The Department of Defense has posted this announcement:
Sig Sauer Inc., Newington, New Hampshire, was awarded a $4,500,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the manufacture and delivery of the XM5 Next Generation Squad Weapon Rifle, the XM250 NGSW Automatic Rifle and the 6.8 Common Cartridge Family of Ammunition, as well as accessories, spares and contractor support. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 18, 2032. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-22-D-0008). (Awarded April 19, 2022)
$4.5b?
The number was 20.4 million 3 days ago.
The ceiling is $4.5 Billion. They are obligating $20 million now.
So are they going to be making these DoD-wide instead of Army-only? If not, we’re only creating a big logistics problem.
Time will tell. Hell, we still had some M14s in the Air Force and Navy on the late 90s.
Hell. we had M-14s in Iraq and Afghanistan, probably still in some arms rooms.
@Yawnz depends on if the other services want to take part. The Navy an. Airforce decided to take part in the M17 Modular Handgun System. So it is possible they might. However the intent right now as I understand it is that the NGSW is going to the close combat force. There aren’t too many of those who meet the definition of that in those branches, and those that do are traditionally not considered important (e.g. ‘If you’re not a fighter pilot, you are worthless.’).
Whether the Navy or Air Force will bother for those elements of their organizations remains to be seen.
The XM250 is a much needed replacement for the M249 but the XM5 will flop, from the videos I’ve seen that thing kicks like a mule. It’s essentially a throwback to the M14.
I believe the NGSW program is a waste of money. The rifle is no better than the FN SCAR or Designated Marksman rifle already in service. We could save a lot of money by using the composite case ammunition from true velocity in 7.62 and the current rifles. The suppressor on the NGSW is not needed. Rifle fire location systems such as the Boomerang use the shock wave from the projectile to locate the point of origin. The fire locator could still locate our troops with suppressors on the rifles unless the projectile is subsonic. Most engagements will still take place within 300 yards, the M80A1 and M1158 rounds are powerful enough to penetrate most body armor at that range.
I believe the NGSW program is a waste of money. The rifle is no better than the FN SCAR or Designated Marksman rifle already in service. We could save a lot of money by using the composite case ammunition from true velocity in 7.62 and the current rifles. The suppressor on the NGSW is not needed. Rifle fire location systems such as the Boomerang use the shock wave from the projectile to locate the point of origin. The fire locator could still locate our troops with suppressors on the rifles unless the projectile is subsonic.