Why was XM8 Cancelled?

The XM8 design was originally part of the Objective Individual Combat Weapon program (OICW), which was developing a “smart” grenade launcher system with an underslung carbine rifle. The system was unable to meet performance and weight requirements and was eventually canceled.

Is the XM8 a good gun?

To top it off, the XM8 wasn’t just light and extremely versatile. It was also cheaper to produce than the M4 carbine — the rifle it was designed to supplant. Proven to be fairly reliable during “dust tests,” even when compared against the M4, the XM8 was, on the surface, the ideal replacement rifle.

Does anyone use the XM8?

Special operators, as well as regular Army forces, have also now adopted designated marksman variants of the larger HK 417. With the exception of Malaysia’s PASKAL, no other country has adopted any variant of the XM8.

What will replace the M4?

XM5 rifle
The XM5 rifle will serve as a replacement to the M4, which was introduced in 1994 and is essentially a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle; while the XM250 automatic replacement will take on the role that has been served since 1984 by the M249 light machine gun, formerly designated as the M249 Squad …

What is the lightest assault rifle?

With Titanium and carbon fiber components, the Battle Arms OIP Gen 2 AR-platform rifle weighs just 3.8 pounds unloaded. Compare that to 7.5 pounds (or more) for a typical AR-15.

What happened to the XM25?

The XM25 program was officially canceled in July, ending a public limbo for the program that came into question back in 2016 for failures in field testing and costly developments. The program development began in 2000 and field testing started in 2010.

What happened to the XM 29?

The Heckler and Koch XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon system was formally cancelled in October of 2004. In the 1990s, the US Army undertook formal evaluations of several competing automatic rifles to replace the long-running M16 series through the Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) program.

What happened XM 29?

Various problems have effectively ended the program as it was originally envisioned, including weight, bulk, and lack of effectiveness of the 20×28 mm airburst round. Upon cancellation in 2004, it was split into three related programs.

Why did the XM29 fail?

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.