractor, and ejector. The test missile, if fired into American waters, would mark a major geopolitical escalation, Kim Dong-yub said. We also produce theNIST Standard Bulletand theNIST Standard Cartridge Case. interacts online and researches product purchases In theory, a conventional ballistic missile attack using highly accurate or precision-guided systems could replicate the geopolitical effects of a small nuclear weaponprovided they are combined with other advanced capabilities such as effective anti-missile defense countermeasures (e.g., low-observable material, separating controllable . ALIAS is essentially an intelligence tool.. The evaluation proved that IBIS technology enhanced the ability of the BPD Ballistic Unit to connect two crimes that were previously thought to be unrelated. Ballistic missiles, historically our biggest threat, were like throwing a football, they had a pretty predictable arc and were pretty easy to project where it was going to land. The outer shell is made from 500 denier CORDURA material which is abrasion-resistant and the split collar offers a full range of motion during tracking. IBIS TRAX-3D is the latest generation of IBIS technology which provides law enforcement agencies with tremendous crime solving value. The Future of Baseball Might Include Robot Umpires. Each becomes a three-dimensional virtual object that lets algorithms mimic and compare surfaces. Made of Dyneema fibers and pressed under 25 million pounds of force at precise temperatures, Hardwire turns multiple layers of material into a single system, resulting in up to 30% weight savings. Interviews of laboratory directors, firearms section personnel, and all levels of law enforcement at 10 of the 19 sample sites, including detectives who investigated 65 serious violent crimes linked to NIBIN hit reports. Ultimately, NIBIN is a criminal investigation and intelligence tool. Users select their ballistic shield platform, viewport, handle and light combination, and see their selections assembled instantly in full 3D view. Since then, NIST scientists have worked on a match-making method for the modern era. This article was published as part of NIJ Journal issue number 274, released October 2014. As stated earlier, the system does not make identifications; the firearms examiner must make the identification if two bullets or cartridge cases come from the same firearm. But adding more information to NIBIN such as geocodes, the names of suspects and victims, and possible gang affiliations could, they said, help realize NIBIN's full strategic value. The system can accept and share information with different systems, making it very flexible. NIST also supports laboratory efforts to implement standards on the OSAC registry via a cooperative agreement with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. It is important to understand that this study did not examine the science of firearm and tool mark examination itself; rather, the study looked only at the operations of the NIBIN program as an investigative tool. It is an ideal vehicle assault rifle shield which provides ultralight rifle rated protection at a moments notice. 18.6.5.2 Stab resistance. According to the manufacturer, the shield does not utilize bolts, screws or holes with its ballistic rifle panels eliminating common weak points. Since, the system produces a list of scores that indicate the relative and quantitative probability of a match (high to low), the firearms examiner can retrieve selected images for evaluation on the video screen. The Criminal Justice Testing and Evaluation Consortium continues to maintain a list of all brands/models of body armor which comply with the current standard. It does it much quicker and faster than anything else, Vince said. Over the course of its flight, an ICBM exits and then falls back into the Earths atmosphere, exposing itself to extreme temperature changes. The TOMAHAWK hard armor ballistic shield is a flat, compact weapon mount platform in Threat Level III+ rifle protection. This new shield provides optimized coverage area, speed to sight acquisition and good balance.

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