Not-so-grim Reaper on trial

Australian Army soldiers from across Australia were trained with the new Reaper weapon carriage system at Majura training area near Canberra on 5 May 2016.

CAPTIONCorporal Paul Hayes (left), 6RAR, and Warrant Officer Class Two Nick Crosbie, 7RAR, trial the new Reaper weapon carriage system. Photo by Sergeant Janine Fabre.

Watch video here.

The Advanced Accuracy Solutions Reaper weapon support system allows soldiers to carry and more-effectively direct fire using medium-to-heavy machine guns while on patrol.

Reaper will be trialled by frontline infantry battalions over the next six months to assess its suitability.

Army says it is implementing a number of projects and initiatives to ensure it keeps pace with changes in technology and the character of war itself.

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Posted by Brian Hartigan

Managing Editor Contact Publishing Pty Ltd PO Box 3091 Minnamurra NSW 2533 AUSTRALIA

15 thoughts on “Not-so-grim Reaper on trial

  • 25/05/2016 at 12:51 pm
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    What a joke, can just see doing a flat out assault through heavy/ close country and ending up a fig. 11 target hung up for the en. to use for target practice.

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  • 22/05/2016 at 4:34 am
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    Yep be great until first contact …then be dumped in the nearest ditch ..?

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  • 16/05/2016 at 12:50 pm
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    why not develop a lightweight telescopic stand which doubles as a foregrip, then press a button to drop it to ground level, the weight of the gun keeping it on the floor, and have a small support with a spike in it (similar to shooting stick or ski stick, to keep it firm then to shorten press the button
    again and it telescopes up once contact is ended. I am sure some genius in Australia can develop such a device. I have fired using crossed ski sticks a few times and its quite effective.
    Personally I can see the possibility of this snagging as others have mentioned above. I am reminded
    of a comment made in the Green Berets movie “so your a heavy weapons man Sergeant Provo”, reply “not if I can find a lighter one Sir” point being that anything that reduces stress and fatigue to
    a soldier gets my vote IF it works and does not endanger him and his colleagues. I am a pom, who used to work for overseas Australian Government in UK, always have great respect for Australia and the skill of your armed services. God speed and a salute.

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  • 16/05/2016 at 8:59 am
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    I thought guns were area wpns?

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  • 16/05/2016 at 8:46 am
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    I always thought machine guns were area weapons?

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  • 13/05/2016 at 7:44 pm
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    It was designed by two ex-cops who were both snipers for urban environments, where the shooting position may need to be from the standing position.

    Device would be good for Sniper/gunner shooting from doorway of a Helo.

    Or the Monkey seated in rear of a PSD vehicle.

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  • 12/05/2016 at 4:11 am
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    Hahahahahaha, what a joke!

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  • 12/05/2016 at 1:52 am
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    This Hills Hoist contraption is just plain Dumb in any enviroment, any Infantryman worth his weight knows after the initial contact it’s on your guts if there is no cover and if there is you get as low as possible. Try it in the J and see how good it is. As above if you cannot control the weapon system yourself, corps change because you are worse than useless and a danger to yourself and your mates
    Hey it would be great on the range but RSM Hunter had a motto that was Army wide “You train as you Fight”

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  • 11/05/2016 at 2:03 pm
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    Stichjones, it was developed by serving infantrymen and it is more designed for urban warfare, where the weapon system is required to stay in the shoulder for 90% of the time. It also allowed groupings of 150 to 300mm at six hundred meters. It can be deployed quickly and folds up quickly too. It’s a great idea and start to improving how we infantrymen do business.

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    • 12/05/2016 at 6:40 am
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      even in built up urban areas, it is not good tradecraft to expose oneself in the apparent way it is portrayed in the video. Even with impressive groupings at long range, most contacts are going to be much closer (unless in open country where I refer you to the seek cover rule). I am prepared to be wrong but the positives of his weapon system seem outweight by some clear negatives.

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    • 12/05/2016 at 7:09 am
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      I’m sure it got nice tight groupings…..at the range. No offence but speaking as a former section gunner I wouldn’t touch it by choice.

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    • 12/05/2016 at 9:59 am
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      BS! Not even a decent gunner would be getting those groupings on his guts with that weapon system and sight

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  • 11/05/2016 at 7:07 am
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    No current infantryman developed that ridiculous thing. It’s a hang up waiting to happen in any environment, let alone a jungle with wait awhile. Also, what happened to a soldier having the strength to use his personal weapon? Mag 58 or Minimi, if you can’t lug it, you shouldn’t be infantry.

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    • 11/05/2016 at 12:58 pm
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      It should reduce fatigue levels of the soldier! So he can lug it longer but also be more effective by not being as fatigued..
      Yes there will be hang ups, that is why things are trialed, to identify these hang ups and other possible floors and tweek the system or redesigin it..

      Looks great in principle, Im all for anything that makes a hard job, less hard. I hope the system get fully trialled and tested in all situations possible to get the best feedback to the manufacturer to make an even better system.

      Reply

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