Modular weapon system
A Modular Weapon (or Modular Weapons System) is a weapon that allows for many modifications. Modularity has become a major attribute looked for by today's military and law enforcement because they can bulk buy one or two models of rifle, then bulk buy hundreds of add-on modules (grenade launchers, laser pointers, scopes or torches) which can be used with every other rifle.
One of these rifles is the XM8, which was being considered as a M16 and a M4 replacement in the US military. It was competing with the Robinson Arms XCR, FN SCAR, H&K 416, Steyr AUG. Heckler & Koch and Alliant TechSystems have worked together to make the XM29 OICW.
The main advantage of these rifles is that one rifle model can be purchased with several addons and an entire army be equipped with the same rifle base:
- Urban soldiers
- Mechanized infantry
- Special forces
- Marksmen/Sharpshooters
- Snipers
All of these different units can use the same base rifle model.
Some modularity has previously seen with the M16 series the M4 and the M249. They all used the same ammunition and the M249 could also hold and use an M16 magazine (STANAG 5.56 mm KE).