PRIMAL Inception (17 page)

WEAPONS

PRIMAL equips its operatives with weapons individually selected and customized. Unlike military units, it is less influenced by supply chain constraints or economy of scale. It does not use the 5.56mm round due to its poor performance in suppressed applications. It also doesn’t have to take into account poor training or risk-adverse political decisions. For example, unlike the NYPD, PRIMAL would never force its personnel to use pistols with abnormally heavy triggers that compromise accuracy and weapon effectiveness.

Fig. 7 – Integrally suppressed Tavor

Small Arms.
PRIMAL operatives conduct covert operations; they aim to neutralize targets without being detected. For ammunition, they favor rounds that are effective at subsonic velocities;
300 AAC Blackout
for carbines and .45ACP for handguns. The most common carbine is a custom 300BLK integrally suppressed Tavor (see Figure 7 above). However, some operatives prefer a Sig MCX or AAC Honey Badger. For a pistol most operatives use HK or
Glocks
, however Bishop prefers Beretta even though Mitch maintains that it’s a lady’s gun.

Larger weapons like machine guns, grenade launchers, and sniper rifles, are selected considering their ability to be transported covertly. A weapon’s ability to break down or fold/collapse is critical for PRIMAL ops. The
Windrunner sniper rifle
is used in a number of PRIMAL books due to its ability to be quickly broken down into a compact package (see Figure 8 below). Additionally the Neopup PAW-20, a compact grenade launcher, is also favored.

When operating in a mentoring role operatives may use weapons similar to that carried by the indigenous forces. For PRIMAL Vengeance this was an upgraded version of the AK-103 assault rifle.

Fig. 8 – Windrunner Nemesis sniper rifle

Optics.
Optical technology is continuously evolving and Mitch ensures the team has the latest equipment. In PRIMAL Reckoning Mirza is using a digital scope on his
G28 marksman’s rifle
. An evolved version of the technology first used in the Tracking Point and Elcan Digital Hunting Scope (as seen below in Figure 9), it accesses most of its functionality through the
iPRIMAL smartphone
. The custom state-of-the-art scope has a built-in laser rangefinder, a digital zoom, automatic firing solutions, and can record and send imagery to other operatives.

Operatives wearing the CAT suit can utilize a heads-up display integrated into the full-face helmet to engage targets and present information from the iPRIMAL network. The aiming reticle inside the display is slaved from a digital sight attached to their firearms.

Fig. 9 – Elcan Digital Hunter Scope

Fire Support.
For close air support, or precision indirect fire, PRIMAL has a number of unique capabilities. A compact guided mortar is used in PRIMAL Fury. Based off laser-guided mortar round technology, this weapon also takes elements from the Switchblade suicide drone and integrates into the iPRIMAL fire control system. Close Air Support from aircraft is also integrated, whether it is precision munitions from the Pain Train (see Figure 10 below), or the retractable minigun on the Dragonfly tiltrotor.

Fig. 10 – Gunslinger precision munitions pod on a cargo ramp

Non-lethal.
PRIMAL occasionally uses non-lethal weapons to disable a target. In PRIMAL Unleashed the
XREP Taser
shotgun round is used (see Figure 11 below), and in PRIMAL Reckoning Bishop is issued with an experimental tactical flashlight. The flashlight is inspired by the Surefire Defender series and has an ultracapacitor that can unleash its energy instantly. This device will easily dazzle an adversary but can only hold enough charge for one blast.

Fig. 11 – XREP TASER shotgun round

TRANSPORT

Aircraft.

PRIMAL operates a stable of unique aircraft that are based at their secure facilities on the island or in Abu Dhabi. They are all transport aircraft, which is appropriate for the Priority Movements Airlift cover story. Although they appear to be generic airframes each one is heavily modified for special operations missions employing cutting-edge military and aviation technology. Their tail numbers are regularly changed for counter-intelligence purposes.

In selecting the aircraft and their capabilities I’ve balanced the latest technological developments against the realism of trying to integrate extremely complex systems. The reality is some of the capabilities of these PRIMAL aircraft would be too challenging for the small team to develop, install, integrate, and maintain. However for the sake of story telling I’ve taken a few liberties. I’m talking about technologies that include the latest electronic-countermeasures installed in PRIMAL’s Gulfstream business jet, capable of spoofing or jamming enemy radars, or the on-board drones launched from the Pain Train. At the time of writing this compendium the United States Air Force is
experimenting
with these concepts.

AN-72.
Nicknamed ‘Jumper’,
PRIMAL’s AN-72
is a versatile infil/exfil platform capable of landing and taking off on short improvised runways. It has upgraded landing gear, a parachute brake, and is equipped for rocket-assisted takeoff. Jumper features in PRIMAL Unleashed where it crash lands in Ukraine and is destroyed.

Fig. 12 – AN-72 ‘Jumper’

Il-76.
The
Il-76 ‘Pain Train’
is PRIMAL’s dedicated special operations support aircraft. It is similar in concept to the MC-130W ‘Dragon Spear’ which is a tanker/transport converted into a gunship platform. Externally it appears to be a regular transport aircraft, however it contains sophisticated fire support weaponry, surveillance capabilities, and defensive countermeasures. From a discreet hatch or off the rear ramp it can launch guided munitions to provide accurate fire support to operatives on the ground. It is also equipped with
disposable drones
and a retractable EO/FLIR pod to enhance long-range surveillance capabilities. The Pain Train is capable of supporting parachute operations including emergency resupply. For recovery of personnel where a runway is not available the Pain Train is equipped with the
‘Skyhook’
Fulton recovery system.

Fig. 13 – Il-76 ‘Pain Train’

AW609.
The
AW609
is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff and landing of a helicopter with the range and speed of a fixed-wing aircraft. PRIMAL’s AW609 is nicknamed ‘Dragonfly’ and its only modifications are long-range internal fuel tanks and a retractable .50 cal minigun pod. Future versions of Dragonfly will likely utilize internal weapons bays for 70mm laser-guided rockets such as the DAGR (Direct Attack Guided Rocket). Dragonfly was used in PRIMAL Vengeance, however at the time of that mission, in reality, it was still an experimental aircraft. The real AW609 is due to complete final certification trials in 2015.

Fig. 14 - Agusta Westland 609 prototype tiltrotor

G650.
‘Sleek’
is PRIMAL’s G650 business jet. One of the most advanced executive jets available; PRIMAL has modified her with extended range fuel tanks, terrain following radar, a system for delivering precision delivery pods or parachutists, and an advanced defensive electronic countermeasures suite. The countermeasures suite is an Israeli-developed package that is capable of spoofing enemy radar and jamming radar guided missiles.

Fig. 15 – G650 ‘Sleek’

Other transport.

Although PRIMAL’s cover story is based on an air transport company they also use other forms of transport. In PRIMAL Origin they charter a luxury motor-yacht to cruise to Cyprus and assassinate a Russian Mafia boss in his seaside resort. That vessel was unique in that it had no modifications and was leased. In PRIMAL Vengeance they use a Land Rover four-wheel drive known as a
Bowler
. Effectively a Land Rover 110 hotted-up to rally-spec, it also had a remote driving and self-destruct system. A
MI-17
transport helicopter was leased in PRIMAL Fury and used in a rescue operation in Hungary. PRIMAL’s arms dealer Yuri ensured the chopper was armed to the teeth making it the perfect infiltration platform for the CAT quick reaction force.