Some call it the Smart Shooter, a new rifle for American infantry troops that is two weapons in one, is accurate up to 1,000 yards and in 【B1】 fires 【B2】 corners. Its message to enemies is that they can run but they can’’t hide.
Still in the development phase, the rifle for 2006 has just been 【B3】 off with great 【B4】 by the Pentagon to members of Congress who will be asked to 【B5】 the money. The makers, Alliant Techsystems, say that the weapon will revolutionize 【B6】 combat much as the machine gun.
Pentagon jargon has given the new gun a (an) 【B7】 title; the Objective Individual Combat Weapon. 【B8】 one trigger, the rifle can fire a standard 5. 56mm Nato bullet and a 20mm high explosive shell that will burst in the air. It can 【B9】 shrapnel behind, 【B10】 or even from the side of enemy troops who have taken 【B11】 behind a building. The shell can be 【B12】 to explode after a short delay. The weapon’’s 1,000 yard accuracy is twice 【B13】 of other rifles, made possible by a laser system built into the sight. This rangefinder fixes the target, measures the distance and passes it along to a computer chip in the shell.
The gunsight has an infrared lens for night 【B14】 It can also have video camera with a zoom lens that is linked to a video display attached to the soldier’’s helmet, allowing him to aim 【B15】 without exposing himself to enemy return fire. But there are snags still be 【B16】 out. Two men were 【B17】 when a shell burst in a barrel during firing tests. The rifle weighs more than 181b. There are questions whether its electronic innards will be rugged enough for rain, snow and difficult 【B18】 .
Michael Klare, a professor of peace and world security issues and a board member of the Arms Control Association, says that the Pentagon is seeking this combination of firepower and automation to compensate for the uncertain aim of GIs. He said: " Soldiers won’’t have to worry about careful steady aim. They’’ll just look 【B19】 the viewfinder and 【B20】 the trigger. "