The U.S. Army has established a direction for future combat vehicles to meet the need for highly lethal, more mobile forces, with the capability to quickly deploy anywhere national interests are threatened. Future light forces must possess sufficient combat power to have a decisive impact upon arrival, high survivability/sustainability, and an essential component of the full spectrum dominance necessary for a credible deterrent strategy in the twenty-first century. These smaller and more sustainable forces are intended to bridge the gap between light and heavy forces.

TACOM-ARDEC has developed a concept for a Future Combat System (FCS) that includes lethality capability in extended range line-of-sight (LOS) with the capability of being integrated onto a C-130 deployable light vehicle .

Techno-Sciences has developed such technology in the form of an advanced, innovative next-generation high performance Secondary Armament System (SAS).

The SAS, through the use of gearless drive technology, provides a state-of-the-art azimuth and elevation weapon drive s ystem that provides maximum attainable weapon pointing control, accuracy and fires efficiency, and full stabilization over a wide range of vehicle speeds and terrain. The SAS weapon drive s ystem is combined with the Objective Crew Served Weapon (OCSW), a 25 mm automatic cannon with fully automatic fire control system, to provide a vehicle's crew the capability to rapidly acquire and track targets.

The SAS is independently operated by crewmen and provides full 360-degree coverage in azimuth and -20 to +70 degrees in elevation. The SAS weapon drive s ystem attains slew rates of 500deg/sec average, 1000deg/sec peak in azimuth; and 250deg/sec average, 500deg/sec peak in elevation. The SAS weapon drive s ystem also provides stabilization for f iring disturbances of +/- 45 deg @ 12 rpm, and terrain disturbances of +/- 60 deg @ 60 mph (26.62 meter/sec) with 164 feet (50 meter) wavelength.

The weapon has a nominal firing rate of 250 shots per minute and has both single-shot and burst firing modes. The ammunition provides capability against open troops, anti-tank guided munition sites, snipers, light vehicles, and slow moving air targets.