The current rendition of the OCIW is rather too large and bulky for most soldiers, but the 25mm OCSW is an interesting attempt to replace HMGs and AGLs with something lighter, more flexable and more lethal. I wonder if someone has had the bright idea to prototype a 25mm underbarrel grenade launcher using the OCSW round, along with a "stripped down" version of the electronic sight unit. This would be much lighter than the OCIW, and reduce the number of ammunition types in the Infantry. (5.56, 20mm OCIW, 25mm OCSW...)
Some of the posters don't seem convinced about the utility of electronic fuses etc. on a small calibre grenade. This is the same technology you rely on for a lot of other things, like artillery shells and anti-tank missiles, just in a new package. A mechanical fuse "might" work, but the effect would be about the same as comparing an 8 track to an iPod. What would you rather have?
Just a bit off topic, but perhaps there should be reserch alternative area supression technology. The Australian Metalstorm company has developed an electronic "gun" which has almost no moving parts, and can fire rounds at almost any cyclic rate the shooter desires. Some prototypes have demonstrated a firing rate of 1,000,000 RPM (not a typo). See: http://www.metalstorm.com/ for more info
