Desert Tech
{{Short description|Rifle manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| logo = File:Desert Tech logo with tagline from website.png
| image_size = 150px
| type =
| industry = Firearms
| genre =
| foundation = {{start date and age|2007}}
| founders = Nick Young
| dissolved =
| location_city = West Valley City, Utah
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Nick Young (President and CEO)
| products = Firearms and ammunition
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| footnotes =
| vector_logo =
| location_country = United States
| homepage = [https://deserttech.com/index.php deserttech.com]
}}
Desert Tech is an American munitions manufacturer.{{Cite news|url=http://www.manufacturing-today.com/sections/profiles/1786-desert-tech-llc|title=Desert Tech LLC|work=Manufacturing Today|access-date=2018-04-29}} The company primarily produces bullpup rifles. It is financed and owned by members of the Kingston family, founders of the Latter Day Church of Christ, which is a polygamous fundamentalist denomination of the Latter Day Saint Movement.
History
Desert Tech was founded in 2007 as Desert Tactical Arms{{Cite news|url=https://www.ammoland.com/2013/12/desert-tactical-arms-rebrand-as-desert-tech/|title=Desert Tactical Arms To Rebrand Company As 'Desert Tech'|date=2013-12-17|work=AmmoLand.com|access-date=2018-04-29}} and later re-branded as Desert Tech in 2013.
In July 2019, federal prosecutors gave notice that they intended to seize a building Desert Tech was renting for some of their operations. The proposed seizure was part of an investigation into fraud allegations against members of the Kingston family. Desert Tech CEO Nick Young denied the company was involved in the matters under investigation and noted that no public accusation of wrongdoing had been made against his company. Ultimately the building seizure did not proceed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/07/19/feds-move-seize-homes|title= Feds move to seize homes and businesses from polygamous Kingston Group as fraud defendants plead guilty|last=Carlisle|first=Nate|date=2019-07-30|website=Salt Lake City Tribune|access-date=2019-09-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/07/29/fallout-washakie-fraud|title= Fallout from Washakie fraud could cost polygamous Kingston Group members their businesses and homes|last=Carlisle|first=Nate|date=2019-07-29|website=Salt Lake City Tribune|access-date=2019-09-10}}
Donald Trump Jr was shown in a promotion for Desert Tech on July 24, 2020, with the company's CEO and firing the company's sniper rifles. A marketing video on YouTube also includes an image of Donald Jr.{{cite web |last1=KATES |first1=GRAHAM |last2=KEGU |first2=JESSICA |title=Donald Trump Jr. appeared in promotion for gun company run by prominent member of polygamous group |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-jr-desert-tech-riles-promotion-nicholas-young-the-order-polygamous-group-utah/ |website=CbsNews.com |date=19 August 2020 |accessdate=20 August 2020}} Former members of the Latter Day Church of Christ criticized Trump for associating with the company.{{cite web |last1=Carlisle |first1=Nate |title=Donald Trump Jr. shoots guns from Utah company with ties to polygamous sect |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/07/26/donald-trump-jr-shoots/ |website=sltrib.com |publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune |access-date=22 March 2023}}
Operations
Desert Tech is located in West Valley City, Utah. It is owned by members of the Kingston family, the founders of the Latter Day Church of Christ. As of May 2018 all of their firearms are rifles with a bullpup design.{{Cite news|url=http://www.recoilweb.com/visiting-desert-tech-the-mdr-experience-2-59569.html|title=Visiting Desert Tech & The MDR Experience {{!}} RECOIL|date=2015-03-16|work=Recoil|access-date=2018-04-29}} Desert Tech's motto is "Tomorrow's Weapons". They make three different styles of rifle, the SRS, HTI, and MDRx. According to the company, all of their chassis are multi caliber and easily changeable from one caliber to another.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
The company has a subsidiary in India named Neco Desert Tech Defence.
Products
- Desert Tech HTI (Hard Target Interdiction){{Cite news|url=http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/10/jeremy-s/gun-review-desert-tech-hti/|title=Gun Review: Desert Tech HTI - The Truth About Guns|date=2016-10-06|work=The Truth About Guns|access-date=2018-04-29|archive-date=2016-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009111238/http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2016/10/jeremy-s/gun-review-desert-tech-hti/|url-status=dead}}{{Better source needed|date=October 2024}} Available in .375 Cheytac, .408 Cheytac, .416 Barrett, and .50 BMG
- Desert Tech SRS-A2 (Stealth Recon Scout){{Cite news|url=http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/07/foghorn/gun-review-desert-tactical-arms-stealth-recon-scout-dta-srs-rifle/|title=Gun Review: Desert Tech Stealth Recon Scout (DTA SRS) Rifle - The Truth About Guns|date=2013-07-03|work=The Truth About Guns|access-date=2018-04-29}}{{Better source needed|date=October 2024}} Available in .260 Rem., 6.5 CM, .6.5 LM, .308 Win., 300 WM, 300WSM, and 338 LM
- Desert Tech SRS-A2 Covert a shorter variant of the SRS-A1{{Cite news|url=http://www.gunsandammo.com/rifles/desert-tech-covert-shortest-7-62-sniper-ever/|title=Desert Tech Covert: Shortest 7.62 Sniper Ever|date=2018-01-04|work=Guns & Ammo|access-date=2018-04-29}} Available in .260 Rem., 6.5 mm CM, 6.5 mm LM, .308 Win., .300 WM, .300 WSM, and .338 LM
- Desert Tech MDR (Micro Dynamic Rifle){{Cite news|url=http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2017/10/jeremy-s/desert-tech-mdr-gun-review/|title=Gun Review: Desert Tech MDR - The Truth About Guns|date=2017-10-13|work=The Truth About Guns|access-date=2018-04-29}}{{Better source needed|date=October 2024}} Available in .308 Win/7.62 mm, and .223/5.56 mm/.223 Wylde. Discontinued in 2024.
- Desert Tech MDRx (Micro Dynamic Rifle eXtreme){{Cite news|url=https://www.guns.com/news/2020/03/10/desrt-tech-mdrx-review|title=Desert Tech MDRX: A Do-It-All Bullpup|date=2020-03-10|work=guns.com|access-date=2020-08-03}} Available in .308 Win/7.62 mm, .223/5.56 mm/.223 Wylde, 6.5mm Creedmoor, and .300 BLK. Discontinued in 2024.
- Desert Tech Trasol 2.0 Trajectory Solution Software{{Cite web|url=https://deserttech.com/trasol.php|title=Trasol 2.0}}
- Desert Tech Sound Suppressors {{Cite web|url=https://deserttech.com/suppressors/338-dtss.php|title = Suppressors » .338 DTSS}} Available in .338 Win, .30 Caliber
- Desert Tech 1X Reflex Red Dot Sight w/MDR Mount{{Cite web |url=https://deserttech.com/optics.php?item=2235 |title=OPTICS » DT 1X Reflex Red Dot Sight MDR }}
- Desert Tech Ratchet Compensator{{Cite web|url=https://deserttech.com/muzzlebrakes/?item=2465|title = Suppressors}} Available in 5.56 mm/.223, 7.62 mm/3.08, and 6.5 mm Creedmoor
- Desert Tech Premium Match Ammunition {{Cite web|url=https://deserttech.com/ammunition/50-bmg.php|title = Ammunition » .50 BMG}} Available in .308 Win, .338 LM, .375 CT, .408 CT, .50 BMG, 6.5 mm Creedmoor
- Desert Tech WLVRN Available in .308 Win/7.62 mm, .223/5.56 mm/.223 Wylde, 6.5mm Creedmoor, and .300 BLK
- Desert Tech Sabertooth Available in .308 Win/7.62 mm, .223/5.56 mm/.223 Wylde
- Desert Tech Infinity 16 Available in .223/5.56 mm{{Cite web |author=TFB Staff |date=2024-01-31 |title=[SHOT 2024] First Look at Desert Tech' WLVRN & Infinity 16 |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2024/01/31/shot-2024-first-look-desert-tech-wlvrn-infinity-16/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=TheFirearmBlog.com }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://deserttech.com/index.php}}
- [https://www.foxnews.com/us/desert-tech-utah-gunmaker-turns-down-15-million-deal-with-pakistan Desert Tech, Utah gunmaker, turns down $15 million deal with Pakistan]
Category:2007 establishments in Utah
Category:American companies established in 2007
Category:Companies based in Utah
Category:Firearm manufacturers of the United States