Soldier Systems: US Army Considers Adopting an Interim Battle Rifle in 7.62 NATO

[HCM]

I've been told the biggest issue with that right now is the power and weight requirements (which are admittedly very large hurdles). It's not like the technology itself hasn't been around, it's my understanding that it would be a scaled down version of what tankers use to generate targeting data. I've even been told they're figuring out ways to account for mirage.

Sounds like Tracking-Point.

[JAD]

If I didn't read rfis for a living I sure wouldn't read them for fun.

This one is not unusual.

[LittleLebowski]

Grandpa doesn't know as much about rifles as he thinks he does.

Calls for a new intermediate caliber rifle seem to be increasing daily...there are a number of assertions in the complete statement I disagree with, but nevertheless it is yet another voice calling for an intermediate caliber solution.

Soldier Systems: Statement for the Record Senate Armed Services Committee: Airland Subcommittee May 18, 2017–MG Robert H. Scales, USA (Ret)

For the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, we request that you authorize 100 Million dollars to support an open competition to development a new family of dominant small arms. This single authorization should expire in a year. The effort should be run and overseen by ground combat arms officers and Non-Commissioned Officers. The Executive for managing this effort should be a consortium of the Ground Service Chiefs and the Commander, Special Operations Command. No acquisition agencies from any service should be involved in executive decision making or the management of the competition.

Competition will be open to anyone, small business, big business, foreign, domestic or even clever individuals. After one year the consortium leadership will conduct the shoot- off. The shoot off will be open to all services, the media and congress and anyone from the public who is interested. Results will be scored and posted daily on a web site.

The new rifle requirements document will be one page. It will speculate only six characteristics:

· First the rifle must be modular capable of being converted in the field to a carbine, rifle, machine gun or sniper rifle.

· Second, it will fire an intermediate caliber bullet probably a military version of the venerable Remington 270.

· Third, the rifle will be suppressed. A muzzle suppressor greatly reduces a rifle’s report and in the confusion of a close fight a quieter rifle gives a decided advantage.

· Fourth, the new rifle will use a solid recoiling action like most first-rate assault rifles.

· Fifth, the rifle should have a snap on digital sight capable of killing reliably to a range in excess of 1,000 meters.

· Sixth, the rifle should be able to fire ammunition in a polymer casing. Polymer rounds weigh 30% less than brass cartridge casings.

A desirable feature would be an attachment to allow the rifle to fire belted ammunition.

The winner would be awarded about 100 million dollars to manufacture the first 100,000 rifles, enough to equip all close combat small units in the Army and Marine Corps as well as those who fight close to the infantry to include Sappers, Fire Support Teams, and intelligence specialists. The rest of the Army and Marine Corps will do just fine with the M-4…for now.

[JSGlock34]

I disagree with many of the General's remarks. Unfortunately it seems we're about to repeat the camouflage selection debacle with rifles, with every service pursuing their own version of Excalibur. Between LSAT, the Army interim 7.62mm proposal, the dueling USMC RFI and M27 interest, the SOCOM intermediate cartridge proposal and USASOC upper receiver group...how many of these programs do we really need?

Meanwhile, M4A1s continue to enter service with a 7" RAS. Here's an interim solution for everyone that won't break the bank until we actually decide what intermediate cartridge we want...a URG (possibly mid-length if Crane determines the longer gas system plays better with M855A1) with an MLOK free float rail, a better Geissele trigger, MCT GEN3 PMAGs for the M855A1 cartridge, and a LPV optic...

[Drang]

I disagree with many of the General's remarks. Unfortunately it seems we're about to repeat the camouflage selection debacle with rifles, with every service pursuing their own version of Excalibur. Between LSAT, the Army interim 7.62mm proposal, the dueling USMC RFI and M27 interest, the SOCOM intermediate cartridge proposal and USASOC upper receiver group...how many of these programs do we really need?

I would like to think that one of these projects will produce a solution that is clearly superior to the others, and we will return to something resembling sanity.

[Inkwell 41]

So, an offering from "La Mancha Arms" has a pretty good chance to be selected? I need to go register that domain name.

[HCM]

http://soldiersystems.net/2017/05/25...tter/#comments

During the US Small Arms Renaissance, “Best” Is The Enemy Of “Better”

[LittleLebowski]

This is so painfully stupid that it hurts.

https://kitup.military.com/2017/05/m...ody-armor.html

Note the bullshit following of the liberal Narrative:

Now Milley wants to give the Army’s most deployable infantry units a 7.62mm alternative to the M4 in case they are thrown into a fight with Russian or North Korean forces equipped with modern rifle plates.

[ReverendMeat]

Reason why I drink #216: The comments underneath that article.

[HCM]

A different POV on so called "over match" from Jose G. For those not familiar with Jose, he has a similar professional background to "Roland" aka Chuck Pressburg. He knows his business.