{"id":15854,"date":"2016-06-02T05:43:05","date_gmt":"2016-06-02T10:43:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hcstx.org\/?p=15854"},"modified":"2016-06-02T05:43:05","modified_gmt":"2016-06-02T10:43:05","slug":"military-defense-news-army-issues-18-weapon-improvements-to-make-the-infantry-soldier-more-deadly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/2016\/06\/02\/military-defense-news-army-issues-18-weapon-improvements-to-make-the-infantry-soldier-more-deadly\/","title":{"rendered":"Military Defense News: Army Issues 18 Weapon Improvements to Make the Infantry Soldier More Deadly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>Soldiers should not hold their breath on any of these, some of this tech has been &#8220;in the pipeline&#8221; for years.-SF<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15855\" src=\"https:\/\/hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/06\/m4.jpg\" alt=\"M4\" width=\"540\" height=\"405\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. M4A1<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-PFJechLafGU\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\">The Army has looked at several ways to improve the M4A1.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: PEO Soldier)<\/span><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\">\u00a0<strong>What does it do?<\/strong> Long-distance hole-punch. (It\u2019s the latest version of your M4 carbine rifle.)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>How heavy is it? <\/strong>Unloaded and without accessories: 7.74 pounds<\/p>\n<p><strong>When might you have one?<\/strong> You might already. The upgrade of M4s (and replacement of M16s) is around a quarter complete and will continue until roughly 2020.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why should you care?<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbo.gov\/index?s=opportunity&amp;mode=form&amp;tab=core&amp;id=603cd85b90fc541cb12c8117a15d8425&amp;_cview=0\">The upgrade<\/a> offers a heavier barrel; some soldiers reported M4s overheating, becoming warped and then jamming during extended use, particularly in Afghanistan. It also adds ambidextrous safety controls and converts the weapon\u2019s three-round burst option into fully-automatic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will this actually happen?<\/strong> Yes. Here&#8217;s what won&#8217;t happen, however:\u00a0The Army also ran a market survey in March 2015 for additional M4 upgrades dubbed M4A1+. Ideas included: an extended Picatinny rail, a floating barrel for enhanced accuracy, and an optional sniper-style single-stage trigger for marksmen, flash suppressor, removable sights, and more neutral colors, among a variety of other enhancements. But the \u201cplus\u201d died with the survey; there\u2019s currently no formal requirements, program of record nor funding.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-15856\" src=\"https:\/\/hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/06\/xm.png?w=620\" alt=\"XM\" width=\"620\" height=\"327\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>2. XM17 (Modular Handgun System)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What does it do?<\/strong>\u00a0This\u00a0will replace the Beretta M9 as the Army\u2019s sidearm.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How heavy is it? <\/strong>The 351-page\u00a0requirement\u00a0\u00a0document does not specify a weight, but presumably similar weight to a standard striker-style handgun, between 1.5 and 2 pounds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When might you have one?<\/strong> The Army plans for full-rate production in 2018.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why should you care?<\/strong> The Army has used an iteration of the M9 as its standard sidearm since 1985. The new pistol will feature better modularity, ergonomics, and accuracy. The requirements require a striker-style firing mechanism. The modular aspect will include ability to adjust grip size, and to add accessories via a Picatinny rail. The competition is open caliber, so the 9mm NATO standard round could be upsized to a .40 or a .45 caliber weapon. In addition the Army, which has stuck with full metal jackets for decades, has not ruled out hollow-point or fragmenting ammunition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will this actually happen?<\/strong> Probably. But not definitely. Companies (the Army won\u2019t say how many) have submitted their candidates for the contract for the Army to evaluate, so the wheels are\u00a0in motion. But that was also true of the Individual Carbine program canceled in 2013, and soldiers still carry M4s with no replacement plans in sight. Complaints of cost\/waste have already emerged: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/story\/military\/2016\/03\/27\/army-chief-you-want-new-pistol-send-me-cabelas-17-million\/82132450\/\">Army Chief Gen. Mark Milley<\/a>quipped he could find a new pistol with $17 million and a trip to Cabela\u2019s, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/story\/military\/careers\/army\/2015\/10\/29\/mccain-army-trade-blows-over-handgun-replacement-program\/74834518\/\">Sen. John McCain slammed<\/a> the MHS program in his series of \u201cAmericas Most Wasted\u201d reports. If such complaints intensify in a tight budget environment, the Army could pull\u00a0the plug.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15857\" src=\"https:\/\/hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/06\/g28.jpg\" alt=\"G28\" width=\"540\" height=\"405\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What does it do?<\/strong> It shoots people from far away. The Army <a href=\"http:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/story\/military\/2016\/04\/01\/army-picks-heckler-koch-sniper-rifle-replace-m110\/82526646\/\">has selected<\/a> a variant of Heckler &amp; Koch\u2019s G28 for the role, replacing the\u00a0M110.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How heavy is it? <\/strong>Roughly 12.7 pounds, or 3 pounds lighter than the M110.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-PFJechKuO5w\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><strong>When might you have one?<\/strong> 2016-2018. For the next 24 months, the Army will conduct production qualification testing and operational testing to ensure the rifles meet requirements. If they pass, they\u2019ll move to full-rate production and fielding.<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Why should you care?<\/strong> Because you like your marksmen to have sniper rifles as good or better than their current ones, but smaller and lighter. The Army wanted a rifle that was easier to use in close quarters\u00a0that also offered better ergonomics, accuracy and reliability.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will this actually happen?<\/strong> Almost certainly. The contract\u2019s been awarded, so if the 30 rifles H&amp;K provide for testing prove as effective as the ones tested, the Army will buy up to 3,643.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-PFJechKANfc\" class=\"story-asset oembed-asset\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"module-position-PFJechKoaA8\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><strong><span class=\"credit\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/67369be21bfc317600b9ceb00317be696572fe35\/r=x408&amp;c=540x405\/http\/cdn.tegna-tv.com\/-mm-\/42e14aa252362b77d9d335979e48b48ae43c0b9e\/c=0-188-4288-3412\/local\/-\/media\/2016\/05\/25\/GGM\/MilitaryTimes\/635997868578698232-021411at-xm25.jpg\" alt=\"XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System\" width=\"540\" height=\"405\" \/><\/span><\/strong><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><strong>4. XM25<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>What does it do?<\/strong>\u00a0The XM25 grenade launcher and its five-25mm grenade magazine offers a programmable round and fire control.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How heavy is it?\u00a0<\/strong>Roughly 14 pounds, unloaded.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When might you have one?<\/strong>\u00a0Perhaps as soon as 2017. Assuming funding (which the Army has requested for the coming fiscal year) and testing stay on track.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-PFJechKy_54\" class=\"story-asset oembed-asset\">\n<div class=\"story-oembed-wrap \">\n<div class=\"js-oembed story-oembed story-oembed-defense-news story-oembed-type-link\">\n<div class=\"oembed-asset oembed-asset-link oembed-asset-defense-news\">\n<div class=\"oembed-link-thumbnail\"><\/div>\n<div><strong>Why should you care?<\/strong>\u00a0<em>This stand-alone weapon offers the ability to set a laser on a target, gauge distance automatically, program a grenade to go that distance (with manual adjustments) and fire the grenade.<\/em> Fire control takes into account various ballistics and environmental factors to aid accuracy, as do magnified optical and thermal sights. In short, aim at a wall, push a button to program the point you want the grenade to explode. From there, aim fire. The 25mm grenade is designed to explode right where you told it to, from up to 500-600 meters away.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Will this actually happen?<\/strong>\u00a0More likely than not. It\u2019s been in the pipeline for years; it was pulled from the battlefield in Afghanistan in 2013 due to injury-causing malfunctions. The company and Army hope the kinks are worked out: it\u2019s a program of record recently named in the 2017 budget as a priority that meets a critical capability gap, so this isn\u2019t far out.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. IRAP (Increase Range Anti-Personnel)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What does it do?<\/strong>\u00a0Along with the separate XM25 weapon, the Army is pursuing a new 40mm grenade cartridge that can be fired by the\u00a0M320, one with better range and accuracy as well as\u00a0advanced fuze functionality (when and\u00a0why it explodes).<\/p>\n<p><strong>How heavy is it?\u00a0<\/strong>Roughly the same as an M433 grenade round.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-PFJechKRAyI\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"single-photo float\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/-mm-\/623a74a7a29f800ff21b5de0e36d769e50e22991\/c=55-0-745-920&amp;r=183&amp;c=0-0-180-240\/local\/-\/media\/2015\/01\/08\/GGM\/MilitaryTimes\/635563340488381599-ARM-smart-grenade-2.jpg\" alt=\"40mm SAGM prototype\" width=\"180\" height=\"240\" \/>40mm SAGM prototype\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Army)<\/span><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>When might you have one?<\/strong>\u00a0It is planned to start as a program of record (a\u00a0funded\u00a0weapons program)\u00a0in 2017.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why should you care?<\/strong>\u00a0The IRAP rolled in\u00a0the technology from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/story\/military\/tech\/2015\/01\/10\/sagm-grenade-testing-\/21409039\/\">Small Arms Grenade Munition<\/a>\u00a0smart grenade, which can sense a wall or building or obstacle\u00a0and then automatically explode just after passing it. SAGM required\u00a0no pre-programming; just point your standard grenade launcher and shoot. The requirements from a December <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbo.gov\/index?s=opportunity&amp;mode=form&amp;tab=core&amp;id=ce770785879bb068a3cc9ae68cbff81a&amp;_cview=0\">market survey<\/a>\u00a0indicate the Army wants\u00a0increased range, lethality and accuracy as well as\u00a0increased fuze functionality and versatility compared to the M433. The survey asked vendors what would trigger an airburst or explosion, and whether any other equipment like fire control\u00a0would be needed for a demonstration.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will this actually happen?<\/strong>\u00a0With plans to become a program of record next year: very\u00a0likely. The Army says the round is\u00a0not competing against the XM25 \u2014 although every defense dollar is competing against every other defense dollar, especially in at least a\u00a0relatively similar functionality. Unlike the XM25, SAGM doesn\u2019t require the Army to buy new guns.\u00a0If the price-tag doesn&#8217;t vary too much from standard grenades, it\u2019d be easy to imagine this supplementing or supplanting those purchases. Even if not, the Army still sounds like it&#8217;s fairly committed, though no solicitation has been issued.<\/p>\n<p><b>Read About The Remaining 13 Improvements at<a href=\"http:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/story\/military\/tech\/2016\/06\/01\/18-ways-army-wants-make-you-deadlier\/84852750\/\"> Army Times<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soldiers should not hold their breath on any of these, some of this tech has been &#8220;in the pipeline&#8221; for years.-SF 1. M4A1 The Army has looked at several ways to improve the M4A1.\u00a0(Photo: PEO Soldier) \u00a0What does it do? Long-distance hole-punch. (It\u2019s the latest version of your M4 carbine rifle.) How heavy is it?&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[5429,2820,24,1309],"tags":[12003,12004,4110],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15854"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15854"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15854\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}