US delay infantry weapons for 5 yrs

lionnoisy SG

21 April 2006
US Army delays next-generation infantry weapons

By Joshua Kucera JDW Staff Reporter
Washington, DC

Additional reporting Scott Gourley JDW Correspondent
California

The US Army has again delayed the procurement of its future infantry weapons, this time for more than five years, and is working to field two interim guns in the meantime.

This is only the latest in a series of delays to the Objective Infantry Combat Weapon (OICW) Increment 1, which was intended to be a family of four guns that would replace the M4 carbine, M16 assault rifle, M249 light machine gun and some M9 pistols in use with the army.

The Department of Defense Inspector General's office has long held reservations about the programme and issued a report in 2005 questioning whether the army's plans for the OICW actually represented an improvement over current systems.

Further confusing the matter is the fact that the army has drafted formal requests for proposals for a non-developmental carbine and a light machine gun. Special Operations Command has also developed a requirement for a new service pistol and army and US Marine Corps officials are believed to be interested in the gun, though it remains to be seen who will lead the effort, said one industry official.

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ST can send a brochure to US Army!!
Squad Support Weapon (SSW)
40mm Air Bursting Munition (ABM) directly from a handheld system. Weighing only 6kg with a full load 4 x 40mm rounds and 20 x 5.7mm rounds

The weapon's weight currently stands at 8.17kg, but is expected to be reduced to 6.81kg by the end of PDRR and to a maximum of 6.36kg before entering production.

No matter how light it will be,OICW will not be in mass production
so soon.Sure much later than SSW.

SSW is bulky,good comments!SSW at least less bulky than OICW.
Can u tell us any other SSW is lighter or
better?Pl share here.but i think u cant for most nuts here know,
there is none like SSW.

pl revisit info of SSWand compare with other SSW.

skeujin SG

Originally posted by lionnoisy:
[b]

[b][url=http://www.stengg.com/CoyCapPro/detail.aspx?pdid=218]Squad Support Weapon (SSW)

ST can send a brochure to US Army!![/b]

tts one bulky n ugly pc of crap. luks more suited for a b grade sci fi movie...

Shotgun SG

At only 6 kg…. save it lar.

tankee1981 SG

I personally do not think Singapore will use the current version of the SSW. Reason being we currently have the technology to make it better!

ST have been cooperating with the Australians on a new form of technology known as Metal storm.

Metal Storm technology is an electronically initiated, stacked projectile system that removes the mechanisms required to fire a conventional weapon. Effectively, the only parts that move in Metal Storms technology are the projectiles contained within the barrels. Multiple projectiles are stacked in a barrel. The technology allows each projectile to be fired sequentially from the barrel.

By using this technology we can definitely reduce both the weight and the size of the current SSW. This way its export prospects will be much better as compared to the current SSW and even the OICW.

ST have successfully fired 40mm projectiles using such technology.
Some pics: http://www.metalstorm.com/

More info on Metal Storm: http://www.metalstorm.com/index.php?src=gendocs&link=The_Technology&category=Main&PHPSESSID=fdde70dc1b6f6ead44b8795ab7bbcf74

tankee1981 SG

I am puzzled at why the SSW is designed to fire 5.7mm rounds instead of the standard NATO 5.56 rounds which most of the countries are using. It will certainly be better if the SSW can accept the standard 30 round magazine as well. 20 rounds is not alot. Maybe this are another reasons beside the weight and the size issues, why it is not being adopted by our SAF so far. Very Happy

|-|05| SG

because it's a PDW and not a rfile. It need the extra bang. Much like the P-90

Moonstriker SG

5.7mm more penetrative power.

lionnoisy SG

more on tie up with Metal Storm and ST

STK =ST Kinetics

Metal Storm And ST Kinetics Successfully Fires Jointly-developed High Explosive Stacked Rounds,Singapore, 20 February 2006

tankee1981 SG

Originally posted by |-|05|

because it's a PDW and not a rfile. It need the extra bang. Much like the P-90

I understand the need for having a higher calibre for more stopping power. But 5.7mm ammunition is kind of unconventional. I don't remember us having any weapons in service which uses that calibre except maybe for the commandos which uses the P-90. Therefore if we are to use the SSW, we have to produce an extra type of ammunition just for this one type of weapon. Further more the 20 rd magazine have to be produced separately again just for this SSW. I believe this will be less than ideal under combat situations.

The P-90 uses 5.7mm rds but as far as i know only the commandos or SOF uses them. So does it mean that this SSW is specifically designed for cdo and SOF use? Very Happy

spartan6 SG

Cos e 5.7mm rd is a HV rd

lionnoisy SG

STK joint
ventures with MS:READBACK and 3 shots grenade launchers