In the United States, they continue to present new models of automatic weapons, which are being developed as part of the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program. All small arms models designed under this program are created for the new 6.8 mm cartridge, which should replace the standard NATO ammunition of 5, 56x45 mm caliber. The Ordnance and Tactical Systems division (ammunition and tactical systems) of General Dynamics has recently presented new items. We are talking about the RM277 line of small arms, made in the bullpup layout.
The new weapon should replace the well-known M4 automatic carbine and M249 SAW light machine gun in the American army, SAW literally translates from English as "saw", but in fact it is an abbreviation for Squad Automatic Weapon - an automatic squad weapon. According to the new American program, this weapon should leave the scene by 2025, and the transition to new models of small arms chambered for 6, 8-mm will begin in 2023. Within the framework of the Next Generation Squad Weapons program (small arms of a new generation squad), two weapon models are being created: NGSW-R to replace the M4 automatic carbine and NGSW-AR to replace the M249 machine gun. The reason for abandoning weapons chambered for 5, 56 mm is quite commonplace. The American military has long become disillusioned with low-impulse ammunition, which has insufficient stopping power and low penetration. It is assumed that the new 6, 8 mm cartridges will not be able to withstand most modern body armor. First of all, the American military fears the successes of the armies of Russia and the PRC in the field of creating modern combat equipment for military personnel. The transition to a new caliber of small arms is a kind of element of the eternal confrontation between armor and a projectile.
Presentation of the RM277 line from General Dynamics-OTS
The fact that General Dynamics was participating in the competition for the creation of new models of small arms for the American army was known before, but there was practically no specifics. The company carefully kept its work on the NGSW project a secret. Despite this secrecy regime, information has already appeared in the American press that the company is preparing a line of small arms built according to the bullpup scheme. These rumors were officially confirmed on October 14, 2019, when General Dynamics-OTS unveiled a new line of self-developed small arms at the AUSA-2019 annual exhibition and conference of the United States Army Association, which was held in Washington.
At the same time, the company still does not disclose details about its models, presenting to the public the appearance of the samples and a colorful advertising video. General Dynamics-OTS notes that in accordance with corporate policy, they do not issue press releases for those products that still participate in an open tender and compete with the developments of other manufacturers. It is known that SIG Sauer and Textron are currently participating in the NGSW competition. Unlike the last two companies, General Dynamics specialists use a single architecture for their line of weapons chambered for 6, 8 mm and are the only ones who have turned to the bullpup scheme.
The designation of the entire RM277 line is a direct reference to the caliber of the ammunition used in terms of inches (6, 8 mm cartridge is designated as.277). The prospects for all small arms projects participating in the competition are not yet fully clear. The US military expects to decide on weapon models to replace the automatic carbine and light machine gun chambered for 5.66 mm in 2022. In any case, with the advent of the new line, the likelihood that the US military will be armed with modern, exotic bullpup models of small arms has only increased. It is already clear that competition between manufacturers promises to be very fierce, multibillion-dollar contracts are at stake.
Features of the presented models RM277
The main feature of the presented line of small arms RM277 is that when creating it, the designers of General Dynamics turned to the bullpup layout. Today, this is a bold decision, given the fact that the US military has previously rejected such models of small arms in favor of traditional models. Today it is already an emerging trend. Earlier, the French army decided to abandon its own FAMAS rifle in favor of the HK-416 assault rifle of the classic layout, developed by the gunsmiths of Heckler & Koch. Apparently, the Chinese armed forces have followed the same path, where, at the parade in honor of the 70th anniversary of the PRC, for the first time they massively demonstrated the new QBZ-191 assault rifle (preliminary designation), which will replace the QBZ-95 assault rifle, made in the bull -dad.
It is worth noting that with this arrangement, the trigger is brought forward, it is located in front of the magazine and the firing mechanism. The layout has a number of obvious advantages, the main one of which is the reduction in the overall length of the weapon without reducing the length of the barrel. Such models are more compact compared to automatic weapons of the classic layout. An important advantage is also a very small recoil shoulder, which increases the accuracy of fire in bursts, the weapon almost does not throw up when firing.
Another feature of the presented RM277 samples, which can be attributed to the advantages, is the use of a single architecture for models intended to replace an automatic carbine and a light machine gun. This approach leads to easier maintenance of weapons, and also simplifies the production and operation of models that are almost completely interchangeable in parts. However, on the other hand, this can be called a disadvantage. The models presented at the exhibition in Washington actually differed from each other only in the length of the barrel and the presence / absence of bipods. Two models, one of which is positioned as a replacement for the M249 light machine gun, are powered from detachable box magazines. The exhibition featured stores for 20 rounds. For an automatic squad support weapon, such a magazine capacity is clearly not enough. At the same time, competing models from SIG Sauer and Textron have belt-fed cartridges.
Another distinctive feature of the RM277 samples presented at the AUSA-2019 exhibition is a muffler of an unusual shape from Delta P Design. Externally, the muffler, which also serves as a flame arrester, is a massive knob at the end of the barrel. From a purely visual point of view, it looks very doubtful, resembling an aluminum can with a volume of 0.33 liters in shape. At the same time, the presented muffler is a subject of modern technology, one might say hi-tech of the arms world. The muffler from Delta P Design is a fully monolithic 3D printed part. The muffler is made on a 3D printer by laser sintering a special metal composite, usually the company produces mufflers in two versions: titanium and inconel (nickel-chromium heat-resistant alloy).
From what was presented at the exhibition in Washington, it can be concluded that the RM277 models can be altered for use by right-handers or left-handers, for modern small arms this is already a fairly common option. The barrel of the presented samples is lightened by grooved / dolly grooves and ends with a wide silencer. A long Picatinny rail is attached to the top of the weapon, while it is complemented by side mounts of the M-Lok type. On the side of the presented models is a folding mechanical sight, which consists of a rear sight and a front sight shifted to the side. Both small arms presented are equipped with standard AR-15 compatible pistol grips with a safety lock similar to the AR-15 / M16 / M4 rifles. The fire mode translator is separated from the fuse.
6.8mm polymer cartridge
New models of small arms created under the NGSW program have acquired their own cartridge. At the exhibition in Washington, they showed a 6, 8-mm cartridge of a new generation from True Velocity Inc, which announced that it was their ammunition that was officially selected for this program. The novelty is completed with a polymer sleeve and a metal base (flange). The new 6.8mm cartridge was designated.277 TVCM.
The use of new ammunition with a polymer sleeve provides a number of obvious advantages at once:
- a significant reduction in the total weight of the cartridge;
- reducing the production cost of ammunition;
- reducing the heating of the weapon when firing;
- increasing the service life of small arms and their elements;
- resistance of ammunition to oxidation and corrosion;
- complete processing of casings and ease of adaptation to different calibers;
- the ability to easily identify cartridges for various purposes by changing the color of the polymer sleeve.
According to the developer company, this cartridge is about 30 percent lighter than similar ammunition with a brass sleeve. The use of modern materials allows to reduce the weight of the product, the load on the soldier, provides material and technical savings and increases the efficiency of the use of weapons. It was announced that the new cartridge is compatible with the RM277 weapon line from General Dynamics OTS presented at the exhibition. According to the assurances of the developers, the cartridge with a polymer sleeve allows to increase the firing accuracy by reducing the recoil momentum, as well as the effective firing range in comparison with traditional ammunition.
