Posted on 09/23/2004 12:51:06 PM PDT by 68skylark
Initial reports favor Heckler & Koch, which is building local plant for rifle assembly
George Thorogood's growling rock classic, "Bad to the Bone," set the mood Wednesday as two squads of soldiers leaped out of their Stryker armored vehicles at Fort Benning's Redcloud Range.
As the music from the loudspeakers faded away, the 29th Infantry Regiment troops hit the ground in a prone position and proceeded to blast away at green targets on a hillside about 100 yards away.
Dirt kicked up as one nine-man squad did their damage using the Colt M4 Carbine rifle that currently is the weapon of choice for soldiers on the battlefield. Then came the second squad brandishing the next-generation XM8 assault rifle, which looks to make the M-16 assault rifle immediately obsolete and eventually overcome the M4's popularity.
Afterward, the camouflaged warriors cast their vote. The XM8 appeared to be a heavy favorite.
"It blows the M4 out of the water," said Spc. Ian Mason, 20, from Grand Haven, Mich. "It's lightweight. It's easier to use. We haven't had a single malfunction on any of the weapons."
For Lt. Col. Mike Haerr, 40, an Illinois National Guardsman attending the annual Infantry Conference, the weapon would have extreme value on a battlefield or the mean streets of Baghdad.
"It's a streamlined system that's a lot more compact," he said. "So for soldiers mounted in a vehicle system or sitting in a front seat of a Humvee, it's a lot more maneuverable. You can get it out a window a lot quicker if it's not already out. I think that's what's going to make this weapon a little more popular with soldiers."
German manufacturer
Those votes of confidence are enough to put a smile on the face of Peter Simon, president of Sterling, Va.-based Heckler & Koch Defense Inc. H&K is the German gun manufacturer developing the XM8 for the military, with hopes of landing a contract bonanza to produce several million copies of the weapon. A $1 billion prize isn't out of the question, the company has said.
But first, a second round of testing in the desert, jungles and arctic must be completed. That will take until December. It will be followed by more evaluations with the possibility of a decision coming in February, Simon said. That could lead to an initial contract for 8,000 to 10,000 of the assault rifles -- enough to fill two brigade combat teams -- by December 2005.
Though H&K is constructing a 102,000-square-foot plant in Muscogee Technology Park, Simon said the XM8 won't necessarily be manufactured in Columbus from the start. Instead, it appears, the weapon's parts would be made in Germany, shipped to Columbus for assembly, then distributed to the military from a center being relocated here from Virginia.
The number of jobs locally -- originally pegged at about 200 -- also won't be created quite as fast as originally anticipated.
"I think the initial start will probably result in about 50 positions, and then we grow that as we grow the business," said Simon, downplaying expectations until the Department of Defense awards a major contract.
"All I'm trying to do is not count my chickens before they're hatched," he said. "We expect that we will (bid) this weapon system and production at several points throughout the life cycle of the weapon system."
Col. Michael Smith, program manager for the XM8 at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, said H&K already has earned $30 million developing and testing the XM8. And he expects the company eventually will land the big prize and begin feeding the military a steady supply of the rifles.
"In the vast majority of cases, that is the same contractor, but it has changed in the past," Smith said.
Asked why the developing company has the edge in winning the production contract, the colonel responded: "He's got it locked. He understands exactly how to build it. No one's ever going to build it better than he can."
Ok folks...I don't trust a battle rifle without iron sights....at least backup sights..
optical sights die, get damaged, or get knocked off.
They need back-up iron sights...especially for this plastic gun.
Would be nice if they produced a civvie version in their U.S. plant, but I won't hold my breath.
Ping
Now that the "AW ban" has sunset (and we're going to make sure it stays that way, right? $;-), I look forward to the civilian semi-auto version of this hitting the market in the next couple of years. The HK reps at the last SHOT show said that HK is ready, willing and able to produce these for the civilian market. The domestic production facility is part of that plan.
As for .223 or 6.8 SPC versions, they have both in proto, although the .223 is further along. I expect to see both, again, at least for the civvie market.
1 Question. When will they have a semi auto civilian one of these I can buy?
I'd buy one if the price was somewhat reasonable and 30 round mags were available at reasonable prices. Before the ban, the good HK rifles, like the HK-91 and 93 were over $1,000.
Maybe if they are made in America they will be affordable.
I have also read that tests in Afghanistan show that the 6.8 is one hellacious manstopper.
The little shorty in the pic posted above appears not to have the scope. It must have sights of some sort.
Looks don't kill. Well, maybe in Theresa Kerry's case they do, but overall if the soldiers testing it like the XM8 and it's reliable in all climates then it will look like a winner. Besides, light weight weapon = more spare ammo in the pocket. I just don't want to hear that the DOD pulls some "Not Invented Here" games with either the weapon or the ammunition.
MILES gear is so 1970's. that crap sucks to wear.
Yeah, they recently added iron sites on this weapon for backup use.
iron sights with tritium inserts...
changeable sized diopeters for the back.
I'd buy one if the price was somewhat reasonable and 30 round mags were available at reasonable prices. Before the ban, the good HK rifles, like the HK-91 and 93 were over $1,000.
Sir...you are correct..
I was actually thinking about that SL8 rifle just a little while ago and wondering if there were going to be high caps available for it.
Furthemore, I think I would buy the semi 45 acp HK carbine if there were more than ten round mags available for it. Like maybe 30 rounders.
Talk about a home defense capable rifle,,man oh man.
Oh, by the way..there are several companies making HK-91 clones for less than a grand.
Furthemore, I think I would buy the semi 45 acp HK carbine if there were more than ten round mags available for it. Like maybe 30 rounders.
How about now. At least sort of. The H&K SL-8, a version of the H&K G-36 assault rifle, which in turn is the basis for the XM-8 can be had now.
Sorry, it does not take high cap mags, I will wait.
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