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Subject:
RE:OICW,XM25?
Horsesoldier
1/27/2004 12:05:21 PM
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| I was also a bit skeptical on the XM25 idea when it first started appearing on these discussion boards, but have since seen a good deal of writing on it in Army Times and other sources.
Basically, the idea is that the 25mm grenade launcher portion of the OICW (20mm having been a bit too anemic, apparently) is ready to go. The main stumbling block with fielding the full OICW is still the issue of size/bulk with both weapons systems included. Hopefully maturing sensor technology and other improvements will allow them to reduce the total package to a manageable size, but in the meantime they are going to field the XM25 to get the proximity-fuzed airburst GL into service.
Or that's the plan anyway.
The 5.56mm portion is not really being fielded as a "seperate" weapon system, but the XM8 that is being considered to replace the M16/M4 family is a rifle/carbine sized version of the 5.56mm portion of the weapon. Barrel is longer, it includes a stock and other necessary furniture, built in optics like the G36 (which the XM8 basically is). |
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