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Objective individual combat weapon - The OICW can be a dual- or single-barrel weapon. The removable top barrel hurls 20mm high-explosive air-bursting fragmentation rounds over the heads of hidden targets more than a half-mile away. The lower barrel shoots NATO-standard 5.56mm ammunition. These "kinetic" rounds provide accurate single-round or suppressive fire bursts at distances up to about 500 yards. A single trigger is linked to both barrels, by way of a laser-guided electronic fire-shot system as sophisticated as what you will find on a modern tank. The most impressive and useful feature of these munitions is their airburst capability. "The fuzing technology is key to our system," says Alliant program manager Michael C. Moore. He explains that a laser rangefinder pinpoints the precise distance at which the fragmenting round needs to detonate, killing the enemy even if he is hiding behind trees or walls, or in trenches. If the demonstration project is successful over the next several years, the Pentagon plans to make an initial purchase of 45,000 OICWs, to be in the hands of elite light-infantry units by 2006. The weapons will cost between $10,000 and $12,000 each, plus $25 to $30 for each 20mm air-burst round. Click here for another picture. |
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X-45 Unmanned Attack Drone - Under a $256 million cost-share agreement with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Air Force, Boeing Phantom Works has built two flight vehicles and is preparing to test an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle demonstration system. The UCAV system is designed to prove the technological feasibility of multiple UCAVs autonomously performing extremely dangerous and high-priority combat missions. The system consists of two X-45A air vehicles, a reconfigurable mission control station, and a variety of supportability elements. The first such task envisioned for this system is the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) mission.
The development and deployment of UCAVs could significantly increase the effectiveness and survivability of manned fighter aircraft while lowering the overall cost of combat operations. Because of their small size, lack of pilot interfaces and training requirements, reusability and long-term storage capability, UCAVs are projected to cost up to 65 percent less to produce than future manned fighter aircraft, and up to 75 percent less to operate and maintain than current systems. The X-45A UCAV demonstrator air vehicle has a tailless, 27-foot-long airframe with a 34-foot wingspan. Vehicle weight is 8,000 pounds (empty) and it can carry a 3,000 pound payload. The reconfigurable mission control station has robust and secure satellite-relay and line-of-sight communications links for distributed control in all air combat situations. The operational UCAV is envisioned to be somewhat larger and will incorporate stealth technologies. In a typical mission scenario, multiple UCAVs will be equipped with preprogrammed objectives and preliminary targeting information from ground-based mission planners. Operations can then be carried out autonomously, but can also be managed interactively or revised en route by UCAV controllers should new objectives or targeting information dictate. Upon return to base, the UCAV can be immediately prepared for another mission, or the wings can be easily removed and the vehicle placed into a container for shipment elsewhere or storage for up to 10 years. Container interfaces allow for periodic maintenance monitoring and software updating of the vehicle's systems. If needed, the UCAV is designed to be reassembled and prepared for combat in 60-90 minutes. Testing of the X-45A air vehicles is scheduled to begin 2002, with the two vehicles cooperatively performing a simulated SEAD mission in 2003. If this system demonstration program is successful, DoD expects to begin to field UCAV weapon systems in the 2008 time frame. Click here for another picture. |
