Terran Tribes
03-08-2007, 10:10
Hill-Tikka IW-2A “HellBore” Infantry Weapon
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v57/Madlizardx/HellBore.jpg
Dimensions:
Length O/A: 852mm (85.2cm or about 34in)
Barrel (Pack): 250mm (25cm or about 10in)
Weight, loaded (with 3 x 5.55mm Packs): 5.6kg
Ammunition Capacity (5.55mm Pack): 90 rounds + storage
Rate of fire: Single shot up to 2500 rds/ min (higher firing rates are possible but not practical)
Cartridge: Various, 5.55mm HT Caseless, 25mm HT Caseless, 12ga HT caseless
Price:
Core: $650
5.55mm Pack: $120
Core + 3 Pack Combo: $900
The IW-2A “HellBore” has had a long and troublesome past. The Tikka Defense Corporation developed its own version of what is widely known as the Metal-Storm system in the early 1990s for use as an Anti-Missile System, using their own proprietary designs to avoid international patent infringements. The simplicity of their designs and their systems raw firepower impressed military officials prompting multi-million credit funding into the system. While early Tikka AMS' proved to be promising, Tikka's future ventures into ballistic weaponry was less well received. In the late 1990's the F.T.T. Government began the Advanced Infantry Rifle program to find a replacement for their AK-74 derivative, which was had been in active service for nearly 3 decades. Have never designed much less produced any small arms Tikka astonished the industry be entering the IW-1 into the competition. Tikka's lack of familiarity with small arms was painfully apparent. The IW-1 was heavier then its competitors by a good margin, bulkier, and much less reliable. While it did impress with its very high rate of fire and simplicity of construction, the rifle's short comings doomed it from the start.
The AIR program was soon canceled when the remaining arms manufacturers rifles failed to achieve an arguably impossible score. While the IW-1 was the made the poorest showing of the group it was also the most innovative, attracting much attention from both the military and other arms corporations. Hill Arms, one of the many corporations competing in the AIR program, soon approached Tikka and proposed to jointly develop a combat rifle based on the IW-1. The combination of Tikka's firing system and Hill's past experience making highly rugged and dependable combat arms resulted in the IW-2A.
The IW-2A, or “HellBore” as some soldiers of taken to calling it, is composed of to basic units. The “Core” of the rifle is its furniture. Made of strong and resilient polymers the stock contains a relatively simple computer system, about as smart as that found in a high-schooler's calculator, electrical leads, and a battery. The “Core” is certified to be used in hostile conditions, from the hot sands of the desert to the icy cold of the tundra, even in harsh marine environments. Extremely dependable weather sealing is complemented by “hardening” of all electronics to prevent damage form all but the most powerful EMP blasts (tests conducted with the equivalence of a 1.5 kiloton nuclear warhead's EMP signature produced only moderate problems in the electronics, most of which could be corrected simply by turning the system off then on again). In contrast the IW-1 failed in all areas of climate testing and could be disabled by placing a kitchen magnet against the stock.
The second unit of the IW-2A is its barrel “Packs”. Given the nature of Tikka's firing system weapons had no need for the traditional receiver assemblies allowing. Because of this, the IW-2A is not cemented to using any particular round, giving it astonishing versatility. A soldier need only to remove an existing barrel “Pack” and replace it with a different one and to change the caliber or barrel length of the rifle. In addition to the barrels, ammunition and firing mechanisms are also present, making the “Pack” almost independent from the “Core”. Also integrated into each pack is small microprocessor that records what caliber it is loaded with, how many rounds it contains, and the placement of barrels in its “Pack”. Using this information the “Core's” computer can identify the “Pack's” type, send firing impulses to the right barrels at the right times, and update the processor's memory with the current amount of ammo remaining. As with the “Core”, the “Packs” are climate and EMP hardened, and are re-loadable in the field.
Due to the “HellBore's” innovative design it is suited to almost any task an infantry man may require of it. Its primary “Pack” uses nine 5.55mm barrels loaded with 10 rounds each, giving the user the firepower of a modern assault rifle with the benefit of larger ammunition capacity of 90 rounds. The ease with which fire rates can be changed also allows for a basic IW-2A with a standard 5.55mm “Pack” to be used as a light machine gun, though it is not recommended. Secondary packs include a 12ga shotgun pack with 20 rounds divided amongst 5 barrels or a 25mm grenade pack with 12 rounds divided into 4 barrels. Top mounted rails allow for a very diverse range of optics to be installed while a lower rail allows for almost any conceivable accessory to be used as well.
While versatile the “HellBore” is not without it's cons. Many critics of the rifle decry in its 5.55mm form it lacks accuracy at long ranges and it has inherently lower precision when compared to traditional assault rifles. Hill-Tikka contend that most modern battlefield engagements happen within 300 meters, at which the IW-2A performs satisfactorily, and that any multi-barrel design will experience lower precision then a single barrel design. Hill-Tikka point to field test in which the “HellBore”, in 5.55mm, shot 2.76cm groupings per each barrel with the total grouping from the entire “Pack” being 9.63cm. Another complaint is the overall weight of the system. While the “Core” is significantly lighter then other rifles the weight of the “Packs” tend to negate this. The case-less ammunition used in the rifle free up weight as does the rifle's lack of a receiver, but most of the spare weight is eaten up by the “Packs” multiple barrels. The use of the “Core's” rear stock as a storage space for spare “Packs” also ups the systems weight by a good margin. Hill-Tikka contends that while the system itself is heavy it is on par when compared to a standard assault rifle and 270 rounds of ammunition with accompanying carrying equipment and that the “Packs” stowed in the rear stock can easily be removed to significantly lighted the systems weight. The final criticism of the IW-2A system is the semi-disposable nature of the “Pack” itself. At nearly $120(N.S.) for a 5.55mm “Pack” many point to the lower quality of alloys used in the “Pack's” barrels and cry foul. Hill-Tikka retorts that higher grade alloys and thicker barrel walls would only up the weight and costs of the “Packs” for marginal increases in accuracy and usage life. Hill-Tikka also points out that individual barrels can be replaced easily with use of a allen-wrench.
While not a sniping platform and weighing a bit the “HellBore” has earned the respect of the FTT military. Testing units in the Expeditionary Forces gave it good to very good reviews, while a number of Assault divisions of the EF have requested large orders of the rifle. It is to be seen how the IW-2A fairs on the world market though...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v57/Madlizardx/HellBore.jpg
Dimensions:
Length O/A: 852mm (85.2cm or about 34in)
Barrel (Pack): 250mm (25cm or about 10in)
Weight, loaded (with 3 x 5.55mm Packs): 5.6kg
Ammunition Capacity (5.55mm Pack): 90 rounds + storage
Rate of fire: Single shot up to 2500 rds/ min (higher firing rates are possible but not practical)
Cartridge: Various, 5.55mm HT Caseless, 25mm HT Caseless, 12ga HT caseless
Price:
Core: $650
5.55mm Pack: $120
Core + 3 Pack Combo: $900
The IW-2A “HellBore” has had a long and troublesome past. The Tikka Defense Corporation developed its own version of what is widely known as the Metal-Storm system in the early 1990s for use as an Anti-Missile System, using their own proprietary designs to avoid international patent infringements. The simplicity of their designs and their systems raw firepower impressed military officials prompting multi-million credit funding into the system. While early Tikka AMS' proved to be promising, Tikka's future ventures into ballistic weaponry was less well received. In the late 1990's the F.T.T. Government began the Advanced Infantry Rifle program to find a replacement for their AK-74 derivative, which was had been in active service for nearly 3 decades. Have never designed much less produced any small arms Tikka astonished the industry be entering the IW-1 into the competition. Tikka's lack of familiarity with small arms was painfully apparent. The IW-1 was heavier then its competitors by a good margin, bulkier, and much less reliable. While it did impress with its very high rate of fire and simplicity of construction, the rifle's short comings doomed it from the start.
The AIR program was soon canceled when the remaining arms manufacturers rifles failed to achieve an arguably impossible score. While the IW-1 was the made the poorest showing of the group it was also the most innovative, attracting much attention from both the military and other arms corporations. Hill Arms, one of the many corporations competing in the AIR program, soon approached Tikka and proposed to jointly develop a combat rifle based on the IW-1. The combination of Tikka's firing system and Hill's past experience making highly rugged and dependable combat arms resulted in the IW-2A.
The IW-2A, or “HellBore” as some soldiers of taken to calling it, is composed of to basic units. The “Core” of the rifle is its furniture. Made of strong and resilient polymers the stock contains a relatively simple computer system, about as smart as that found in a high-schooler's calculator, electrical leads, and a battery. The “Core” is certified to be used in hostile conditions, from the hot sands of the desert to the icy cold of the tundra, even in harsh marine environments. Extremely dependable weather sealing is complemented by “hardening” of all electronics to prevent damage form all but the most powerful EMP blasts (tests conducted with the equivalence of a 1.5 kiloton nuclear warhead's EMP signature produced only moderate problems in the electronics, most of which could be corrected simply by turning the system off then on again). In contrast the IW-1 failed in all areas of climate testing and could be disabled by placing a kitchen magnet against the stock.
The second unit of the IW-2A is its barrel “Packs”. Given the nature of Tikka's firing system weapons had no need for the traditional receiver assemblies allowing. Because of this, the IW-2A is not cemented to using any particular round, giving it astonishing versatility. A soldier need only to remove an existing barrel “Pack” and replace it with a different one and to change the caliber or barrel length of the rifle. In addition to the barrels, ammunition and firing mechanisms are also present, making the “Pack” almost independent from the “Core”. Also integrated into each pack is small microprocessor that records what caliber it is loaded with, how many rounds it contains, and the placement of barrels in its “Pack”. Using this information the “Core's” computer can identify the “Pack's” type, send firing impulses to the right barrels at the right times, and update the processor's memory with the current amount of ammo remaining. As with the “Core”, the “Packs” are climate and EMP hardened, and are re-loadable in the field.
Due to the “HellBore's” innovative design it is suited to almost any task an infantry man may require of it. Its primary “Pack” uses nine 5.55mm barrels loaded with 10 rounds each, giving the user the firepower of a modern assault rifle with the benefit of larger ammunition capacity of 90 rounds. The ease with which fire rates can be changed also allows for a basic IW-2A with a standard 5.55mm “Pack” to be used as a light machine gun, though it is not recommended. Secondary packs include a 12ga shotgun pack with 20 rounds divided amongst 5 barrels or a 25mm grenade pack with 12 rounds divided into 4 barrels. Top mounted rails allow for a very diverse range of optics to be installed while a lower rail allows for almost any conceivable accessory to be used as well.
While versatile the “HellBore” is not without it's cons. Many critics of the rifle decry in its 5.55mm form it lacks accuracy at long ranges and it has inherently lower precision when compared to traditional assault rifles. Hill-Tikka contend that most modern battlefield engagements happen within 300 meters, at which the IW-2A performs satisfactorily, and that any multi-barrel design will experience lower precision then a single barrel design. Hill-Tikka point to field test in which the “HellBore”, in 5.55mm, shot 2.76cm groupings per each barrel with the total grouping from the entire “Pack” being 9.63cm. Another complaint is the overall weight of the system. While the “Core” is significantly lighter then other rifles the weight of the “Packs” tend to negate this. The case-less ammunition used in the rifle free up weight as does the rifle's lack of a receiver, but most of the spare weight is eaten up by the “Packs” multiple barrels. The use of the “Core's” rear stock as a storage space for spare “Packs” also ups the systems weight by a good margin. Hill-Tikka contends that while the system itself is heavy it is on par when compared to a standard assault rifle and 270 rounds of ammunition with accompanying carrying equipment and that the “Packs” stowed in the rear stock can easily be removed to significantly lighted the systems weight. The final criticism of the IW-2A system is the semi-disposable nature of the “Pack” itself. At nearly $120(N.S.) for a 5.55mm “Pack” many point to the lower quality of alloys used in the “Pack's” barrels and cry foul. Hill-Tikka retorts that higher grade alloys and thicker barrel walls would only up the weight and costs of the “Packs” for marginal increases in accuracy and usage life. Hill-Tikka also points out that individual barrels can be replaced easily with use of a allen-wrench.
While not a sniping platform and weighing a bit the “HellBore” has earned the respect of the FTT military. Testing units in the Expeditionary Forces gave it good to very good reviews, while a number of Assault divisions of the EF have requested large orders of the rifle. It is to be seen how the IW-2A fairs on the world market though...