As early as June 5438+October 2002 10, the US military signed the development contract of XM8 with German H & Allente Technologies. Company K is also one of the contract developers of XM8.
XM8 adopts many technologies on XM29 and G36 rifles, such as using aiming device on XM29. The mechanism of XM8 comes from Amarette AR-18 (the predecessor of m 16-editor's note), but its improved gas guide device is better than M16. As we all know, there are some problems in M 16 rifle, such as jamming and poor reentry, which are closely related to the powder residue left in the gun after shooting. Therefore, the US military requires XM8 to reach the standard of shooting 1500 rounds after simple scrubbing and oiling, and ensure its flexible and reliable mechanism, and the barrel life should exceed 20,000 rounds.
The XM8 gun body is made of engineering plastics and alloy materials, which reduces the mass of the weapon system by 20%. The color of the gun body is brownish green. The mass of XM8 developed now is 2.9kg, but it will eventually be reduced to 2.7kg. The reducer of XM8 can be operated on the left and right sides of the gun body. The length of the butt is adjustable, and there are five positions to choose from, which is suitable for shooters of any height to pat their shoulders. The ammunition supply is10,30 and 100 magazines. The theoretical firing rate is 750 rounds per minute.
There is a cross in the sight of XM8, and the power supply provides a red dot for aiming. The gun can also be equipped with infrared laser sights and tactical lights. The XM8 sight is calibrated to zero before leaving the factory, and the shooter does not need to calibrate it when shooting.
XM8 can be equipped with M320 40mm Grenade launcher, and one model can be changed into another, and the components of various models can be used interchangeably. The barrel length of the basic carbine is 3 17.5mm, the muzzle velocity is 776 m/s, and the commando barrel length is 228. 6mm, muzzle velocity of 682m/s, unsupported, can be used as a personal self-defense weapon. The barrel length of the superior shooter is 508mm, the muzzle velocity is 868 m/s, and the barrel length of the class automatic rifle is 508mm, equipped with two legs.
Because XM8 is an improved rifle, firing 5.56mmNATO bullets, the US military does not need to invest a lot of money to re-develop and buy a new weapon family. During the period from 65438+ in February 2003 to 65438+ in October 2004, it is planned to trial-produce 220 XM8 test guns.
In 2005, we will wait and see whether XM8 can become the equipment of the US military.
XM8 rifle, developed by Heckler and Koch, is a light component rifle with the characteristics of light weight (2.7kg), integrated functions, real modularity and strong versatility. It * * * has four variants, which can be converted to each other. In the future battlefield environment, the barrel and other components can be replaced within a few minutes as needed, from one variant to another; It integrates battery-powered optical sight and external indicator, and is also equipped with laser sight device and illuminator, which can aim at some targets within 800 meters. The XM8 can also be equipped with a variety of accessories, including Grenade launchers and shotguns. Adopt NATO standard 5.56×45 mm bullets, equipped with 30 G36 standard magazines or 100 plastic magazines, which can fire1.5-20,000 bullets, with minimum requirements for lubricating oil and cleanliness, and can be fired flexibly with the left or right hand according to soldiers' preferences or battlefield conditions. It is fully automatic, and the launching speed of XM8 can reach 850 rounds per minute.
Before it was determined as standard equipment in 2005, XM8 seemed to be the next generation rifle equipped by the army, replacing the primary weapon used by the US military in recent decades-M16. Gun manufacturer Heckler Koch will also make a big profit from it. However, XM8 caused conflicts within the military department in charge of weapons. After the conflict, the XM8 plan was stopped. Weapons procurement experts said that this disagreement eventually wasted tens of millions of dollars and left the military empty-handed. Recently, American media revealed that the contradiction between james moreland, director of the Army Soldier Program Executive Office, and the Army Infantry Center was the main reason for the dismounting of XM8 rifles.
The weight of XM29 exceeded the standard, and the equipment time was delayed to 20 10. Mathew T. Clarke, from the Office of Individual Weapon Planning and Management of the US Army Weapons Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), admitted that they had to wait for further technical improvement to meet the remaining indicators. The US Army is still full of hope for XM29, but due to the delay of the XM29 plan, Lieutenant Colonel Clark started a new plan in mid-2002 to gradually replace the XM29 under development. The development mode of OICW is to establish a complete system first, then establish a second system to reduce weight and improve performance, and then establish a third system to further reduce weight and improve performance. Now Clark decided to adopt another scheme, that is, to develop the small system separately first, and then combine it into a complete system after the small system matures. Therefore, the kinetic energy weapon module of XM29 was developed into XM8 light assault rifle, while the air-to-air bomb weapon module was changed into XM25 air-to-air bomb weapon system. When these two systems are mature, they will jointly develop XM29 again.
After studying the performance of American weapons on the battlefield in Afghanistan, the US Department of Defense hopes to acquire new weapons as soon as possible, so the Weapons Research, Development and Engineering Center quickly made a decision. In June, 2002, we signed a development contract with ATK and Hong Kong Defence Company, and Hong Kong Defence Company was responsible for developing XM8 light assault rifle, with a limited development period of only three years. The HK Defence Company located in Sterling, Virginia is a subsidiary of the German HK Company, and is responsible for the design and production of the weapon itself in the research group of XM29. The research center of this project is located in the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey where ARDEC is located, and the Army Infantry Center in Fort Benning is also an enthusiastic supporter of this project.
The XM8 is essentially a 5.56mm rifle part of the XM29. A single mechanism is made by modular combination, which can be converted into different gun types or fired with different calibers according to different mission needs and combat areas. Due to the advanced technology of XM29, the basic model of XM8 (carbine model) will be 20% lighter than M4/M4A 1. The ultimate development goal of XM8 is not only to replace M 16 series as a light carbine, but also to be transformed into many different types of modular rifle systems. Different lengths of barrels and other accessories endow it with different functions, and it can even be used to fire ammunition with different calibers, such as Russian-made 7.62×39mm medium-power rifle. If it passes the test, XM8 will be equipped with troops in 2005, replacing the M 16 series rifles that have been equipped with troops since Vietnam War, and become the standard weapon of the US Army, National Guard and reserve. Of course, we must pass the rigorous test of the Army first, and if XM8 is adopted by the US Army, it is estimated that it will take more than one million steps.
The development and test of XM8 have made rapid progress, and HK Company and relevant departments of the US Army have greatly appreciated this weapon. However, the US Army has just prepared M 16A4 for a short time. Why are you in such a hurry for new weapons? The reliability of M 16 series was controversial in the early Vietnam War. Although it has been improved many times, it has been greatly improved and accepted by users. However, under the harsh battlefield conditions such as Afghanistan and Iraq, it is still necessary to maintain rifles diligently to reduce their chances of failure in the battle. Although the performance of gunpowder-launched kinetic energy weapons can not be greatly improved under the existing technical conditions, the publicity of XM8 by the Army Research Department focuses on high reliability and low maintenance requirements, because soldiers still hope to have a reliable and accurate weapon.
Although the U.S. Army began to replace M 16A4 gradually in 2000, there are still many troops using M 16A2, and now many M 16/M4 barrels are about to expire, so it takes a sum of money to repair or replace rifles. Although the cost of buying a new gun will be higher, the service life of XM8 is much longer than that of M 16/M4, and the maintenance cost is lower. In the long run, the cumulative cost is not too high, and there is still a great chance to persuade Congress to pass the procurement budget.
Another reason is related to XM29, which only delayed the equipment time rather than being abandoned. Therefore, while the US Army is equipped with XM29, it must also consider the necessity of equipping riflemen with new rifles, so as to improve the versatility of different individual weapons and simplify the logistics maintenance of field troops. Huber Hopkins, president of ATK, said that XM8 light assault rifle will reduce soldiers' load and improve their mobility in the 265,438+0 century, both of which are very important for the Army's plans of "objective force soldiers" and "land soldiers". Recently, their technical progress in reducing weight and improving performance in XM29 project is crucial to accelerate the development of XM8. XM8 will be combined with the transformation of the Army, making the Army as a part of the "ideal force" more lethal and faster to deploy.
Based on the technology of XM29 and G36, the concept research of XM8 and the production of prototype gun have made rapid progress. The prototype gun of XM8 was officially announced at the United States Marine Corps Exhibition in June 2003, and the project name of XM8 was changed from "light assault rifle" to "modular assault system". The US Army Infantry Center and Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey also actively participated in the research and development of XM8, and ARDEC stationed in Picatinny Arsenal was responsible for supervising the production and testing of XM8 sample guns. Under the supervision of ARDEC, the Army obtained 30 XM8 sample guns for the first time in autumn of 2003, and the first batch of all 200 XM8 sample guns was obtained in June of 5438+00. The prototype gun was first shot at Aberdeen proving ground in Maryland, then sent to Alaska for polar test in February 2004, tropical test in June 2004 (probably in Panama), and finally sent to Yuma proving ground in Alisa for desert test. The military requires XM8 to be simple to operate and easy to train. Therefore, in Aberdeen, in addition to army soldiers, there are marines, pilots, members of the Coast Guard and even retired veterans. Jodie Boelte, a spokesperson for the Planning and Management Office, said that a veteran who had not touched a gun for six years after retiring used XM8 to shoot a 300-meter target in a standing position, and each shot hit the target.
The overall shape of XM8 is streamlined and looks like a fish, but the appearance characteristics of G36 can also be clearly seen, so some people mistakenly think that XM8 is just a deformed G36. But in fact, XM8 has greatly improved G36, and many new technologies have been adopted in the research results of XM29, which not only improves some inherent shortcomings of G36, but also improves its tactical performance. It is not so much a G36 in a different coat as an upgraded version of G36. In fact, HK Company of Germany is also transferring the new technology adopted by XM8 to the newly produced improved G36.
Basically, XM8 is a completely modular weapon system. There are four models, namely: basic type, precision shooting type, heavy automatic rifle type and compact type. The modular components of XM8 include barrel, stock, magazine and aiming system, which can be quickly replaced with different models.
XM8 alkaline carbine
The basic model of XM8 is carbine, and it is planned to replace M4 modular weapon system with "Ras Guardian". The length of XM8 basic gun barrel is 12.5 inches, and the length of the whole gun is 840mm when the butt is fully extended, which is similar to the length of M4 carbine.
XM8 short carbene type
Small short carbine, with a barrel length of only 9 inches, is mainly used as an indoor melee weapon for special forces, or as a self-defense weapon for drivers of vehicles, helicopters or other non-first-line fighters instead of M9 pistols.
XM8 Precision Shooting Type
The barrel length of the precision shooting type is 20 inches, and the telescopic sight with low magnification is adopted, which will replace the combination of M 16A4 and ACOG sight as the precision shooter weapon in the team.
XM8 heavy barrel automatic rifle type
Automatic rifle with heavy barrel, that is, light machine gun for gear shifting, uses 20-inch-thick heavy barrel to provide continuous firepower, adds bipeds under the wooden guard board, and uses 100 rounds of C-MAG drums. HK originally planned to replace M249 automatic weapon with this model, but the chances are not great.
[Transferred from Iron Blood Community/]
Different types of data:
Empty gun weight (basic model) prototype 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)
The target weight is 5.7 lbs (2.6 kg).
Full-length carbine unfolded stock 33.3 "(845.8 mm)
Assault 12.5 inch (3 17.5 mm)
Precision shooting type 20.0 inches (508 mm)
[Transferred from Iron Blood Community/]
9.0 inch (228.6 mm) compact barrel
20.0 inch (508 mm) automatic rifle
Winding distance 7 "
The theoretical rate of fire is 750 rpm.
The combat firing rate is 85-2 10 rpm.
The barrel life is at least 20,000 rds.
[Transferred from Iron Blood Community/]
Muzzle velocity 20.0 inch barrel 3005 ft/s (9 16 m/s)
12.5 inch barrel 2675 ft/s (8 15 m/s)
9.0-inch barrel 2365 meters per second (720 meters per second)
Magazine capacity10,30, 100 rds.
XM8' s air guide device and locking tongue are basically the same as G36, and it also adopts short-stroke air guide piston system and rotary locking tongue with six locking nails. The gas guiding system originated from AR- 18. After improvement by HK engineer, about 90% of the powder gas passing through the air guide hole is discharged forward, and the remaining 10% is used to complete the action cycle of the weapon. Because the XM8 gas guide system is not easy to accumulate carbon in the gas guide pipe and casing like M 16/M4 series, the reliability is improved. It is said that in the reliability test, a sample gun has fired 65,438+05,000 bullets without cleaning and lubrication, which can cope with most harsh operating environments. In addition, the new design of XM8 reduces the workload of maintaining rifles by 70%. For example, it takes only 4 minutes to maintain an XM8 and 14 minutes to maintain an M4. Moreover, XM8 has a long maintenance cycle and excellent performance.
Because of the new material technology developed for XM29, the basic model of XM8 is much lighter than M4A 1 or G36K. XM8 is very light. 1 The weight of the basic model on the sample gun is 2.84kg(6.25 lbs). This weight already includes the aiming device that integrates the infrared laser pointer and the reflective sight. In contrast, the total weight of M4 MWS (Modular Weapon System) including guide rail, spare sight, M68 reflective sight and AN/PEQ-2 laser pointer reaches 4 kg (8.85 lbs). However, the original target of the basic model of XM8 is 2.6kg (the ideal weight is 5.7 lbs), so the engineers of HK Company are still trying to reduce the weight of XM8.
The integrated aiming device used in XM8 integrates red dot reflective melee optical sight (CCO), infrared laser pen and infrared illumination lamp. The single aiming device includes the functions of M68co, AN/PEQ-2 and AN/PAQ-4. This integrated sight reduces the size and weight, and it can be completed at one time without installing different accessories at different positions of the guide rail or case like M 16/M4, and without resetting each sight individually. However, the aiming device on the 1 sample gun only has CCO function, and only the space of other functional modules is reserved. The reflective sight without magnification makes the shooter aim with both eyes, which is convenient for catching the target quickly. The spare reticle is engraved on the sight. If the battery is exhausted and cannot be replenished in time, you can continue aiming and shooting. In addition, in the original idea of XM8, it is required to control the function of the sight in the form of a wireless switch, and the shooter can install this wireless switch on any part of the gun body according to his own usage habits (the current publicity materials say so, but I don't know how to realize it, so as to ensure safety, reliability and no interference). The fire control system of XM8 in the future is also planned to be compatible with the technology of "Land Warrior".
XM8 no longer uses M 19 13 picatinny rail system, but uses a flat-looking hole-like Picatinny connection point (PCAP), which has been patented. This connection mode can automatically align, so that the XM8 sight can be kept at zero position, and only workers need to correct it before leaving the factory, so that soldiers can still keep the original zero position when disassembling the sight and reinstalling it on the rifle. There are * * * 14 PCAP points on a basic XM8. In addition to the two PCAP points on the aiming base for installing the sight, there are four PCAP points on both sides and the lower side of the guard plate (only two on the earliest prototype gun) for installing other accessories. Picatinny tracks can also be installed at these PCAP points, so that shooters can also use tactical lights, laser pointers or other accessories with M 19 13 standard interfaces on XM8. The following prototype guns are improved new models. It can be found that there are two more holes on both sides of the guard wood than when the prototype gun was first published, and the four gun types in the conceptual design are all real.
Although XM8 is light, it is a very durable weapon. Like G36, the shell is reinforced with a steel plate skeleton. The cold forging barrel has a life of 20,000 rounds, while M4 has only 8,000 rounds, so XM8 has a long life. High-intensity pastoral drama is shallow. Difficult? There are three kinds of sample guns suitable for jungle warfare environment, yellow-brown in desert environment and dumb black in urban environment. In the future, it is planned to produce white in polar environment and dark blue in urban environment. Some people even joked that pink civilian models may be produced in the future, so that politicians who judge the threat of weapons by appearance can give the green light to the legalization of XM8. However, at present, the publicity materials of HK Company say that it has no intention to produce XM8 for civilian use. Even if the validity of the law 1994 prohibiting offensive weapons is not extended, it will only be provided to law enforcement agencies in the future.
One of the problems that G36 was initially criticized was that the surface was too smooth, so it was difficult to hold the weapon tightly in rainy days. The surface of XM8 material is not only anti-slip, but also soft rubber polymer is embedded in the parts that contact with the shooter, such as the lower guard wood, cheek pad and shoulder pad, which increases the friction and comfort, so it is also suitable for weapons used in all-weather environment. In addition, the problem that the G36 series German guards are easy to overheat has also been solved on XM8, because XM8 is a newly designed weapon, and the timberwork is different from G36, and a heat shield is added around the hand-held position in the timberwork.
XM8 is very convenient to disassemble and assemble. Only two pins are needed to disassemble the rifle, one less than G36, and the disassembly and assembly actions are also simplified. After the removal pin is removed, it will be inserted into two small holes on the handle to prevent it from falling off, which is the same as G36 storing the removal pin on the stock.
The trigger of G36 is criticized by users as "stiff", while the trigger of XM8 is very comfortable to pull and has obvious hand feeling. In the fully automatic mode, two or three rounds can be easily fired, and the barrel bounce is very small. The inclined cheek plate enables the shooter to find the most suitable cheek position on the stock. He can raise his head and aim naturally, instead of aiming against his shoulder with an unnatural crooked neck posture like G36.
XM8 can be operated freely with both hands, and left-handed people will find a convenient way to operate it. The handle is G36, located in the middle of the top of the case. The handle can be turned left or right. The magazine, the empty hook release button, the safety/quick handle and the elastic button of the telescopic stock can be operated with both hands, especially the magazine and the empty hook release button are concentrated in front of the trigger holder, so that the shooter's index finger can be easily controlled and it is not easy to misoperate. The release button of XM8 hanging empty warehouse is very creative. It turns out that the handle of G36 hanging empty warehouse also has the function of manual hanging. However, if you want to release the empty bin of the hanging machine, you must pull the bolt by hand, and XM8 just extends the protrusion of the manual hanging machine and bends into an L shape, so you can release the hanging machine state by pressing the shooter's index finger lightly. This design neither increases the number of parts nor increases the speed of reassembly. Therefore, whether shooting with the left hand or the right hand, the shooter does not have to leave the grip when loading, unloading, changing the shooting mode or using other control functions.
The theoretical firing rate of XM8 is 750 rounds per minute, which is similar to other assault weapons. However, due to the small muzzle jump and fast loading speed, the actual firing rate of 2 10 rounds can reach 85 rounds per minute on average in the single shot test, while the average firing rate of M4 single shot hitting 2 10 rounds is 50 rounds per minute. When the experts sitting in the office thought that most soldiers were inefficient in shooting in full-automatic mode, and it was easy to waste bullets, the US Army changed M 16A2 from full-automatic to three rounds in 1980s. But now weapons experts believe that for a well-trained soldier, using three guns is not more effective than automatic shooting, so XM8 sample gun has only two shooting modes, single shot and automatic shooting. However, the promotional materials of HK company indicate that two or three lenses can be produced according to the needs of users.
At present, there are three kinds of magazines used in XM8 sample guns: 10, 30 and 100. 10 and 30 rounds are transparent plastic magazines using G36 directly, and 30 rounds can be connected through two half-moon connection points. Drum is a C-MAG drum produced by American BETA Company for MG36. The ammunition supply reliability of G36 magazine is better than that of M 16 magazine used by the US military, but it cannot be used directly with M 16 magazine. So if XM8 is adopted, it can be predicted that XM29 will abandon M 16 magazine and switch to XM8 magazine in the future. However, HK Company has produced a new M 16 magazine for HKM4, which is more reliable than the American M 16 magazine and can be used universally. Therefore, it is uncertain what magazine XM8 will adopt in the future.
The stock of XM8 can be extended and retracted like the stock of M4, and the length of five positions can be adjusted. Some reporters think that the distance between the shoulder rest and the sight is a little short after the XM8 is tested in Las Vegas, but because the recoil of XM8 is relatively light, the sight will not hit the forehead, and many American soldiers will wear bulletproof vests and other combat equipment, so this distance may be just right.
In the description of the initial development of OICW, OICW is described as a substitute for the combination of M 16+M203. However, in the process of development, Americans have clearly realized that the complicated and bulky XM29 cannot completely replace the simple and light rifle+ordinary Grenade launcher in tactics, so they decided to keep the 40mm Grenade launcher in the future infantry class. The 40mm Grenade launcher used in XM8 is no longer M203 produced by Colt Company, but an improved AG-C produced by HK Company, named XM320. The loading action of XM320 is not to push the launch tube forward, but to open it to the left, so it can use longer ammunition, such as XM 1060 dual-purpose Grenade being developed. The installation method of XM320 is also different from M203. Hanging directly under the fender instead of the barrel. The combination method is simple and quick, and no special tools are needed. In addition, the contractor also intends to hang the experimental XM26 12 caliber light shotgun system on XM8, which can be easily installed or disassembled in the field like XM320 without special tools.
After being equipped with XM29, the US military should not only keep two 40mm grenadiers in the infantry class, but also develop more advanced 40mm grenades to enhance its combat capability. As shown in the figure, XM 1060 dual-purpose grenades will be used on XM320, with longer warheads and more charges.
Although the equipment time of XM29 will be delayed, the U.S. Army has considered that it is necessary to equip infantry classes with new rifles while equipping XM29 to simplify the maintenance of field troops. Therefore, in June, 2002, 65438+ 10, the contractor of XM29, Arendt Technology Systems Company, won a contract worth 5 million dollars from the US Army Weapons R&D and Engineering Center (ARDEC) to develop a new type of XM8 light assault rifle. XM8 is not a redesigned new gun, but a new gun based on XM295.56mm kinetic energy weapon module, so the development time is extremely short, and the actual development work is mainly undertaken by HK Company, which is responsible for developing XM29 weapon system. In addition, XM29' s high-explosive weapon module will also develop another new portable semi-automatic Grenade launcher XM25.
The combat performance of XM8 is actually equivalent to M4/M4A 1, and it did not dream of achieving a major leap in rifle performance like the ACR plan of that year. The reason for developing XM8 is only to make the personal weapons of infantry squad have the greatest commonality with XM29 in logistics and maintenance when the army is equipped with XM29. At present, only XM29 magazine can be used with M 16 series. XM8 is scheduled to be put into production in 2005, before XM29 is equipped with troops. The Army expects to need at least 900,000 XM8s.
President Huber Hopkins said that XM8 light assault rifle will reduce soldiers' load and improve their mobility in the 265,438+0 century, both of which are very important for the Army's "ideal army soldier" and "land soldier" plans. Recently, their technical progress in reducing weight and improving performance in XM29 project is crucial to accelerate the development of XM8. XM8 will be combined with the transformation of the Army, making the Army as a part of the "ideal force" more lethal and faster to deploy. In the future development of light weapons, XM8 will directly become the kinetic energy weapon part of XM29, that is, as long as the KE part of XM29 is removed, and the gunstock and aiming device are added, it will become an independent XM8, and as long as XM8 is combined with XM25 air-explosion launcher, it will become XM29 OICW.
Due to the advanced technology of XM29, the basic model of XM8 (carbine type) will be 20% lighter than M4/M4A 1. The ultimate development goal of XM8 is not only to replace the light carbine of M 16 series, but also to be converted into many different types of modular rifle systems. Different lengths of barrels and other accessories give it different functions, and even change the case to fire rifles with different calibers. The purpose of launching Russian-made rifles is the same as that of SR-47 developed by KAC for special forces, mainly to let some special forces performing infiltration tasks behind enemy lines directly use the captured AK magazines.
drill
5.56×45 mm NATO
Empty gun weight
prototype
6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)
target
5.7 lbs (2.6 kg)
systemic
Carbine-type unfolding stock
33.3 inches (845.8 mm)
Roller length
Assault type
12.5 inch (3 17.5 mm)
Accurate shooting type
20.0 inches (508 mm)
Small, compact
9.0 inches (228.6 mm)
Automatic rifle type
20.0 inches (508 mm)
Winding distance
7"
Theoretical firing rate
750 rpm
Combat firing rate
85-2 10 rpm
Barrel life
At least 20,000 rds.
Initial velocity
20.0 inch barrel
3005 frames/sec (916m/sec)
12.5 inch barrel
2675 FPS(8 15 m/s)
9.0 inch barrel
2365 frames per second (720m/s)
Magazine capacity
10、30、 100 rds