whats going to be the next us military main rifle
New Eyes Arrangement Chosen for Army's Side by side Generation Squad Weapon: The US Army is getting two new weapons to replace the M4 Carbine and the M249 Team Automated Weapon – but first the optics had to be picked.
Known equally a fire control system, the accolade goes to Vortex Optics for upwards to $2.7 billion over ten years. Vortex Optics is to deliver 250,000 XM157 fire control systems to the Army for the Side by side Generation Squad Weapon program (NGSW), the branch announced on January 7. Vortex Optics subsidiary Sheltered Wings won the deal over L3Harris Technologies.
Below is a rundown on the latest evolution for everything that is NGSW, from an onboard computer, a new caliber of bullet to the elevation entries to land this big Us military contract:
Onboard Computer on the Burglarize and Automatic Burglarize
The new optic is chosen a system because it serves as an "onboard computer" with numerous features – from a laser rangefinder to a ballistic computer with a compass – to visible and infrared aiming lasers. The Shut Combat Optic, the Rifle Gainsay Optic, and the Machine Gun Optic will be phased out.
The optical system volition exist on top of the new NGSW– a contract that has not been awarded nevertheless, only it should be announced in the fall of 2022. The original competitors for these weapons were Textron Systems, SIG Sauer, and General Dynamics. Textron, according to the Army Times in December, "is no longer part of the competition," and General Dynamics allowed LoneStar Time to come Weapons, which is now working with Beretta, to have over the program.
NGSW Gets a New Caliber of Ammunition
The new ammunition has been announced. The Army is going with the vi.8mm circular. This is in between the five.56mm and 7.62mm NATO-standard rifle cartridges. The vi.8mm caliber is supposed to provide increased range, accuracy, and power. The armament is as well lighter enabling soldiers to carry more than of a combat load.
The Sig Sauer NGSW Entrant Looks Familiar
SIG Sauer'south automatic rifle and burglarize designs for the Army'south NGSW contract are more familiar in advent. Their rifle aspirant has a traditional, magazine-fed design with a collapsible stock that allows for more portability. A rear and side charging handle and ambidextrous controls are included.
SIG's automatic rifle aspirant is belt-fed with a disintegrating link chugalug. SIG claims that their automatic rifle design is twoscore percent lighter compared to comparable automatic rifles.
A NGSW Bullpup Would Be Different
Dissimilar SIG Sauer'south NGSW prototypes, both of General Dynamics/LoneStar/Beretta'due south two NGSW entrants are bullpup designs, with magazines loaded backside the trigger. Traditional rifles place the trigger backside the mag and the receiver. A bullpup design would be quite a departure for the Army. The Chinese, British, and French use bullpup weapons, but they may exist unfamiliar to many Army soldiers.
The bullpup is normally shorter with amend weight distribution to improve balance. The bullpup often does not lose ballistic adequacy. This is great for close-quarters combat and for airborne or air assault soldiers who typically prefer a weapon with a more compact design. Bullpups allow soldiers to hands carry them while running or jumping. Some bullpup burglarize designs have less kick and can reduce the muzzle ascension during automatic fire. The bullpup can besides have extra cage velocity.
All the same, many bullpup designs are not good for left-handed shooters as the ejection of the cartridge is ameliorate for righties. Also, the concrete procedure of re-loading is different, and some soldiers may need extra preparation to re-load rapidly. Fixing malfunctions takes some getting used to besides.
I could see a bullpup as a choice for Army Special Forces in an airborne operation that calls for say – a hostage rescue in an enemy-controlled building. This makes sense. Just for every combat soldier in the Ground forces? That seems to exist a stretch. It would exist a big modify for many soldiers.
NGSW. Image Credit: Us War machine.
Does the USArmy Love Sig Sauer that Much?
Merely will SIG Sauer be the winner of the NGSW copmpetition?
They already won the M17/xviii pistol contract for the replacement of the M9 Beretta. The manufacturer's P320 model which the M17 and M18 are based on has spawned three lawsuits for unexplained discharges. The Pentagon conducted a 2018 study that claimed the Sig Sauer M17/M18 testing showed some problems, including accidental discharges if the pistol was dropped onto its dovetail and ejecting live bullets. Sig maintains that all issues have been fixed.
Does the U.s.a. Army really want one manufacturer to supply the pistol, rifle, and automatic rifle? That's not much competition. To be certain, Colt supplied the Thousand-sixteen from 1964 until 1988 when the Army inverse to a dissimilar manufacturer of the weapon. Colt likewise fabricated the venerable M1911 pistol, so yous could say Filly dominated Ground forces firearms for decades.
So, information technology is coming down to a conventional design versus a bullpup design to be appear subsequently this twelvemonth. They would both use the 6.8mm round. Likewise, something new. This competition should create many heated opinions after the winner is called. It volition be an 8-yr contract to make effectually 120,000 total rifles and car guns. Let'due south hope the Army takes the pros and cons of each aspirant very seriously.
Now serving equally 1945's Defense force and National Security Editor, Brent K. Eastwood , Ph.D., is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Futurity Trends in Warfare . He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood .
Source: https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/01/the-us-army-has-big-plans-for-the-new-ngsw-rifle/
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