The US Army NGSW Program
Introduction: The US Army is currently in the midst of the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program. The program was started by the Army as a response to the perceived performance issues of the M4 platform and its 5.56 NATO ammunition. Soldiers noticed issues with the 5.56's ability to reach out to targets while fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan. Soldiers had to rely more heavily on limited numbers of 7.62 NATO caliber weapons to engage targets at greater distances. This lead the Army to ask for a 6.8mm round for its NGSW program. This 6.8mm round not only has to perform better than 5.56, but it also needs to be lighter than current offerings. This lead to some interesting developments in ammunition, including polymer-cased and telescoping ammunition. Currently, the program has narrowed down to three contenders: General Dynamics, Textron Systems, and Sig Sauer. Details: The NGSW program calls for both a standard-issue rifle as well as an