During the NDIA Future Forces Capabilities conference in September, USSOCOM’s Program Manager for SOF Lethality, LTC John M (Tosh) Lancaster (USA), mentioned that the command would be seeking a Extreme Long Range-Sniper Rifle System.
Just before Christmas SOCOM issued a sources sought notice to industry for this capability.
United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is seeking to replace older anti- materiel and anti-personnel rifles such as the M107 and MK15 with a newer system. This Sources Sought Notice will provide valuable market research on state-of-the-art sniper systems.
They are seeking a modular, magazine-fed, multi-caliber capable system which will include barrel configurations with required bolts and barrels of each caliber, required magazines of each caliber, stock, receiver, sound suppressor, ballistic computer, operator manual, cleaning kit, tool kit, bipod, and Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) approved locking hard carrying case.
As envisioned, the ELR-SR weapon system will have a precision fire capability of 2500m. The primary caliber of the system shall be sub-sonic and supersonic capable and if the primary system caliber is not a current DOD-approved munition, system shall be capable of transitioning to a current .300 Norma Magnum DOD-approved munition with a quick- change kit.
In early December Barrett Firearms launched the MRADELR in .416 Barrett which features the MRAD quick barrel change capability to other calibers. Of note, the MRAD serves as the Mk22 Advanced Sniper Rifle which features a .300 NM option.
Responses are due Jan 23, 2024 10:00 am EST.
Interested parties should visit sam.gov/opp/66418ecd71f5498ba4544d889459a6b2
Subsonic capable. Think they’re looking at 8.6 BLK or some other large format subsonic?
There’s nothing ELR about 8.6 BLK.
Didn’t they just get a new rifle recently? They sound like children always wanting the newest iPhone.
That was for the Mk21 PSR replacement. I believe what they are looking for is a direct 50 cal replacement. My understanding was that the 338 NM in the Mk22 ASR was leaning towards a 50 cal replacement in practice, but they are wanting a dedicated M107 replacement.
The only caliber mentioned is .300 Norma Magnum (which they already have). Overall this smells like some sort of Sig Sauer type kickback scheme.
Reading it wrong then. Both the subsonic and 300NM( only kicks in if not in a DOD standard cartridge) both bias toward a 50bmg . If the MRADELR has the action length for it …..416 is quite a bit shorter, but I have a hard time seeing it working well with 300NM.
Great analogy, lets take it one step further.
If your children were in combat and buying them a new Iphone would help get them home safely, would you buy them one?