EmericD said:

I'm not really convinced that the FCS will really help to hit a moving target at 600 m.

That's okay.  I'm not convinced that the FCS will really help hit most targets -- moving or stationary -- at any distance in combat.

EmericD said:

But against a visible, static target (something very rare on the battlefield), the FCS will be a huge game-changer.

Which means the FCS will not be a game-changer.  So, does it really matter what caliber the next-gen infantry rifle is?

Weapon or caliber is of minor importance , optronics are absolute gamechangers

FCS will help in many situations , even with moving targets as an individual soldier will be able to accurately set his dope on the fly , for example range a structure in the area and when fleeting targets appear have much higher hit probabilty. 

FCS will progress to electronic triggers and then your dumb poorly trained grunt will have near sniper-like capability. Any new firearm developed without provision for an electronic trigger is borderline obsolete before it hits the market.

Drones are the obvious target and an easy one due to lack of ground clutter, but FCS will develop to handle ground cutter noise better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvhrhw4jIC4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91sf7B6WpbI

Mr. T (MrT4) said:

Weapon or caliber is of minor importance , optronics are absolute gamechangers FCS will help in many situations , even with moving targets as an individual soldier will be able to accurately set his dope on the fly , for example range a structure in the area and when fleeting targets appear have much higher hit probabilty.

Citing a single scenario wherein the FCS would probably help is hardly proof that it is an "absolute gamechanger" for infantry combat.  I can cite many examples of scenarios wherein the FCS would be unlikely to help.

Mr. T (MrT4) said:

FCS will progress to electronic triggers and then your dumb poorly trained grunt will have near sniper-like capability. Any new firearm developed without provision for an electronic trigger is borderline obsolete before it hits the market.

Perhaps, but I was discussing the NGSW-FCS, not possible future systems.  

Mr. T (MrT4) said:

Drones are the obvious target and an easy one due to lack of ground clutter, but FCS will develop to handle ground cutter noise better.

The primary target of the XM5 rifle is enemy infantry, not aerial drones.  After watching videos of infantry fights in Ukraine, I'm skeptical that the XM157 FCS would make any difference in most combat situations. 

IMO, hit probability on the battlefield -- in contrast to the firing range, where targets are clearly visible (as shown in the videos you linked) -- is limited much more by the use of bullet-firing weapons, than the sights.

I'm thinking perhaps the OICW program actually had a sound basic concept for a truly game-changing weapon system, but just botched its execution.

stancrist said:

Which means the FCS will not be a game-changer. So, does it really matter what caliber the next-gen infantry rifle is?

That's not exactly what I meant.

The experience we have with the FELIN system is that most of the system capability is useless 95% of the time, so issuing a FCS to every and all soldiers is both expensive and ineffective.

But, having at least one FCS per combat team is an interesting option, because from time to time you have opportunities to prepare your fire, so having one or 2 guys with that capability is a real boost, but that's the reason for Designated Marksmen.

My conclusion is that FCS are great, but one for the DMR and one for the AR is probably enough.

There are better choice than FCS for the rest of the team.

stancrist said:

I'm thinking perhaps the OICW program actually had a sound basic concept for a truly game-changing weapon system, but just botched its execution.

The firing sequence of the OICW needed around 12 seconds, other similar programs needed similar timeframe.

Imagine having to stay on the battlefield, in the open, without moving, for 12 seconds in order to be able to shoot...

Now, add the fact that even a ~1 lbs defensive handgrenade needs to explode at less than 5-7 m of it's intended target to be effective (and sometimes much closer), and then try to launch such grenade with a sufficient muzzle velocity so it could reach it's target in less than 6 seconds...

A Milkor MGL and a PDW are probably as good as any OICW, and even this combination is not widely used.

EmericD said:

My conclusion is that FCS are great, but one for the DMR and one for the AR is probably enough. There are better choice than FCS for the rest of the team.

I agree.  That approach seems more sensible to me than FCS for everyone in the squad.

But, I'm also wondering if it might now be possible to field a successor to the assault rifle.

Rifle bullets just seem so inferior to bursting munitions for most infantry combat scenarios.

EmericD said:

       stancrist said:  I'm thinking perhaps the OICW program actually had a sound basic concept for a truly game-changing weapon system, but just botched its execution.

The firing sequence of the OICW needed around 12 seconds, other similar programs needed similar timeframe.

Imagine having to stay on the battlefield, in the open, without moving, for 12 seconds in order to be able to shoot...

That is certainly undesirable.  I did not know that the OICW firing sequence took so long.  Surely that problem can be solved?

EmericD said:

Now, add the fact that even a ~1 lbs defensive handgrenade needs to explode at less than 5-7 m of it's intended target to be effective (and sometimes much closer), and then try to launch such grenade with a sufficient muzzle velocity so it could reach it's target in less than 6 seconds...

ToF ~3 seconds in this example:  https://youtu.be/161JT0WRVf4?t=355

stancrist said:

Rifle bullets just seem so inferior to bursting munitions for most infantry combat scenarios.

Then, maybe, we can design a high explosive round that could be fitted around the barrel of the rifle, launched with  ball ammo, without having to close the rifle gas port, so you could immediatly fire "kinetic rounds" after launching the HE round?

I have always like FN's 'OICW Lite' implementation with the original F2000:

The F2k had a purpose built compartment in the stock, which powered the computerized Fire Control Unit for the grenade launcher. And then reportedly it also had a direct view optic for the rifle. The FCU was intended to correct for both trajectory as well as also be able to program future airburst grenades.

It's a shame the package was never purchased or more widely marketed as its a very solid concept. 

EmericD said:

Then, maybe, we can design a high explosive round that could be fitted around the barrel of the rifle, launched with  ball ammo, without having to close the rifle gas port, so you could immediatly fire "kinetic rounds" after launching the HE round?

Heh, heh.  Cute, but no.  Too inefficient.  The soldier has to lug around a heavy rifle and its ammo, which reduces the number of HE rounds carried.

And is your proposed solution even a viable option with the XM5?  Seems like that big round thing on the muzzle would be somewhat problematical.

gatnerd said:

I have always like FN's 'OICW Lite' implementation with the original F2000

I rather liked it when I first saw it many years ago.  But I now think it's much too heavy (see my comment about rifle weight in my reply to Emeric).

More importantly, the "OICW Lite" is also too limited by the 40mm grenades.  It seems to me that bursting munitions need to be of larger caliber.

Think something much closer in size to this: