Recall that the US Department of Defense has announced a tender for the supply of weapons and ammunition under the rearmament program.
Many media outlets are already discussing this news with might and main, and we also have an opinion on this topic. Probably the main event in the world of small arms today. Agree, re-equipping such a colossus as the US Army is not a dozen "Armata" for parades. These are the sums on which not only children can live, but also the grandchildren-great-grandchildren of gunsmiths.
Therefore, in fact, the movement began serious.
In general, the idea of replacing the boring and outdated M4 has been haunting everyone in the Pentagon for a long time. There is nothing supernatural here, it needs to be changed. In the 21st century, the M4 is already incomparable with anything.
In the process of searching for a replacement, they decided at the same time to update the FN Herstal M249 machine gun, aka SAW. By the way, SAW is an abbreviation for Squad Automatic Weapon, "saw" here is rather a successful play of letters. Also nothing like that, we change the rifle, it makes sense to look at the machine gun. There is a certain logic, especially if there is a choice of models and money.
As you know, there are no problems with money in the USA from the word "absolutely", with models …
As an alternative, samples such as the HN416 for the M4 and the FN417 for the M249 were considered in the hope of "making the 7.62" machine gun heavier.
Both versions of the weapon have the ability to change the barrel length by replacement. It is worth noting that the guys from H&K are desperately trying to take over the US Army market, so they even offered such strange solutions as the XM-8, which was supposed to combine both a light machine gun and an assault rifle.
Yes, the experience of the Germans with the HK G36 is fully traceable.
However, none of the proposed designs satisfied the Pentagon. There was no large-scale rearmament.
Now it's worth talking about the days of today.
Today only confirmed the need to upgrade the weapons of the US Army soldier. Necessity was born and grew into an idea under the PEO (Program Executive Office) soldier program, which is an American government organization responsible for the rapid prototyping, procurement and placement of equipment for its soldiers.
Its mission is to "develop, acquire, supply and maintain affordable, integrated state-of-the-art equipment to improve soldier supremacy in army operations today and in the future."
To begin with, let's look at what kind of promising rifle complex the Americans ordered themselves. The conversation will focus on NGSW-AR (Next Generation Squad Weapon Automatic Rifle) - a new generation squad automatic rifle and NGSW-R (Next Generation Squad Weapon Rifle) - a new generation squad rifle, respectively.
Let's consider in more detail the requirements for rifles.
It is worth paying attention to the decoding of the abbreviation FY, where the figure indicates the year for which "everything should be ready." Pretty fast program.
Excerpts from the terms of reference on the example of NGSW-AR
So, KPP (Key Performance Parameters) are the key parameters that must be fulfilled within the framework of the technical task.
1. Strength.
NGSW must be resistant to chemical, radiological, biological and electromagnetic influences.
2. Ease of learning.
The ability to train soldiers in the framework of fire training with a minimum investment of time and resources.
3. Accuracy.
The system must ensure the accuracy requirements specified in the closed annexes to the terms of reference.
4. Weight.
The maximum weight (including tactical equipment) should not exceed 5.4 kg (preferably not exceed 3.6 kg) without ammunition and magazine.
5. Ammunition weight.
The ammunition weight must be at least 20% less than the current ammunition.
KSAa (Key System Atributes) - key system attributes-requirements, recommended for execution, but not critical enough to include them in the KPP list.
1. Reliability.
The system must function in all climatic conditions (cold, heat, normal conditions, with strong exposure to sand and dust)
The resource of the barrel in the ratio of accuracy-spread is not more than 10% for 10,000 shots.
2. Rate of fire.
The recommended rate of fire is 108 rounds per minute for 9 minutes 16 seconds and 300 rounds cyclically without changing the barrel. Let's translate - this is the so-called combat rate of fire. Why exactly 9 minutes and 16 seconds - so far no comment.
3. Modes of shooting.
At least automatic and semi-automatic fire. It is recommended to provide a firing mode with a cut-off of 2 rounds. Accuracy of fire for automatic and semi-automatic fire is not more than 1 MOA.
As a result, the following companies took part in the competition: Textron Systems, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS), VK Integrated Systems, Sig Sauer, Cobalt Kinetics.
Heckler & Koch, as you can see, did not make it to the final. Alas and ah, but true. And here are the finalists.
But with ammunition, the guys of their Textron are more and more interesting. They used a multi-caliber telescopic cartridge system called the Textron 6.8 CT and 7.62 CT. But we will talk about cartridges separately, there just won't be enough space.
Quite a bold decision. With all the external resemblance to a revolving one, it has nothing in common. Its main feature is a double propellant charge: the primary pushes the bullet out of the sleeve into the barrel bore, and the secondary one carries out its acceleration.
Entertaining movie from Textron Systems with a demonstration of work:
Proposal from General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS) with 6.8 True Velocity cartridge.
It is interesting that the complex uses an integrated muffler of its own design, which is manufactured by laser welding of cermet alloys, which, of course, increases the cost.
As a result, Textron, General Dynamics and Sig Sauer reached the final. The US Department of Defense has signed contracts for the supply of experimental batches of weapons and ammunition with all three firms.
Finally, the winner of the competition is the Sig Sauer with the 6.8 Hybrid round.
In this case, the hybrid cartridge is interesting in that it has a multi-piece sleeve (polymer body with a metal capsule).
As a result, we see something completely different from what we had planned and predicted even last year. Heckler & Koch did not win, we can say today that the victory is celebrated by the German concern Sig Sauer. The Germans were not afraid to bet on real innovation and development exactly at the level of the 21st century.
Where did we decide that innovation and latest development? If such really interesting projects lost to the Germans, it remains only to puzzle over what is hidden inside the development of Sig Sauer. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait.
You can argue and argue for a long time (which we will do in the near future) over how effective the German system is and how weapons from Sig Sauer can provide an advantage for the American army, but the fact remains: the first step has been taken by the Americans. And it will lead to the superiority of the American soldier over any enemy or not, time will tell.
