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Objective Individual Combatant Weapon (OICW)
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A number of new weapons systems for the individual soldier are under development and will soon be available. One example is the new Objective Individual Combatant Weapon (OICW), which is being considered to replace the M16A2 rifle, M4 carbines, and M203 grenade launchers to give the individual soldier a single weapon with both direct and indirect fire capabilities. The OICW uses both 5.56 mm standard NATO ammunition and new 20 mm high-explosive, air-bursting munitions. Infantry units are tentatively scheduled to receive the OICW in FY2005 and 2006.
Optically safe, laser-based systems, such as the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES), are commonly used for military training in direct-fire weapons. The Surface Area Weapons Effects - Radio Frequency (SAWE-RF) system is used by the U.S. Army for limited training in indirect fire. The Mobile Automated Instrumentation Suite (MAIS) system, in use at Ft. Hood, Texas, employs a combination of MILES and SAWE techniques for Real Time Casualty Assessment (RTCA) for Test and Evaluation (T&E).
The OICW and other existing weapons can sight through smoke and fog and at indirect (hidden) targets. Currently fielded line-of-sight laser-based systems cannot penetrate smoke or fog, nor can they be used for indirect fire; consequently, they are inadequate for conducting training on these weapons. A need exists for an integrated system that can simulate both direct and indirect fire and provide information on who-shot-who (geometric pairing or "shot pairing") during a training exercise and for test/evaluation.
SwRI performed a two-task engineering analysis and technology assessment concerning these issues for U.S. Army STRICOM. In Task 1, SwRI performed a requirements analysis to determine the needs of both the training and the test and evaluation communities in regard to indirect fire simulation. Site visits and interviews with subject matter experts were conducted. SwRI analyzed the results of the requirements analysis looking for areas of similarity, dissimilarity, and technical requirements in common and reported the results of this analysis in a Final Report to the Army.
In Task 2, SwRI performed an assessment of available technologies that can be used to provide the location and vector attributes necessary for developing a system that is capable of solving the geometric pairing problem. SwRI performed a cost-tradeoff analysis to determine the most cost-effective level of accuracy for various instrumentation schemes. SwRI also identified missing or very expensive technologies as candidates for further research. The results of this task were also delivered to the Army in a Final Report
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Police and security review
