The U.S. Army’s search to replace the M249 continues and it has finally selected Textron and 4 more companies to help develop the Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle (NGSAR). In its requirements for this new weapon, it wants that it be lighter than M249.

According to Military.com’s Matthew Cox, writing for the Kit-Up! Blog, single contracts were awarded to AAI Corporation/Textron Systems, General Dynamics-OTS Inc., PCP Tactical LLC and Sig Sauer Inc.  FN America LLC, the U.S.-arm of FN Herstal, the maker of the M249, has been awarded two contracts.

Textron is mentioned here, as previously it was in the news developing a Cased-Telescoped (CT) Weapons & Ammunition that will be able to help lower the weight of the NGSAR as based on the requirements of the U.S. Army. With the additional companies, this will help the U.S. Army able to harness the best possible weapon design.

The companies are expected within 12 months, to submit one weapon, a fire-control system and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

Army Pvt. Michael Rojas fires an M249 light machine gun during in Djibouti, 2 May 2017
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas M. Byers/Source: Defense.gov)

The full requirements of the U.S. Army for the NGSAR is that it should weigh no more than 12lbs., the fire control system to be less than 3lbs, and the its length should be at a maximum 35 inches. The ammo should we less than the current brass ammo, which the CT from Textron should be able to meet, can have a sustained fire of 60 rounds per minute for the 15 minutes.

So far, there is no mention of what caliber the weapon should be. The U.S. Army are looking for a replacement to the 5.56mm and they have not yet settled on, though the 7.62mm round seems to be a strong candidate as the 5.56mm round may not be effective to penetrate body armor of potential enemies of the U.S.

Top photo:  U.S. Army Spc. Shane Storey fires his M249  in Afghanistan (Source: Wikimedia)