{"id":46200,"date":"2021-12-24T08:02:55","date_gmt":"2021-12-24T08:02:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/24\/next-generation-squad-weapon-selection-coming-in-2022\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:22:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:22:04","slug":"next-generation-squad-weapon-selection-coming-in-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2021\/12\/24\/next-generation-squad-weapon-selection-coming-in-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Next Generation Squad Weapon selection coming in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The close combat forces\u2019 replacement <\/a>for both the M4 carbine and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon<\/a> is expected to be in troops\u2019 hands in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After more than half-a-century relying on the 5.56 mm round, the Army in 2018 settled on the intermediate caliber 6.8 mm for the Next Generation Squad Weapon<\/a> program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The round falls between 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm calibers in the squad- and platoon-level inventory. The government version of the 6.8 mm actually outperforms the larger 7.62 mm in range, accuracy and lethality, while coming in at a lighter weight than the heavier machine gun caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army leads the program and has companies designing weapon prototypes and a new optic.<\/p>\n\n\n