XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Well it appears the XM312 (50 cal) and XM307 (25mm) weapons projects are both canceled in late 2007.

The Army is looking at the LW50MG as a replacement for the venerable M2HB in 2012.

And it seems the Mk 47 AGL may be upgrade for the Mk 19's.

Any sources for that ??

Which only highlights the frustration of adding "future weapons" into the OOB's. It's fine for tanks really but these things were added ( NOT BY ME ) and integrated into the OOB's and the person doing it should have known better. There is all kinds of crap like this strewn thoughout the US and USMC OOB that needs fixing. We've already dealt with the "M8" rifles.

It's all such "fun" somedays ...

Don

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Late 2007? and none heard about that?OMG

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Jane's International Defence Review
http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jiw/jiw_a144.html

Oct 10, 2008

Development
The XM312 was developed as a .50 calibre variant of the XM307 Advanced Crew-Served Weapon (see separate entry).
During the course of developing the XM307 for the US Army, General Dynamics noted that the standard .50 calibre
(12.7 mm) ammunition had similar impulse characteristics to the 25 mm ammunition being developed by Alliant.
To speed gun development the firm did much of the work in the former category, since the .50 calibre ammunition
was cheap, available and well documented. Since it only required the swap-out of four components to change the
gun from one calibre to the other the Army began looking into the possibility of using a .50 calibre variant as
a training weapon to reduce ammunition costs. When the XM307 was finally killed in January 2007 the Army told
General Dynamics ATP to use the remaining funds that had been obligated on the contract to continue to development
of the .50 calibre variant, now known as the XM312. This effort was scheduled to run through the conclusion of
the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract in March 2008. By October 2007 three prototypes in a
Type C configuration had been built and fired. In May 2008, the Army's Armament Research and Development Center
awarded GD-ATP a USD9 million contract for further development of a lightweight .50 calibre machine gun, now
known within the firm as the Lightweight .50 Calibre Machine Gun (LW50MG). This retains most of the features of
the XM312.

The Army at present will buy new M2s and MK-19s to replace the current ones that are wearing out.

Also, the M8 may be dead but take a look at the Barrett REC7 (formerly known as the M468).

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Sorry, got my date wrong.
Late 2008.

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

I did some digging after writing that and found much the same thing. Both have been pulled from the OOB's. It was "fun" but not as bad as I feared

If you find any info in the XM25 let me know. I haven't found any that says its dead but I haven't found anything that says much about it at all except it was hived from the M8 program. My guess is it's going to be killed off as well

Don

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Found this document. Not sure how much help it will be. OICW Increment II is what it calls the XM25.

There is an easy way out though:

:D bit of a cheat, I know.

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

What I can find indicates the XM25 program was fully alive and well as of Sep 2008.
Field testing planned to start in Mar 2009.
General issue in 2014.

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

OK, not dead makes it easier but all these "future weapons" are a PITA to predict. The only real guarantee there is that any guess will be wrong.

I've put the LW50MG to replace the H2's in 1/113 in both the US and USMC OOB. I'll add the M25 in 1/115. That gives me 6 years to be proven wrong :)


Don

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

From what I read about the XM312/LW50MG project it looks like they'll replace ONLY the infantry M2HB's (due to weight).
For vehicle/helo mounts they plan to stick to the M2HB (since it has about twice the ROF).

And the XM25 is NOT planned as a replacement for the M203/M302.
Looks like it's intended to be something of a "special issue" weapon similar to the way the M32 MGL is now. Possibly used as a squad GL (like the old M79) in some instances but not a general issue item.

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

OK, I make a note to check that ( checked. 'twas just the infantry ones changed )

Thanks

Don

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Diging throught he OOB's reveiled the "M29 Inf Cbt Wpn" in both the US and USMC OOB's. The info I've found leads me to belive this is either dead, or will be dead or won't be ready for quite some time

That doesn't sound very positive to me

If anybody at all wants to wade in with some info it would be appreciated. "research" really eats into the time I have to work on this and I've got a plateful of work on things I know what to do with

We'll make this the " sort out the "future weapons" " thread

Don

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

The XM29 was split into the M8 Rifle and XM25 (was 20mm now 25mm) GL due to the excessive weight (and R&D problems) of the combined system.

The M8 was later killed entirely and the XM25 we spoke about here.

So as a weapon the XM29 just plain doesn't exist.

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Future weapons thread? I'm in :)

This rifle was presented last year for public. Name's CZ 805 and should be (and looks like) something like FN SCAR.
Main variant is planned in 5.56 NATO, using STANAG magwell. It should come in three barrel lengths (short carbine, rifle and HBAR rifle), with easy barrel swap.
There should be also conversion kits for 7.62/43mm and 7.62/54mm ammo.

From what I know the rifle is undergoing the Army trials. There was some RumInt about it being already ordered en masse, but I am sceptical.

http://www.strelci.com/modules.php?n...rticle&sid=312

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

OK let me clarify that :)..... this is the " sort out the "future weapons" in the OOB's that are dead or wrong" thread.

I'm inclined right now to avoid adding small weapons systems until there is a firm adoption date especially after spending a number of hours sorting through the US and USMC OOB looking for weapons in the same category

Don

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Not exactly a "Future Weapon" but one not included in the current OOBs.

CLAWS [Complementary Low Altitude Weapon System] - HUMRAAM [HMMWV Launched AMRAAM]

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ions/claws.htm

http://defense-update.com/products/s/slamraam.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZFyAjLur_I

http://www.deagel.com/Air-Defense-Sy...000605001.aspx

The system is already deployed with the Norwegian and Spanish armies (May 2006).
And has recently been acquired for the US Army and Marine Corps.

First units accepted by the USMC in Oct/Nov 2006.
Scheduled for fielding in 2007.

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Weakipedia also states it soldiers in Egypt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptia...efense_Command

Yea, I know, Wiki... ;)

Re: XM312 & XM307 Officially Dead
 

Yep. I've put this one in to all the nations that are using it and I am reviewing the data for the existing Norwegian version "NASAM SAM".

I also added the German LFK NG but I'm still digging for info on that as it's hinted to be ground target capable similar to the ADATS

Don