What gun is replacing the M4?

The Army announced April 20, 2022, that it had signed a contract to procure the new XM5 rifle, which will eventually replace the M4 carbine. Burris said the Army was able to do in 27 months what might otherwise have taken anywhere from eight to 10 years.

What rifles will replace the M4?

The M4 Replacement Going Forward

The 2023 fiscal budget for the Army calls for 16,348 rifles, 1,704 automatic rifles, and 17,164 fire control modules. The “X” in the XM5 and XM250 will be replaced based on standard Army naming conventions once the rifle is in the field.

Is the SIG Spear replacing the M4?

The SIG Sauer MCX Spear (XM5) has been selected to replace the M4 currently used by Army infantry squads. Photo courtesy of SIG Sauer. SIG Sauer's MCX Spear, or XM5, rifle features ambidextrous controls and weighs about 8.4 pounds, making it slightly heavier than the current M4, which typically weighs about 7.3 pounds.

What is the military's new rifle?

On 19 April 2022, the Army awarded a 10-year contract to SIG Sauer to produce the XM7 rifle, along with the XM250 light machine gun, to replace the M4 and M249, respectively.

What is the Army's new 6.8 round?

The M5 carbine will fire 6.8 mm rounds as compared with the lighter 5.56 mm ammunition fired by the M4 and M249 (light machine gun). The NGSW System also marks the beginning of an era where combat weapons are coupled with a suppressor as standard issue equipment.

US Army M4 replacement Military NGSW Program Explained

What caliber is 6.8 equal to?

Based on the . 30 Remington cartridge, it is midway between the 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO in bore diameter. It uses the same diameter bullet (usually not the same mass) as the . 270 Winchester hunting cartridge.

Why is the military switching to 6.8 SPC?

Switching to 6.8mm ammunition should provide extended range and power over the current 5.56mm round without the bulk of 7.62mm, desired attributes after witnessing the smaller round's limitations during the Global War on Terror. Brig. Gen.

What gun is the US Army switching to?

The Army has announced a name change for its forthcoming individual service rifle. Formerly designated the XM5 to replace the M4 carbine, the Army now plans to call the 6.8mm rifle the XM7.

Will 5.56 be replaced?

The service will also switch from 5.56mm ammo to 6.8mm, after a search for rounds better built to penetrate body armor. "Both weapons fire common 6.8 millimeter ammunition utilizing government provided projectiles and vendor-designed cartridges," an Army spokesperson said in a press release.

What are the three new Army rifles?

The Army recently announced that the Next Generation Squad Weapon, the XM5 rifle and XM250 light machine gun will replace the M4/M16 rifle and the 249 light machine gun, with some Soldiers expected to receive the weapons by the fourth quarter of 2023.

What is the current USMC rifle?

The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) is a 5.56mm select-fire assault rifle, based on the HK416 by Heckler & Koch. It is used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and is intended to be issued to all infantry riflemen as well as automatic riflemen.

Is the M5 replacing the M4?

The initial units of United States Army soldiers will receive the M5 rifle, as well as the M250 automatic rifle, which will replace the M4 Carbine and M249 light machine gun respectively.

What replaced the M16?

The M4 came about when the U.S. Pentagon began a competition to replace the M16 Rifle with a carbine design using a shorter barrel for close-quarter combat.

What is the military switching the M4 with?

In April 2022, the U.S. Army selected the SIG MCX Spear, designated the XM7, as the winner of the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program to replace the M16/M4.

What will replace the AR-15?

Plenty of those vendors offered the AR-15, the most popular and customizable American rifle for more than 50 years, typically chambered with the 5.56 NATO round. But people attending that show say they're looking forward to the AR-15's successor, Sig Sauer's MCX Spear, chambered with the new .

Is AR-15 better than M4?

When you get down to it, the M4 vs AR15 question is really pretty simple: it's basically the same thing. A military M4 is slightly shorter and has the ability to fire in full-auto.

Will 7.62 NATO be replaced?

The U.S. Special Operations Command plans to begin fielding of the 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridge in early 2019 to replace the 7.62×51mm NATO round in semi-automatic sniper rifles.

What can stop a 5.56 round?

Is the military switching to Glock?

The Glock 19 has become the official sidearm of numerous special operations forces. Army Special Forces, Delta Force, Rangers, and even the CIA and FBI use it. The Navy SEALs call it the Mk27, the British call it the L131A1, the Marine Corps calls it the M007, but most everyone else calls it the Glock 19.

Is the US Army getting a new rifle?

Last April, the Army awarded a contract to Sig Sauer to produce the Next Generation Squad Weapon — or NGSW — XM7 Rifle, XM250 Automatic Rifle and a 6.8mm family of ammunition to replace the M4A1 Carbine, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and 5.56mm family of ammunition within the close combat force.

Is M4 better than AK 47?

The AK47 does not have nearly the same problems as the M4. When it comes to accuracy, it's all about who is shooting it, but both are comparable when it comes to accuracy. The round size is the other difference. You cannot have as heavy a round with the 5.56, so there is only so much you can do.

What are the newest U.S. Army weapons?

The XM7 Rifle and XM250 Automatic Rifle, designed by Sig Sauer, are set to replace the M4A1 Carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon within the next decade. Sig was awarded the contract for the initiative, called the Next Generation Squad Weapons, or NGSW, program, in 2022.

Can 6.8 penetrate body armor?

“This weapon has an accurate range far in excess of any known existing military rifle today. It will fire at speeds that far exceed the velocity of bullets today,” he said. It will penetrate any known body armor or any expected to be developed in the next 25 years, he added.

What is the main rifle of the US Army?

The M4/M4A1 5.56mm Carbine is a lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder fired weapon with a collapsible stock. It is now the standard issue firearm for most units in the U.S. military.

Is a 6.8 bigger than a 308?

308 cartridges are only a little taller than 6.8 SPC but the projectiles for 308 are significantly bigger. This is a larger caliber that will fit the AR-10 platform and you'll find several bolt action rifles chambered in 308 WIN as well.