Individual and crew-served weapons and equipment

Army, Oct 2002

The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) combines the lethality of 20-mm air-bursting munitions, 5.56-mm NATO ammunition and rugged full-solution fire control (a laser range finder, laser pointer, illuminator, ballistic computer, video camera, direct-view optics, environmental sensors, electronic compass, target tracker, laser steering and thermal module). The OICW will eliminate targets the M16 cannot: targets in defilade, in trenches, behind trees and on rooftops. Compared to the current M4 MWS, it increases the probability of incapacitation, doubles the standoff range to 1,000 meters and substantially increases soldier survivability.

The Objective Crew-Served Weapon (OCSW) is the next-generation crew-- served weapon system. The program aims to develop and demonstrate a lightweight, two-man portable, crew-served weapon system that incorporates the latest advances in electronics, lightweight design and materials, and small arms technologies.

Firing highly lethal 25-mm high-explosive ammunition, the OCSW will replace selected Mkl9 Mod-3 40-mm grenade machine guns, selected M2 .50-caliber machine guns and some medium machine guns.