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"Ever seen the muzzle flash from a cut-down FAL carbine, with 7.62x51?

I'm pretty sure that muzzle flash is produced by ammunition and not barrell length. So if it means that powder type or amounts have to be modified, so be it. If there are a lot of folks shooting, even with the 5.56mm then there is still going to be muzzle signature. In fact, on my M1 Abrams tank, it didn't matter if there was no shooting being done, because my thermal sight detected body heat, recently warm engines, you name it. I think in future war, muzzle flash is going to be a non-issue. Forget my tank for a moment, and the infantry weapons like the TOW anti-tank missiles that have thermals, but in straight on infantry fighting, it won't matter if there's a lot of muzzle flash because, to put it in terms of my old southern platoon sergeant: "Them that gets hot heavy lead in the air the quickest and most accurate is goin' to be whut is the winner." Do you see my point, here? Volume of accurate fire keeps heads down. It doesn't matter if that fire is bright or dim. If your head is in the dirt to keep it from gettin' blown off, the other elements can then manuever and finish the job. The four "F" principle in action: "Find 'em, Fix 'em FIGHT 'em and Finish 'em!"

>>I'm pretty sure that muzzle flash is produced by ammunition and not barrell length.

It's a combination of the two, in this case. All the powder isn't burnt yet, in a shorty barrel. And while you could adjust the powder, then you lose the ammunition commonality with the M240s and such.

I'm all for an alternative to the 5.56x45, was just pointing out an issue with the 7.62x51 carbine scenario. There's probably a 6mm or 6.5mm assault rifle waiting to be developed. And I still think OICW is a joke.

I really think where the Stryker platoons are headed is the right idea, where you've got a scoped 7.62x51-equipped guy at the squad level as a designated marksmen, plus a mix of SAWs, 203s, and M4s. If we need two/squad, that'll happen in the field, and then hopefully it'll get changed on the official TO&E. Gets away from the "one size fits all" idea, which was pretty much the concept back when the M-16 was introduced.