National Interest by Caleb Larson 7/3/2021
The Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon program will replace both the M4 and the M249 with new rifles—and a new round.
Here's What You Need to Remember: Despite the radical new ammunition designs, the program seems to be a hit. According to reporting by military.com, the Army expects to choose one of the three entrants early in 2022, and fielding the winning design sometime afterward.
The Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon program will replace both the M4 and the M249 with new rifles—and a new round. Here’s why special operations love it.
NGSW
The Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program will service not only the Army, but also Special Operations as well, including the Green Berets and the 75th Ranger regiment. In an interview with military.com, a USSOCOM spokesperson said that “we [USSOCOM] are an enthusiastic supporter of the Army’s 6.8mm Next Generation Squad Weapons.”
As I previously wrote, the NGSW program aims to replace both the M4 carbine and the M249 SAW platforms with two new weapons. Sig Sauer, General Dynamics, and Textron Systems submitted designs that include magazine and belt-fed designs.
According to the Army, the NGSW program aims to make individual solders deadlier at greater ranges. “The NGSW program significantly increases lethality and probability of hit at the squad level.” The M4 and M249 replacements will use a new type of ammunition as well, replacing the venerable 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm NATO standards. The Army hopes their new projectile will be superior. “Due to the nature of the General Purpose ammunition, the 6.8mm projectile will outperform even the most modern 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition. These weapons will give Soldiers significant capability improvements in accuracy, range, signature management, and lethality.”
More:
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/us-special-forces-can%E2%80%99t-get-enough-these-next-generation-squad-weapons-189143
