The future of small arms (web links)

[PMP Webmaster]

This is off of the GlobalSecurity.org website, the XM-29 weapons system (formerly known as the OICW for all you Ghost Recon fans):

www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m29-oicw.htm

A little quotation from the page:

The OICW fires the same round as an M16A2 with the lower barrel, 5.56 mm, and can fire in either a single shot or two-round burst. The upper barrel fires a 20 mm high-explosive air-bursting fragmentation round at a distance of more than half a mile away. A six-round magazine in the butt of the rifle holds the HE rounds. The 20 mm round has a dual warhead which makes it lethal on both sides and gives complete coverage when it explodes. The round is air-bursting, and explodes at 1.5 meters above the target. This works especially well if the enemy is hiding behind an object or is lying prone on the ground.

Also to be found on the same site is the XM-8, which will replace the M-4 (and probably the M-16 eventually):

www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m8-oicw.htm

And another quote from their website:

The XM8 is a true family of weapons with different barrel lengths designed to address all the needs of an infantry squad. The standard model is expected to be lighter than the M4 carbine and no larger in size. There‘s also a sharpshooter version for increased range; a compact version for cramped quarters; and an auto-rifle version for a squad-automatic weapon. The XM8 family has a 9-inch compact, 12.5-inch carbine and a 20-inch sharpshooter and automatic rifle. The 12.5-inch carbine is 6.4 pounds with an objective of 5.7 pounds and is 33 inches with its adjustable stock extended. The M-16 A2 is 39.63 inches long and 8.79 pounds with a 30-round magazine.