Infantry support weapons in an era of uncertainty; armies and manufacturers ponder weapons needs.

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Infantry support weapons in an era of uncertainty; armies and manufacturers ponder weapons needs.

Infantry Support Weapons in an Era of Uncertainty

Modern infantrymen need more than rifles, machine-guns, and hand grenades to overwhelm their combat enemies. Providing infantry with support firepower is a long-standing concern, but the post-1945 proliferation of armored fighting vehicles and artillery systems for delivering bursting munitions makes the infantryman's job more dangerous and difficult. Today appropriate support weapons are still essential.

As occupiers of captured enemy territory and defenders of friendly turf, infantrymen need man-portable support weapons, beyond their customary personal arms, that permit defeat of contemporary battlefield targets.

Such infantry support weapons pose unique problems for developers and users. First, participants in the acquisition process need to know the targets infantrymen are likely to encounter. Second, infantry support weapons intended to be used by smaller tactical units (squads and sections), especially in low-intensity conflicts (LIC), must be man-portable, because in combat operations, despite the peacetime promises of staff officers, heavier support weapons are often in the wrong location when needed. Third, ammunition and its packaging must be of a practical weight so that fighters can carry their own supply.

Stated differently, me...

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