Editing Objective Individual Combat Weapon (section)

==Development==
[[File:OCPAXM25test2005.jpg|thumb|A working XM25 prototype is tested in 2005; this was part of OICW Increment 2]]
[[File:NIMcase444ACRtest.jpg|thumb|The final four ACR program test entrants]]

The central idea of the program was to develop 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 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 the [[United States]] military in the late 1990s. These projects centered on using a programmable 20&nbsp;mm airburst munition-firing rifle by itself or with other projectile-based weapons attached. The 20&nbsp;mm launcher was analyzed in various configurations, including a launcher by itself, with a 5.56&nbsp;mm weapon (based on the [[Heckler & Koch G36|HK G36]]), or with a [[Heckler & Koch MP7|MP7]] [[Personal defense weapon|PDW]].

By the early 2000s, the weapon had settled on a design and was classified as the XM29. The XM29 was based on the [[Heckler & Koch HK CAWS|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&nbsp;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 a result, the [[5.56×45mm NATO]] barrel had a length of only 250&nbsp;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 the [[XM8 rifle]] program and the airburst component developed into the [[XM25 CDTE|XM25]] airburst weapon. According to a presentation by [[Major (rank)|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:

* Increment 1 (OICW 1) was a competition for a whole weapon system family similar to the [[XM8 rifle|XM8]]. The weapon system was to potentially replace the [[M4 carbine]], [[M16 rifle]], [[M249 Squad Automatic Weapon|M249]] [[light machine gun]] and some [[M9 pistol]]s. Other [[arms industry|arms companies]] had contended that the OICW project goals had changed enough to warrant another competition. Potential challengers could include a weapons system based on an updated M16, the [[Steyr AUG]], the [[FN SCAR]], and potentially any other manufacturer that fulfilled the Army requirements for participating. It also listed the shotgun being replaced by a modular shotgun system ([[XM26 Lightweight Shotgun System|XM26 LSS]]) mounted on the OICW 1 winner. The Increment 1 portion was put on an eight-week hold in July 2005, primarily to take into account input and needs of other services. On October 31, 2005, the OICW I program was cancelled. The reason given for the cancellation was stated as: "This action has been taken in order for the Army to reevaluate its priorities for small caliber weapons, and to incorporate emerging requirements identified during [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. The Government will also incorporate studies looking into current capability gaps during said reevaluation."
* OICW Increment 2 was a stand-alone airburst weapon the ([[XM25 CDTE|XM25]]). This is a standalone launcher that uses bigger 25&nbsp;mm munition, and was intended to be a special applications and support weapon, not an individual combat weapon as previous models were. In 2005, the weapon underwent limited field trials and combat testing.
* OICW Increment 3 was the XM29. The M203 was listed as being replaced by a combination of Increments 2 and 3. The M249 was also to be partially replaced by a lightweight MG (LMGA, now LSAT), which was listed as being the successor to the [[M60 machine gun|M60]] and [[M240 machine gun|M240]].