{"id":66758,"date":"2019-06-27T14:31:39","date_gmt":"2019-06-27T14:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/06\/27\/new-research-shows-the-army-could-soon-develop-a-rifle-with-hyper-velocity-rounds\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:09:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:09:15","slug":"new-research-shows-the-army-could-soon-develop-a-rifle-with-hyper-velocity-rounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/off-duty\/2019\/06\/27\/new-research-shows-the-army-could-soon-develop-a-rifle-with-hyper-velocity-rounds\/","title":{"rendered":"New research shows the Army could soon develop a rifle with hyper-velocity rounds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Army has been on the hunt for a new rifle for nearly 30 years to replace the rifles it currently fields in its infantry units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once upon a time, the service seemed to be close to adopting a new weapon, though the projects ultimately went nowhere<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But perhaps soldiers should be glad that the Army didn\u2019t go with the infamous Heckler & Koch G11 or the futuristic XM29 OICW, or the ill-fated XM8 assault rifle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of a very conventional rifle firing the 5.56 NATO round, the Army is now rapidly progressing<\/a> towards developing and field-testing a new weapon that can double the muzzle speeds of a bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primary advantages to this new (and no-so-new) technology are insane armor-penetration capabilities at close ranges, and next-level accuracy at longer ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\t