Misplaced Pages

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "XM29 OICW" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

XM29 OICW
XM29 – Later Vintage Mockup
Type	Assault rifle with bullpup grenade launcher module
Place of origin	United States Germany
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch, Alliant Techsystems
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch, Alliant Techsystems
Produced	1996–2004 (prototypes only)
Variants	XM8 and XM25
Specifications
Mass	5.4 kg empty and 6.81 kg loaded (planned) 6.8 kg unloaded and 8.17 kg loaded (actual)
Length	890 mm (35 in)
Barrel length	KE Module: 250 mm (9.8 in) HE Module: 460 mm (18 in)
Cartridge	KE Module: 5.56×45mm NATO HE Module: 20×28mm grenade
Caliber	KE Module: 5.56 mm HE Module: 20 mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	800-850 rounds/min (KE Module) 10 rounds/min (HE Module)
Muzzle velocity	750 m/s (2,500 ft/s) (KE) 180 m/s (590 ft/s) (HE)
Effective firing range	~600-800m (Max ~3,000m) HE: 1,000m (Max: ~2,000m)
Feed system	KE Module: Various STANAG magazines HE Module: 5-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Integrated 6× thermal vision, night vision optics with computer-assisted sighting and laser rangefinder

The XM29 OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon) was a series of prototypes of a new type of assault rifle that fired 20 mm HE airbursting projectiles. The prototypes were developed as part of the Objective Individual Combat Weapon program in the 1990s. The term SABR (Selectable Assault Battle Rifle) was also used at certain points, but is less common.

Overview

Developed by Alliant Techsystems, with Heckler & Koch as a major subcontractor, the most commonly seen version of the XM29 consisted of a semi-automatic 20×28mm smart grenade launcher, an underslung "KE" assault carbine (derived from the HK G36 then in its late developmental stage) firing a standard 5.56×45mm NATO round, and a top-mounted computer-assisted sighting system with integrated laser rangefinder, thermal vision night vision capabilities, and up to 6× optical telescopic sight. Earlier designs used different configurations and setups.

The launcher part has been described variously as a light semi-automatic 20 mm cannon, a grenade launcher, or an airburst weapon. It poses a classification problem, in that it does not fit neatly into any one category. On one hand, it uses much smaller shells and has a much flatter trajectory than grenade launchers. On the other, while its caliber and velocity is more similar to light cannon, it does share traits with other infantry grenade launchers.

Various problems have effectively ended the program as it was originally envisioned, including weight, bulk, and lack of effectiveness of the 20×28 mm airburst round. Upon cancellation in 2004, it was split into three related programs. OICW Increment One is a program to develop a family of light kinetic energy weapons, OICW Increment Two is a program to develop the airburst grenade launcher as a standalone component, and OICW Increment Three is a program to re-integrate the two components. The XM8 was developed in an attempt to meet Increment One requirements. Instead a new program known as Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) was begun. Meanwhile, the XM25 25×40mm airburst launcher began development to meet the Increment Two requirements. Increment Three will not be initiated until after One and Two are completed.

The OICW Increment One Request for Proposals was cancelled in October 2005, while development of the 25×40mm XM25 continued, and the 25×59mm OCSW program as well until its termination. It is not clear if LSAT is intended to meet the goals of OICW Increment One or if it is a standalone weapon system. However, for all intents and purposes, the OICW program is no longer under development.

See also

• List of bullpup firearms
• List of grenade launchers
• 80.002 – (Soviet Union)
• Advanced Individual Combat Weapon – (Australia)
• PAPOP – (France)
• QTS-11 – (China)
• S&T Daewoo K11 – (South Korea)

References

1. ^ Gander, Terry J. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002–2003. Jane's Information Group. 2002
2. ^ "Heckler & Koch HK XM29 OICW". Military Factory (August 17, 2017).
3. ^ - "XM29 OICW". Modern Firearms (September 19, 2018).

External links

• Modern Firearms – XM29 OICW
• Alliant Techsystems
• Heckler & Koch (English – United States)
• HK Pro – Detailed information

v t e Bullpup firearms
Rifles	A-91 Advanced Individual Combat Weapon Armtech C30R ASh-12.7 ADS amphibious rifle BR18 Bushmaster M17S Desert Tech MDR EM-1 EM-2 EM-4 EMER-K1 FAMAS FB MSBS Grot FN F2000 Grad AR Heckler & Koch G11 HS Produkt VHS IFAR 22 Tavor TAR-21 Tavor X95 IWI Tavor 7 Interdynamics MKR K-3 KAL1 GPIR Kel-Tec RDB Kel-Tec RFB KH-2002 L64/65 L85 L86 LSW L98 LA-1 LA-4 LAPA FA-03 Magpul PDR Malyuk MR-C Model 45A NIVA XM1970 Norinco Type 86S OTs-14 Groza PAPOP Pindad SS2 Bullpup QBZ-95 (DI MA-1 Mk. III) S&T Daewoo XK8 SA80 SAR 21 Sieg Springfield Hellion Steyr ACR Steyr AUG STG-556 TKB-011 TKB-0146 TKB-022PM TKB-059 TKB-408 Type 11 Valmet M82 VB Berapi LP06 Vektor CR-21 Vepr W+F C42 (Stgw 90 "kurz Version C 2") Walther G22
Carbines	AGM-1 L22 Thorneycroft
Machine guns	Pecheneg Bullpup QBB-95 SAR 21 LMG Steyr AUG HBAR
Submachine guns	FN P90 Tavor X95 SMG JS 9 mm QCW-05 Steyr AUG Para Steyr AUG A3 Para XS
Handguns	Boberg XR9-S [de] Bond Arms BullPup 9 Bushmaster Arm Pistol Remington XP-100 USFA ZiP .22
Sniper rifles	Bor Desert Tech SRS Desert Tech HTI SVU DSR-Precision GmbH DSR-1 M89SR OTs-48K QBU-88 VSSK Vykhlop Walther WA 2000
Anti-materiel rifles	Arash Barrett M90 Barrett M95 Barrett XM500 Barrett M82A2 DSR-Precision GmbH DSR-50 Falcon Gepárd HK WSG 2000 KSVK Mambi MICOR Leader 50 Panzerbüchse M.SS41 [de] RT-20 Steyr IWS 2000 SV-18 WKW Wilk PDShP
Shotguns	Crye Six12 EAA MKA 1923 ENARM Pentagun Franchi mod .410 Heckler & Koch HK CAWS High Standard Model 10 IWI Tavor TS12 Kel-Tec KSG Kushnapup KS-23K Mossberg 500/590 Bullpup NeoStead 2000 Pancor Jackhammer Standard Manufacturing DP-12 UTAS UTS-15
Other	ADS amphibious rifle Springfield Special Purpose Individual Weapon S&T Daewoo K11 XM25 CDTE XM29 OICW

• Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1996
• 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles
• Abandoned military projects of the United States
• Assault rifles of Germany
• Assault rifles of the United States
• Grenade launchers of Germany
• Grenade launchers of the United States
• Trial and research firearms of Germany
• Trial and research firearms of the United States
• Bullpup firearms
• Heckler & Koch rifles
• Multiple-barrel firearms