Posted on 04/21/2022 9:15:16 AM PDT by PROCON
U.S. Army Reserve Soldier Sgt. Javion Siders, assigned to the 982nd Combat Camera Company (Airborne) conducts M4 Carbine marksmanship qualifications on Fort Jackson, S.C., April 9, 2022. The Army has awarded a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer to replace the service’s M4 rifle with a new weapons system. (Spc. Eric Kestner/U.S. Army)
The Army has awarded a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer to replace the service’s M4 rifle with a new weapons system that officials said reduces aiming errors and brings the Army a new caliber of ammunition for the first time in 65 years.
After a 27-month decision process, the Army chose Sig Sauer over two other competitors to manufacture and deliver two variations of the Next Generation Squad Weapon, the XM5 Rifle, set to replace the M4/M4A1 carbine, and the XM250 Automatic Rifle, replacing the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.
“The capability increase that these weapons provide over the M4 and the M249 is what’s really exciting. It’s significant,” said Col. Scott Madore, project manager for soldier lethality at Program Executive Office Soldier, the Army office that delivers new capabilities to soldiers. He spoke Wednesday during a news conference to discuss the contract alongside other officers who worked on acquiring the new squad rifle.
Both weapons use a 6.8 common cartridge family of ammunition, deviating from the Army’s 5.56 ammunition that has been the standard for 65 years, said Brig. Gen. William Boruff, the executive officer of the joint program for armaments and ammunition. The new ammunition comes in multiple types of tactical and training rounds to increase accuracy and
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The new XM5 Rifle is pictured here. The Army has awarded a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer to replace the service’s M4 rifle with a new weapons system. (U.S. Army)
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use a 6.8 common cartridge family of ammunition, deviating from the Army’s 5.56 ammunition that has been the standard for 65 years,
***Sounds like a stupid move to me.
Isn’t that one of those feraner companies?
Maybe this means we’ll be able to get 5.56 ammo at a reasonable price now?
We are going to pay the Germans to build our guns? Why not an American company? WTF?
Gotta have the latest thing.
And spend it or lose it.
Bttt.
5.56mm
Didn’t braindead say to buy and produce American products? Yes he did. But won’t remember what he said.
One thing for sure....it’s gonna give whoever manufactures 6.8 ammo a great contract.......which may be the whole point of the change.
The fed gov is great at “smoky backroom drug deals”.....that’s what I heard anyway.
—I will eagerly await the sale of used M-16’s through the DCM—(with a sarcastic grin)
6.8 has way better performance and fits in the old magazines
SIG Sauer, Inc, is headquartered in New Hampshire.
$2 million a year? Really? Something does not seem right. Never says for how many weapons that I could see.
6.8 mm? Replacing all weapons or just part?
I’m cynically skeptical about anything the military or gooberment does anymore.
Know why old men are cynical? Experience.
$20.4 million?? That won’t buy much. I think this contract is being overstated.
Not like we have any domestic world leading firearm manufacturers or anything. But at least the Sig guarantees you pay twice for something 20% heavier than needed.
“...After a 27-month decision process, the Army chose...”
A glacial movement is faster.
Same here. 6.8 SPC is an answer looking for a question. It’s inferior at longer ranges, although it packs a bit more punch up close than then 5.56.
Sig makes some good gear. But there really isn’t anything wrong with the platforms we currently have.
“I believe they were required to form a US branch to be eligible to compete for military work.”
A US branch means the profits go back home. It still means they are foreign owned. And despite all the hoopla, no nation on earth builds better firearms than the USA. Some procurement officer has a job waiting.
Many military arms are Belgian. M240 and M249s for example are Fabrique Nationale, a Belgian company. M9s are barettas, M1014 shotguns are Italian, etc
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