The Test and Evaluation Command will use two types of testing -- developmental and operational -- to ascertain the XM8s viability.
Developmental testing is similar to what Consumer Reports magazine would do, Clarke explained.
"We will super-cool the weapon. We will fire it to failure to see what breaks," Clarke explained. "We'll drop it, we'll put chemicals on it to see how it reacts. That will provide the hard data to build a case for reliability, availability and maintainability, or not."
At the same time, testers will bring soldiers into the loop for limited operational testing.
"We will get soldiers to use the weapons in harsh conditions and get their opinions," Clarke continued.
"The proof will come when we start testing," Clarke said. "We have some theoretical numbers, but we will build weapons and we will test them hard. And, if the system is not significantly better than the existing weapons it's not going anywhere."
Discussions in forum on the Infantry Web site, www.infantry.army.mil, show some infantrymen question the value of fielding a new assault rifle delivering the same 5.56mm rounds already in service. They question the gain. Clarke, however, sees a lot of value added.
The XM8 is designed so the user -- either in the field or at the unit -- will be able to switch out barrels. It will come with different barrel lengths ranging from an assault weapon to an automatic rifle version.
"That means commanders will have the ability to tailor their weapon systems to day or night, like we do today, and for specific functions for soldiers throughout the unit," Clarke explained.
Moreover, using the same weapons platform reduces the logistics burden of using various weapons. Today, the M4s and M16s have only about an 80 percent commonality in parts. The XM8 we will have a 100 percent commonality.
The key is integrating functionality and improving modularity, reliability and durability while reducing weight, Clarke said.
"We'll either do it or we won't," he said. "If we do it and the Infantry wants it, then we will continue. If not, we won't."
"If everything goes green light across the board," Clarke said. "The weapon could begin reaching the field as early as the middle of fiscal year 2006."
