PROTECTOR Remote Weapon Station

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) has sold nearly 20,000 M153 PROTECTOR Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) units so far. The weapon is being used by more than 16 nations, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and the UK. At time of this writing, the U.S. Army has three-quarters (15,000) of all PROTECTOR weapon stations. The PROTECTOR RWS is a mature and proven product based on millions of hours of operational experience in combat zones combined with a close cooperation with defense forces worldwide.

The PROTECTOR RWS family is constantly enhanced with new product variants to meet customer-specific requirements. M153 CROWS is manufactured by KONGSBERG in Johnstown, east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The CROWS has an unprecedented Operational Readiness Rate of 99%. The technology behind it is a four-axis servo system, where the weapon’s center line and sight line move independently of each other (detached line of sight). The operator controls the RWS with a joystick and aims at the target at any time while the weapon’s center line is automatically adjusted depending on the weapon type, ammunition, distance to the target and inclination of the vehicle. The weapon station has a flexible architecture regarding sensor integration. A variety of sensors are integrated today, such as a fully stabilized system with thermal night cameras, laser rangefinders and color day cameras that contribute to target observation and advanced ballistics and image processing. Sensors like the thermal camera and the 30x zoom day camera make it easier to detect movement around the vehicle and to distinguish friend from enemy.

According to KONGSBERG, user experiences show several benefits. A protected gunner has more time to make well-considered and good decisions. Fewer rounds are needed to be fired, and the rounds that are fired hit where they are aimed at. The flexibility on both the sensor and the weapon side has contributed to the development over the years to a whole family of PROTECTOR RWSs. For example, there is an RWS version on which a 30mm machine gun is the main weapon (LW30) which also can control the Javelin armor missile and future integration of the Stinger air defense missile; a low-profile version designed for the M1A2 Abrams tank; as well as lighter and more mobile versions (“small/super small”).

PROTECTOR RWS with Javelin JIK and .50 HMG

On May 21, 2019, Oshkosh Defense unveiled the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) with a Special Forces mission package. The vehicle was equipped with a PROTECTOR RWS with a Javelin Integration Kit (JIK) and a .50 caliber machine gun. The high firepower is complemented by an electronic architecture designed for integration into tactical networks. Despite the high weight of the weapons, the JLTV remains so mobile that it can be used in combat together with other combat vehicles. The combination of scalability and flexibility makes the JLTV suitable for the unpredictable and evolving mission requirements of Special Forces. “The JLTV is a disruptive force booster that enables operators to achieve escalating and de-escalating effects in military operations—from environmental and peace missions to dangerous enemy conditions,” said George Mansfield, Vice President and General Manager Joint Programs at Oshkosh Defense (Source: Oshkosh Defense).

Javelin Weapon System

Javelin is the world’s most versatile and lethal one-man-portable, anti-tank guided munition and surveillance weapon system. It is made by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin. A premier light infantry surveillance and anti-armor weapon system, Javelin provides the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and numerous international customers a fire-and-forget, medium-range missile. It’s easy to use and offers enhanced situational awareness and demonstrated lethality against a wide array of targets, such as armored vehicles, bunkers and caves. Javelin is combat-proven and has a greater than 94% reliability rate. It can be deployed from multiple platforms and used in all weather and in day or night operations. The program has also developed and demonstrated remote launchers for ground vehicles. The Javelin system is scheduled to be in inventory until 2050 (Source: Raytheon Company).

Available Alternatives for the JLTV

As an alternative, a multitude of RWS configurations including cannons, missiles and advanced non-kinetic weapon systems are available. Armed with its payload capacity and a system integration-minded design, the JLTV can support increased lethality and outperform adversaries with a multitude of remotely operated weapons for use against land and air threats. KONGSBERG has developed a PROTECTOR RWS LW30 with Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems’ (formerly Orbital ATK) M230LF 30mm Chain Gun, mounted on an Oshkosh JLTV, the four-door, general-purpose variant.

M230LF Chain Gun

The 30mm cannon has enhanced lethality capability over the .50 caliber HMG. The 30mm M230LF is a more capable version of the 30x113mm cannon featured on the Apache helicopter and is a member of the Chain Gun family of externally powered, combat-reliable conventional automatic weapons. The M230LF boasts a DC drive motor with a firing rate of 200 rounds per minute and has a reliability of 22,000 mean rounds between failures. It fires M789 HEDP, M788 TP and NATO standard 30mm ADEN/DEFA ammunition. Other features include electronic round counting capability, an extended-length barrel for enhanced muzzle velocity, a delinking feeder that allows the use of linked ammunition and an anti-hangfire system. A hangfire protection system for an externally powered gun includes a recoil sensing mechanism cooperating with a sear latching mechanism such that in the event of a hangfire, a sear engages a safety link on the chain drive assembly to keep the bolt locked. If the round fires, the gun function continues; if the round does not fire, there is a delay of a sufficient time to assure that the round is a dud, and it is ejected. The M230LF has air, ground or sea weapons platform applications.

That gives the cannon a multi-role, multi-target system capability.

PROTECTOR RWS LW30

The PROTECTOR RWS LW30     was for the first time presented at DSEI 2017 in London. The RWS LW30 is a further development of the existing PROTECTOR RWS family, providing enhanced operational capability by use of the M230LF 30mm cannon. The PROTECTOR RWS LW30 offers modularity for single-weapon, dual-weapon and even triple-weapon configurations; for example, where the M230LF main weapon, a 7.62mm coax weapon and a Javelin ATM can be installed simultaneously. This flexibility and modularity provides the capability for high power fire for many operational needs. Switching between the installed weapons is easily performed by the operator from the intuitive Human Machine Interface. The fully stabilized sensors match the extended range of the 30mm cannon and the long-range Javelin. The versatile system architecture enables support for future integrations such as Stinger missile or other effectors.

PROTECTOR RWS LOW PROFILE

A tank without a 360-degree close-combat armament capability against a sneaking infantry attack will be prey. The PROTECTOR RWS Low Profile (LP) is designed for small and medium caliber weapons as a “Turret on Turret” solution for the U.S. Army’s M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank, but it can be installed on any type of platform. According to KONGSBERG, the system has been through several tests, with excellent results. Like the other PROTECTOR RWS types, the LP CROWS is a fully stabilized system with a thermal imager that has a dual field of view, autofocus and e-zoom. The color daylight camera allows a wide field of view, up to 45 degrees while observing, and more than 30 times optical magnified close-up view of the target area when identifying and engaging a long-distance target. The eye-safe laser rangefinder provides extremely accurate range measurements, providing the PROTECTOR first-round, on-target capability. The weapon can, if necessary, be operated manually.

The PROTECTOR RWS Eliminated a Deadly Threat

A video on nrk.no on September 21, 2017, shows an operator who can see how the bullets from the RWS .50 caliber machine gun hammer into an IS suicide fighter’s car on the PROTECTOR RWS monitor inside the armored vehicle. The car is some distance away, but the car is speeding toward a unit of Iraqi soldiers close to the Norwegians. Near them is a parked tanker truck with fuel. The suicide fighter’s car filled with explosives blows up by the 12, 7mm hitting rounds. If the suicide fighter had managed to reach the unit, he would have been able to bring hundreds to death.

7-Year Framework Agreement

Before Christmas 2018, a 7-year framework agreement was awarded to U.S. Ordnance according to an announcement in January 2019. The Norwegian Armed Forces will receive 1,000 new M2A2 HMGs from U.S. Ordnance. A framework agreement was signed at a ceremony at the Defense Museum at Akershus Fortress, February 7, 2019. The museum was quite an apt place to carry out the contract signing, as the new HMGs, designated “M2A2N,” replace the current 12.7mm units that were provided by the U.S. after the World War II. An upgrade (cal. 50 M2HB-QCB—designated “Mitraljøse 12.7mm NM218”) that was completed in 1999 to 2001 does not prevent the fact that the weapons have very different ages and wear. According to Chief of Defense Materiel Land Capacities Brigadier General Morten Eggen, a thorough assessment of three weapon manufacturers, including technical and operational testing, was carried out before they chose U.S. Ordnance. In addition to performance, operational reliability and price, the ability to deliver within a few months after the order was an important factor for in the choosing of U.S. Ordnance. Now, the new M2A2Ns are going to be delivered within a year at a much faster rate than what was originally thought possible. The frame agreement gives a high degree of flexibility. In total, around 1,300 M2A2Ns may be needed. Furthermore, the security of supply on spare parts, tools and other materiel for an additional period of 15 years is also included in the 7-year framework agreement.

Earlier Suppliers

As mentioned above, many of the weapons that the Norwegian Armed Forces have today were produced for the Americans during World War II. The weapons were produced at a time when the U.S. engaged as many mechanical workshops as possible to produce many weapons at a rapid pace. The M2A2Ns that are acquired now come from automated production lines with completely different tolerances and materiel quality. The weapons which are being phased out now, come from a two-digit mix of suppliers over the years. In 1999 to 2001, Belgian FN Herstal, the company that delivered the 12.7mm NM218’s QCB (Quick Change Barrel) upgrade, has been the group the Norwegian Armed Forces have dealt with as long as they delivered the equipment. Now the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA) has only one supplier to relate to: U.S. Ordnance, with configuration control and system responsibilities. That is important for the Norwegian Armed Forces when weapons might be in the organization for 30 to 40 years. A contract for support systems remains to be concluded, so that the actual fielding to the units will start in 2020. There is also a sub-project under way which may result in new thermal sights for the M2A2Ns. NDMA had also considered other solutions of the same caliber for a period but ended up with the M2 Browning design for economic reasons. To integrate a brand-new weapon system into vehicles and remote weapon stations would be far more costly than buying new variants of the M2 design.

From Open to Closed Bolt

Associated equipment must be purchased in addition to the actual weapons: integration adaptations on vehicles and weapon stations and on so-called NM152 soft mount, for example. The new M2A2Ns have a closed-bolt mechanism instead of an open-bolt mechanism and thus cannot be inserted directly onto existing NM152 soft mounts. Today’s Norwegian 12.7mm NM218s have been upgraded with an open-bolt mechanism that was designed by Vinghøg in the 1990s. This means that the bolt group is automatically hooked up to the rear position when the trigger is released. The reason for this is to avoid a round lying in a hot chamber, which occurs when a lot of automatic rounds have been fired. In the worst case, the explosive in the projectile can ignite, or the powder in the projectile cartridge ignites, then one gets what is often called “cook-off.” There are hardly any other nations that have open bolt in the M2 design; only closed bolt. If one were to continue with an open bolt, it would require a rebuild, and NDMA didn’t want to change the standard configuration, according to Major Eirik Horst, project manager for the M2A2N acquisition in NDMA—Land Capacities. Closed bolt is not a big problem. It can be solved by simple handling drills.

Description of the M2A2 (Source: U.S. Ordnance)

According to U.S. Ordnance:

The M2A2 machine gun is an air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun that fires from a closed bolt and operates on the short recoil principle with fixed headspace and timing. It’s capable of both sustained automatic and accurate single-shot fire. It can be mounted on a vehicle, boat, helicopter or other aircraft. Ammunition may be fed from either the left or right side of the gun, making it suitable for use by both infantry and in armored vehicles. The M2A2 weapon system has been tested to well over 50,000 rounds. Its single-breech lock system allows for field rebuild, eliminating the need for depot-level maintenance during its lifetime and thereby greatly reducing logistical support. U.S. Ordnance developed its M2A2 12.7mm weapon after years of experience manufacturing machine guns for the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Foreign Allies. Its M2A2 offers the proven performance of the existing M2HB machine gun but also features fixed headspace and timing. This upgrade improves the performance of the battle-proven M2HB weapon system, largely increases the safety level for operating personnel and affords barrel changing on crew-served or coaxial-mounted weapons in 10 or fewer seconds. Only one person needs to change the M2A2 barrel, thereby reducing exposure to enemy fire and quickly readying the weapon for continued operation. The U.S. Ordnance M2A2 system utilizes the standard barrel thread, which means standard M2HB barrels can be used in the A2 gun as needed, in emergencies or training. (Using the standard M2HB barrel in a QCB weapon requires removing the Barrel Support Locating Pin, then headspacing the barrel using the standard headspace and timing gage.) Using only the A2 conversion kit, an armorer at the customer location can convert an M2HB machine gun into a U.S. Ordnance M2A2 weapon system in fewer than 30 minutes, without complex tools or machines.

M2A2N Improvements

Inside the receiver there are some good technical solutions that make the weapon less maintenance-intensive at the workshop level, while for the users, it will be more reliable, have smoother recoil and have a longer lifetime than its predecessors. An important improvement on the M2A2N is the new muzzle flash damper. Today’s M2 machine guns also have an option for mounting this damper. The flash damper is primarily designed to protect the shooter because it has the advantage of emitting considerably less muzzle flash. Reduced signature means reduced risk of exposure of a heavy machine gun position—a target the enemy will prioritize taking out. The user teams that have been involved in the operative testing of the M2A2N, have expressed that it’s perhaps the best muzzle flash damper they have used. Instead of large flashes, the new damper’s muzzle flash appears more like something that can be mistaken for lighter small arms. The characteristic .50-caliber firing sound will still be there. Although the M2A2Ns that Norway has now ordered are confusingly similar to the ones John Moses Browning constructed as far back as World War I, they are in no way obsolete. It is an incredibly flexible and effective weapon against a wide range of targets, except the heaviest armored ones. It’s easy to handle. It has a high firing rate and effect on targets according to Major Eirik Horst.

S&T Motiv

Since founded in 1981, S&T Motiv has produced and developed products for the defense industry, automotive core components and others with over 30 years of precision technology. Based on a variety of experiences as well as global competitiveness, the company has become established as a global company entering the world marketplace, including Asia, Europe and America, through innovative management aimed at being a top-notch company for the 21^st century.

XK8 5.56mm Assault Rifle

The XK8 5.56mm AR rifle is a bullpup rifle firing the SS109 bullet. The 3X optical scope and the laser designator ensure rapid shooting and high accuracy. The stock is made from a high-strength engineering plastic. It has a standard Picatinny rail that allows mounting of various optical sights and accessories. The flash suppressor’s unique design resists muzzle climb and minimizes flash exposure.

K2C 5.56mm Assault Rifle

The South Korean K2C is broadly equivalent to the U.S. M4 carbine. It’s the carbine version of the K2 and a more compact version with a shorter barrel and telescopic buttstock. The 310mm (12.2 inches) barrel has a 3-prong flash hider. The MIL-STD-1913 rails allow mounting for optics, lights and laser devices. The K2C has a stamped and welded sheet-steel construction rather than the use of machined forging techniques employed in the M16 assault rifle and M4 carbine. As a result, the K2C is built to looser mechanical tolerances, which also reduced the weapon’s production price. The K2C retains a number of the M16 and M4 design features, including a generally similar receiver and bolt group. However, this carbine has a different gas system which is more reliable.

K1A 5.56mm Submachine Gun

The K1A is used by South Korean special forces and soldiers, who do not need a full-size assault rifle. The K1/K1A short carbines were developed first. The full-sized K2 assault rifle was developed later. The K1A is the upgraded version of the K1 carbine (developed as a submachine gun to replace the M3 “Grease Gun” for the South Korean military and police forces for the South Korean military).

The K1A is considered a submachine gun by the South Korean military, despite the fact that it fires a 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Remington cartridge like the full-sized assault rifle.

K7 9mm Silenced Submachine Gun

Its integral silencer reduces the pressure of the gas produced during discharge, and by extension, reduces the amount of noise generated.

In addition, the silencer significantly distorts the sound of the gunshot so that it is very difficult to pinpoint the location of the shooter. Per shot, the mean average of noise generated by the K7 is approximately 111dB noise. Some parts are compatible with the K1A submachine gun. The safety/selector lever—Safe, Semi, Burst (3 rounds) and Auto is one-handed. It’s a blowback-operated system with a fixed barrel. The stock is 3-position collapsible.

XK9/XK9C 9mm Submachine Gun

These blowback operating submachine guns have retractable buttstocks for maneuverability in any conditions. The selector level has three positions: Safe, Burst (3 rounds) and Auto for the XK9; Safe, Semi and Auto for the XK9C. The Picatinny rail allows mounting of various optical sights and accessories. The weapons are under mass production.

K11 20mm/5.56mm Dual-Barrel Air-Burst Weapon

The K11 is a dual-barrel air-bursting weapon (under and over barrel bullpup) system that combines the lethal 20mm air-bursting ammunition and 5.56mm NATO ammunition with an automatic electro-optical fire control system (FCS) to effectively defeat targets at extended ranges. The weapon is ergonomically designed with a high-strength AI and an Alloy upper receiver. The lower receiver and buttstock are polymer. The 20mm barrel with fuze setter is in Titanium alloy. The FCS has optical day sight with digital reticle, night sight with IR sensor, eye safe laser range finder, ballistic computer and environment sensors. The K11 can fire both 20mm and 5.56mm ammunition with the single trigger (Fire mode: 20mm single-shot mode, 5.56mm semiauto mode and 5.56mm 3-round burst mode). Moreover, the K11 can fire at point targets and especially hidden targets in a fox hole with 20mm air-bursting ammunition.  With such high-level combat capability, K11 is certainly expected to be linked to future soldier systems. The 20mm air-bursting ammo has a turn count programmable air-bursting fuze. The warhead is two-layer preformed fragmentation.

KOREA Special-Purpose Weapon

This corner gun has a K5, 9mm pistol with a 13R magazine. The trigger system is electronic, safety and fire mode. For targeting, the weapon has a CCD camera, flashlight and visible/IR laser. Its digital sight is HMD/LCD monitor with a visible fixed crosshair. The high resolution color display fits images to the shooter’s naked eyes. The folding stock rotate angle is ±60. The traversing handle and foregrip, provides extra grip and easy special-purpose weapon operation.

The weapon has MIL-STD-1913 mounting rails for various optics and accessories.

This Korean weapon resembles another type of corner gun that was devised by two former senior officers from the elite units of the Israel Defense Forces, the Corner Shot. It’s a weapon system that allows the user to shoot around corners using a video screen to aim and a swiveling gun-mount that can rotate up to 90^o. This corner gun can accurately engage targets up to 330 feet (100m) with a 9mm pistol and up to 565 feet (200m) away with a 5.56mm rifle.

K6 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun

This Korean-made .50-inch (12.7mm) heavy machine gun was one of the competitors for a Norwegian acquisition of new 12.7mm HMGs. It’s a closed-bolt design; short-recoil barrel operation, fixed headspace, and timing eliminates safety concerns associated with barrel changing and improper timing. The weapon can be fitted to all types of armored, light and heavy vehicles, naval crafts, helicopters and other aircraft. The weapon fires all types of NATO ammunition: ball, tracer, AP, API, APIT, AP hardcore and multipurpose, sustained automatic or single-shot accuracy. The quick changeable barrel (QCB) allows the barrel to be quickly exchanged by one operator.

Trending Away from 5.56mm

There’s a global trend of moving away from the 5.56mm round for everything but assault rifles. Troops operating on the ground in Afghanistan have called for a lighter, more mobile machine gun with more hitting power than a 5.56mm LMG. The 5.56mm caliber weapons have received criticism for lacking sufficient stopping power at longer ranges, but the heavier GPMG and its ammunition can be cumbersome for long foot patrols in hot climates.

German Defence Replaces MG3s with the MG5

The German Federal Defence (Bundeswehr) will, in their long term plans, procure 12,733 MG5 systems as replacements for the MG3s. There is some controversy surrounding the Heckler & Koch MG5, but the contract is still moving forward.

The standard version, HK121U (“U “ for “universal”) is named MG5. The variant “Installation weapon” (Einbauwaffe – EBW) is designated MG5A1, while the shorter barrel infantry variant (“I”) designated MG5A2. Another version of the MG5, defined for the so-called Special Forces, is designed “MG5 S”

MG5 Features

The MG5 is an air-cooled, belt-fed, gas-operated weapon with a positively locked rotary bolt head and long-stroke gas piston system. Compared to its predecessor (the MG3), the MG5 has a distinctly different frame, a free barrel and lower weight, making it much easier to carry and operate than the MG3. Its light weight makes shooting it in standing position almost as easy as lying down. MG5s consist of two molds of cast steel as well as a single adjoining block. These parts are then connected through a special patented procedure. This does not necessarily save weight, but it makes the weapon stable for use as a universal MG. The robust, cold forged barrel (covered with a special protective layer) looks quite imposing.

The MG5 can endure 1,500 rounds in a frequent firing regime. There is significantly less danger of the barrel overheating or accidental discharge from an overheated chamber; it can happen only after 300 DM111A1 rounds are fired and if the ambient temperature is greater than 20°C. MG5 does not require frequent barrel replacements during a firefight (as was the case with many older machine guns). The barrel can be replaced quickly and easily without assistance and the task can be completed in just a few seconds, without the need for protective gloves. It enables, for example, an infantry soldier to change the barrel in standing position, saving a few seconds.

MG5 has a durability of 50,000 rounds per housing and in tests, according to the company, far higher exposure limits have been reached. Heckler & Koch offers barrels in three lengths: standard 550mm, infantry 460mm and mounted (Einbauwaffe – EBW), 663mm. MG5 uses delayed recoil and has a locked seal with a rotating bolt and a gas piston. Ammunition is belt fed from the left side of the weapon. Loading is easy and requires little strength. MG5 has an ambidextrous selector lever and it can be easily turned off or on, whether it’s loaded or not. This is the first machine gun in the world to offer that capability. For additional security, it uses an indicator that shows the loaded state, if there’s a single bullet in the barrel this indicator pokes out of the housing cover, that way the shooter can both see and feel it. Also, if a bullet jams in the barrel, the next bullet will force it out without the barrel bursting in the process. And most importantly, tests have proven that the weapon continues with normal operation afterwards.

While the effective combat range of MG5 is 600m, it can shoot accurately up to 1,200m when mounted. H&K guarantees the shooting diameter of 30cm in single fire mode at the distance of 100m, with 10 fired rounds of soft core DM111A1 ammunition. For the sake of comparison, MG3 would make a 59cm diameter beaten zone at the same distance. HK121 (MG5) has made significant improvements concerning machine gun accuracy. MG5 can fire in three different modes: 600, 700 and 800 RPM. Rate of fire can be changed quickly and without any special tools, just by changing the amount of gas released. The slower rate of fire significantly increases both accuracy and the service life of the weapon, making it more than a worthwhile compromise; especially if one takes into consideration reduced bullet consumption, often a critical factor in combat situations when an infantry group needs to hold position for an extended period of time.

MG5 can be mounted on all mounts meant for MG3. Here it is mounted to a new Vinghøg Tripod

MG5 Designation and Accessories

The housing cover of MG5 has long NATO STANAG rails, which allow for mounting of all electronic and optical sights, including night vision accessories. The cover itself is strong enough to bear significant weight, i.e. everything you can think of putting there. The H&K machine gun can adapt to various personal preferences and requirements. Various barrels, folding and telescopic stocks, armguards (with or without levers), bags for empty bullet casings and bags with rolled 50 to 100 round ammo belts. The designers have resolved the problem of easily misplaced small parts. H&K offers the machine gun in the mounting variant, with a far more resilient barrel, greater muzzle velocity and range of up to 1,500m.

Denmark Chooses the M60E6

The Danes have been fighting in Afghanistan where they have also been involved in some of the heaviest fighting. Consequently, the Danes have gained a lot of experience with machine guns. They’ve learned that the best machine guns combine agility with stopping power and accuracy. The Royal Danish Army’s experiences in Afghanistan made reduced weight and high mobility key factors for a new squad MG, with the replacement program’s four main requirements being weight, ergonomics, firepower and accuracy. Integration with the Royal Danish Army’s current equipment, including the M12 ballistic protection vest, was also included in the evaluation process.

M60E6 with MIL-STD 1913 accessory rail on receiver cover and forend, and a new front grip. The M60E6 here: the standard model with a short barrel. It weighs 9.27 kg (20.44 lbs) unloaded without accessories. The mobility (the ability to move the body, the weapon’s point of balance, shooting from a standing position and the MG’s weight during a patrol on foot) was a factor the Danes took into consideration

What the Danes wanted in this specific project was a lightweight machine gun in 7.62×51 NATO for mobile infantry. The tender process with a total need of 700 pieces began in early 2013. The MG5 and the U.S. Ordnance M60E6 set themselves against the other candidates. The Danes selected two candidates to replace its aging LMG 7.62mm M/62 (MG3) squad support weapons and conducted trials on the Hecker & Koch MG5 (HK121) and U.S. Ordnance M60E6. After the trials, the Danes chose the M60E6. It will be used as a squad support weapon, with the older LMG M/62 remaining in service with second-line units and as a vehicle-mounted machine gun, where weapon weight is not as important. U.S. Ordnance is the only company that makes the M60E6. The estimated cost of the program is $16.6 million for 700 M60E6s with accessories. The M60E6 is planned to be phased into service at the end of 2014. Additional equipment for the M60E6 may include daylight optics, night thermal sights, laser designator and laser rangefinder.

Features of the M60E6

This version is a heavily-upgraded (and intimidating) weapon from the past, an upgraded version of the M60, the famous 7.62 NATO caliber MG first used in combat by U.S. forces during the 1960s. The M60E6 can be equipped with different barrel lengths, with several standard 1913 NATO Accessory Rails for additional equipment and a sound suppressor. The short barrel version weighs 20.44 pounds, shaving off a few precious pounds from the basic M60. M60E6 is gas operated and belt fed with disintegrating link. It fires from an open bolt and features a quick-change barrel. Its design is light and compact, which provides increased mobility and allows for accurate shouldered direct fire support. The Stellite® alloy of cobalt-chromium alloys gives the barrels sustained fire and extended life. The hard chrome and induction hardening of op rod tube facilitates easier cleaning and increases the service life of the receiver. It is available in a short or a heavy fluted configuration for application flexibility.

Compare the length of the M60E6 with the length of the M240B

Controllable rate of fire allows for accurate firing in offhand, kneeling, and prone positions. It has a push button, or ambidextrous, safety. All major components are directly interchangeable with other M60 configurations. The M60E6 features a machined aluminum feed cover with integrated M1913 Picatinny rail for mounting optics, infrared laser aiming devices and other sensors, giving the weapon operator day/night firing capability. The ergonomic pistol grip with an improved trigger can be used with gloves. It has a lightweight one-hand operated receiver mounted bipod and a lightweight forearm/pistol grip for improved control with (3) M1913 rails for mounting aiming lasers and accessories. The stock is ergonomic with hinged shoulder rest. It has quick detaching sling mounting points. A receiver-mounted ammunition hanger provides a stable and secure mounting point for an ammunition pouch and isolates the feed tray from accidental damage. New “captured pin” latch securely holds the trigger assembly to receiver. This version is simple and easy to maintain and has a gas system with reversible gas piston. The gas regulation is self-adjusting. The front sight is adjustable, also on the spare barrel, which was not possible in the earlier versions, and allows zeroing of primary and spare barrels. The offset barrel handle provides a clear sight picture and there is no need to wear gloves when swapping out the barrel.

Hard chrome and induction hardening of tube facilitates easier cleaning and increases the service life of the receiver. A 30% improved belt pull provides increased reliability in harsh, dirty environments. This upgraded MG fires 500-650 RPM, compared to the 1,200 RPM fired by the MG3. This saves ammo, and gives the gunner a weapon that’s easier to control along with greater accuracy. The weapon also has a second pistol-style grip below the barrel that gives it greater stability. The effective range, 1,200 yards, is the same as the standard M60.

Norway

In Norway, the MG3 will be phased out in the near future. Current vehicles, which already have an FN MAG installation, will not be replaced. The FN MAG 7.62 Standard (FN MAG) will be procured from FN Herstal as a vehicle-mounted MMG. The process of obtaining a new, lighter infantry MG is well underway. In 2015, tests of a new MMG were conducted to replace the MG3 in the ground role, and will typically be organized together with the antitank weapons squad in the rifle platoon. Actual candidates to be tested are: M240L from FN Manufacturing LCC, M240LW from Barrett and MINIMI 7.62 mm from FN Herstal.

The M60D Enhanced is a mounted version of the standard M60E4/Mk43, for boats, vehicles and helicopters. The M60D features a redesigned machined aluminum feed cover with integrated MIL-STD 1913 accessory rail for mounting optics and a forward M1913 rail for other sensors, giving the weapon 24-hour capability

The titanium M240L (lightweight)

After Army and Marine infantry units began employing the M240B in the mid-90s, the gun gained soaring popularity as it became known for reliability, durability and low maintenance requirements. Despite its success, however, soldiers still pointed to the added weight and length of the M240 as compared to its infantry squad’s MG predecessor, the M60. This feedback called for a remedy. After much research, FNH USA, LLC engineers ultimately settled on using a titanium alloy as the primary metal for the MMG designated M240L. Titanium is recognized for its high strength-to-weight ratio. Titanium has a relatively high melting point. Working with titanium called for adjustments to the manufacturing process. Early on, engineers experimented with welding the titanium components together, but ran into warping issues. The final solution rested in using stainless steel rivets, which are more pliable than titanium and resist corrosion when in contact with titanium. Once assembled, the weapon needed a protective coating to preserve the metal. Steel weapons typically get a phosphate coat and are subsequently oiled, but the titanium receiver required a completely different process. Titanium alloys do not rust, they gall, causing the surface to become rough and deformed over time. To solve this challenge, they researched and use coatings that protect the metal under extreme operating temperatures. They found success with a chrome carbo-nitride coating used for industrial, high-heat applications. A ceramic-based top coat is added to complete the process. The final product weighs in at just 22.3 pounds (10.1 kg), nearly five pounds lighter when compared to the M240B’s 26 pounds. To those who are familiar with the M240B, there is hardly a discernible difference in the new gun beyond its lighter weight. The M240L meets all the operational requirements of the original while maintaining the same high standards of reliability and durability.

Features

The 7.62 mm M240L’s enhancements features includes a titanium receiver, redesigned barrel assembly with re-contoured outer dimensions, titanium carrying handle, and lighter weight gas housing; and pistol grip/trigger frame assembly composed of a metal/polymer hybrid. This reduce the weight compared to the existing M240B by 18% – 20%, resulting in reduced combat load and allowing easier handling and movement of the weapon. The development of the 240L retains the 240’s reliability and toughness with less weight. In January 2012 the U.S. Army adopted the M240L equipped with a 4 inch (ca. 100 mm) shorter barrel than a standard M240 barrel, and with the collapsible stock the M240L can be made 7 in (180 mm) shorter and is equipped with the forward mounted MIL-STD 1913 rail kit. M240L short-barreled is the newest variant in service. FNH USA, LLC is contracted for three plus three thousand units. The service plans to buy around 12,000 in all of the weapons. The Army has given very good feedback reports. Sceptics claim that experience shows that wear and tear has taken away some of the coating on the receiver which means trouble. They also refer to an incident in Afghanistan under conditions with extreme outdoor heat when the gunner tried to change the overheated barrel with a “cold” one. The barrel is tightly locked in the receiver and features a quick change barrel which makes replacement of a hot barrel possible in less than 6 seconds, also during missions. In this incident, the barrel nut was stuck and the barrel was impossible to unlock due to the temperature differences between the titanium and the steel.

The M240 versions from U.S. Ordnance

Barrett M240LW

Barrett Firearms, the manufacturer of firearms and ammunition, including the famous M82A1 which has been purchased by over 40 military organizations worldwide, took the initiative to make the M240 lighter and designed the M240LW taking advantage of cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. Barrett brought their lightweight M240LW prototype to the SHOT Show, Las Vegas in 2011. Unlike the M240L, which is in service with the Army, Barrett does not use any expensive materials like titanium receiver and polymer trigger frame or manufacturing techniques to decrease weight. They instead decreased weight by trimming off as much metal as feasible and decreased manufacturing costs by making the receiver in two pieces and then welding it together. They managed to trim about 4.5 pounds off the standard M240B. Most internal parts are the same as the 240B. In June 2014 the gun was in process of intensive testing.

FN MINIMI 7.62 mm x 51

In 1974 the prototype Mini-MG was in caliber 7.62 mm x 51, a MMG-version. Due to low potential in the market and that the trend went for 5.56 mm, this version was then no longer needed. At the beginning of this millennium, FN Herstal again started the development of the MINIMI in caliber 7.62 mm x 51 because USSOCOM (United States Special Operations COMmand) wanted a light MG in the heavier NATO-caliber. The 7.62 MG was adopted by USSOCOM under the MK 48 designation. Besides the standard hand guard, there is a version “Triple Rail (T.R.)” with three Mil-Std 1913-rails (“Picatinny Rails”). Alternatively one can choose between a fixed synthetic stock and a collapsible (sliding) metal stock. The weight of the FN MINIMI 7.62 T.R. Sliding Butt (8.6 kg) means that the weapon is easy to carry. Certain types of terrain or fighting in buildings may require the user to shoot from the standing position. Here again, the weight of the FN MINIMI 7.62 is a real advantage.

FN MINIMI 7.62 Para. In background a FN MAG Standard mounted on a fixed pintle, cartridge cases and links are collected in the bag

FN MINIMI 7.62 mm Mk3

The modifications introduced on the FN MINIMI Mk3 result from feedback provided by users engaged in current operating theatres. The demands of users have evolved over the past 10 to 15 years due to changes in the way the FN MINIMI machine gun is used in combat (increased use of accessories, evolution in the soldier’s equipment, and changes in tactics such as shooting from all positions – prone, kneeling and standing). The new FN MINIMI Mk3 offers the users improved ergonomics and improved mobility while retaining the same core mechanism as the previous versions, which gives a limited impact on logistics and training. Identical to the 5.56 mm version, the 7.62 mm x 51 is capable of fully automatic fire only and it can be belt fed or fired from a magazine. Mk3’s benefits are high parts commonality with the FN MINIMI 5.56 mm but it has of course higher hitting power and longer range. The modifications have resulted in a new light machine gun offering improved ergonomics and improved mobility. The new buttstock is ergonomic and adjustable in length (5 positions) to allow compensation for body armor and load bearing equipment and the stock has also a height adjustable cheek rest (4 positions). The shooter can then have his eye correctly aligned with the iron sights, or optical sights, while keeping his cheek properly positioned on the buttstock. It also integrates a folding shoulder rest and a hydraulic buffer that stabilizes the rate of fire and reduces felt recoil. It has a new hand guard/bipod assembly that provides a comfortable hand guard and three forward MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny accessory rails. The adjustable-height (3 positions) bipod, when folded back, integrates into the shape of the hand guard even with an accessory on the lower rail. The ergonomically-shaped cocking handle gives the user a better grip with the strong or weak hand. The feed tray is improved with belt retaining pawls that hold the belt correctly in position during the loading procedure, which is most useful when the user is in the standing position. There is an optional heat shield to greatly reduce the risk of inadvertently touching the barrel.

It is not known whether the U.S. Armed Forces will upgrade their M249 Light Machine Guns to the new Mk3 model because USSOCOM and the NSWC have been developing their own variants and upgrades for many years.

The new FN MINIMI Mk3 is retaining the same core mechanism as the previous versions, but has improved ergonomics and gives improved mobility. The buttstock is adjustable in length (5 positions) to allow compensation for body armor and load bearing equipment, and it has an height adjustable cheek rest (4 positions), a folding shoulder rest and a hydraulic buffer that stabilizes the rate of fire and reduces felt recoil. The new hand guard/bipod assembly provides a comfortable hand guard and three forward MIL-STD 1913 accessory rails. The adjustable-height (3 positions) bipod, when folded back, integrates into the shape of the hand guard even with an accessory on the lower rail

FN MINIMI MK3 Upgraded Components are highlighted in black. The upgrade program for the FN MINIMI 5.56 and 7.62: 1. Feed cover retaining latch conversion kit Feed cover will close with or without barrel. 2. Hand guard/bipod conversion kit Ergonomic hand guard with MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny type side rails and lower rail. Bipod integrated in the hand guard, folds back even with accessory on the lower rail. 3. Fee tray conversion kit For easy loading with one hand. 4. Cocking handle conversion kit Ergonomically-shaped cocking handle, enables cocking with strong or weak hand. 5. Buttstock conversion kit Ergonomic and adjustable in length (5 positions) and for cheek rest height (4 positions), with folding shoulder rest. Additional upgrades can be introduced on the MINIMI A new feed cover with integrated MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny type rail for quick mounting of the optical sight and optimal alignment (Photos by Aud Håland)

Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 (FG42)

The road leading to the adoption of the modern assault rifle was long and full of potholes. Throughout the years, as the landscape of warfare has changed, concerns, specifications and criteria have evolved significantly. This is the story of how most of the world came to use the modern rifles of today, starting with the design of the FG42.

The Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 was one of the outstanding small arms designs of World War II. Due to a combination of circumstances, no more than 7,000 were produced. This remarkable weapon nearly achieved the impossible feat of being a serviceable select-fire design using the old-style fullpower ammunition (7.92×57mm Mauser). It was one of the notable forerunners of the now popular assault rifles, all of which use lower-power ammunition and are thus more easily controlled.

The FG42 was produced for the German Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) and was first used in the dramatic rescue of Mussolini; it later appeared in the beginning of 1944 in Italy, at Monte Cassino and in France at the invasion front. The FG42 is a gas-operated rifle that fires from an open breech when set at automatic fire in order to avoid ‘cook offs’ (premature discharges caused by overheating the round in the chamber), and from a closed breech, to improve accuracy, when set to
semi-automatic.

One per squad a day/night thermal sight/IR uncooled, weight less than 1,6 kg, restitution eyepiece and integrated video camera transmits images to the system. A wire connection links the weapon to the system. Head-mounted display for indirect observation. Foregrip with control buttons for sights/radio. (Photo: Daniel Linares, Sagem)

The FG42 was one of the first service rifles made in the now popular “straight line” configuration and it had a light bipod and an integral bayonet: all of this in a weapon weighing less than ten pounds (4.55 kg).

The FG42 had a 20 or 10 round magazine that was mounted on the left side of the rifle. Though a side-mounted magazine was common in submachine guns, the larger magazine with heavier ammunition tended to unbalance the weapon. In addition, muzzle rise with automatic fire was substantial and controllable bursts were difficult. This made full-automatic fire only marginally useful. The FG42 used a fairly sophisticated muzzle device that helped with recoil and muzzle flash, but made noise and blast much greater than on similar weapons. Unfortunately, the FG42 was expensive and time-consuming to make and, as a result, it was not favored by the German Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (the armed forces high command). The paratrooper arm of the Luftwaffe declined in importance as the war progressed and the rifle was never properly developed.

FG42 (Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 or “paratrooper rifle 42”) a select-fire battle rifle. Length: 940 mm, barrel: 508 mm, 4 grooves, right hand-hand twist, weight unloaded: 4.50 kg, magazine: 20-round detachable box, cyclic rate: 750 rpm, muzzle velocity: 762 m/s. (Photo: Håland, courtesy of FORSVARSMUSEET – The Norwegian Museum of Defense)

The predecessor to the Automatisches Gewehr G3 – Sturmgewehr 45

The StG 45(M) was a prototype assault rifle developed by Mauser for the Wehrmacht at the end of World War II using an innovative roller-delayed blowback operating system. It fired the 7.92×33mm Kurz (or “Pistolenpatrone” 7.9mm) intermediate cartridge at a cyclic rate of around 450 rpm. But this concept of strong fire, utility and material saving was not produced in any significant numbers and the war ended before the first production rifles were completed. By then it was too late to be taken into action and to have any importance for the war.

After the war, some German technicians involved in developing the StG 45(M) were involved in the development of the new versions and based these on the technical features of the StG 45(M), which then became the CETME Model A and CETME Model B, chambered for the 7.62x51mm, and thereafter the G3. The G3 uses the principle of blowback with delay by rollers, in which the movement of the rollers is controlled by the large firing pin, which forces them into engagement in the receiver sides. Furthermore, it has the ability to fire from a closed bolt in both semi-automatic and automatic firing modes. The 7.62x51mm NATO G3 rifles were modernized during their service life (among other minor modifications, they received new sights, a different flash suppressor, and a synthetic hand guard and shoulder stock), resulting in the most recent production models, the G3A3 (with a fixed polymer stock) and the G3A4 (telescoping metal stock). The rifle proved successful in the export market and was adopted by the armed forces of over 40 countries and in some cases continued to be produced
under license.

The StG 45(M), sometimes referred to as the MP 45(M), was a prototype assault rifle at the end of WWII, using an innovative roller-delayed blowback operating system. It fired the 7.92x33mm Kurz intermediate cartridge at a cyclic rate of around 450 rounds per minute. (Image: Mikesonline2011)

G3 for the Norwegian defense

In 1960, testing began for a new general assault/combat rifle for the Norwegian defense. Due to economic and political reasons, the G3 was finally adopted in 1966 under the designation name AG3. Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk (Kongsberg Arms Factory – now known as KONGSBERG) had already started preparation for the production of parts for 100,000 G3 rifles for the West German army, the “Bundeswehr,” as part of a re-purchase agreement. It was assumed that Norway would go for the G3. Under an agreement with Heckler & Koch, the Kongsberg Arms Factory produced the weapons under license. A total of 253,497 AG3s were delivered within the Norwegian defense forces from February 1967 to
November 1974.

G3A5: ca. 4.7 kg, length: ca. 1,045 mm, barrel: 450 mm, magazine: 20 rounds , rear sight: rotary dioptre; front: hooded post. A serrated thumb groove bolt carrier to aid in silent bolt closure. The G3A3 has a fixed stock and the G3A4 has a telescoping metal stock. (Photo: Rune Wemberg)

After 40 years with a derivative of the Sturmgewehr 45 – new requirements

Due to weight, age, type of ammunition and restricted adaptability, since the mid-1990s the Norwegian military had worked to replace the AG3 with a more modern weapon. The combat missions abroad in the 1990s and 2000s made the situation especially precarious. Most NATO countries had started to use 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition for their assault/combat rifles, while Norway was among the few countries that still had AG3s chambered in 7.62x55mm.

One of the few advantages of 5.56mm ammunition is that it’s lighter than 7.62mm, which means a lot when soldiers are in combat missions and have to carry extra ammo. Shedding weight and bulk from small arms and ammunition could be a lifesaver for an infantry soldier. Mobility and agility are essential for the survivability and effectiveness of ground troops. With estimates of the bulk carried by the average soldier reaching as high as 68 kg (approx. 150 lb.) for a three-day patrol, efforts to shed weight are always welcome. Small arms and ammunition are the most vital and yet the heaviest component of the kit – and the assault rifle is the soldier’s best friend.

This led the Norwegian defense to make small purchases of other types of assault rifles for the forces that operated on special missions abroad. The Norwegian defense had three types of assault rifles in service as of April 2007:

AG3 – 7.62mm, the standard rifle in use in almost all units.

Heckler & Koch G36 – 5.56 mm, in use in Coastal Ranger Command and, to a lesser extent, by soldiers in ISAF service (including the Telemark Battalion).

Colt Canada C8SFW – 5.56 mm, in use by Norwegian Special Forces.

Though 7.62 mm was the initial caliber, 5.56 mm showed up as a future option within NATO and for special and international forces. The main struggle was not a fight about which weapons to use, but which type of ammunition. There was a big debate within the Norwegian defense, but the ultimate decision was to use 5.56 mm.

Outside Meymane in 2006. A Norwegian soldier is with an AG3F1. All versions of the AG3 have the ability to attach a 40 mm HK79 grenade launcher. The 7.62mm powerful bullet fired from his AG3 has an effective firing range of 500m. (Photo: Per Arne Juvang, Forsvarets mediesenter)

Things Take Time

It’s been 33 years since the AG3 rifles went out of production. Norwegian forces, especially those participating in international operations, increasingly and loudly called for a new weapon. The AG3 is too heavy to carry, especially when combined with the rest of a soldier’s kit. The process of choosing a new weapon has been going on for 11 years, hindered by the fact that there are many strong, differing opinions within the military.

The original goal was to decide on a replacement for the AG3 by 2004. Candidates at that time were the C8, G36 and F2000. On October 13, 2005 the MoD reported on the decision to upgrade the AG3 while new weapons were being purchased. The upgrade included new sights, a new type of retractable stock and an RIS foregrip. This announcement gave rise to protests within the Armed Forces and after a period of time that decision was canceled.

In 2006, shooters from all of the armed services tested the candidate weapons and the upgraded AG3. At that time, the C8 SFW version of the C8 was also in service with the Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command and Armed Forces’ Special Command. The HK416 was selected as the new standard rifle for the defense while the HK417 was selected for the infantry sharpshooters (for use against soft targets).

A Norwegian soldier in Afghanistan with his HK416 368mm barrel, equipped with a proprietary accessory rail handguard with MIL-STD 1913 rails on all four sides, for a vertical foregrip, a bipod and Aimpoint CompM4 red dot sight plus 3XMag magnifier. (Photo: Arne Flaaten, Chief photo section, FORSVARETS FORUM)

In April 2007, a defense contract was signed with Heckler & Koch for the delivery of 8,200 HK416 rifles. The weapons would be delivered to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Home Guard task forces. Reserve forces of the Home Guard would retain the AG3.

Also in 2007, 100,000 AG3 were evaluated, and around 2,500 of these were upgraded with Picatinny rails, retractable stocks and new foregrips. The upgraded weapon was named the AG3F2. In October 2011, an initial order for 2.000 Aimpoint CompM4 sights (known as a “tubed” style reflector, or reflex, sight that uses a red LED at the focus of a mirror-type optical collimator to produce an aligned red aiming spot, what is commonly called a red dot sight) and an equivalent number of 3XMag magnifiers and an order of 10,000 Micro T-1 4 MOA was signed, followed in January 2012 by a second order for 12,000 CompM4s and 3,000 3XMags, adding to the approximately 40,000 sights already delivered to the Norwegian army.

Hunter – Killer

The caliber discussion is connected with the assault rifle. After WWII, the NATO-standard weapons became the FN FAL, the G3 and the M14. These three were proven to be excellent. In the late 1960s, the assault rifle concepts in East and West converged again. The U.S. adopted the .223 Remington (5.56x45mm) and in 1980 NATO followed suit. Many Warsaw Pact countries joined in and returned to small-caliber ammunition with the 5.45x39mm (M74) to replace the 7.62x39mm (M43). Adopting the lighter ammo simplified logistics and soldiers could now carry more ammo. Additionally, the new ammo had a straighter trajectory and less recoil, improving accuracy.

Aimpoint CEU “Concealed Engagement Unit” (Photo: Aimpoint)

Urban warfare has impacted the infantryman’s tools heavily, with compact rifles being the popular choice, as evidenced in America when the U.S. Army shifted from the M16 rifle to the M4 carbine. Reducing dimensions of a conventional rifle means reducing barrel length, which in turn generates a drop in the muzzle velocity (V0), usually with dire consequences on lethality. Guns and ammunition vary in mass (usually measured in grains) and projectile velocity (usually measured in feet per second or meters per second).

The formula for kinetic energy is ½ mv². For example the 7.62x39mm Russian has a mass of 123 Grains (8 grams)and a muzzle velocity (V0) of 2,350 fps (715 meters per second), which works out to 2,045 Joules (16 inch barrel length). 5.56mm NATO, 62 Grains (4 grams), muzzle velocity 2,944 fps (898 meters per second) which works out to 1,613 Joules (14.5 inch barrel length).

CEU behind Aimpoint sight, rotates 260o allowing the operator to look around (right- and left-hand) corners, up staircases, and down tunnels. CEU does not affect the sight’s point of impact and can easily be passed from one operator to another. The optics contained in the CEU gives a true image, not a distorted mirror image. (Photo: Aimpoint)

The M4’s 5.56mm bullet is very light. Its strength is velocity. Despite the mass shootings where they have been used at close range, their real strength is not in close quarters, but in shooting distant targets, especially at ranges of up to 400 meters. Because of its high velocity, it is affected less by wind and gravity. With the ballistics calculator from Winchester, one can compare the 5.56mm bullet with the lower velocity 7.62×39mm bullet (used by the AK-47 and a number of other rifles) that falls more quickly and is pushed further by a crosswind than the M4’s round. A .308 Hunting rifle, mass 0.0095 grams, V0 823 meters per second, works out to 3,217 Joules. The M4 with its round is actually less powerful than most hunting rifles used for animals like deer. Most European countries do have explicit legislation prescribing weapons, calibers and projectile energy to be used when hunting different species of game animals. The 5.56 mm bullet is prohibited due to its pure projectile energy. The M4 is one of the most popular infantry arms in U.S. military history, getting pretty favorable marks from combatants. One of the few complaints has been battlefield lethality, and most of those problems can be attributed to ammunition. Soldiers are having trouble dominating the battlefield past 300 or 400 meters (new ammunition such as the M855A1 EPR, etc. will not be discussed here).

On the other hand, when the M855’s 5.56mm bullet impacts at high velocity, on an opponent not protected by body armor, the bullet yaws in tissue, and the fragmentation creates a rapid transfer of energy which can result in dramatic wounding effects. Statistics mainly concentrate on the number of persons killed, for obvious reasons. But one should not forget the number of wounded persons. For every killed person there are eight wounded. It is difficult to reduce the number of kills drastically because they are often caused by explosion or accidents.

FAMAS delayed blowback rifle. The new variant has a low profile in which the integral sight and carrying handle is replaced by a Picatinny rail. It is the service rifle of the French military. The nearest FAMAS has a EOTech Holographic Weapon Sight. (Photo: Philippe Wodka-Gallien, Sagem)

Compact rifles are now the most popular choice, as evidenced in the U.S. when the army shifted from the M16 rifle to the M4 carbine. Reducing dimensions of a non-bullpup rifle means reducing barrel length, which in return generates a drop in the V0. The bullpup design relocates the action and feed aft of the trigger group, allowing for more compact carrying and better handling form when compared to a traditionally-configured assault rifle.

Additionally, the resulting design is able to retain use for a full length barrel and concentrates the bulk of the weapon at its rear, pressed firmly against the shoulder of the operator. This configuration has been growing in mainstream popularity in recent years, replacing the classic assault rifle form in several modern
military armies.

Conclusion

As weapons evolve, the delicate balance for assault rifle systems between power, weight, recoil and terminal effects will likely shift once again in an attempt to defeat body armor, to match the range of full-power cartridges and to penetrate through wind shields and thin skinned vehicles while still producing good terminal effects.

Norwegian Coastal Ranger Commandos on ski patrol. Shedding weight and bulk from small arms and ammunition could be a lifesaver for an infantry soldier. (Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold, Forsvarets mediesenter)

STEYR AUG A3 version of the original rifle with a long Picatinny rail at 12 o’clock and two more on the sides. A bolt-catch system was implemented while an AR-15-like magazine release was developed for those used to that system, which is retrofittable to existing rifles. (Photo: Aud Håland)

MSBS 5.56, a Polish assault rifle system based on a common receiver which will allow the potential customer to choose between standard and bullpup rifle. Thermal Aiming Sight, Collimator Aiming Sight, Night Vision Monocular, Helmet Mounted Display. Helmet display as an Off-Axis Observation Device, e.g. “round-the-corner” work. (Photo: Aud Håland)

When U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan needed to see whether danger lurked over the next hill or on the next city block, they often relied on small, hand-launched, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the Army’s Raven and the Marine Corps’ Dragon Eye.

Perhaps no technology is more important today for soldiers on foot patrol than flying robotic micro drones equipped with cameras that can be used to get a bird’s-eye view over a certain object so they can accurately assess situations.

What’s lurking behind the next city block? With the very small, micro drone (copter), the PD-100 Black Hornet PRS can patrol with infantry teams or Special Forces soldiers while quietly conducting surveillance missions in urban areas, or in areas with dense obstacles, providing security and the ability to see the hidden. (Prox Dynamics)

Military and Special Forces Application

The game changer, PD-100 Black Hornet PRS (Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) provides the modern day warrior with a piece of equipment for instant use on the battlefield. The personal pocket-sized intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance capability this small system gives, allows immediate situational awareness for soldiers executing dismounted operations. The system provides real-time live motion video back to the operator and the opportunity to take snapshots during missions. Combat proven in Afghanistan by NATO-forces and with a range exceeding 1.2 km, the PD-100 PRS represents an operational capability available to military units. Its features include:

Instant situational awareness within 2 minutes of activation
Organic and extremely light weight
Capable of covert target surveillance and route reconnaissance
Easy to operate
No assembly required

With the very small, micro drone (copter), the PD-100 Black Hornet PRS (Personal Reconnaissance System), a patrol infantry team or Special Forces soldier can quietly conduct surveillance missions in urban areas, or in areas with dense obstacles, providing security and see the hidden threat. What the PD-100 Black Hornet PRS brings to the team is the ability to get a close look at dangerous situations as they unfold. A major tactical advantage of this very small micro drone is that it is easy to carry, attached to the combat carrying harness, and that it starts from the palm of the hand enabling launching from confined areas. The PD-100 Black Hornet PRS maintains its combat proven credentials with a variety of international military forces since 2012. Designed to operate by the soldiers in the field, it is simple to operate. The PD-100 PRS is a force multiplier that provides the warfighter on foot with immediate eyes-on-target and real-time situational awareness. Inherently safe and truly organic, the PD-100 PRS has introduced a unique game-changing dimension to small team covert reconnaissance tasks.

The nano copter can hover and fly in any direction and is operated by a soldier using a small control unit that directs its movements in the air. The base station holds the two nano air vehicles, and also contains the detachable single hand controller. (Prox Dynamics)

The Unmanned Aerial System

A PD-100 Black Hornet PRS is a complete nano UAS (unmanned aerial system) consisting of two nano helicopters, base station, single hand controller, display unit and pouch. Total system weight is 1.3 kg. The system is delivered in a waterproof hard transport case.

Nano Air Vehicle

Black Hornet is a “flyable robotic video camera” that bears a resemblance to a helicopter (if you can see it) – it is small like a colibri (hummingbird). Its small size and electric motor makes it virtually inaudible and invisible beyond short distances. The nano air vehicles are inherently safe and pose virtually no risk to other air vehicles or personnel, allowing the system to be operated almost anywhere at any time without prior airspace coordination.

What’s on that hill? PD-100 Black Hornet PRS maintains its combat proven credentials with a variety of international military forces since 2012. The PD-100 PRS is a force multiplier that provides the warfighter on foot with immediate eyes-on-target and real-time situational awareness. (Prox Dynamics)

Base Station

The nano copter can hover and fly in any direction and is operated by a soldier using a small control unit that directs its movements in the air. The base station holds the two nano air vehicles, and contains all necessary functions to plan, execute and analyze missions. All mission data is stored in real time on the base station. Internal rechargeable batteries supply power to the external display and recharge the nano air vehicles. The base station also contains the detachable single hand controller. In addition to external head mounted display options, Prox Dynamics offers a lightweight daylight readable display for the Black Hornet. The high quality 7 inch screen allows information to be shared between users.

Concept of Operation

The PD-100 is designed as a short range ISTAR (information, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissane) system for lower echelon combat units. The complete system is easily carried by a single soldier in a pouch attached to the load bearing system along with the rest of his combat gear, providing the unit with a quick reaction reconnaissance and surveillance capability. It is easy to use and requires only a few hours of training. The UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) are fully assembled and ready to fly after a short initialization period. The system may be operated in standby mode for prolonged periods of time. Pre-planning of waypoints and reference points may be performed, but is not required for flight operation. Guidance is provided through the GUI (graphical user interface), and live video and still images are downlinked on the digital data link to the operator and stored automatically in the base station. After completing the mission the UAV is placed back inside the base station for system checks and recharging. When the team is about to enter a suspicious area, for example, the little drone is sent out to take a closer look at the suspected area with
its “birds eye.”

Police and law enforcement organizations are also interested in the PD-100 Black Hornet PRS. (Erik Thallaug, Prox Dynamics)

Not Only Military Application

The PD-100 Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) provides law enforcement agencies with a pocket-sized ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) capability that provides instant situational awareness. The PRS provides Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with a unique piece of equipment for use in both urban and rural settings under any climatic conditions. The personal pocket-sized ISR capability allows the worker to get situational awareness and reconnoiter points of interest from a safe distance. Hence, the PD-100 PRS can be used as an effective tool to enhance force protection for worker’s own organization and civilians.

Who Makes the PD-100 Black Hornet PRS?

Prox Dynamics was established in 2007 by three aviation enthusiasts with a background in defense and the technology company Tandberg. They established a joint venture with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) as the other party and the ‘Innovation Norway’ as a third party, to start the development of an unmanned, flying reconnaissance micro copter for defense units. Dialogue with Norwegian soldiers in the field have provided important input in product development and the result is the nano copter Black Hornet that police organizations and defense organizations around the world are interested in. Prox Dynamics is a privately held company, focusing on the development of world leading nano and micro air vehicles and associated technology.

With search and rescue applications, the PRS provides Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with a unique piece of equipment for use in both urban and rural settings under any climatic conditions. (Prox Dynamics)

Summary

Capable of covert target surveillance and route reconnaissance, the The PD-100 PRS provides the modern day warrior with a piece of equipment for instant use on the battlefield. It is organic and extremely light weight, no assembly is required, is easy to operate, allows instant situational awarness within 2 minutes of activations, and the personal pocket-sized ISR capability allowss immediate situational awareness for soldiers executing dismounted operations. The system provides real-time live motion video back to the operator and the opportunity to take snapshots during missions. Combat proven in Afghanistan by NATO-forces and with a range exceeding 1.2 km, the PD-100 PRS represents an operational capability available to military units – it is a game changer.

17 June 2014, the press got a presentation of the new combat gear for the Russian soldiers who are equipped with a variety of tactical gear and accessories during combat and in training. The modern soldier’s gear includes reconnaissance and navigation tools (binoculars, night vision goggles, compass), individual protection gear (gas mask, gloves, etc.), modular gear (backpacks, Kevlar type vest with pouches, body armor, issued chest and back plates like the U.S. Army SAPI-insert centric system), survival gear, etc. This second generation complex integrated system’s design is similar to Western systems with some differences. In this program with 5 sub programs, special attention was put on the survival of soldiers. The soldier is the most important element in the system, but it is not said that other systems were neglected. The multilayer helmet of composite materials can resist the hit of a bullet fired from a distance of 5 to 10 meters. Its strapping system has no metal, gives the head good ventilation and the shape will not hamper the soldier laying in firing position aiming his weapon. The helmet has a fabric cover with camouflage patterns. The goggles give a ballistic protection and are compatible with devices such as day-/night-/thermal sights. The camouflage pattern of the field uniform makes the soldiers less visible to infrared cameras. The uniforms of reinforced-fiber fabric of polymeric compounds protects the soldier against open fire and minor splinters/ballistic shrapnel, while the body armor vest, reinforced by ceramic and hybrid inserts, is effective against small arms, including armor-piercing bullets preventing bullet penetration and trauma. Together with the helmet and remaining gear the combat equipment ensemble weighs total about 20 kilograms and is fit for action in all conditions any time of the day. Although the gear is made up of dozens of components, one can take it off in a matter of seconds.

The gloves give a good grip for the weapon and have a ballistic protection. Nearly 100% of the soldier’s body is thus protected from small fragments.

Testing of Individual Combat Equipment for Russian Army in 2013

Combat equipment is an aggregate of functionally and by purpose an interconnected element and means for personal and team usage, providing a serviceman with personal protection, life support and target elimination for effective accomplishment of combat missions. Trials have been conducted for evaluation of elements of combat equipment of domestic and foreign production. Domestic companies provided more than 200 examples of gear and 41 elements of combat gear being in service of foreign armies were acquired for evaluation trials. Handling characteristics of all elements were being tested during regular combat training and at the lab base of TSNIITOCHMASH – also known as “TsNII.” TsNII was created in 1962 at the time of the USSR and it is known worldwide for its achievements in the field of armaments for the Soviet armed forces. Based on results of the trials, the best domestic models were determined, which have tactical-technical properties not inferior to foreign counterparts. As a result of examination of combat gear for servicemen of Germany, Israel and the USA, it was determined that versatility and modular layout are the main principles of their production. Meanwhile, further improvement of combat equipment follows the trend to increase the role of command systems and reduction of weight and dimension properties of each element. Control and Command systems provided for uniforms produced in Israel and Germany have similar functions and weight-dimensions properties. In the interim, the Russians meant that foreign control-and-command systems are developed for Special Forces Units and they cannot be used in general military operations. Main functions provided by these systems are: Command and Control (C2) of soldiers’ actions belonging to the same unit, transmitting of co-ordinates of soldiers’ location, transmitting information about targets located by reconnaissance devices and ability of sending video footage from video-cameras installed on soldiers’ firearms or helmet. System for reconnaissance and command “Streltsy” (shooter) provides coordinates of every soldier’s location and mission assignment to them, reception of coordinates of targets spotted by reconnaissance devices, radar reconnaissance devices and UAVs. Combination of “Streltsy” with a thermal sight “Shakhin” provides the possibility for aimed fire when line of sight is different to the line of fire, i.e. firing around a corner.

A series of successful solutions were discovered in foreign examples during evaluation of protection means. These were possibility of changing bullet-proof vests’ level of protection thanks to modular design and fastening of night vision goggles, monocular and flashlights to a helmet. Individual means of protection were tested for convenience of use during combat training. Their bullet resistance was also tested. Conclusions based on the results of the trials can be made that foreign means of individual protection have same level of protection comparing to the domestic ones; meanwhile the domestic vests and helmets are lighter by 2 kg and by 300-400 grams accordingly. Following the results of the trials, the helmets and vests in mass production were improved in the following aspects: Possibility of altering of protection level thanks to modular construction; fastenings of night goggles, monocular and flashlights to a helmet and system of fastening for additional pockets and pouches used in transportation vest. Fragments of about 1 gram in weight comprise about 60% – 80% of striking elements at the battlefield. A ballistic suite is used for reduction of combat and medical casualties. It provides protection against splinters for 90% of serviceman’s body. Its use ensures execution of missions by servicemen during extended time wearing of the suit. Testing the anti-splinter protection of the overall showed that there were no penetrations after being hit by a splinter. The test for anti-splinter protection of protective mask showed no penetration after being hit by a splinter. Protective uniform for crew members of armored vehicles provides protection against secondary splinters, which appear in case of penetration of vehicle’s armor and against open fire for 30 seconds providing possibility for evacuation of a crew member who had lost his
combat capabilities.

“Ratnik” (Warrior) Russian combat soldier equipment of 2 generation. Developed as part of the soldier military equipment (BES) program, the Ratnik infantry soldier kit comprises about 50 components, including firearms, body armor, optic, communication and navigation devices, life support and power supply systems, as well as knee and elbow pads. Available in summer and winter variants, the lightweight gear can be used by regular infantry, rocket launcher operators, machine gunners and drivers and scouts, and is claimed to provide protection against environmental threats from weapons of mass destruction and non-lethal weapons.

Firearms were tested for their handling characteristics and for their MOA grouping hits at different distances. AK74s provided fire with no jamming during test with its barrel filled with water. Meanwhile the M16A1 jammed right after the first round because of deformation of the bolt carrier and the receiver. AK74M and M16A1 were subjected to fine dust tests in a special chamber for gun’s resistance to dusting effect. The domestic example presented failure-proof operation again. Assault rifle M16A1 provided single fire mode only after forced hand ramming of round into chamber by the shooter. Weapons had been tested for service durability in case of free fall. Examples, loaded with mock-up cartridges, were thrown at a concrete plate 5 times in a row on the base of their magazines, from a height of 1 meter. And again the domestic assault rifle provided jamming-proof fire. The M16A1 had a misfire, caused by a jam of a bullet into the barrel’s base because of deformation of magazine’s bending after the fall. AK74M exceeded by a small margin the foreign example in MOA grouping test in auto mode. Meanwhile, the domestic machine gun “Pecheneg” presented results 3 times better than the Belgian machine gun FN MAG. Tests were conducted for optic-electronic sights for firearms. Use of collimator sights reduces time needed for target’s engagement, and it almost doubles the grouping. The main property for thermal and night vision sights is distance for identification of a full height figure target. Following distances were achieved during trials: “Saratsin” (a Saracen- night vision device) – distance of identification of full height figure target – 500 m. BH3 – 600 m, night vision goggles PN-105 – 200 m and Thermal sight “Shakhin 2-2” – 750 m.

The following conclusions were done after comparison of foreign and domestic elements of life support systems. The main directions in design and manufacturing of combat equipment for servicemen of the USA, Germany and Israel are versatility, modular layout and reduction of uniform’s weight. During trials the most interesting solutions implemented in foreign examples were determined and the following constructive solutions used in field uniforms of the USA and Germany deserve attention: Positioning of sleeve and breast pockets at angle of 30-45 degrees, cut of winter and summer coats below a serviceman’s waistline by 20-30 cm. that protects the back from undercooling when wearing outside without use of a belt. It should also have a removable insulation for winter coats. Windproof and water-repellent materials should be used in the winter uniform. Various examples of basic load and military uniforms and accessories designed for Special Forces Units were provided by the industry for comparison in the trials. Uniforms and accessories developed in OKR “Chereshnya” were acknowledged as the most complying with provided demands and they had implemented the aforementioned solutions. In analogy with foreign life support systems, the following items were introduced to the composition of the domestic set: A raid backpack, 60 (15.85 gallon) + 20 liter (5.28 gallon) for transportation of items, a sleeping bag with a mat, camouflage means and off-season items, – a 24 liter (6.34 gallon) backpack for transportation of personal items, engineering means, means of chemical protection, rations and other life support items.

17 June 2014, the press got a presentation of the new combat gear for the Russian soldiers. The combat uniform is a special fibric (reinforced-fiber composite) overall that one can wear for two days without taking it off. This fabric protects the soldier against open fire and minor splinters, and makes them nearly invisible to infrared cameras.

Developed by TSNIITOCHMASH – Made in Russia – Combat Gear for Russian Soldiers

TsNII has developed a family of integrally silenced 9mm weapons, which included the VSS “Vintorez” silenced sniper rifle and the AS “Val” silenced assault rifle. Both weapons are based on the same action and integrally silenced barrel. AS is widely used by Russian Army recon units, as well as by MVD (Internal Affairs Ministry) and FSB (Federal Security Bureau) Special Forces. The most famous from TsNII are certainly individual silent or used underwater weapons, special weapons dedicated to the fight against terrorism, or even artillery systems for Russian paratroopers. The common link is their extreme versatility to adapt them to various uses. In terms of individual protection, TsNII achieved in recent years some interesting technical breakthroughs with their own equipment. The focus is finally put on the most recent achievements in TsNII electrical sources and chargers for the proper functioning of individual weapons and radios. Russian soldiers will from 2014 be outfitted with an ensemble of futuristic gear including firearms, body armor, communications equipment and other technologies. The combat equipment of the Russian infantryman of the 21st century is thus formed around five areas considered essential: weapons, protection, C2, survival equipment and independent sources of electrical power. All these materials are obviously connected to meet the current criteria of modern combat and C2, and also having adequate optronic tools. The soldier set includes a multi-layer helmet and an armor vest 6B43 with ceramic armor plates capable of stopping sniper 5.56mm and AK74 rounds, including armor-piercing and high penetration, even at close range, and pieces of shells, mines, grenades and machetes. Basic package (weight – up to 9 kg) includes ballistic modules (circular protection of the torso and neck) made of aramid fabrics Rusar and bulletproof modules (armor) made of composite on the basis of corundum ceramics. For instant dumping of products in an extreme situation (no more than 3 seconds), the ??6B43 (BZ) is fitted with emergency relief, combined with the individual fit to the figure. The external pouch vest is made of wear resistant fabric, has a camouflage color, reduces visibility in the visible and infrared wavelengths, and has a unified system of fastening pockets and cartridge pouches compatible with the staffing vest transport universal 6SH112. ?? 6B43 is available in 3 sizes, which cover the full range of dimensional characteristics of typical figures of soldiers. The full name for ?? 6B43 is Combined Arms Assault Vest with improved tactical and technical characteristics 6B43. The set’s camouflage smock and body armor weigh about 10 kilograms. Together with the helmet and remaining gear the combat equipment ensemble weighs about 20 kilograms. The modern soldier’s gear includes reconnaissance and navigation tools (binoculars, night vision goggles, compass), individual protection gear (gas mask, gloves, etc.), modular gear (backpacks, a Kevlar vest with pouches, belt), survival gear that include universal shelter equipment, multifunction knife, lighting lamp, clock, winter and summer bilateral camouflage kits, standalone heat source, raid backpack, personal water filter, small infantry shovel, respiratory protection, means of radiation and chemical control, special treatment and first aid filter clothes. The Russian Defense Ministry plans to get 50,000 Ratnik sets annually. This will allow the industry to fulfill the task of providing the Army with 70 percent of the new equipment. The weapons-making agency has also started creating a new combat gear that is set to replace Ratnik in coming years.

AK-74M Kalashnikov 5.45mm Assault Rifles

An improved AK-74M was introduced in 1991, and is still in service. This is a 3.4 kg (7.5 pound), 94.3 cm (37.1 inch) weapon with a 41.5 cm (16.3 inch) barrel. It has rails for sights and can use a 30- or 45-round magazine. Rate of fire is 650 rpm on full auto, and the maximum effective range is 600 meters. The AK-74 looks like an AK-47 and has the same technology. The AK-74M Kalashnikov assault rifle is chambered for the 5.45x39mm Russian round. It has a folding buttstock. Forearm, magazine, buttstock and pistol grip are made of high strength plastic. Protective coatings ensure excellent corrosion resistance of metal parts. There is a dove-tail side rail for optical and night sights. The design of the AK-74M makes it possible to attach the GP-34 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher or a knife-bayonet. A muzzle brake provides for cyclic fire accuracy and further reduces muzzle climb and burst recoil. Company quality control system and all-round test programs ensure superb quality of the AK-74M. The Russians AK-74s whose magazine is loaded with 5.45 “steel core” ammunition may be extremely lethal against any kind of body armor.

The tactical vest has pouches that are removable and can be fastened on different attachments. The attachments will hold the pouches fast even when the soldier is crawling or rolling.

AK-12 Assault Rifle

The Russian army has made several attempts to develop and introduce a replacement for the AK-74. Some special operations units got the new AN-94 in the 1990s, but most troops are still using elderly (in design and manufacture) AK-74s. The troops want something that can match the improvements in Western assault rifles and the AK-12 recently passed the tests. No decision has been made yet on the assault rifle. The rifle should be offered in different modifications, for mechanized infantry, for tank crews, paratroopers and task forces. The rifle also needs a set of sights to fire at daytime and at night. The Kalashnikov Concern was formed earlier this year with the merger of Izhmash – the Izhevsk-based manufacturer of Kalashnikov rifles – with several other defense enterprises. The Kalashnikov Concern is planning to develop a modernized main assault rifle for the Russian Army. The Russian military had been planning on standardizing on a single modernized rifle, the AK-12, to replace three aging rifle models. No announcement has yet been made by the Defense Ministry about modernizing the AK-74, but Kalashnikov will move forward with trials of the AK-12 assault rifle for law enforcement agencies.

9mm AS Special Assault Rifle

The SR.3MP 9mm modernized small-sized assault rifle is designed for engaging enemy personnel wearing Class II armor vests as well as unarmored equipment at ranges up to 400 m. This is the next version of the SR.3M assault rifle. The SR.3MP can be equipped with a silencer and has Picatinny rails for attaching different kinds of sights, laser designator, tactical light and other necessary devices. The assault rifle is a gas-operated weapon with a rotating bolt and is selective fire. When engaged, the safety locks the trigger and bolt carrier to prevent an accident shooting. When the bolt is unlocked, a premature shooting is prevented by the auto release. The assault rifle uses 20-round or 30-round detachable staggered box magazines. The optical and night sights allow aimed firing at ranges up to 400 m at day and up to 300 m at night correspondingly. The folding steel stock allows reducing the dimensions of the assault rifle when carrying it. The design of the assault rifle enables aimed firing with folded or unfolded stock. The SR.1MP allows attaching the stock to the lower side of the handle to provide effective use with a visor. The detachable silencer allows reducing sound and flash of a shot. The assault rifle has a folding front grip. The SR.3M modernized small-sized assault rifle was designed and is manufactured by TSNIITOCHMASH.

Sniper Rifle VSS “Vintorez”

This is a silenced sniper rifle VSS “Vintorez” (a thread cutter). It fires special 9mm sniper cartridges and it allows silent liquidation of targets protected by light bulletproof vests. The rifle shoots so quietly, that the enemy won’t ever realize where the shot came from. The VSS has only one disadvantage – short range of fire, not more than 400 m.

The new bulletproof armor body is made of ceramic plates (modules made of composite on the basis of corundum ceramics) and Aramid fiber so it can effectively resist even numerous sniper rifle bullets. The new-generation body armor, in particular, would provide exceptional protection against small arms. It will be able to deflect NATO’s basic 5.56mm rifle round and presents a big challenge to rifle and munition makers. Here the insert plate is shoot at from a range of 10 meters with a 7.62mm sniper rifle.

7.62mm Pecheneg Standard Machine Gun

The 7.62 mm Pecheneg machine gun of new generation is in mass production for the Russian Army and is designed to engage personnel and enemy weapon systems providing fire support to infantry units. It combines great firepower of a heavy machine gun and mobility of a light machine gun. The Pecheneg machine gun is a derivative of the worldwide famous PKM machine gun. The modernization was aimed at increasing accuracy of fire, service life of parts, and improving operating capabilities of the weapon. Pecheneg is gas operated. Its barrel is blocked by rotation of the breech. A striker type trigger mechanism is activated by the breech block. It has a rear sear and provides for automatic fire only. A safety catch blocks the trigger and sear when activated. Special design of the barrel assembly allowed for reduction of non-removable barrel temperature warp, thus immensely increasing accuracy of fire. Ensuring high survivability, the non-removable barrel improves operating characteristics of the weapon. A handle for carrying the machine gun also plays the part of anti-mirage belt, thus decreasing aiming errors resulting from the haze when the barrel is heated. An open-type sight includes a foresight and an adjustable sector-type backsight with a device for lateral adjustments. The machine gun mounts a standard attachment point for various optical and optronic sights. Reliability of moving parts together with superb accuracy of fire and high survivability open vast prospects for the weapon. Pecheneg can fire all types of 7.62x54mm rounds. The weapon is fed from a 25- or 50-round disintegrating metal belt. Loaded belts are transported in boxes for 100 and 200 rounds each. In comparison with the best modern analogues it has the following advantages: the absence of a changeable barrel; delivering high-accuracy fire (200 rounds) in any possible mode of shooting without the change of the barrel. Barrel’s total life is no less than 25,000 rounds. Accuracy and grouping of automatic fire compared with PKM are improved by a factor of 2.0; the negative effect of “mirage” on aiming process is practically ruled out.

Russian test thermal Weapon Sight of the Future

Russian engineers have unveiled a unique thermal weapon sight for the Ratnik (Warrior) combat gear of the future. The tests of prototype Russian made thermal weapon sights visualizes for the user to see enemy soldiers in pitch darkness or in smoke on the battlefield. The system sensors can discriminate between objects even when the temperatures differ by one tenth of a degree. One cannot see camouflaged soldiers standing behind foliage with conventional night sights because they are blending with the terrain, but thermal imagers detect body heat. The new thermal sight becomes part of the Ratnik future soldier system and can detect enemy forces at ranges up to 1,200 meters. The gun sight is synchronized with a special helmet mounted eyepiece display. The soldier can put the rifle behind the corner by attaching the gun’s sight to the rifle. The soldier will see everything around the corner in real time while remaining safe. Every thermal sight undergoes a number of tests including heat tests inside special compartments that simulate temperature fluctuation between minus 50 to plus 70 degrees Celsius as well as tests to see how they react to vibrations and impact. The Ratnik combat gear gun sight undergoes to up to 350 G which exceeds the recoil of an assault rifle by about 100%. The system has so far passed all factory tests and state acceptance tests and should be made to issue it to military units.

The PDA makes tactical calculations, shows among others, positions, digital maps, messages. The Manpack kit 83?215 ?-6 is used from special (Scouts-) squad-, platoon-level and to company level.

Conclusion

All the items (weapons, body armor, optic, communication and navigation devices, medical, and power supply systems plus uniform items including knee and elbow pads) have been tested and accepted.

This new generation Ratnik (Warrior) Infantry Combat System will make Russian troops the fully-capable soldiers of the future. Use of this second generation combat equipment reduces the rate of casualties by a factor of 3 and increases the effectiveness of the troops by a factor of 2.5.

With the backpack the soldier can carry necessary items for the actual combat e.g. food, medical, ammo, etc. (Håland)

The Manpack kit 83?215 ?-6 with binocular rangefinder and personal digital assistant (PDA) or personal computer table is here for example used by a reconnaissance squad. This PDA has multi functions. Some small arms were presented. The 9mm AS Special Assault Rifle shown here is typically used by a scout soldier. The scouts’ squad leader can via the C2 system automatically transmit the target coordinates back to his unit for immediate fire support.

The Manpack kit 83?215 ?-6 with binocular rangefinder and personal digital assistant (PDA) or personal computer table is here for example used by a reconnaissance squad. This PDA has multi functions. Some small arms were presented. The 9mm AS Special Assault Rifle shown here is typically used by a scout soldier. The scouts’ squad leader can via the C2 system automatically transmit the target coordinates back to his unit for immediate fire support.

“Ratnik” is equipped with the “Strelets” control unit, comprising communications equipment, a targeting indicator, as well as an information and identification system. The unit reports the soldier’s location to the command point. (Håland)

The light machine gun 5.56×45 is designed to be employed by an individual gunner normally in an infantry squad. It is easier to handle by one person due to the weight and caliber of the ammunition and using the same ammunition as the others in the squad eases the logistics. The LMG is capable of delivering a large volume of effective fire which complements the effectiveness of all squad weapons across the spectrum of infantry operations. LMGs allow rifle squads to take light automatic weapons with them in the assault.

Modern 5.56mm Ammunition for Light Machine Guns and Rifles

The 5.56mm caliber is very useable for short range combat. Currently, there are many new 5.56mm ready ammunition types. Among these there are the so-called lead-free or low-emission characteristic (green ammo), and on the other hand new bullet constructions and higher projectile masses for ballistic performance improvement. Among the pioneers of producing lead-free ammunition, is Nammo. Since 2012, the Norwegian-Finnish company Nammo has supplied a revised lead-free 5.56mm cartridge with the label NM255 to the Norwegian Armed Forces. This has better performance compared to standard ball ammunition with minimized environmental impact. It has improved accuracy, terminal ballistics and barrel erosion, and better penetration compared to ordinary NATO ball. It contains no lead. This is a response to three years earlier lessons learned that the lead-free ammunition type NM229 could cause health problems when shooters were breathing copper and zinc vapor. The SS109 bullet of FN Herstal has a brass coat surrounding the steel and the underlying lead core. In 2010 the U.S. Army introduced the new M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR) with a 62-grain bullet. The double core construction with exposed bullet tip, mainly produced by ATK, also has a low emission and due to their component assembly it ensures higher efficiency. U.S. Special Forces also use the Mk262 cartridge with 77 grain bullet (5 gram). In 2010 the U.S. Marine Corps replaced the M855 initially with the MK 318 MOD 0 cartridge, caliber 5.56mm ball. Barrier penetrating, the 62 grain heavy “open-tip” -cartridge has a lead core and a thick copper base. The lead core is to make a breach into obstacles, which then the copper core penetrates behind. Meanwhile, the M855A1 is also used by the “Leathernecks.” RUAG Ammotec presented their HC + earlier in 2010. This lead free hard core cartridge with increased penetrating power is particularly suitable for light MGs. In May 2013 it qualified the lead-free cartridge 5.56×45 LF HC SX for the small Luxembourg Armed Forces. RUAG Ammotec announced this cartridge, exceeded the “multi caliber manual of proof and inspection” (MC-MOPI standard for test processes), which calls for a standard deviation of up to maximum 200 mm at a distance of 550 m, a standard deviation of 110 mm corresponds to 300 m. The lead-free cartridge 5.56×45 LF HC SX at this distance with all rounds had standard deviations of less than 50 mm.

The FN MINIMI 5.56mm Mk3, cover and feed mechanism assembly in open position. (Walter Håland)

The FN MINIMI 5.56mm Light Machine Gun

The MINIMI (short for French: Mini Mitrailleuse; “mini machine gun”) is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale (FN). The FN MINIMI is a gas actuated long-stroke piston system LMG firing from an open bolt. It is an air-cooled weapon capable of fully automatic fire only. It can be belt fed or fired from a magazine. The barrel is locked with a rotary bolt equipped with two massive locking lugs. It was first introduced in 1974. In the meantime it is in widespread use by the militaries of North America (designation M249), South America, Europe, South East Asia and Oceania. The weapon is currently manufactured at the FN facility in Herstal and at their U.S. subsidiary FN Manufacturing LLC. The weapon is primarily chambered for 5.56×45 NATO, though it is also available as a 7.62×51 NATO variant. The MINIMI is configured in several variants: the Standard model as a platoon or squad support weapon, the Para version for paratroopers and the Vehicle model as secondary armament for different vehicles. The welded receiver is made from stamped steel. Both the Standard and Para variants are equipped with a folding bipod mounted to the gas tube and stowed under the handguard. The bipod can be adjusted in height and each leg has three height settings. The bipod also offers a 15° range of rotation to either side. With the bipod fully extended, the bore axis is elevated to a height of 465 mm (18.3 in). The standard light machine gun version has a 465 mm (18.3 in) barrel Mk1 and a fixed composite stock with a folding shoulder strap. The shortened Para model has a 349 mm (13.7 in) barrel and a sliding metal stock. For 5.56 weapons, both these stocks are available with or without the hydraulic buffer that contributes to stabilizing the rate of fire and reducing recoil forces. The Mk3 configuration is only available with the hydraulic buffer. The weapon is fed from the left-hand side by disintegrating-link ammunition belts, from either an unsupported loose belt, enclosed in a polymer ammunition box with a 200-round capacity attached to the base of the receiver, or from reusable 100- or 200-round pouches, or from detachable 30-round STANAG magazines, used in other NATO 5.56 assault rifles such as the M16. Magazine feeding is used only as an auxiliary measure, when belted ammunition has been exhausted because this results in increased wear and tear on the rotary bolt’s locking lugs. This feature allows the FN MINIMI to be instantly changed from belt feed to magazine feed without any modification. When a belt is placed in the feed tray it covers the magazine port. The magazine port, when not in use, is closed with an L-shaped hinged flap equipped with a tooth, which engages a corresponding opening in the magazine and serves as a magazine release. The barrels used in the FN MINIMI have an increased heat capacity for sustained fire, feature a chrome-lined rifled bore (six right-hand grooves) and are manufactured with a 178 mm (1:7 in) twist rate used to stabilize the NATO SS109 projectile (since 1980s). The barrels have a quick-change capability; a lever is provided on the left side of the weapon that releases the barrel from its trunnion. A carrying handle is also fixed to the barrel that makes the barrel change process easy. A trained soldier can perform a barrel change and ready the weapon for aimed fire in 6-7 seconds. FN MINIMI has a cone-shaped slotted flash suppressor. Both the standard and Para models come with a rear sight, adjustable for windage and elevation. The sight has a peep aperture for ranges from 300 to 1,000 m in 100 m increments. The hooded front sight is installed in a post on the gas block. The gas valve is manually adjustable with two positions: normal and adverse. The adverse setting increases the cyclic rate of fire from 700–850 rounds per minute to 950–1,150 rounds per minute and is used only in extreme environmental conditions or when heavy fouling is present in the weapon’s gas tube.

The barrels have a quick-change capability; a lever is provided on the left side of the weapon that releases the barrel from its trunnion. The carrying handle fixed to the barrel is used in the barrel change process. A trained soldier can perform a barrel change and ready the weapon for aimed fire in 6-7 seconds. (Walter Håland)

The Trend in the 80s

As the other NATO nations, the Norwegian Defense also replaced at infantry squads the 11 kg heavy 7.62mm MG3, which is cumbersome to carry for an infantry soldier on foot patrols, compared to the 3 kg lighter FN Herstal MINIMI 5.56mm. The big MG3 is less suited to urban fighting. The 5.56mm ammunition is half as heavy as the 7.62mm. With the assault rifle HK416, in 5.56mm caliber, the infantry squad would only have one caliber, which makes it easier with supplying their ammunition to other members in the squad. The variant Norway has acquired is the MINIMI PARA TRIPLE RAIL with the sliding butt and rails for mounting of optical sight, light and laser pointer, or other selected accessories. The optical sight used on the MINIMI is the Aimpoint Comp 4x and 3x magnification. The delivered LMGs come with two different barrels. The 18.2 inch barrel is primary for use at maximum practical range. The additional 14.2 inch barrel is intended for shooting at shorter distances (Close Quarters Combat). The long barrel and the short barrel have different shaped flash suppressors.

The barrels have a quick-change capability; a lever is provided on the left side of the weapon that releases the barrel from its trunnion. The carrying handle fixed to the barrel is used in the barrel change process. A trained soldier can perform a barrel change and ready the weapon for aimed fire in 6-7 seconds. (Walter Håland)

FN MINIMI Mk3 (5.56mm and 7.62mm)

FN Herstal’s newest light machine gun line, the MINIMI Mk 3, is an update of the FN MINIMI. The FN MINIMI Mk3 is probably the most important new firearm of 2013 given its widespread use by the militaries. The company stated the new Mk3 was designed around the feedback received from actual combat troops using the weapon in the field. Essentially, all updates are focused on improved ergonomics and improved mobility. The most prominent updates are:

The old fixed stock has been replaced with a 5-position length of pull adjustable buttstock (to fit different sized soldiers with and without body armor). The stock has an integrated hydraulic buffer that stabilizes the rate of fire and reduces felt recoil. Additionally, the stock has an adjustable cheek riser and a shoulder rest. The user can have his eye correctly aligned with the iron sights, or optical sights, while keeping his cheek properly positioned on the buttstock.

A new handguard/bipod assembly that provides a comfortable handguard and three forward Mil-Std 1913 Picatinny accessory rails. The adjustable-height (3 positions) bipod, when folded back, integrates into the shape of the hand guard even with an accessory on the lower rail.

The top cover and feed tray has been upgraded for easier one-handed reloading. The cocking handle is more ergonomic and easier to operate with either the strong or weak hand.

The feed tray is improved with belt retaining pawls that hold the belt correctly in position during the loading procedure, which is most useful when the user is in the standing position.

According to FN Herstal, existing MINIMI machine guns can be upgraded to Mk 3 specs. FN offers complete or partial upgrades kit depending on customer’s needs. Upgrades can be performed in-house by the organizations. The MINIMI Mk3 will be available in two calibers (5.56 and 7.62). There will be four 5.56mm variants and three 7.62mm variants (down from the total of eight variants previously available). The 5.56mm variants are FN MINIMI 5.56 Mk3 Tactical LB (long barrel) and tactical SB (short barrel), – para and Tactical Standard.

The barrels have a quick-change capability; a lever is provided on the left side of the weapon that releases the barrel from its trunnion. The carrying handle fixed to the barrel is used in the barrel change process. A trained soldier can perform a barrel change and ready the weapon for aimed fire in 6-7 seconds. (Walter Håland)

M249 Light Machine Gun, Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)

In the U.S. the light MG MINIMI in caliber 5.56×45 was adopted in 1982 and designated the M249 light machine gun (LMG), previously designated the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and formally written as Light Machine Gun, 5.56mm, M249 in use by U.S. Forces. Production for the U.S. military has been carried out entirely in the USA by a local subsidiary, FN Manufacturing LLC in South Carolina. U.S. Armed Forces, USSOCOM and the NSWC have been developing their own variants and upgrades of M249 for many years. The fruits of their labor are the Mk. 46 Mod 0/1 and Mk 48 Mod 0/1. As part of the U.S. military’s M249 Product Improvement Program (PIP), the M249 was updated with: a new synthetic stock and modified buffer assembly, a single-position gas regulator, a so-called birdcage type flash hider/compensator from the M16A2, a polymer barrel heat guard, and a folding carry handle. As a result, the weapon’s weight increased to 7.47 kg (16.5 lb.). Many of the PIP upgrades were later incorporated by FN for the MINIMI. The ergonomically-shaped polymer buttstock contains a hydraulic buffer that allows SAW gunners to maintain a high rate of fire with accuracy and effect.

Para

M249 Para

The M249 Para is optimized for airborne, armored infantry and close quarters combat (CQC) operations with a shorter barrel and sliding butt. It retains all of the features of the M249 SAW and can be field-converted back to the standard model configuration in just 30 seconds. Each M249 model includes one spare barrel.

Technical characteristics

Projectile weight: 3 g (77 grain)

Muzzle velocity: 1030 m/s (3377 fps)

Max. dispersion: S.D. < 200 mm at 550 m

Penetration: 12 mm RHA 300HB at 100 m

Service temperature: -54oC/+52oC

Safety temperature: -54oC/+71oC

Type classified by U.S. Army 1996 as M995. Nammo has been the sole supplier since then. In service in several countries. Combat proven and in production.

5.56×45 Armor Piercing 45 Incorporating Nammo’s knowledge on tungsten carbide technology as well as that on lead free projectile design, 5.56mm AP 45 provides a cost effective armor piercing round for use in assault rifles and machine guns. Military specified (STANAG 4172). The heavy projectile provides increased performance at long ranges.

Technical characteristics

Projectile weight: 4.5 g (70 grain)

Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s (3,000 fps)

Max. dispersion: S.D. < 200 mm at 550 m

Penetration: 7 mm RHA at 200 m

Service temperature: -54oC/+52o

Safety temperature: -54oC/+71oC

Status: In production

PARA Technical Data

Caliber 5.56mm x 45 NATO

Operating principle: Gas piston driven, hydraulic buffer

Bolt mechanism: Rotating bolt, open bolt principle

Feed mechanism: Belt feed from left side or magazine2

Modes of fire: Safe/Sustained fire

Length min/max: Long barrel 898 mm/1,028 mm, Short barrel 780 mm/914 mm

Height: 24.1 mm (9.5 inch)

Barrel length: Long barrel 466 mm (18.3 inch), Short barrel 347 mm (13.7 inch)

Sight: M/O3

Weight weapon with bipod: Short barrel (without ammo) ca 8.0 kg, With 100 rounds ammo pouch ca 9.1 kg

Trigger pull: 3.5 to 7 kg

Rate of fire: Automatic 14-15 rds./sec (approx. 850 rds./m)

Chamber pressure: ca 3,600 bar

Muzzle velocity-v0: Long barrel ca 925 m/s

Short barrel: ca 875 m/s

Muzzle energy-E0: Depending on ammunition/barrel

Barrel profile/twist: 6 grooves/right-hand twist 180 mm

Effective range: Ca. 400 m – 600 m

Max. range: Ca. 2,700 m

The version for the Norwegian Defense. Matte black or FDE color. 2 M416 magazines or 30-round STANAG magazines. 3 Aimpoint Comp M4 red dot sight and 3x magnification, Triple Rail, different accessories available.

Tactical Long Barrel

Tactical Short Barrel

Tactical Standard

N MINIMI MK3 Upgraded Components are highlighted in black. (Walter Håland)

Buttstock and buffer assembly. (Walter Håland)

Firing standard Ball and standard Tracer (full trajectory control out to normally 800 m)

5.56x45 Armor Piercing 3 significantly increases the war fighters’ lethality. Optimized projectile design with a tungsten carbide core for penetration of hard targets. Penetrates 12 mm RHA 300HB at 100 m and light body armor at normal combat distances.

On the cover rail of the MINIMI 5.56mm is the Aimpoint Comp M4 red dot sight with high battery compartment and 3x magnification, shown with plastic ammo box for a 200-round belt, handgrip, tactical light and Laser Designator (Forsvarets mediearkiv)

Military camp protection has been an issue since the Roman era.  In the 1970s, the Vietnam War showed how much camps were at risk, especially in a jungle environment.  Besides direct assaults with infantry, the camps were submitted to daily mortar shelling, a threat that remains unchanged today, with the addition of direct sniper fire.  Surveillance, physical protection and effectors capable of neutralising the threat are the main elements required to protect a camp.

Here with the .50 cal M2HB with BFA – Blank Firing Attachment. (Courtesy of Rune Johannessen, Vice President, Business Development, the Americas Kongsberg Protech Systems USA)

Expertise from Norway
Numerous incidents in recent years have made it clear that bases and objects of the armed forces in the areas of application are vulnerable.  The number of recent incidents has clearly demonstrated security vulnerabilities.  Kongsberg offers a unique solution for the protection of deployed personnel.  Kongsberg has developed a weapon station named Containerized Weapon Station (CWS) for stationary use next to military camps, military bases, outposts, airbases, port facilities, or similar facilities.  This system is based on the widespread and standardized remote controlled weapon station, named Protector (or CROWS “Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station,” for the U.S. armed forces) and used in a variety of military vehicles.  With more than 16,000 systems sold worldwide, more than 25 million hours of operation and over 15 million hours in combat. The Protector has been selected or is already in service by 17 nations.

Kongsberg has developed a Containerized Weapon Station (CWS) that is specifically designed to protect military bases and outposts.  With this concept, CWS, the Protector system is used in an important new way.

Camp Marmal (CM) is the largest base of the Bundeswehr outside of Germany. It is located in proximity to Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan. The photo shows the Norwegian section of the camp. (Erebino)

Unmanned Sentry with Remote Controlled Containerized Weapon Station
The CWS has cameras that give a full 360 degrees view, and can see through the darkness.  Equipped with non-lethal weapons it can stop suspicious vehicles at a safe distance or deliver a hail of deadly standard rounds if necessary.  The time where soldiers must stand guard tower duty may soon be over.

One of the major challenges for the allied forces in Afghanistan is that they use a lot of personnel to secure their own bases.  In the major camps there are often hundreds of soldiers who have these guard duties as their only task.  This weapon system can reduce the number of troops while increasing safety and protection of the soldiers.

The graphic shows how the weapon stations can be set in the corners of an outpost to provide 360-degree protection. (Illustration: Kongsberg Protech Systems)

The CWS consists of a weapon station that is located on a mast lowered in a protective container.  The CWS can be used with the entire spectrum of Protector weapon station systems with weapons from 7.62mm MG, 12.7mm Browning M2 to 40mm Automatic Grenade Launchers.  From the outside it does not differ in appearance from all the other shipping containers outside the military base.  But appearances are deceptive.  With the push of a button, the roof opens and a weapons station rises several feet in the air.  With this concept, the weapons station is used in a new way.

What is new is that the CWS is controlled via fiber optics – making the user located in a protected position up to several kilometers away and able to control the weapon station.  This provides capabilities to monitor, engage and combat potential threats from a protected position.  Since the soldier himself is not in danger, he can take the time to properly identify targets.  Outside the camp fence, the situation is often unclear with civilians who live and work in the area.  With its advanced optics it is possible to see the difference between a tool and a weapon at distances hundreds of yards away.  This would be impossible with the naked eye.

For guarding the camp the Kongsberg Protech Systems engineers have developed a concept for mobile watchtowers in containers. With the push of a button, the roof opens and the weapon station rises several feet in the air. Here with 7.62mm MG. (Courtesy of Rune Johannessen, Vice President, Business Development, the Americas Kongsberg Protech Systems USA)

The system is self-powered, either in the form of an aggregate unit or solar panels.  The control unit is small enough to fit into a suitcase and control the weapons station that can be armed with everything from light machine guns to automatic grenade launchers and Javelin missiles.  However, lethal force is not the only available remedy.  The weapon station can be equipped with lasers or bright lights that temporarily blind people.  Other non-lethal weapons are acoustic or flash-bang grenades.  In this way, the CWS can also be used to guard embassies, quay structures or placed onboard cargo ships.

More weapons stations can be set up in the corners of a base and thus provide area control in all directions.  The sensors can help detect and defeat threats at long range.  The development of CWS was very fast as it took only eleven months until the prototype was finished.

Night vision capability enables soldiers with individual and crew served weapons to see deep into the battlefield, increase surveillance and target acquisition range, and penetrate obscurants, day or night.

In current asymmetric and “three blocks”- warfare scenarios, long range threat detection and identification capability is essential for force protection and effective engagement as a premise for successful tactical and operational maneuvering.

Close in distance in urban terrain might be the most common, but not the only operational environment western forces are facing nowadays.  In the early days of machine guns, most fighting happened in the trenches of World War I battlefields.  But a crew-served weapon in a key position supporting offensive and defensive infantry operations directly or surveying open flanks often made and makes the difference between success and loss, and high or low casualties.

Maneuvering with pinpoint accuracy and efficiency at night as well as in daytime requires situational awareness,  target classification and target identification capability.  Cooled thermal imagers provide superior range performance and large field of view at night and in adverse weather conditions, with a compact design and sensitive detectors with high resolution together with large depth of focus.  As part of the Soldier Modernization Program IdZ, the Federal Armed Forces of Germany implemented a cooled thermal sight for infantry weapons (WBG-HaWa-Inf) AIM HuntIR, compact and ergonomic with a well-balanced center of gravity providing a sensor performance comparable with 1st and 2nd generation armored vehicles’ gunner sights.

Besides dominating range performance, further key factors of sensor performance, especially for snipers, are high thermal and optical resolution separating armed and unarmed humans, observing target behavior up to intermediate distance facial recognition, discriminating the “immediate lethal body parts” as well as target effect recognition.  This adds into account an enhanced need of situational awareness in accordance to the rules of engagement in peace enforcing and COIN operations: “Be sure before you pull the trigger!”  The key enabler is resolution.

WBZG RangIR on G82. (AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH)

Night vision capability by thermal contrast also applies to compact uncooled thermal technology with low energy consumption.  This is ideal for assault rifles, PDWs and other short and intermediate range infantry weapons.  To match the engagement ranges of Crew Served Weapons (12.7mm HMG, 40mm AGL/GMG) as well as sniper and anti-material weapons, the low sensitivity of uncooled microbolometer detectors requires extremely large lenses.  Keeping at the same time the distance capacity as a key factor of the survivability and combat effectiveness of heavy infantry weapons under nowadays combat environment is a challenge only cooled thermal technology can meet.

The other alternative – image intensifiers – gets to the edge of their technical possibilities in current combat areas with no artificial light sources even behind the horizon as where there is no light, there is no amplification.  The same applies for shadows in rugged mountain areas enemies intend to hide during daytime.

For infantry sections and platoons on patrol, more distance capacity and situational awareness is indispensable for preemptive action or to blow a camouflaged ambush.  This can be realized by an efficient mix of light intensifier and uncooled sight for individual small arms and cooled thermal sights for the section leader and its key weapon (light machine gun, designated marksman rifle).  Furthermore, a cooled thermal imager with high thermal sensitivity and high depth of focus is an indispensable tool to pinpoint one’s own fire on the opponents due to their unsurpassed ability to visualize the trajectory of projectiles far beyond the standard range of individual small arms even without tracer (detectable up to 1,000m).  This can also increase the distance capability of the whole platoon bringing a .308 caliber round at the edge of its predictable ballistic performance still on target.

Another feature bringing a projectile on target at the edge of ballistics and range (1,500m) is an automatic fire control.  To ensure this with fast and accurate hit probability to multiple targets at various distances on different weapons like HK 40mm x 53 GMG, AI L96 (German designation G22) and Barrett M82 (Germ designation G82) the AIM HuntIR was extended with an eyesafe laser-rangefinder, 3 axis digital magnet compasses (DMC) generating automatically range, banking and elevation data for the integrated numeric ballistic calculator.  The result was the AIM RangIR, – with same weight and same dimensions – handed over to the German forces at the end of 2010 as a fire control system for the Heckler & Koch 40mm x 53 Grenade Machine Gun simplifying target engagement to “push button, put reticle on target and pull the trigger.”

Display view by darkness with WBZG RangIR. (AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH)

With a breakthrough in portable numeric computers, the real and detailed drag function of the projectile can be calculated at high supersonic, supersonic, transonic and subsonic speed.  There is no need for approximation to G1 to G8, Rheinmetall or Siacci test projectile function anymore.  Multiple zeroing on different distances can be put into account.

The real strength of RangIR reveals it enabling the gunner’s improvising with the unpredictable – wind – and still putting a surprising, precise and effective series of 40mm explosive rounds on target. This is accomplished by observing the first round trajectory up to effective engagement range using the thermal imager with the right thermal sensitivity in combination with the right field of view and the right depth of focus.  At the edge of the trajectory the impact is predictable, so the correction for the following 40mm round can be done, while the first is still on its way.

Targets behind tremendously thick “QUALA”- walls of Afghanistan’s compounds- can be engaged with programmable Air- Burst Ammunition with their fragment effect.  AIM is looking back on long years’ experience and designing fire control for air burst ammunition.

A C4I/ BMS capable RangIR with target cueing and target acquisition ability will be part of IdZ II – the German Soldier modernization program 2nd generation.  The monocular of the RangIR targeting sight can be exchanged to a bi-ocular in the field without additional tools to be applied as a comfortable observation sight additionally enabling enduring surveillance tasks.

As AIM has the full depth of detector manufacturing, they are able to provide the latest detector technology with more and smaller pixels first.  With this they are already looking into the next generation of thermal targeting sights reducing size, weight, battery consumption and price keeping the same performance as RangIR today or providing about 70% more performance by the same size as the RangIR today enabling even the long range interdiction sniper with a good probability to separate armed and unarmed targets at maximum distance of the gun coming closer to the ideal role of the sniper today: engaging the threatening target precisely by sparing the non-combatants the same time.