Is the M4 being replaced?

The Army announced April 20, 2022, that it will procure the new XM5 rifle, which will eventually replace the M4 carbine, through a contract signed with Sig Sauer, a firearms manufacturer.

What gun will replace the M4?

The Army recently announced that the Next Generation Squad Weapon, the XM5 rifle and XM250 light machine gun will replace the M4/M16 rifle and the 249 light machine gun, with some Soldiers expected to receive the weapons by the fourth quarter of 2023.

Is the SIG Spear replacing the M4?

The SIG Sauer MCX Spear (XM5) has been selected to replace the M4 currently used by Army infantry squads.

Is the Navy replacing the M4?

The new weapons will be the XM5 Rifle, set to replace the M4; and the XM250, which is replacing the SAW. They will be renamed the M5 and M250 as they make their way to their first Army unit near the end of 2023.

Will the XM5 replace the M4?

In the spring of 2022 the Army announced that the Next Generation Squad Weapon, consisting of the XM5 rifle and XM250 light machine gun, will replace the M4 carbine, M16 rifle and the M249 light machine gun.

US Army M4 replacement Military NGSW Program Explained

What is the next US military rifle?

The XM7, previously known as the XM5, is the U.S. Army variant of the SIG MCX Spear, a 6.8×51mm (. 277 in), gas-operated, magazine-fed, assault rifle designed by SIG Sauer for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program in 2022 to replace the M4 carbine.

What is the next gen US military rifle?

The Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program is a United States military program created in 2017 to replace the 5.56mm M4 carbine and M249 SAW light machine gun and the 7.62mm M240 machine gun, with a common system of 6.8mm cartridges; and to develop small arms fire-control systems for the new weapons.

What is 5.56 being replaced with?

The service will also switch from 5.56mm ammo to 6.8mm, after a search for rounds better built to penetrate body armor. "Both weapons fire common 6.8 millimeter ammunition utilizing government provided projectiles and vendor-designed cartridges," an Army spokesperson said in a press release.

Is the Navy replacing the f18?

F/A-XX is a development and acquisition program for a future sixth-generation air superiority fighter to replace the United States Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and complement the F-35C beginning in the 2030s.

What rifle do Navy Seals use?

The M4A1 carbine is the primary weapon used by SEAL operators. A shorter, more compact version of the M16A2 rifle, it was specially designed for U.S. Special Operations Forces.

Why is the military switching to 6.8 SPC?

In Army research, officials said, the 6.8 mm round outperforms the 5.56 mm on distance, accuracy and energy for lethal effects on target. That measure counts for lethal effects on either protected or unprotected targets.

What replaced the M4 carbine?

In 2010, the Corps began fielding the M27, a 5.56 mm infantry automatic rifle, to replace both the SAW and M4.

Is the M16 outdated?

The US military has largely replaced the M16 in frontline combat units with a shorter and lighter version, the M4 carbine. In April 2022, the U.S. Army selected the SIG MCX SPEAR as the winner of the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program to replace the M16/M4. The rifle is designated XM7.

What gun does Delta Force use?

Delta Force traditionally relies on the M4 assault rifle along with the HK416 Carbine and M3A1 Grease Gun. Sniper rifles, shotguns, pistols, and explosives provide additional means for defense along with protective gear like camo and armor.

What is the Army's new 6.8 round?

The 6.8mm bullet uses a patented lightweight metallic case that can handle higher pressures, resulting in faster velocity, increased accuracy and greater lethality. The Army will deploy the new weapons next year. But before the military can issue them more widely, it needs to stockpile enough ammunition.

Is the F-35 being replaced?

As a result, the Air Force opted to surge F-15EX procurement so that it could replace its F-15C/Ds as quickly as possible and lower F-35 procurement until the time where the service can buy the more advanced F-35 Block 4 model. The Air Force's F-35 buy will go back up over the next five years, Kendall said.

Is the F-15 being retired?

The F-15E Strike Eagle is expected to continue operating in the USAF into the 2030s. The F-15 remains in service with numerous countries, with production of enhanced variants still ongoing.

Is the F-16 being replaced?

The F-16 will be replaced by the F-35 Lightning II aircraft in the spring. An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing overflies Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin, during a ceremony commemorating the unit's last F-16 to depart Oct. 5, 2022.

Why can't you use 5.56 in a 223?

All other things being equal, a shorter leade results in increased pressure when compared to a longer leade. This means that firing 5.56mm ammunition (which is already loaded to a higher pressure) out of a . 223 Remington chamber can produce dangerous amounts of pressure.

Why does the military use 556 instead of 223?

The cause of this is the lack of pressure built by a 223 Rem cartridge fired from a 5.56 NATO chamber. The 223's 55,000 psi will not be attained and therefore velocity and performance are hurt.

Is a 5.56 or .223 stronger?

5.56 vs 223 Pressure Difference

The 5.56 NATO has a higher pressure than the 223 round and is one of the two major differences. The 5.56 NATO pressure is about 58,000 psi and the 223 round is approximately 55,000 psi.

What weapons will the US Army use in 2023?

The Army plans to field in 2023 a rifle and light machine combination that will replace the standard issue M4 carbine and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon for its close combat force.

Is US Military switching to 6.8 mm?

The Army describes these as part of the “close combat force” which includes infantry, scouts and combat engineers. With the new weapon they'll experience two significant changes. The M5 carbine will fire 6.8 mm rounds as compared with the lighter 5.56 mm ammunition fired by the M4 and M249 (light machine gun).

What rifle is the Marine Corps switching to?

The Mk22 will replace all legacy M40A6 and Mk13 Mod 7 rifles, reducing the sniper rifle inventory from four to three, said Infantry Weapons Program Manager Nick Berger. The option provided by the Mk22 to switch barrels will give Marines the ability to configure the rifle to fire either the . 338 Norma Magnum or .