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40-560: It was started in the aftermath of the Advanced Combat Rifle (or ACR) during the 1980s. Like the ACR program, it has largely been a failure in terms of achieving the specific program goals (e.g., replacing the M16 ) and has cost millions of dollars, but has resulted in many innovative weapons and weapon concepts as well as offshoot programs of its own. The central idea of the program was to develop

80-520: A design and was classified as the XM29. The XM29 was based on the HK CAWS (Close Assault Weapon System) (Cal. 18.5×76mm or 12 Gauge non-conventional). However, the weapon had serious problems: it did not meet weight or cost targets, and the 20 mm High Explosive Air Bursting (HEAB) did not seem to be lethal enough in testing. To compound matters, the kinetic-energy component had to be light and short in length. As

120-459: A highly realistic simulated environment utilizing an interactive 3-D virtual aircraft environment. This realistic, 3-D virtual vehicle environment, as well as 2-D panels and displays allow students to navigate throughout the F-35 aircraft during maintenance training and select the virtual support equipment and tools required. A real F-35 portable maintenance aid is connected at each student station, allowing

160-509: A plastic-cased cartridge they called a chiclet due to its box-like profile. Their first loads used duplex or triplex loads of normal projectiles, but the recoil was too high, so these were replaced with flechettes , first with five of them in a 11-millimetre (.42 in) round, eventually three in an 8.6-millimetre (.338 in) round. Phase III began in August 1989, when AAI, Colt, HK, and Steyr entered weapon testing. AAI Corporation entered

200-409: A result, the 5.56×45mm NATO barrel had a length of only 250 mm (9.8 inches), which is too short to generate enough muzzle velocity to be effective as a standard infantry rifle. It was also too heavy and too large to be operated effectively by a soldier. This resulted in the army starting development on new weapons, and finally shelving the XM29 in 2004. The kinetic energy component split off into

240-410: A rifle that enabled the attacking of targets behind cover by using airburst munitions. The munitions were to be much smaller than pre-existing grenades and grenade launchers , but large enough to be effective. The idea was refined into a combination of a short assault rifle and semi-automatic, low-velocity cannon firing air-bursting munitions. The OICW aimed to use advances in computer technology in

280-460: A weapon that fired grenades automatically pre-set to explode above or beside targets hidden from view. Fragmentation from the exploding grenades could hit the target when normal rifle fire could not. The winners of the first competition for the project during the 1990s were ATK and firearms manufacturer Heckler & Koch with the XM29 OICW . They went on to build numerous prototypes of the rifle for

320-729: A wide variety of operational systems. The Logistics & Technical Services business unit also provides depot maintenance equipment and services to domestic and international military aviation customers. AAI's test systems are used by every branch of the U.S. military. The Joint Systems Electronic Combat Systems Tester is part of the DoD's family of testers and currently supports flight-line electronic warfare testing for several U.S. military aircraft. The company's Advanced Boresight Equipment systems are used to align avionics and weapons systems onboard military aircraft and helicopters. AAI also produces radar simulators that simulate varied threat signals to test

360-696: Is an aerospace and defense development and manufacturing firm, located in Hunt Valley, Maryland , US. Formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation, AAI was acquired by Textron in 2007. It currently operates as a unit of Textron Systems and employs more than 2,000. AAI's products and services include unmanned aircraft and ground control technologies; training and simulation systems; automated aerospace test and maintenance equipment; armament systems; and logistical, engineering, supply chain and operational support services, multi-turreted tracked ground combat vehicles . The company's customers include

400-529: Is still registered as an active corporation in the State of Maryland under the name, AAI Corporation. AAI is one of a limited number of companies engaged in the design and full-rate production of a successfully fielded, operational unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for the DoD. AAI first began development work on the unmanned systems product line in 1985, winning a competitive fly-off with its Pioneer Remotely Piloted Vehicle. The company's unmanned aircraft systems include

440-623: Is the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 small unmanned aircraft system. In late 2009, AAI conducted a shipboard demonstration of the system aboard the M80 Stiletto ship. In September 2008, AAI announced that it had teamed with Aeronautics Ltd. to provide the Orbiter miniature UAS in selected markets. The company's One System Ground Control Station is fielded as part of the Shadow Tactical UAS, as well as

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480-468: Is to be based on the Carter PAV . In 2014, Carter said they bought back the license from AAI and is seeking production partners outside USA. AAI was developing an RQ-7 Shadow , also with a Carter rotor on top for vertical take-off and landing , to fly in 2012. AAI also intends to use this technology as the basis for their proposal to DARPAs "Flying Humvee" Transformer program. In March 2019,

520-518: The United States military in the late 1990s. These projects centered on using a programmable 20 mm airburst munition-firing rifle by itself or with other projectile-based weapons attached. The 20 mm launcher was analyzed in various configurations, including a launcher by itself, with a 5.56 mm weapon (based on the HK G36 ), or with a MP7 PDW . By the early 2000s, the weapon had settled on

560-475: The United States Department of Defense (DoD) and its prime contractors, allied foreign government ministries of defense, and other United States federal agencies. AAI Corporation originated as Aircraft Armaments, Inc. in August 1950, founded by six aviation and defense industry professionals. It was renamed AAI Corporation in the late 1950s. AAI's parent company, United Industrial Corporation (UIC),

600-744: The XM8 rifle program and the airburst component developed into the XM25 airburst weapon. According to a presentation by Major Kevin Finch , Chief of the Small Arms Division of the Directorate of Combat Developments at the U.S. Army Infantry Center, there were three main parts to the OICW program: In the aftermath of the ACR program, the OICW program began. There were two main contenders, one design by AAI and its companies, and

640-476: The ACR program ended. Eugene Stoner ’s Ares Incorporated also entered their Advanced Individual Weapon System (AIWS), which used a 5mm tracer round, but had to withdraw due to ongoing problems. The AIWS shared some features with the Steyr entry, notably the "rising chamber" action and "telescoped" cartridge. McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems, originally Hughes Helicopters , planned to enter their design using

680-497: The ACR tests held 45 rounds in a single long magazine lying along the top of the barrel, leading to a distinctive and somewhat blocky appearance. The last entry submitted was the Steyr ACR , another fléchette-firing weapon. The Steyr differed from the AAI in the details of the round, which used a plastic shell casing to reduce weight. The firing mechanism was quite complex as a result, moving

720-450: The ACR trials. The basic idea of the duplex load is to increase the number of projectiles fired, which is the primary determinant of battlefield casualties. However, they significantly reduced accuracy, requiring the user to also carry traditional ammunition for long-range shots. Although all the designs worked well, none managed to meet or even approach the 100% improvement over the M16A2 that

760-490: The One System Portable Ground Control Station and One System Remote Video Terminal. On 16 November 2009, AAI entered a 40-year exclusive license agreement with Carter Aviation Technologies concerning a possible autonomous slowed rotor/compound aircraft with potential for increased speed (250 knots) and range (1300 nautical miles) delivering 3000 pounds cargo, compared to traditional rotorcraft. It

800-556: The Shadow 200 Tactical UAS, which is designated RQ-7B by the U.S. Army, as well as the Shadow 400 and 600 systems. As of July, 2014, Shadow systems had accumulated more than 920,000 flight hours, with more than 90 percent of those hours in support of U.S. and allied combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company's UAS capabilities expanded with the 2006 acquisition of Australian UAS manufacturer Aerosonde Pty. Ltd. This fleet's newest model

840-512: The U.S. Army selected Martin UAV and AAI Corporation to "provide unmanned aircraft systems for platoons to try out as candidates to replace the Shadow tactical UAS ." The companies signed a contract for delivery over a three-year period. They will deliver systems to six platoons in order to evaluate them during combat and training rotations. The Army seeks better acoustics and runway independence as compared to

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880-727: The design, production, and sustainment of maintenance training devices such as the C-17 Globemaster , the F-22 Raptor , and most recently, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. AAI modified and produced state-of-the-art, simulation-based maintenance training devices for the F-22 Raptor providing students with instruction in ground maintenance, aircraft servicing, and munitions loading. The armament training device provides hands-on skill development pertaining to

920-403: The entire chamber as opposed to just the bolt. When fired, the chamber would move down where a new round would be pushed in from the rear, forcing the spent cartridge case forward out of the chamber where it would drop out through an ejection port behind the pistol grip. The chamber would then move back into firing position on a spring, where it would lock in front of a fixed breechblock. On firing,

960-515: The existing M16A2. Modifications were the addition of a new optical sighting system, a hydraulic buffer to smooth out recoil during automatic fire, and a collapsing butt stock similar to the one already in use on the carbine versions of the M16. The key design change was the use of "duplex rounds", a single cartridge with two smaller bullets in it. Olin Corporation produced three different rounds for testing,

1000-420: The first consisting of two tungsten projectiles in a long-necked case, the second used a standard-length case with two 1.7 grams (27 gr), 4.0-millimetre (0.158 in) tungsten projectiles, and the final entry was another standard-length case with two 5.7-millimetre (0.224 in) projectiles, one 2.3 grams (35 gr), the other 2.1 g (33 gr). The latter was eventually selected for submission to

1040-530: The functionality of radar warning receivers and cockpit displays and controls. AAI acquired ESL Defence Limited in 2005. Based in the UK, ESL designs and manufactures electro-optical, infrared, and ultraviolet test and simulation/stimulation products for use on flight lines, in aircraft maintenance facilities, and at military test and evaluation ranges. AAI also provides functional automated test equipment for satellite, electronic and other systems. AAI has capabilities in

1080-689: The landing gear systems, environmental control systems, hydraulics, and electrical and electronic warfare systems. The device supports nose and right main landing gear operation, and an operational arresting hook. The aft fuselage training device is a mock-up of the left side wing, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, engine bay, forward engine bay door, and aft engine bay door, as well as numerous light systems and engine bay area components for removal and installation task training. The F-35 Lightning II aircraft system maintenance trainer provides student maintainers comprehensive training on ground operation, maintenance, fault isolation, and testing procedures in

1120-408: The latest variant of their long line of experimental fléchette rifles. Their entry used a standard 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge case firing a 1.6×41.27mm fléchette of 0.66 grams at 1402 m/s. One of the biggest complaints about their earlier efforts was the loud muzzle blast, a problem that is hard to avoid with a sabotted round. As a result, AAI added a flash hider/sound suppressor that reduced

1160-455: The main reasons for using a fléchette is its low recoil. This particular design was less complex than some of their earlier models, which could switch between fléchette ammunition for rapid fire and standard 5.56 NATO rounds for long-range semi-automatic fire. The Heckler & Koch G11 series used caseless ammunition where the propellant was molded onto the bullet itself, making the round smaller and much lighter. The new K2 version used in

1200-413: The muzzle blast to just louder than an M16A2. While the standard 5.56×45mm case was used, the rifle was not safe to fire using standard ammunition due to the design of the gas system. A special magazine was used to prevent soldiers loading standard 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition into the magazine, but rounds could still be chambered by hand. The weapon was limited to three-round bursts despite the fact that one of

1240-416: The old Shadow. The Army is expected to decide "over the course of fiscal 2020" whether it will proceed in replacing Shadow. AAI provides a variety of engineering, logistical, maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the company's own platforms as well as those of other original equipment manufacturers. Its customers include the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, for which the company supports

Objective Individual Combat Weapon - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-401: The other by ATK (with H&K and other companies); ATK and H&K won. OICW concepts/prototypes in the 1990s: Some weapon programs involved with, stemming from, or using technology from the OICW project include: Advanced Combat Rifle The Advanced Combat Rifle ( ACR ) was a United States Army program, started in 1986, to find a replacement for the M16 assault rifle . Under

1320-672: The program demanded. In 1986/7, the United States Army Infantry School had published a report asserting that the rifle, as a weapon, had already reached its peak, and the only way to really improve matters was to use an exploding warhead. This led to the ending of the ACR program in April 1990, and led the way to the Objective Individual Combat Weapon program. The program's total cost was approximately US$ 300 million. AAI Corporation AAI Corporation

1360-492: The program started in February 1986 when development contracts were placed with six companies: AAI Corporation , Ares Incorporated , Colt's Manufacturing Company , Heckler & Koch (H&K), McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems (MDHS), and Steyr Mannlicher . Two weapons were cut from the list before Phase II started. The companies started an appeals process and were eventually re-instated, but too late to see testing before

1400-451: The removal, installation, inspection, operation, and checkout tasks of the gun, gun doors, left main weapons bay door system and launchers, left side weapons bay launcher, right wing pylon, partial fuel system, stores management system, and weapons safing system. The trainer uses real aircraft support equipment including munitions and the portable maintenance aid (PMA). The landing gear training device allows instruction on maintenance tasks on

1440-460: The sabot traveled down the barrel with the fléchette and was quickly "stripped" off upon exit. This was found to present a hazard in combat, where the sabots could hit other soldiers or bounce off the ground when being fired prone. Like the AAI weapon, the Steyr was limited to three round bursts. One of the more traditional of the ACR prototypes was the Colt ACR , which was a highly modified version of

1480-555: The stress of battle the average soldier with an M16 may shoot a target at 45 meters, but hit probability is reduced to one out of ten shots on target by 220 meters. Because of this, the ACR program was initiated in the late 1980s to create a weapon that could double the hit probability. The ACR program was preceded by older programs such as the Special Purpose Individual Weapon . The program ended in 1990 after an expenditure of approximately US$ 300 million. Phase I of

1520-427: The student to monitor the virtual aircraft functions, run diagnostics, and display technical and task documentation. AAI's training systems are utilized by U.S. and allied international military customers. Products include naval, electronic warfare, air defense, radar, and UAS training systems. AAI's Advanced Systems unit primarily investigates and responds to new and emerging customer needs and markets. The company

1560-635: Was acquired by AAI. Textron acquired AAI and other subsidiaries of UIC with its purchase of the parent company for approximately $ 1.1 billion in 2007. AAI became part of Textron's helicopter subsidiary, Bell Textron, in the acquisition. Today, AAI owns or occupies more than 1,100,000 square feet (100,000 m ) of office and manufacturing space across Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA. As of May 2014, AAI had been made into three parts: Unmanned Systems, Support Solutions, and Electronic Systems. The company

1600-576: Was founded as Hayes Body Corporation in the early 1900s. Renamed many years later, UIC was admitted into the New York Stock Exchange for trading on December 15, 1964. From 1994 to 2004, AAI partnered with the Czech firm, Škoda , in a joint venture to manufacture trolley buses . The joint venture, named Electric Transit, Inc. , supplied 330 trolley buses to San Francisco and Dayton before being dissolved in 2004. On 22 June 2006 Aerosonde Ltd

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