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It’s powerful to say we’re in a peacetime America after we nonetheless have troops in Iraq, Syria, and lord is aware of the place else. Nonetheless, we don’t have battalions of Marines and troopers deploying abroad each month. The navy appears to be taking this time to organize for the following battle. This contains the whole lot from submarines to bombers. Someplace between the 2, we have now a deal with navy firearms.
The present flux state of navy firearms appears targeted on making the common infantryman deadlier. That shouldn’t be a shock. The final 100 yards of any battlefield belong to the infantry. All through the GWOT, firearms steadily grew to become smaller and lighter to be used out and in of automobiles and in city areas.
In 2025, the main target will probably be much less on dimension, weight, and maneuverability and extra on making weapons that shoot additional, with bullets that journey quicker and hit tougher. At the moment, we’ll study the tasks, the projectiles, and the weapons which might be certain to be the way forward for navy firearms.
The Subsequent Era Squad Weapon
Essentially the most well-known of those future navy firearms applications is the Subsequent Era Squad Weapon (NGSW). The U.S. Military launched the NGSW program in 2017. In 2022, the Military introduced that SIG Sauer received the competition, and the MCX SPEAR and SIG LMG 6.8 would turn out to be the XM7 and XM250, respectively.
The intent is to interchange the M4 and M249 within the infantry and fight arms. The concept behind this method was to offer a rifle weapon system that fired a 6.8mm spherical extraordinarily quick with a projectile design able to piercing stage 4 physique armor and to extend the efficient vary of the infantry squad.
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This 6.8x51mm cartridge has a most stress of 80,000 PSI and a pace of three,000 ft per second with a 135-grain cartridge. The cartridge case is a hybrid design with three distinct items. We’ve a metal case head related to a brass physique through an aluminum locking washer.
The XM& and XM250 have an efficient vary of 600 meters. The XM7 weighs 8.4 kilos, which makes it heavier than the M4. The XM250 weighs 13 kilos, making it lighter than the M249 SAW.
The brand new weapon system promised to be one of many Military’s most superior. The Marine Corps hasn’t formally adopted the platform however doubtless will if the U.S. Military deems it match for service.
There have been loads of naysayers within the navy firearms world. The XM7, specifically, is seen as a step again. The heavier, higher-recoiling rifle looks like a return to the battle rifle reasonably than an evolution of the assault rifle.
The Light-weight Medium Machine Gun
Learn extra concerning the SIG LMG at Wikipedia
The Marine Corps and SOCOM have been in search of a weapon able to offering the vary of the M2 with out the load of the .50 BMG platform. The final word aim is a machine that sits between the M2 and the M240. This created the Light-weight Medium Machine Gun program.
This system makes use of the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge. It was introduced in 2017, and by October 1st, 2024, there was speculated to be a winner, however as of this writing, this has not been established. Three machine gun candidates have undergone testing with SOCOM.
Succesful Army Firearms
This contains the SIG MG 338, the True Velocity Recoil Mitigation 338, and the Ohio Ordnance Works Recoil Enhanced Computerized Precision Rifle. The SIG is the lightest at 24.1 kilos, making it lighter than the M240 by barely greater than three kilos. All entrants are lighter than the M240 and have recoil-reducing expertise.
The brand new .338 Norma Magnum LMMG could have a variety of as much as 2,000 meters. This mixed light-weight design and long-range offers a man-portable medium machine gun that may lengthen troops’ most contact distance and ship lethal, correct hearth. The .338 Norma Magnum has confirmed efficient at lengthy ranges and has wonderful barrier penetration.
The techniques range considerably. SIG affords a closed-to-open bolt design to maximise reliability and cooling. SIG and Ohio Ordancne supply ambidextrous controls and the power to swap the feeding mechanism from proper to left. The True Velocity choice seems to be a beefed-up M240, which most troopers will probably be acquainted with.
Mk22 Mod 0 Superior Sniper Rifle
The Marine Corps and SOCOM just like the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge. It’s highly effective, correct, and succesful. It’s no shock it was the winner of the Superior Sniper Rifle contest alongside the Barrett MRAD. The pair mix to make the Mk22 Mod 0 Sniper Rifle. This platform could have the identical vary because the Barrett .50 BMG however not the load related to the huge spherical.
The Mk 22 Mod 0 has an efficient vary of 1,500 meters, proper on the precipice of a mile. The MRAD platform can be inherently modular and straightforward to swap between barrels and calibers. Its large monolithic scope rail system can accommodate a wide range of trendy optics.
The platform maintains bolt-action precision with wonderful energy. The Marine Corps adopted these navy firearms simply in time to see snipers eradicated as an entire—a tragic day for the Corps, to make certain. SOCOM will nonetheless be fielding this modular sniper rifle system, so it received’t disappear anytime quickly. The Mk22 Mod 0 Superior Sniper Rifle brings a .50 caliber vary with out the .50 caliber weight and recoil.
Precision Grenadier System
Traditionally, grenade launchers have been weapons designed to be primarily fired in an arc. This contains rifle grenades and 40mm launchers just like the M203 and M320. They’ve had restricted vary, and the arcing movement of the grenade being fired has lengthy created points with accuracy and efficient vary.
The Military launched the Precision Grenadier System to beat these issues with the standard grenade launcher and so as to add some strengths to the Grenadier system. The Military is testing techniques from Barrett and FN, which have severe XM25 vibes. These 30 mm techniques supply a direct-fire design and combine programmable airburst grenades.
These navy firearms intention to be the final word counter defilade device and can flip cowl into concealment. Whereas precise particulars on the system’s strategies are scant, the optic will program the grenade when to blow up. Think about a grenade crusing proper over cowl and exploding, killing the enemy behind it.
Each Barrett and FN’s techniques look and deal with lots like assault rifles. They’ve a rifle-like structure, are computerized, and feed from magazines. They’ve an M4 look however are a lot busier, with weight being stored below 15 kilos.
The Precision Grenadier system appears to be one of many extra superior weapons that would arm navy forces. This method may very well be an infantry sport changer if it features as marketed. Barrett has proven grenades, anti-armor, and anti-drone cartridges. FN’s been a bit extra secretive with their platform.
New Optics
It’s powerful to shoot additional on these platforms with out with the ability to see your goal. The U.S. Military and US Marine Corps have leaned into extra succesful optic techniques for the common grunt.
Vortex XM157
The Vortex XM157 isn’t only a scope; it’s a Fireplace Management system. It’s a mix of optics and computer systems to create a high-tech LPVO with a 1-8X magnification on the system’s core. The XM157 makes use of a built-in laser vary finder, a ballistic solver, environmental sensors, aiming lasers, a digital compass, and a wi-fi communication potential.
It should clear up ballistic issues for you. It calculates drop and windage to offer an aiming level to make the common grunt as correct as a pc. The Barrett PGS additionally makes use of the XM157. The XM157 preliminary experiences present an actual insecurity within the system.
VCOG 1-8X
The USMC has lastly mentioned goodbye to the ACOG. As an alternative, they’ve adopted the Trijicon VCOG. The VCOG is a 1-8X LPVO constructed like a brick home. It’s enormous, heavy, and difficult sufficient to cope with 18-year-old Marines.
These techniques are spreading throughout the Marine Corps to offer Marines with a device for efficient hearth at longer ranges and for better-establishing identification of the enemy.
Additional, Sooner, Deadlier, and Quieter?
Suppressors have shortly moved from being the instruments of particular operators to changing into extraordinarily helpful for the common grunt. The USMC experimented with a battalion of Marines that utilized suppressed weapons. They discovered that it elevated command and management considerably.
The U.S. Military is fielding the XM7 with a SIG-made suppressor. It’s seemingly crucial with the weapon’s quick barrel and high-pressure cartridge. The suppressor will reduce quantity but in addition reduce muzzle flash, which can doubtless be extraordinarily current with the high-powered cartridge.
The USMC is stacking its M27 rifles with LPVOs and now suppressors, particularly Knight’s Armament NT4. The NT4 won’t be the quietest, but it surely’s identified for its sturdiness, which is crucial with 18-year-old soldiers.
READ MORE: Meet the SIG MGO and WARP System — SHOT Present 2025
The light-weight medium machine gun program can be requesting a suppressed barrel to accommodate every of the entrants. This isn’t stunning, as machine weapons are very seen targets, and a suppressor would assist conceal them.
What’s Subsequent With Army Firearms?
That’s at all times the large query. What’s subsequent for navy firearms? Will the M7 collection succeed? Or will the M4 show it’s nonetheless king of the hill? Are equipment the longer term? It is going to be an fascinating and thrilling time to see navy firearm growth. What are your ideas? Share beneath!
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