Sustainable soldiers: DoD efficiency program identifies biobased weapon cleaner, lubricant and preservative

In the US, the Sustainable Technology Evaluation and Demonstration program, a Department of Defense program aimed at identifying more efficient equipment, together with the Marine Corps Shooting Team, has found a new biobased cleaner, lubricant and preservative.

Reginald Mack, deputy director of the STED program, called it a “game changer,” because it requires fewer applications and allows weapons to perform better and more safely. It also reduces smell, smoke, waste, and carbon building in the weapon.

The success of the unnamed product has led the DoD to create a new rule that all CLP for weapons and weapons systems must contain a minimum of 33% biobased content.

“That CLP is the best thing I’ve seen,” said Mack. “And the feedback that we get, just hands down, everyone that we work with that used the product swears by. Those competition shooters love it. I’m sure all the other services are like, ‘Hey, if the Marine Corps Shooting Team even likes it, we will too.’”