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Objective Individual Combat Weapon

The OICW provides an enhanced capability for the 21st century infantryman.

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Description

The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) provides an enhanced capability for the 21st century infantryman, with the potential to selectively replace the M16 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, and M4 carbine. When fielded, the OICW dual munition system will provide superior firepower to the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Special Operations Command, Navy, and Coast Guard.

Program guidelines were derived from the Small Arms Master Plan (SAMP) and Joint Service Small Arms Master Plan (JSSAMP). OICW was managed by JSSAP during the Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) phase. For the PDRR/EMD phase, OICW management will transition to PM Small Arms with support provided by ARDEC.

• Effective range to 1,000 meters


• Full defilade target capability


• Moving target tracking capability


• KE semi two-round burst; HE semi automatic


• Recoil level 1/3 that of the M14


• Ruggedized composite weapon housing


• Separable HE/KE weapons


• Precise target range, automatically communicated to 20mm HE bursting ammo


• Five times more lethal than the M16/M203, at > twice the range


• Rate of fire with KE ammo >850 rounds/min, with HE >10 rounds/minute


• Easily field strippable in under two minutes


• Day/night fire control; weapon interface, iron sight backup


• HE ammo functional modes: airburst, MOUT short arm, point detonation, point detonation delay, and self-destruct


• Laser ranging accuracy ±1/2m out to 500m, ±1m out to 1000m

Weapon Operation

The fire control system (FCS), using a laser range finder, pinpoints the precise target range at which the HE round will burst and relays this information to the 20mm ammunition fuzing system. Fragments from the bursting munition will defeat PASGT body armor and incapacitate the target. The sighting system provides full 24-hour capability by employing uncooled IR sensor technology for night vision.

Accurate OICW 20mm HE airburst at 2.5 meters above ground, using turns-count fuzing precision.

World-Class Team

For the ATD program, ATK served as system integrator, fuze developer and 20mm HE developer. ATK formed a strong international team, including Heckler & Koch (weapon), Contraves-Brashear Systems (fire control), Octec (video tracker), and Dynamit Nobel (KE and propellant support). For the PDRR/EMD program, the ATK team remains intact and will evolve a combat ready system.