NATO Land Group 3 Close Combat Infantry Mr. Robert M. Pizzola US Army-ARDEC AMSRD-AAR-AIJ Picatinny Arsenal, NJ Annual Update For NDIA Joint Services Small Arms Conference 12 May 2004

Originally 16 nations at the time of Soviet collapse Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic added = 19 Recently – Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia = 26 Still have Partner for Peace nations –Sweden is most active of these nations within LG 3 NATO and Partners for Peace Membership Update

NATO Land Group #3 Infantry Weaponry Master Plan Concept presented and outlined by US Land Group unanimously adopts US Concept Document expanded and completed by Sweden Sweden designated the overall lead nation Other nations assigned lead for sections. –Canada- Shoulder fired weaponry, hand grenades –UK- indirect fire (mortars, grenade launchers, etc) –Belgium- Infantry Combat Vehicle main gun –Germany- Actual combat vehicle interface –France- Sniper weaponry –US - MOUT and Non-lethal weaponry

More on Infantry Weaponry Master Plan Covers all materiel areas of LG3 responsibility Represents the structure for all current and future work. Serves as the basis and justification for all work US initiatives under master plan: –Standardization of bursting munitions Issue: Unlike bullets, may have to attempt to standardize munitions effects –Quite possibly, the next generation of point fire ammunition may not be amenable to standardization as has been the rule To lighten system weight dramatically, ammo design must change dramatically

MOUT and Non-Lethal Weaponry Last meeting was hosted by Italy in Rome –To observe the first public demonstration of the new Baretta constant kinetic energy shotgun Completed work on Non-Lethal Weaponry in Rome NATO Non-lethal Capability set is mostly defensive Barriers to offensive NLW include: –Various chemical weapons treaties (no OC, etc) –National laws prohibiting area or “indiscriminate” fire –UK favors dedicated weaponry –These issues to be elevated for possible resolution MOUT to continue developing prioritized requirements and prioritized deficiencies; 1 possibly 2 more meetings

Sub-Group1 to NATO LG3 NATO Standard Ammo SG1 is studying effects on ERTC and NARTC of bursting munitions; i.e.- what, how test? Similarly studying programmable fuzes 40 mm High Velocity STANAG and MOPI out for ratification –Highly intensified interest since international community observed performance in Southwest Asia 40 mm Low Velocity documentation also in process Controversy surrounding 30mm x 173 round –Field de-linking and re-linking? Doubtful. Possible standardization of Soviet bloc materiel being considered.

Personal Defense Weapon NATO undertook a new PDW program The UK began testing; halted testing France resumed testing Two sets of test results generated Attempts to establish scoring criteria AFTER seeing test results failed. US asked by LG3 to conduct an independent evaluation (SW, CA, SU, RO) - Results were CLOSE; nonetheless, a clear winner - US surveyed for instances of “hot” ammo swaps - No instances among full NATO members (SW-FI say Yea) - Seems there’s no need for std. ammo for “weapon of last resort” Standardization of new PDW Ammo not recommended.