The Marine Corps is not yet finished deploying M27 infantry automatic rifles to all of its grunt units as a new standard service weapon, but it is already considering the Army’s Next Generation Squad weapon as its next infantry rifle.
The experimental 6.8mm NGSW is in the final stages of testing as three companies vie for the chance to replace the Army’s M4A1 rifle and automatic weapon with rifle and rifle variants of the futuristic weapon system from exercise 2023.
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As the Corps deliberates on its commitment to the NGSW, it is working to complete the issuance of the M27 to the infantry Marines by the end of this exercise, officials said in a recent statement.
The M27 was initially deployed in 2011 in infantry units as a replacement for the M249 squad’s automatic weapon, but the popularity of the Heckler & Koch weapon prompted the Corps to significantly expand the deployment in January 2018.
“The rifle has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Marines,” Marine Corps Systems Command officials said in a statement. “These returns led to the Marine Corps decision to deploy the M27 to all rifle platoons as the primary individual weapon.”
But in the same announcement, the Corps also said it would “partner with the military to procure the next generation squad weapon system,” which would then be replace the M27 as the primary personal weapon for infantry units.
“The NGSW will give a significant boost to soldier and Navy lethality,” officials added.
The Marines “could receive the first deliveries of the NGSW as early as fiscal 2025,” Major Mike Brisker, Weapons Products Manager for MCSC’s Infantry Weapons Program Manager, said in a statement.
But asked for further comment, Systems Command officials played down the certainty in the published statements.
In a written response, Marine Corps officials confirmed that the service was “participating in and providing significant support” to the Army’s NGSW effort, but said “no decision had been made to procure either variant of the NGSW “.
The NGSW has created a great deal of excitement in the combat arms community, especially with its 6.8mm projectile, designed to penetrate modern enemy body armor at ranges well beyond the current round-robin shell. Improved performance M855A1 by 5.56mm.
The United States Special Operations Command plans to deploy the two variants to units, including the 75th Ranger Regiment, as soon as they become available, Col. Joel Babbitt, the head of the military, told Military.com recently. Special Operations Forces Warrior program.
To be fair, the military is far from having completed testing and is unlikely to select a single company to manufacture both variants until the first quarter of fiscal 2022. Commissioning of soldiers would begin a year later.
“The Marine Corps will continue to participate and assess NGSW solutions in terms of maturity, suitability and affordability to meet our operational requirements to inform a decision on whether and when to begin. purchasing these enhanced capabilities, “Marine Corps officials said in the statement. .
“If a decision is made to procure the NGSW, the Marine Corps will assess the reissue of the M27 [from infantry units] to other units of the Fleet Marine Force. “
– Matthew Cox can be contacted at [email protected]
Related: Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon A Big Success With SOCOM
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