Heckler & Koch XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon

The XM29 SABR or OICW was an attempt to produce a next-generation hybrid firearm which would combine a "smart" airbursting grenade launcher with a 5.56mm rifle. The project began in the 90s and ran until 2004 when it was cancelled due to failure to meet weight goals; during that time a bewildering array of prototypes and mock-ups were produced, of which the first image below is the most widely recognised; this version was produced by Heckler & Koch and Alliant Techsystems Inc. Following cancellation, the program was split into three 'increments;' the first being the development of a new family of lightweight kinetic energy weapons, the second the development of a standalone grenade launcher using the technology that would have been used in the original OICW, and the third the re-integration of the two into a single device.

During the course of the project the 20mm HE module was changed to 25mm due to concerns over the performance of the 20mm projectiles; after the cancellation of the main project, this became the 'increment two' XM25 program; this weapon is currently being test-deployed with US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and is said to begin deployment of the weapon by 2011. The Heckler & Koch XM8 was developed in an attempt to meet the requirements of OICW increment one, but this was later cancelled; it is not presently clear if the LSAT program that replaced it is intended to become OICW increment one.

The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) can be seen in the following films and video games used by the following actors:

Late-model over / under Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) 5.56x45mm & 20mm. This is the most common version mocked up or modelled in videogames; the second most common has a longer lower barrel. See gallery below for more images.

Film

Title	Actor	Character	Notation	Date
Die Another Day	Will Yun Lee	Colonel Moon	Mocked up G36K	2002
Universal Soldier: The Return	Jean Claude Van Damme	Luc Devaraux	Mocked up MP5	1999

Television

Show	Actor	Character	Notes	Date
Mail Call	Operators	Themselves	none	2001

Video Games

Game Title	Appears as	Mods	Notation	Release Date
007: Nightfire	Advanced Individual Munition System-20			2002
Far Cry	OICW Assault Weapon			2004
Half-Life 2			Cut Weapon	2004
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix				2003
The Punisher	Battle Rifle with Scope			2004
Ghost Recon	OICW			2001
Ghost Recon: Island Thunder	OICW			2002
Ghost Recon 2				2004
Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike				2005
Delta Force: Task Force Dagger	OICW			2002
Delta Force: Land Warrior	OICW			2000
Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror	OICW			2000
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
Eternal Darkness	OICW			2001
Metal Gear Ac!d 2	OICW			2006

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  Early concept of the OICW

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  Early side-by-side OICW prototype.

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  Concept renders of several possible OICW configurations. Note the KE module of 2 is an MP7

• M29-oicw oicw1.jpg

  Version with a curved magazine and slanted eyepiece

• XM29b.jpg

  A very similar version, with different scope and magazines

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  Another OICW variant with a long lower barrel and the final version of the scope fitted