[konaice]

One wonders why the capability to change out the barrel and fire Ak47 rounds?

What are the chances of having the barrels on hand when only AK rounds are available.

This seems more like an option to sell it to foreign armys, which seems inadvisable these days.

[GRRRRR]

I want one!!!!

[spetznaz]

It might be for spec ops guys deep behind enemy lines and maybe short on ammo, and thus may need the ability to scavenge and use Kalashnikov rounds from neutralized enemies. I doubt that separate barrels would be issued to all and sundry, and thus it would only be a factor for a small cadre of users that might need such capability.

[ThreeTracks]

One wonders why the capability to change out the barrel and fire Ak47 rounds?

It actually fires the 7.62x51 NATO round, same as the G3, FN FAL, M240 series, M-14, and a host of other weapons. AKs fire the 7.62x39.

As for why, one can only speculate that the users wanted a round with a little more punch than 5.56.

- ThreeTracks

[JudgemAll]

This seems more like an option to sell it to foreign armys, which seems inadvisable these days.

Doh! Domestic armies use the AK round, as well as cops, shooting enthusiasts, allies and militias.

[GarySpFc]

One wonders why the capability to change out the barrel and fire Ak47 rounds?
What are the chances of having the barrels on hand when only AK rounds are available.
This seems more like an option to sell it to foreign armys, which seems inadvisable these days.

Special Ops. parachute behind enemy lines where the AK47 capability is critical.

[Tallguy]

One wonders why the capability to change out the barrel and fire Ak47 rounds?

Don't forget this is a SOCOM initiative. If you are a Special Forces operator behind enemy lines, you don't want to be carrying 5.56MM or a rifle chambered for it. You might be living off what you can pilfer or take of an enemy corpse. Makes a lot of sense when you look at it that way.