IAC-132

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IAC-132
IAC-132 Fixed.png
TypeBullpup Autocannon
Place of origin Licana
Service history
In service2017 - Present
Used by Licana
Production history
DesignerLicanan Defense Industries
Designed2005 - 2015
ManufacturerLicanan Defense Industries
Specifications
Weight8.6 kg (19 lb) unloaded / 11 kg (24.3 lb) loaded
LengthOverall: 950 mm (37.4 in)
Barrel length520 mm (20.4 in)

Cartridge20x68 mm
ActionAPI Blowback
Rate of fire300 RPM
Muzzle velocity500 m/s (1,476 ft/s)
Effective firing range600 meters point targeting
1000 meters area suppression
Feed system6 round box or 16 round drum magazine
SightsIntegrated Optic/Rangefinder

The IAC-132, also known as the Individual Adaptable Assault Weapon, is a Licanan smart light autocannon designed and manufactured by Licanan Defense Industries. It is intended to be operated by individual troops equipped with powered armor to act as a force-multiplier against soft and lightly-armored targets. The weapon is paired with a low-powered day/night optic with an integrated rangefinder and ballistic computer, which allows it to use smart-fused munitions.

Development

Design Details

The IAC-132 is an open-bolt blowback-operated 20mm-caliber autocannon. Conventionally, a gas or recoil operated system is used in high-powered automatic weapons. However due to necessary restrictions in the size and weight of the IAC-132 to allow it to be operated by a single individual, it was decided that the simplicity and compactness of a blowback system would be preferable. The weapon uses an advanced primer ignition blowback system, in which the primer is ignited before the cartridge is fully chambered. In this system, the bolt is moving forward at significant speed when the primer is ignited. The bolt of the weapon never comes to "rest" against the chamber, its motion is stopped and reversed entirely by the force exerted by the cartridge being fired. This means that the bolt also acts as a recoil damper as well. The chamber of the weapon is elongated to allow the bolt to travel a short distance within the chamber itself as well, increasing the distance of effective travel. The bolt does not fully leave the chamber until after the projectile has traveled past the muzzle, preserving the gas seal. Despite the elongated chamber and heavier bolt, the overall effect is a reduction in weapon size, weight and complexity compared to a gas or recoil operating system.

In order to meet the size restrictions set by the Licanan military, a bullpup configuration was chosen, as a conventional layout would have resulted in a weapon significantly longer than the 1000mm in overall length specified by the program. Due to the relatively lightweight construction of the weapon and the heavy 20mm ammunition, the weapon has a significantly rearward balance point, especially when loaded with drum magazines. The concentration of weight towards the rear of the weapon negatively contributed to muzzle climb when using automatic fire in pre-production tests. In order to mitigate this, a large ported muzzle device was fitted to weapon. When fitted with this muzzle device, the weapon is capable of controllable automatic fire.

The IAC-132 is paired with a specifically designed targeting system which includes a 1-4x day/night optic, a 2x thermal optic, a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer, and an ammunition fuse programmer. Excluding the ammunition fuse programmer, which is located above the magazine well, these systems are concentrated into a single removable targeting unit. This targeting unit locks onto the weapon with two clamps, which connect to fuse programmer. The weapon does not feature an attachment rail, as it was intended to be used solely with its paired targeting unit. With these systems in place, the IAC-132 is capable of firing a wide-variety of programmable ammunition.

Ammunition

Operational History

Users