US Army set to field new rifle and light machine gun in 2023

[F-22Raptor]

The Army plans to field in 2023 a rifle and light machine combination that will replace the standard issue M4 carbine and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon for its close combat force.

They’re not alone, both the Marine Corps and Special Operations Command have been included in the years-long testing and experimentation phase and will have the option to adopt the new-caliber weapons.

That new caliber, a special, Army-designed 6.8mm round, is the biggest change that shooters will see. The Next Generation Squad Weapon program had industry competitors build the weapon around the round.

This past year, Sig Sauer won the $4.7 billion weapon contract and Vortex Optics and Sheltered Wings working together won the $2.7 billion NGSW-Fire Control.

Once fielded, the M5 carbine replacement and the M250 SAW replacement, will allow users to shoot farther, faster with more accurate shots that are more lethal than the current 5.56mm round used in the two legacy weapons.

The fielding will go to operational units, likely in early 2023. Those units have not yet been identified publicly by Army officials. The full rollout to the entire close combat force will happen over several years.

That close combat force includes infantry, scouts and combat engineers who support or deploy alongside infantry and scouts.

The rest of the force will continue to carry the M4 and M249 for the coming decade or longer.

Both weapons feature M-lock handguards, a Picatinny Rail for attaching shooting accessories, an ambidextrous safety and left-side accessible charging handle for the M250.

The two will also feature the NGSW-Fire Control, which is a computer-assisted optic that can provide aim correction, first focal plane optic, a disturbed reticle, ballistics computer and laser range finder. It also links wirelessly with current and future soldier electronics.

New rifle, light machine gun headed to close combat troops

The weapons are going to infantry, scouts, combat engineers and special operations.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Broccoli]

Most deaths in war are caused by other weapons than rifles so this project seems to be waste of money.

 

[Oldman1]

Most deaths in war are caused by other weapons than rifles so this project seems to be waste of money.

Not every soldier can carry an anti tank missile.

 

[That Guy]

Most deaths in war are caused by other weapons than rifles so this project seems to be waste of money.

Good luck clearing an important building with artillery, or doing Search and rescue with an ATGM.

 

[Metal 0-1]

Most deaths in war are caused by other weapons than rifles so this project seems to be waste of money.

Exactly, every foot soldier should carry their standard issued Tanks in their assault packs.

 

[CLUMSY]

Most deaths in war are caused by other weapons than rifles so this project seems to be waste of money.

That is why i believe every US soldier should have a portable SAM battery in place of his backpack, a m61 vulcan attached to the right arm and a SMAW on the left. Dont forget the radar on top of the helmet

 

[Oldman1]

That is why i believe every US soldier should have a portable SAM battery in place of his backpack, a m61 vulcan attached to the right arm and a SMAW on the left. Dont forget the radar on top of the helmet

Sounds like War Machine. Never know. Could happen in future.

 

[Goritoes]

Good luck clearing an important building with artillery, or doing Search and rescue with an ATGM.

Brilliant response. I was about to wrote something similar but you put it better

 

[CLUMSY]

Sounds like War Machine. Never know. Could happen in future.

I forgot to mention ERA for armor with hardkill and softkill APS systems on the joints

 

[Super Falcon]

China also developed new sniper rifle which can fire grenades

 

[undercover JIX]

View attachment 908373

The Army plans to field in 2023 a rifle and light machine combination that will replace the standard issue M4 carbine and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon for its close combat force.

They’re not alone, both the Marine Corps and Special Operations Command have been included in the years-long testing and experimentation phase and will have the option to adopt the new-caliber weapons.

That new caliber, a special, Army-designed 6.8mm round, is the biggest change that shooters will see. The Next Generation Squad Weapon program had industry competitors build the weapon around the round.

This past year, Sig Sauer won the $4.7 billion weapon contract and Vortex Optics and Sheltered Wings working together won the $2.7 billion NGSW-Fire Control.

Once fielded, the M5 carbine replacement and the M250 SAW replacement, will allow users to shoot farther, faster with more accurate shots that are more lethal than the current 5.56mm round used in the two legacy weapons.

The fielding will go to operational units, likely in early 2023. Those units have not yet been identified publicly by Army officials. The full rollout to the entire close combat force will happen over several years.

That close combat force includes infantry, scouts and combat engineers who support or deploy alongside infantry and scouts.

The rest of the force will continue to carry the M4 and M249 for the coming decade or longer.

Both weapons feature M-lock handguards, a Picatinny Rail for attaching shooting accessories, an ambidextrous safety and left-side accessible charging handle for the M250.

The two will also feature the NGSW-Fire Control, which is a computer-assisted optic that can provide aim correction, first focal plane optic, a disturbed reticle, ballistics computer and laser range finder. It also links wirelessly with current and future soldier electronics.

New rifle, light machine gun headed to close combat troops

The weapons are going to infantry, scouts, combat engineers and special operations.

www.defensenews.com

this is more suitable for MIddle eastern terrain, so we can guesstimate USA future plans.

 

[Beast]

Good luck clearing an important building with artillery, or doing Search and rescue with an ATGM.

Future infra sensor and miniature drone will be advance enough to easily locate and identify targets in build up building and eliminate them with physical obstacle being less hinders in modern times. Just like night warfare used to be a mass hinderance but with modern night vision equipment. Modern armed forces has better ease of dealing with night warfare.

You don't need mass soldiers or even WWII style room by room clearance to flush out the enemies.

What he say is true. Artillery and PGM are responsible for most of the modern war casualty.

Modern warfare emphasize more on small group of elite troops to clear out ground. Such mass equips sound unnecessary.

 

[reflecthofgeismar]

"...
What he say is true. Artillery and PGM are responsible for most of the modern war casualty.

Modern warfare emphasize more on small group of elite troops to clear out ground. Such mass equips sound unnecessary.

That's the case since relative modern artillery entered the BF.
Before that, without encircling and pursuing enemies, the killed numbers were usually low.
Especially since WW1 artillery is the "best" killer.
Not infantry vs infantry, not tanks vs tanks, not planes vs planes cost most lives.
60mm, 81mm/82mm, 120mm+ and every fu*king gun with a calibre to 75mm+ cost the most lives.
Ask US veterans of WW2 ...
They were all shot by
MG42 (acutally the MG34 was better, could be used as a sniper (semi-automatic) on tripod with the lafette-optic)
Flak 18/36/37 88mm (sure, as a whole, it was the best all-round gun, could be used as intented for AA, as armor killer and as artillery)
Tiger tank (US faced verified under 5 encounters with Tiger I in the NWE theater )
Actually they were shot much more often by several 75mm guns, 81mm mortars und 105mm artillery than everything else.

 

[Trango Towers]

Most deaths in war are caused by other weapons than rifles so this project seems to be waste of money.

Another expert. Oh dear

 

[LegionnairE]

What's more important than the new rifle and the LMG is the new type of ammo. Turkey will copy this rifle in 10 years @merzifonlu remember this.

The new type of ammo is almost tailor-made for Turkey's needs too

The Optics, the suppressor, the whole package is just very nice.