Revolutionizing Infantry Firepower: A Look at the U.S. Army’s Future Weapons Concepts
In the realm of military technology, the U.S. Army is always on the lookout for innovative solutions that can enhance the capabilities of its infantry. Recently, at the Future Force Capabilities Conference, several intriguing concepts for future weapons were presented. These explosive chuckers, as they are colloquially known, could have significant implications for infantry structures at all levels, from the squad to the battalion.
One of the most notable platforms presented was an enhanced 81mm mortar for airborne and aerosol troops. The challenge that this platform aims to address is the limited options for fire support during parachute and helicopter assaults. While 105mm and 155mm howitzers are available at the brigade and division levels, fire support in the initial hours on the drop zone is primarily reliant on close air support, naval fires, and infantry mortars.
The goal of the enhanced 81mm mortar is to provide initial entry airborne forces with firepower and range equivalent to 120mm mortars within the first hour, rather than the four hours that might be required with 120mm mortars. The proposed solution is a future battalion mortar system — an improved 81mm mortar mounted on an infantry squad vehicle (ISV). The ISV is highly air mobile, capable of being airdropped, sling-loaded under a UH-60 Blackhawk, or loaded directly into a CH-47 Chinook. The logic is that anything mounted to it can be available in the first assault wave.
The Army aims to introduce a lighter, enhanced 81mm mortar that matches or exceeds the range and lethality of current 120mm mortars, while also increasing mobility and offering further options for man packing. The concept involves mounting the system directly on an ISV with a quick detach sling system, akin to the current trailer-mounted mortar stowage kit. The ISV would have the capability of carrying 69 rounds and integrated digital fire control.
Another intriguing concept presented was the Precision Grenadier System (PGS). This system harks back to the 90s when the U.S. Army was considering the adoption of the XM-29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW). The OICW was a 5.56mm carbine with a 20mm grenade launcher mounted on top. The idea was to allow a grenadier to input a distance into the projectile to air burst over an enemy in defilade — troops in cover, trenches, over a hill, and so on.
The current M320 grenade launchers used by the Army are capable of this, but precisely hitting troops in a trench with indirect fire would likely require more skill than bracketing with a direct fire airburst system. The XM-25 made it to the field testing stage and was in objective MTOEs (Modified Table of Organization and Equipment) in the 2010s. The intended scale of issue before the program’s cancellation was two per rifle squad or 18 per rifle company.
However, the XM-25 had its drawbacks. In terms of weight, it would either double the load when compared to an M320 when carried in conjunction with a carbine, or make it impractical to carry a carbine altogether. The XM-25 was also significantly bulkier than the M320. Despite these challenges, the Army still wants something like the XM-25. The working title for the program is Precision Grenadier System (PGS). The PGS has not had a requirement published yet, but a requirement is expected to be issued by as early as 2024. The system is expected to be similar to the XM-25 — a magazine-fed, direct fire airburst grenade launcher with a digital fire control system that can be shouldered like a carbine, but hopefully much lighter.
Complementing the PGS and M320 would be an Individual Assault Munition (IAM), envisioned as a replacement for all shoulder-launched munitions available to the squads. At present, there are two main disposable munitions — the bunker defeat munition for taking out fortifications or buildings, and the AT4CS for taking out light armored vehicles like BMPs or BTRs. The XM-919 Individual Assault Munition would consolidate these two systems into a single system, taking away an unnecessary decision from the commander.
These future weapons concepts represent a significant step forward in the evolution of infantry firepower. They aim to enhance the capabilities of the infantry, providing them with more effective, versatile, and mobile firepower. However, these are just concepts at this stage, and it remains to be seen how they will be implemented in the field. Nevertheless, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the potential future of infantry warfare.
