Advanced Individual Combat Weapon

Infobox Weapon
name= Advanced Individual Combat Weapon (AICW)


caption=
origin=flagcountry|Australia
type= Assault rifle
is_ranged=yes
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designer= Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) in alliance with Metal Storm and Tenix Defence Systems
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weight= 6.48 kg (unloaded),
7.85 kg (loaded),
9.9 kg (loaded)
length= 738 mm (29 in)
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cartridge= 5.56x45mm NATO
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feed= 30 round detachable magazine,
3 round detachable magazine (grenades)
sights= The Advanced Individual Combat Weapon (AICW) is a prototype assault rifle being developed in Australia. The AICW combines a standard 5.56 mm assault rifle with a multiple-shot grenade launcher. It is still in testing stages and may potentially replace the F88 Austeyr by 2010 - 2012.

The AICW was developed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) in alliance with Metal Storm and Tenix Defence Systems the AICW received funding primarily through the Australian Government’s Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) program. The M203 40 mm grenade launcher is currently the most common weapon of this type. The M203 is an add-on to the assault rifle, fitting beneath its barrel. However, the single-shot M203 has ergonomic disadvantages with two sets of triggers and sights, and the operator has to change firing stance to change from firing the rifle to operating the grenade launcher.

The AICW aims to provide the infantry soldier with the ability to fire multiple grenades without having to reload, and to switch between 5.56 mm ballistic rounds and 40 mm grenades without changing sights, trigger or stance, giving the operator more versatility and reduced reaction times in combat.

Since the 40 mm grenade launcher entered service in the early 1960s the United States Army has been trying to develop a weapon with a capability similar to the AICW. The latest attempt, the Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) project, was launched in 1986 but abandoned in 2004 having not achieved its aims, largely due to excessive size and weight of the weapon.

AICW, with its stacked round grenade launcher, does not require the weight, volume and complexity of conventional mechanical loading. This makes the weapon more compact and potentially far lighter. "For further information see Australian Minister for Defence Press Release in 2005." [http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Hilltpl.cfm?CurrentId=5031]

The United States Army and Australian Army are currently participating in the development of the AICW using Metal Storm technology (2006).

References

"AICW: Australia's Revolutionary Weapon" by Abraham Gubler in "DefenceToday", Volume 3, Issue 5, 2005.

"New super-gun to be tested in Feb." by Pamela Hess, UPI correspondent, WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2006.

External links

* [http://www.metalstorm.com/ Metal Storm homepage]
* [http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2001smallarms/lee.pdf Metal Storm AICW presentation at National Defense Industrial Association conference]
* [http://www.metalstorm.com/index.php?src=photo&srctype=lister&album=Advanced%20Individual%20Combat%20Weapon%20%28AICW%29&submenu=Graphics&albumpos=0,1000000,3&category=Photos Metal Storm AICW photos]
* [http://world.guns.ru/assault/as72-e.htm Article from world.guns.ru]
* [http://www.tenix.com/PDFLibrary/150.pdf AICW brochure on Tenix Web-site, including picture]