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RECON 0004.04.01
Land Warrior
Rocky | Daywanderer
Ghost
Recon utilises Land Warrior technology to assist the characters
during missions. This report sets out to explore the real
world of Land Warrior (LW) technology, and how it will be
incorporated into Ghost Recon.
(lw)
LW is
one of various Warrior programs which also include Air Warrior,
Mounted Warrior amongst others. It
is the modernisation and development of an Army fighting system
for the dismounted infantryman. LW is a huge undertaking boasting
over 30,000 individual systems including everything the dismounted
soldier wears and carries integrated into a close combat fighting
system. Combined these systems enhance his situational awareness,
lethality, survivability, mobility, sustainment, and training.
Systems
included in Ghost Recon will assist players with friend or
foe recognition and squad placement within the battle zone.
Similarly real world benefits such as improved situational
awareness, overmatching lethality, high levels of protection,
and rapid digital and voice communications will enhance the
abilities of the Ghosts.
oicw
While
the Land Warrior program will be using M16 rifles and/or M4
carbines, one might also expect it to work quite well with
the Objective Individual Combat Weapon which is currently
under development. The OICW will be a combined 5.56x45mm assault
rifle and a 20mm grenade launcher (detachable). The assault
rifle part will basically be an M16 rifle, with a similar
(or slightly extended) range, the same rate of fire, and thirty-round
magasines.
The more interesting part is the grenade
launcher. It will fire 20mm High-Explosive fragmentation grenades
at ranges up to one kilometre. The fire control system will
pin-point the exact range to the target using a laser range
finder, and signal the round to detonate at said range. The
fragments will defeat PASGT armour and the sighting system
provides full 24-hour capability by employing uncooled IR
sensor technology for night vision. The ten-round magasine
can be emptied in approximately one minute.
The OICW will have a 500% increase
in probability of incapacitation, day/night fire control,
wireless weapon interface, weight reduction, ergonomic design,
red dot day/night sighting system, laser adjustment for targets
in buildings and unique recoil mitigation and tactical operational
awareness. Scheduled for field equipping in 2005, and with
Heckler & Koch as the developer, I’ll be surprised
if this promising firearm doesn’t make an appearance
in Ghost Recon.
hud
The Heads
up display will play an important part in the tactical assessment
of each mission as it develops. The
soldier can accurately engage targets from cover using the
thermal or video sight in his heads up display. The system
protects the soldier from bullets, shrapnel, directed energy
and chemical weapons. Total system weight is equal to or less
than what the soldier carries now.
In summary
LW sub systems include : Integrated Helmet Assembly, Modular
Weapon System, Computer/Radio, Software, Protective Clothing
and Individual Equipment.
Further Reading : http://www.fas.org/
GhostRecon.net Note. Some GR
references in this Article are speculative at this time.
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