ARES Briefings

Armament Research Services offers several subscription-based briefing products. Other products are available upon request.

  • 3D-printed Firearms Technical Intelligence Briefing (monthly)
  • Syria Arms & Munitions Briefing (quarterly)
  • Ukraine Arms & Munitions Briefing (monthly)

For more information, or to subscribe, contact: intel@armamentresearch.com


3D-printed Firearms Technical Intelligence Briefing

The ARES 3D-printed Firearms Technical Intelligence Briefing provides a monthly report specifically tailored to the needs of law enforcement and the intelligence community. Each 3DPF Briefing exclusively reports on craft-produced (‘privately made’) firearms, with a particular focus on 3D-printed firearms, related technologies, and emergent arms and munitions trends. All ARES Intelligence Briefings strike a balance between detailed technical analysis and a broader ‘quicklook’ approach to provide a situational update on recent developments. Each 3DPF Briefing contains five core sections:

  1. Technology. A section examining a technological aspect of 3D-printed firearms, providing specialist detail to deepen the reader’s understanding of the technologies that underpin privately made firearms production;
  2. Deep-dive. A section offering a deep-dive into a particular firearm or design development, examining both technical characteristics and potential real-world use implications or enforcement challenges;
  3. Use History. A section on one or more recent appearances of 3D-printed and related firearms ‘in the wild’, providing identification and other useful information for the practitioner.
  4. 3DPF Directory. A monthly updated list of key design groups, parts manufacturers, and other notable actors in the 3DP and craft-produced firearms development, production, and promotion ecosystem.
  5. 3DPF Visual Index. An illustrated guide to new releases, beta tests, and other important developments from the past month. Each image is provided with a short description highlighting key facts and their significance.

The ARES 3D-printed Firearms Technical Intelligence Briefing combines ARES’ extensive experience, broad-ranging skillsets, and unrivalled connections to produce a series of timely updates examining this rapidly evolving phenomenon. The 3DPF Briefing is a subscription-based product available to selected law enforcement and intelligence customers and is not publicly available. For further information, or to arrange a subscription, please contact: intel@armamentresearch.com

Issue 5 (September 2022)
Introduction
Technology: Parts Kit Completions for Glock Handguns (CMW)
Deep Dive: Ecosystem of 3DP Firearms Development (Ivan T.)
Deep Dive: Policy considerations: The Australian Perspective (Steve Pavlovich)
Use History: 3D-printed Firearms Seized on Kangaroo Island (Patrick Senft)
3DPF Directory: Our monthly updated list of key design groups, parts manufacturers, and more
3DPF Visual Index: Our monthly updated list of new releases, beta tests, and trends
References

Issue 4 (August 2022)
Introduction
Technology: Investigative Techniques for Craft-produced Firearms (Tyler Herman)
Deep Dive: 3D-printed Light Weapons (Graeme Rice)
Technology: Introduction to 3D-printing Technologies (N.R. Jenzen-Jones)
Use History: Professor Parabellum AR9 Seizure in Spain (Patrick Senft)
3DPF Directory: Our monthly updated list of key design groups, parts manufacturers, and more
3DPF Visual Index: Our monthly updated list of new releases, beta tests, and trends
References

Issue 3 (July 2022)
Introduction
Technology: 3D-printed Suppressors (Charles Randall)
Deep Dive: ‘Fully’ 3D-printed Firearms (Ivan T.)
Technology: Electric Ignition Systems (Patrick Senft)
Use History: Craft-produced Firearm Used to Assassinate Shinzo Abe (N.R. Jenzen-Jones & Patrick Senft)
3DPF Directory: Our monthly updated list of key design groups, parts manufacturers, and more
3DPF Visual Index: Our monthly updated list of new releases, beta tests, and trends

References

Issue 2 (June 2022)
Introduction
Technology: ‘Auto Sears’ for the AR-15 (Ivan T.)
Deep Dive: The Luty SMGs – Functionality & Use History (Chloe Tousignant)
Technology: Craft-produced Small Arms Ammunition (Patrick Senft)
Use History: FGC-9 in Western Australia (N.R. Jenzen-Jones & Patrick Senft)
3DPF Directory: Our monthly updated list of key design groups, parts manufacturers, and more
3DPF Visual Index: Our monthly updated list of new releases, beta tests, and trends

References

Issue 1 (May 2022)
Introduction
Technology: Classifying 3D-printed Firearms (G. Hays, Ivan T. & N.R. Jenzen-Jones)
Deep Dive: The Evolution of the FGC-9 (Patrick Senft)
Technology: Electrochemical Machining for Barrel Production (G. Hays, Ivan T. & N.R. Jenzen-Jones)
Use History: FGC-22 in Ireland (Patrick Senft)
References


For more information, or to subscribe, contact: intel@armamentresearch.com