In a massive fillip to small arms, the U.S. Army has awarded a 10-year, $20.4 million deal to Sig Sauer for the XM5 Rifle and the XM250 Automatic Rifle. This April 2023 announcement is an important milestone in the service’s efforts to replace the venerable M4 rifle and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.
One of the goals is a common 6.8mm ammunition for the XM5 Rifle, the future standard-issue rifle for soldiers, and the XM250 Automatic Rifle, which will replace the SAW. This is a strategic move away from traditional 5.56mm and 7.62mm rounds to enhance their performance characteristics, particularly penetration, against emerging body armor threats.
“Both weapons fire common 6.8-millimeter ammunition utilizing government-provided projectiles and vendor-designed cartridges,” an Army spokesperson explained in a press release. “The new ammunition includes multiple types of tactical and training rounds that increase accuracy and are more lethal against emerging threats than both the 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition.”
This was after a 27-month-long assessment in which other defense contractors like General Dynamics had vied to become the Army’s small arms provider. Vortex Optics will produce the XM157 Fire Control optic and integrate it into both the XM5 Rifle and the XM250 Automatic Rifle. This state-of-the-art optic includes a laser range finder, ballistic calculator, visible and infrared lasers, and a compass, these devices combined help provide enhanced targeting for soldiers.
“The new ammunition includes multiple types of tactical and training rounds that increase accuracy and are more lethal against emerging threats than both the 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition,” the Army spokesperson stated.
While how many of these weapons the Army plans on purchasing during this decade-long contract is yet to be determined, the service, in its proposed 2023 budget, requests 29,046 new weapons. This budget proposal has yet to be approved by Congress before the full procurement process can start.
The replacement of M4 rifles and M249 SAWs with the XM5 Rifle and XM250 Automatic Rifle reflects a significant modernization drive in the Army small-arms arsenal. As the service works to equip its soldiers with more capable and lethal arms, the effort from this contract will reverberate throughout the force, ensuring the Army remains ready and lethal against current and emerging threats.