Army, Marines await updates of combat rifles

[thedrifter]

Army, Marines await updates of combat rifles





Differing models boast versatility
By Otto Kreisher
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

March 6, 2004

WASHINGTON ? Most of the Marines going into Iraq will carry a new model of the M-16 rifle, beginning a process that will give virtually all Marines an improved personal weapon over the next several years.

The M-16 has been the standard personal weapon for the U.S. military since the early days in Vietnam, more than 40 years ago. Although familiar in appearance, the new M-16A4 will facilitate attachment of a variety of high-tech sights and other devices to improve troops' ability to fight in varying conditions.

But while the Marines are sticking with the familiar U.S.-designed M-16, the Army is expected to adopt a radically different rifle developed by the German firm Heckler and Koch. That would mean that soldiers and Marines would have different combat rifles for the first time in a century.

The Marines' new rifle is the result of a seven-year, Army-led program called the "modular weapon system," David Hansen, a ground weapons program manager at Marine Corps Systems Command, said.

The first shipment of 31,000 of the new rifles is being rushed to the units deploying to Iraq, said Lt. Col. Michael Mulligan. The rifles are being issued to the "ground combat element," which means infantry, artillery, tank and light armored vehicle units, he said.

The new rifle looks much the same and performs like the M-16A2 version that Marines have carried for 20 years, Mulligan said.

But on the new rifle, the familiar carrying handle on top of the receiver can be removed easily to allow attachment of different optical or night-vision sights. The new model also has a rail mounting system, or fasteners, on the handguard to facilitate attachment of other devices, such as a 40mm grenade launcher, high-intensity flashlights or infrared illuminators.

The new rifles will come with "the advanced combat gunsight," which is a four-power optical sight with an illuminated image for aiming called a reticle, which can be used for both close combat and long-range engagements, Mulligan said.

In addition to the new model M-16 rifles, the "modular weapons system" program will produce about 30,000 M-4 carbines, a modified M-16 with a shorter barrel and an adjustable stock. The M-4 also has fasteners for the same high-tech sights and other devices that can go on the larger rifle.

The shorter weapon will go first to the "close combat specialists," such as the Marines in force reconnaissance units and in the new platoon that will deploy with the SEALs later this year. It will be issued later to Marines in support units in place of the M-9 automatic pistol, Mulligan said.

The contract calls for a total of 65,463 rifles and sights at an expected cost of $75 million, Hansen said.

While the Marines are issuing the new version of the familiar M-16, the Army is in the final testing of a totally new rifle with an integrated high-tech sight. The exotic-looking rifle, currently designated the XM8, is a spinoff of a long-range Army program to develop the "objective individual weapon." That is intended to combine an 5.56mm rifle with a weapon that uses laser-range finding to explode a 20mm projectile over a concealed enemy.

Although the Army said the XM8 has not been approved for production, officers involved in the testing are confident it will be fielded starting next year. Heckler and Koch said it would make the XM8 at a plant in Georgia.

Hansen said the Marines have been observing the XM8 program and have tested the weapon, but have no plans to buy any new rifle except the M-16s.


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Sempers,

Roger