CJ said "It raises the interesting issue of what really happens...

CJ said "It raises the interesting issue of what really happens when you are in the two way shooting gallery - i.e. do you not use the thing as it is not 'approved' or do you grab what is there and use it."

Well I can understand where the adder is coming from and under "normal circumstances" I would have to agree 100% with him about the TRL levels, but like I have said before, something is different here, I don;t think the US is telling us what the TRL levels are deliberately.

If you read this PDF https://www3.natick.army.mil/docs/FPOmnibus/Attach4_SOO.pdf

It says this-: STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES
FORCE PROTECTION OMNIBUS
1. Background.
The United States Army has an ongoing requirement to provide Force Protection capabilities at temporary and permanent CONUS and OCONUS sites around the world. The ultimate goal is to provide forces with the capability to ?See First, Understand First, and Act First?. Keys to achieving this goal are the application of capabilities that enhance security, surveillance and reconnaissance, resulting in the integration of security systems into Force Protection common architecture configured to provide a system of systems that is scalable, modular, affordable and logistically supportable, detect, assess, respond and recover from any possible threat.
To meet the growing demand and complexity of the Force Protection (FP) requirement, the Army will make multiple awards under this Request for Proposal (RFP). Awards may be made to up to 20-30 large and small businesses awards in the Full and Open Lot, and 10-15 awards in the Partial Small Business Set-Aside Lot. The multiple contracts provide a rapid, flexible methodology to access the range and depth of capabilities necessary to protect Soldiers and other personnel around the globe.
These contracts will provide access to force protection capabilities with modular systems, equipment, and components that can be used as stand-alone or integrated systems to protect a range of Forward Operating Bases sizes from small to medium to large mission areas. FP system components will consist of Commercial-Off-The Shelf (COTS) and Non-Development Items (NDI). Additionally the Government will procure one year of sustainment warranty for installed and deployed FP systems. The sustainment warranty will include training and initial sustainment.
Site tailored requirements

But this is the bit that intrigues me "FP system components will consist of Commercial-Off-The Shelf (COTS) and Non-Development Items (NDI)

And then later on in that PDF it says this-:

the acquisition process. One of the central Acquisition
Reform initiatives is the creation of Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity
(IDIQ) contracts that allow competition of individual DOs. PM-FPS? objective is to establish
long-term, competitively awarded, contract vehicles which include a pre-qualified group of
contractors to compete for delivery orders under this IDIQ contract. PM-FPS? intent is to allow

***********The Government intends to procure
products that have been tested and fielded under previous US Government contracts**************

So what the hell is going on? have these weapons been tested before?
Have the US been deliberately hiding the TRL levels?

I suspect they have somehow?

I guess we will know soon enough?