experimental weapons systems like OICW

[thatguy96]

For those of you who don't know, the XM8 program was stopped and a new program to develop a weapon like it (which might still include the XM8) called the Modular Weapon System Program was initiated. This was done after other companies complained HK was getting a quick contract without bidding simply having developed part of a system generally believed to be canceled now (if OICW Phase III, aka XM29 ever gets off the ground I'll be surprised).

The XM25 is not intended to replace the M203, but supplement its true replacement, the XM320 (aka HK AG-C), and the 25mm ammo used in the XM25 is NOT the same as that used in the XM307. The XM307 round is longer than that of the XM25. The XM312 (now known as the XM307K50) is to be used as more of a transitional weapon, and can be quickly configured to fire the longer 25mm ammunition of the XM307.

Note that USSOCOM has also adopted a seperate family of weapons, and might well be adopting a seperate UBGL, all products of the SCAR program (and outgrowth of about 5 previous programs starting with the original SOPMOD). These weapons are made by FN and the 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm elements are already being field tested.