Special operators setting pace for new small arms.

The U.S. Special Operations Command is accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of small arms, asserted Donald P. Schulte, director of ordnance engineering at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Ind.

Schulte's department manages the design, testing and fielding of small arms for special operations forces.

At the Firepower 2005 conference in Washington, D.C., he provided an update on several initiatives to provide special operators with an array of next-generation weapons.

Commandos and technicians from Crane in August journeyed to FN Herstal headquarters in Belgium to help test fire the new special operation forces combat assault rifle, Schulte noted. This weapon, known as the SCAR, is intended to replace the operators' current favorite, the M4A1 carbine. The M4A1 is a shorter and lighter version of the M16A2 assault rifle that is issued to most conventional troops. Operators prefer the M4A1 over the M16A2 for dose-quarters combat.

SCAR is designed specifically to meet special operations' needs even more closely, Schulte said. For example, "it gives the SEALs [sea, air and land teams] over-the-beach deployability," he said. "They can come right out of the surf and fire immediately."

It is actually a family of infantry weapons. Variants include a 5.56 mm light model and a 7.62 mm heavy one. The two weapons share 90 percent of the same parts. Both can accommodate a 40 mm enhanced grenade launcher module with programmable fire control. Shooters can change their rifles' barrels. Choices include one with a standard length for most operations, a shorter one for close-quarters combat and a longer one for snipers.

SCAR has a much simpler design than the Army's futuristic objective individual combat weapon, Schulte said. The OICW, which combined a rifle and a grenade launcher in a single weapon, was supposed to replace the M-16A2, but fielding has been delayed because of design complexities. With SCAR, "we wanted to field what is practical--not a dream," he said. "This had to succeed."

And it had to happen quickly, Schulte said, pointing out that the SCAR is on a fast track for fielding. A joint operational requirements document that specified the need for it was approved in January 2004. Just 10 months later, in November, FN won the contract to design and build the weapon. The size of the contract has not been announced.

Designed, developed and tested in Belgium, SCAR is to be built in Columbia, S.C., where FN's U.S. subsidiary--FN Manufacturing LLC--currently makes M16 rifles, M240 machine guns and other weapons. Limited-rate initial production is scheduled to begin in January 2006 with the first unit equipped in June 2007.

Special operators have played major roles in helping develop the weapon. Thus far, they have conducted three design reviews with FN that resulted in numerous upgrades, Schulte said. These include a new sear-and-trigger mechanism, an improved safety lever, and a thinner grip and stock.

Crane also has helped SOCOM field a special operations peculiar modification accessory kit to enable operators to adapt both the M4A1 carbine and the SCAR, for a variety of different purposes, Schulte said. Among the accessories in the kit:

* A carrying handle to make the weapon easier to transport.

* A forward handgrip to improve ease of shooting.

* A visible laser and infrared illuminator for designating nighttime targets.

* A daytime scope and night vision sight to enhance accuracy.

* A backup iron sight to use in case, for some reason, more sophisticated versions can't be employed.

* A flashlight attachment to illuminate nighttime battlefields.

* A silencer to suppress the sound of gunfire.

* A rail system to attach all of these devices to the weapon.

To help keep track of how often a rifle has been fired, engineers at Crane have developed a shot counter. An M4A1 typically can fire up to 10,000 rounds before its barrel has to be replaced, Schulte explained. The counter is placed in the handgrip and signals a desktop or laptop computer whenever the weapon is fired. The system enables maintenance personnel to track a weapon's usage and make repairs before it fails in combat, Schulte said.

As a part of initiatives launched by the Navy's Task Force Hip Pocket, Crane has delivered 90 Mk44 GAU 17 Gatling guns to the fleet. The task force was established in 2002 to address the vulnerabilities exposed in the 2000 attack of the USS Cole (DDG 67). The M544s, which fire 30 mm rounds, have been installed on ships to protect against small craft such as the one that attacked the Cole.

Crane also provided and maintains all 227 of the 7.62 mm minigun systems used on UH1 Huey and HH60H Seahawk helicopters throughout the Navy, as well as the weapons installed on all Navy special warfare surface craft and ground vehicles.

In addition, Crane has purchased 12 copies of the remote operated small arms mount system for SOCOM, Schulte said. General Dynamics Armaments and Technical Products of Burlington, Vt., developed ROSAM under a five-year, $21.2 million contract awarded in 2003.

As the name implies, ROSAM is a remotely operated weapons system. The complete system includes a gun mount, daytime and forward-looking infrared sights, automatic tracker, control station and cables. Each set costs less than $200,000, without the weapon, Schulte said.

ROSAM can accommodate the M2HB .50 caliber machine gun, the MK19 40 mm grenade machine gun, the MK49 7.62 mm Gatling gun and small missiles.

The system has been tested on a 65-foot patrol boat and the MK V special operations craft, Schulte said. ROSAM also has been included in advanced concept technology development research projects involving the Spartan unmanned surface vehicle and the Army's theater support vessel. It will participate in several new projects scheduled for 2006.