The PAPOP (PolyArme POlyProjectiles, "multi-projectile multi-weapon") was a French project to construct a computerized infantry weapon for the

FÉLIN FÉLIN (''Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés'', Integrated Infantryman Equipment and Communications) is the name for the French infantry combat system developed by Safran Electronics & Defense. It combines a modified FAMAS rifle w ...

system, capable of hitting hidden or protected targets. It would have combined a 35 mm grenade launcher with a

5.56×45mm NATO The 5.56×45mm NATO (official NATO nomenclature 5.56 NATO, but often pronounced "five-five-six") is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge family developed in the late 1970s in Belgium by FN Herstal. It consists of the SS109, L110, and ...

assault rifle, both in a

bullpup A bullpup firearm is one with its firing grip located in front of the Chamber (firearms), breech of the weapon, instead of behind it. This creates a weapon with a shorter overall length for a given barrel length, and one that is often lighter, ...

configuration, complete with targeting aids and an unorthodox sight.

History

Development of the PAPOP began in July 1995. The project aimed to provide a replacement for the

FAMAS The FAMAS (''Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne'', "Assault Rifle from the Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory") is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured in France by MAS in 1978, a year after the Austrian Steyr ...

then in service with the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...

by the year 2010. It was envisioned as a versatile weapon capable of engaging enemy infantry, even protected, with a range of up to 600 metres. An industrial partnership was set up to answer the request,

GIAT Nexter Systems (formerly known as GIAT Industries or ''Groupement des Industries de l'Armée de Terre'', Army Industries Group) is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer, based in Roanne, Loire. Group organization The Nexter group is ...

being the main contractor. The subsystems were designed by

FN Herstal Fabrique Nationale Herstal (), trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale or simply FN, is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal, Belgium. It is currently the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe. F ...

(for the assault rifle), Sfim ODS (targeting system), Euroimpact and (grenades).

Phase 1

A first prototype was proposed with 3 grenades in an internal tubular magazine. The prototype was deemed too heavy (8 kg) and bulky to be acceptable, which led to the design of a second prototype.

Phase 2

The second prototype aimed at correcting the issues of the first one, reducing the weight to 6 kg and making the whole system more compact. A particular emphasis was put on usability in urban warfare. The PAPOP-2 carries 25 5.56 mm cartridges and only two grenades, though a platoon-level configuration allows carrying 5 grenades, at the expense of the weight which then rises to 10 kg. File:PAPOP.svg, PAPOP 1 File:PAPOP 1 and 2-b.svg, PAPOP 2. The silhouette of the first prototype is shown for comparison

Systems

Sub-calibre 5.56mm rifle

The rifle fires sub-calibre ammunition with a 5.56 NATO round, which has a muzzle velocity of 1600 metres per second, along with the capability of shooting up to range of 600m. The new ammunition offers an enhanced range, and increases the penetrability enough to defeat individual armour of the

PASGT Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT, pronounced ) is a combat helmet and ballistic vest that was used by the United States military from the early 1980s until the mid-2000s, when the helmet and vest were succeeded by the Lightweight ...

type even at great distance.

Grenade launcher

The second tube is a semi-automatic 35 mm grenade launcher with programmable

airburst An air burst or airburst is the detonation of an explosive device such as an anti-personnel artillery shell or a nuclear weapon in the air instead of on contact with the ground or target. The principal military advantage of an air burst over ...

shells. A large selector switches from rifle to grenade. Three grenades are carried in a tubular magazine. They can be programmed to explode near the target, with two selectable yields; pre-cut fragments can be projected either towards the front, the side or the rear of the projectile, depending on how the charge is activated, which are lethal in a 5-metre radius. The 35 mm calibre was selected as to offer capabilities to penetrate flak vests.

Electronic systems

A camera is fitted in the nose of the weapon, under the rifle muzzle. Batteries and the on-board computer are located in the stock. A rotating LCD screen on the top of the weapon displays information, allowing aiming the PAPOP from behind cover and around corners. The targeting system includes night vision, a laser telemeter, and an

IFF In logic and related fields such as mathematics and philosophy, "if and only if" (shortened as "iff") is a biconditional logical connective between statements, where either both statements are true or both are false. The connective is bicon ...

and a targeting computer which also programmes the grenades prior to launch. The

concept requires that data from the weapon could be shared with the other electronic component of the soldier, and transmitted across the battlefield to command posts or information centres. The PAPOP is thus a component of a larger integrated system, usable for reconnaissance or target designation.

References

{{Bullpup firearms 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles Assault rifles of France Grenade launchers Personal weapons Bullpup firearms