The Australian Army has begun a program to find and buy a man-portable guided assault weapon able to engage a variety of targets, from tanks to masonry buildings. The Australians want about 13,000 of these weapons (enough to attract major bidders). They want a weapon which weighs no more than 7.5kg and has an effective range of at least 250 meters. It must be able to penetrate 300mm masonry walls (a foot thick) and 500mm of packed earth, corrugated iron, and/or timbers. The Australians are willing to consider weapons that take a two-man crew. They are reportedly considering the US Javelin and the Israeli Gil and Spike.--Stephen V Cole