Soldiers in Alaska recently tested the Army’s new rifle and automatic rifle in -35 F conditions as the weapons approach official fielding to the 101st Airborne Division later this year. Troops fired the XM7 rifle and XM250 automatic rifle, part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon program, at the Cold Regions Test Center at Fort Greeley, Alaska. Testing began in late January and ran through February 9. The XM7 rifle will replace the M4 carbine while the XM250 automatic rifle will replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, both chambered in 6.8mm.
The 6.8mm round intermediate caliber is the first of its kind for U.S. forces, providing users with a heavier round that can be lethal at greater distances and can penetrate barriers that stop the standard issue 5.56mm round. Both weapons feature an advanced fire control system called the XM157, equipped with a ballistics computer to assist shooters with bullet drop and distance compensation. Sig Sauer and Vortex Optics/Sheltered Wings were selected to build the weapons and provide the fire control, respectively.
The Army has allocated $4.5 billion for the 10-year weapons contract, with the XM157 fire control having a cost ceiling of $2.7 billion. The M4 and SAW will remain the primary small arms for non-close combat forces, while the XM7 and XM250 will be fielded by a platoon from the 101st Airborne Division in September. Testing for the NGSW in extreme heat and humidity is scheduled for later this year.
