/ world today news/ Next year, the Pentagon will receive the first tangible results of the “Next Generation Platoon Weapon” program. Read what’s behind that name and how American soldiers will fight.
Russian armor penetration
The program started back in 2017 – the Pentagon needs to replace the M4 assault rifle and the M249 machine gun. They have tried to find an alternative before, but either ran into a lack of funding or the projects became obsolete before they could be implemented.
The AR-15 family – the M16 and various variants of the M4 – has been the primary weapon of the American soldier for nearly half a century, dating back to the Vietnam War. It is not as durable as Kalashnikov, but it has many advantages.
But unlike the Middle Eastern terrorists, both Russia and China equip infantry with bulletproof vests, and the M4 didn’t fare well against them.
More powerful and more dangerous
One of the main requirements for the new weapon is armor-piercing capability at long distances. Designers offer several solutions.
The American branch of the German company ZIG Sauer is developing the XM7 assault rifle. The main feature is the caliber .277 “Fury” (6.8×51 millimeters).
“This is necessary for better penetration of body armor, increasing accuracy and lethality at long distances. The project began in 2017, when significant gaps in the firepower of existing models were identified,” notes the American portal “Army Times”.
This cartridge has increased energy, allowing it to overcome obstacles that would alter the trajectory of a 5.45 caliber. This was confirmed by tests at the Aberdeen test site in Maryland.
The XM250 machine gun is the same 6.8 caliber.
“Several shots pierced cinder blocks and hit the target in the form of a human silhouette, while only one 5.56 mm bullet was able to damage this material,” the publication emphasizes.
Compared to another NATO-issued .308 caliber (7.62x51mm), the cartridge, with similar lethality and higher muzzle velocity, is lighter and smaller.
Own price
We have to pay for it with size and convenience. The magazine only holds 20 rounds. In addition, the rifle is significantly heavier than the M4A1 – 3.8 kilograms against 2.88.
In the base configuration, the XM7 also comes with a silencer, which increases the weight to 4.4 kilograms. The expected load for one soldier, as indicated by the American portal “Military”, is seven magazines of 20 rounds, which is another 4.4 kilograms. The M4 holds 210 rounds in the same magazines and weighs one pound less.
“I hope it’s worth it, requiring soldiers to carry extra weight and at the same time less ammunition,” the publication quoted one of the servicemen as saying on condition of anonymity.
It is even more difficult for machine guns: 400 cartridges and 12 kilograms (for M249 – 600 and nine, respectively).
Other differences
The rifle will also receive the XM157 fire control system from Vortex Optics: a variable magnification sight, a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer and a compass.
According to the developers, with this system, the soldier just needs to aim at the target and press the trigger: the electronics will perform the necessary calculations by themselves, taking into account the distance.
The total value of the ten-year contract to rearm the troops with rifles and machine guns is 4.5 billion dollars. “Vortex Optics” will receive another 2.7 billion.
The first in September were the military from the 101st Airborne Division, who participated in the tests. Starting in the new year, regular deliveries to all parts of the US military will begin.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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