The XM-29 OICW system was effectively cancelled in 2004. By Staff Writer
The XM-29 OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon) was a proposed replacement for the aging M-16 Assault Rifle for the United States Army. The system was designed and jointly developed by Alliant Techsystems and Heckler & Koch and featured a combined light-weight 5.56mm assault rifle coupled with a 20mm 6-round grenade launcher.
Looking very similar to the existing German HK G36, the rifle element of the XM-29 fired the NATO-standard 5.56x45mm ammunition from a 30-round detachable box magazine and featured a computerized sight. The 20mm grenade launcher element could fire air-bursting projectiles for suppression or target elimination.
The system as a whole was actually designed to come apart as two separate elements if need be. The lower half would make up the assault rifle component whilst the upper portion became grenade-launching component. The assault rifle could still function independently of the grenade launcher, though the grenade launcher still needed the assault rifle portion in order to fire its payload. As might be expected, when the system was coupled together as one unit, the system was excessively bulky for the new fast-moving infantryman that the US Army was envisioning.
The XM-29 OICW project was officially cancelled on October 31st, 2004.
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Image Courtesy of the United States Department of Defense
1995
Designation:Heckler & Koch / Alliant Techsystems XM-29 OICW Classification Type:Assault Rifle with Integrated Removable Grenade Launcher Manufacturer:Alliant Techsystems / Heckler & Koch GmbH - Germany Country of Origin: United States
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