US is calling for proposals to replace M16.See
US ARMY TACOM-Picatinny's solicitation,Procurement Network
http://procnet.pica.army.mil/dbi/DynCBD/solicitation.cfm
Post 11 May 2005
W15QKN-05-R-0449
FedBizOpps notice Date: 2005-03-04
Subject:10--Objective Individual Combat Weapon, Increment One,
Family of Weapons(Note by poster,not XM 29)
Description:
Pre-Solicitation Notice for the Objective Individual Combat Weapon
(OICW) Increment I family of weapons
Solicitation No. W15QKN-05-R-0449
The U.S. Army ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, on behalf of
the Program Manager for Soldier Weapons (PM-SW), has a requirement
for a non developmental family of weapons that are capable of
firing U.S. standard M855 and M856 ammunition. The family consists
of a Carbine, Special
ompact (SC), Designated Marksman (DM), and Light Machine Gun (LMG)
weapon systems. This endeavor will be conducted in three phases
consisting of a System Design and Development
(SDD) Phase, a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Phase and a Full
Rate Production (FRP) Phase.
The Carbine, SC and DM weapon systems shall share at least 80%
parts
commonality and shall share at least 50% commonality with the LMG.
Each weapon
system shall be equipped with a Multi Purpose Sighting System
(MPSS) enabling
the warfighter to rapidly and effectively engage stationary and
moving targets
both with reflexive fire at close ranges, and with precision fire
out to the
maximum effective range of the variant (Carbine-500m, SC-150m,
DM-600m, LMG-
600m). All OICW Increment I weapon systems shall incorporate a
resident
limited visibility fire control with infrared aim light,
illuminator and
visible red laser pointer. The infrared aiming light and
illuminator shall be greater than, or equal to the capability of
the AN/PEQ-2A.
A properly zeroed OICW Increment I Carbine (zeroed to 300 meters),
SC (zeroed
to 150 meters), DM (zeroed to 300 and 500 meters), or LMG (zeroed
to 300
meters) shall enable a warfighter firing from varying fighting
positions, both
supported and unsupported to engage E-type silhouettes under
conditions that
include target exposure times from 3 to 8 seconds and targets
moving 2 to 4
meters per second to the following metrics: Carbine (moving targets
to 300m)
with a Probability of Hit greater than .60 at 150m; SC (moving and
stationary
targets) with a Probability of Hit greater than .40 at 100m; DM
(stationary
targets, zeroed to 500m) with a Probability of Hit greater than .50
at 500m;
LMG (Hit on first 6-round burst against a single E-type silhouette
in an 8
target array, zeroed to 300m) with a Probability of Hit greater
than .04 at
600m.
The OICW Increment I Carbine, SC and DM shall demonstrate 18,000
Mean Rounds
Between Essential Function Failure (MRBEFF) for Class III
malfunctions (i.e.,
for non-operator correctable malfunctions which cause the loss of
essential OICW Increment I functionality) and 2,300 MRBEFF for
Class I and II malfunctions combined (Class I malfunctions are
operator clearable within 10
seconds, whereas Class II malfunctions require more than 10 seconds
but less than 10 minutes to clear but can be corrected by the
operator with available equipment). The OICW Increment I LMG shall
demonstrate 18,000 MRBEFF for Class
III malfunctions and 1,900 MRBEFF for Class I and II malfunctions
combined
The OICW Increment I Carbine, SC, DM weapon systems shall have a
sustained rate
of fire greater than or equal to 45 rounds per minute without
degrading
reliability. The OICW Increment I LMG weapon system�s sustained
rate of fire
shall be at a minimum of 72 rounds per minute for ten minutes
without degrading reliability and accuracy.
All OICW Increment I weapon systems shall have a minimum barrel
life of 15,000 rounds.
All Proposals will include written submissions and test (bid)
samples, both of
will be 60 days after Solicitation release. A pre-solicitation or a
pre-
proposal conference will be conducted at a later date (to be
determined).
The offeror shall submit four (4) of each variant for a total of
sixteen (16) complete weapon systems, along with sufficient spare
parts, to the Government
for bid sample testing no later than the closing date of the
solicitation.
Should an offeror�s bid samples pass through the initial and
subsequent go/no go screening criteria, the samples will be
evaluated with live fire to
demonstrate the weapon systems� ability to meet the system
requirements.
The winning offeror will be awarded a contract for test quantities
to proceed to a Milestone C decision, if required. After satisfying
the requirements for a Milestone C decision, Low Rate Initial
Production (LRIP) quantities (up to 4,900 weapon systems) shall be
produced. Subsequent to the production of LRIP quantities, the
Government may award multiple Full Rate Production (FRP) options to
the winning offeror (up to 134,500 total weapon systems if the
total number of options are exercised).
The OICW Increment I family of weapons is intended to replace
current weapon systems to include the M4, M16, M249 and selected M9
pistols for the active army.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) to be posted on the TACOM-ARDEC
Acquisition Center website located at: http://procnet.pica.army.mil
is planned for release on or about 23 March 2005. Proposals, along
with sixteen (16) bid samples, are required to be delivered within
sixty (60) days from the date the RFP is released. Point of contact
for this requirement is Mr. David DeCandia, Contract Specialist,
AMSTA-AQ-APD, BLDG 10, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, email:
[email protected], telephone number: 973-724-4674. END OF
QUOTE
Pl see http://www.emessell.typepad.com
for comments and the story for M16 secret replacement.
2.Can SAR 21 meet the minimun requirement oF the above
TACOM-Picatinny ?
You guys as a old users can tell me somethings not
classified?
XM 8 & HK416 are good.
As a Singaporean,you will be laughing if I ask the mighty US to
consider the SAR 21--Singapore Assualt Rifle 21--to replace
M16.But,pl read:
www.janes.com/regional_news/asia_pacific/news/idr/idr000531_1_n.shtml
by Charles Q Cutshaw .
2.SAR 21 has:
Intergrated laser hidden and protected inside the
handguard.No x'mas tree like attachment.
1.5 times sights inside the handle,factory zeroed.
very light recoil.
Produced in 1999 and field tested,and passed.
3.I tried it out few years ago and the recoil was very low.It was
reported that even ladies could hit with high rate when they fired
first rifle in their life.
4.pl see
http://www.stengg.com/CoyCapPro/detail.aspx?pdid=133.
5.Never mind it come from a red dot country(u can't find in
map),but it can save GI's life.
6.Vision Technologies,A ST co., in US is selling Spore
weapons
etc.
I think some of your civilian shooters have tried SAR 21.Ask
them.
7.The laser sight 1.5 time is part of the handle for GI to carry
the rifle when they walk or run for their life.The handle is very
convenient.Also,the sling can be changed for combat mode in no
time.
8.Wishing GI will get a real rifle to protect their life.
The attached sight and laser etc on XM8 and HK 416 will create
problems,especially inside jungle ,brush etc.Why the builder could
not intergrated them inside the rifle body,like Singapore Assualt
Rifle 21?The 1.5 optics is inside the handle and laser inside the
hand gurad.You may say what if soldier want to change them due to
other requirement or the equipment damaged?You are right.But there
is no perfect answer.Shall we cater for GI for a smooth actions
inside jungle or we cater for the change which may not be so
often?
9.http://www.mindef.sg/army/infantry_weapons_sar21.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAR-21
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as31-e.htm
Does the SAR 21 look better,outline so smooth,less chance to catch
vegetation inside jungle.It will absorb better shock during actions
for the round body.Other two have so many sharp angles,esp the
sights which will easily be dameged due to the
position.Ask http://www.vt-systems.com/land_weapons.asp
to know more.
10.Military rifles is for fighting in tough situation,not used by
softly spoken gentlemen or ladies to shoot in high class country
club or for shooting movie.They must be designed to such
situation.How can a big sight attachment to such rifle.The GI will
find the rifle not balance and has to balancre it,affecting the
aiming.
