United States Air Force USAF Small Arms Program

United States Air Force USAF Small Arms Program Review Lt Col Jorge S. Garza Chief, Training and Combat Arms Div HQ Air Force Security Forces Center Lackland AFB, Tx DSN: 945 -7504

Overview • Combat Air Force Mission Needs Statement (CAF MNS 314 -97) • M 4 Carbine • M 240 B Machinegun • Close Precision Engagement • USAF QFEB 2, squad mix • Frangible munitions • M 16 A 2 Modkits

CAF MNS 314 -97 Enhanced Force Protection Capabilities • Counter stand off weapons and enemy forces in all weather conditions day or night • See around corners and out of defilade positions without exposure to enemy fire • Rapidly locate, in real time, the origin of sniper/indirect enemy fire and counter this threat • Engage enemy targets with improved accuracy, lethality, and at increased ranges with individual and crew served weapons • Discriminate between friendly, enemy, and noncombatant personnel, in real time

M-4 Carbine § M 16 A 2 and GAU to M 4 Carbine with M 68 § Replacing 45, 000 M 16 A 2 s and GAUs with the M 4 carbine (burst) § 35, 000 procured as a weapon system: M 4 Carbine, M 68 Close Combat Optic (CCO), and Back Up Iron Sight § Being Delivered starting Nov 02 at 1000 p/m § Converting from PVS 7 Ds to PVS-14 § Working M 4/M 203 configuration

Air Force Security Forces M-4 Configurations M 203/M 4 M 68 with AN/PVS 14 M 68 Sight Picture

M-240 B Conversion § M-240 B Replaces aging and unreliable M 60 with state-of-the-art, interoperable machine gun § Delivery Nov 02 at 150 p/m average § Full AF requirement of 2, 500 procured § Accessories—Pintle adapters for M 122 tripod and HMMWV, and 2 BFAs

Close Precision Engagement § Need for enhanced Close Precision Engagement (CPE), target identification, and reaction time--CPE two shooter levels § Level I § M 4 with 4 X optic § Best shooter in squad § Out to 600 meters § 2 days Training § Level II § 3 week specialized school at Camp Robinson, AR § M 24 with Leupold 10 X optic § Out to 1000 meters

AIR FORCE SQUAD COMPOSITION (QFEB 2) Squad Ldr ALPHA FIRE TEAM Fire Team Ldr Grenadier Auto Rifleman BRAVO FIRE TEAM Team Ldr Machine Gunner Grenadier Asst Gunner CHARLIE FIRE TEAM Fire Team Ldr Grenadier Auto Rifleman Present Future M 16 A 2 AN/PVS-7 AN/PAQ-4 B/C M 4/CCO AN/PVS-14 AN/PAQ-4 B/C M 249 M 203/M 16 A 2 AN/PVS-7 AN/PAQ-4 B/C AN/PVS-4 M 249/M 145 MGO M 4/203/CCO M 4/DOS AN/PVS-14 AN/PAQ-4 B/C AN/PVS-4 M 240 B/M 145 MGO M 4/203/CCO M 4/DOS M 9 AN/PVS-14 AN/PAQ-4 B/C AN/PVS-4 M 249/M 145 MGO M 4/203/CCO M 4/DOS AN/PVS-14 AN/PAQ-4 B/C AN/PVS-4 M 60 MG M 203/M 16 A 2 M 9 AN/PVS-7 AN/PAQ-4 B/C AN/PVS-4 M 249 M 203/M 16 A 2 AN/PVS-7 AN/PAQ-4 B/C AN/PVS-4 ** Other items under consideration PEQ 2 PVS-14 (approved) M 203 DNS

Frangible Munitions 5. 56 mm and 9 mm 1. Type classified and USAF NNMSB certified for both 9 mm and 5. 56 mm 2. 20 USAF bases using frangible munitions 1. Completely lead-free to include primer 2. Training use only (HQ USAF/JA approved) 3. Central Procurement initiated 1. FY 02, 5. 56 mm--$8. 2 M 9 mm--$3. 1 M 2. FY 03, 5. 56 mm--$2. 4 M 9 mm--$1. 1 M 4. Additionally exploring use of 12 gauge, 7. 62 mm and 5. 56 mm linked ammo

M 16 A 2 Modkits • 1997 initiative • 206 K USAF modkit requirement – 169. 5 K Modkits delivered/on contract – 36. 5 K shortfall • Shortfall eliminated through – USMC assistance of 20 K M 16 A 2 s – M 4 procurement offset

QUESTIONS?