{"id":54006,"date":"2019-01-02T18:11:23","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T18:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/01\/02\/new-in-2019-the-army-and-marines-will-test-fire-next-gen-weapon-prototypes-this-summer\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:33:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:33:40","slug":"new-in-2019-the-army-and-marines-will-test-fire-next-gen-weapon-prototypes-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/2019\/01\/02\/new-in-2019-the-army-and-marines-will-test-fire-next-gen-weapon-prototypes-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"New in 2019: The Army and Marines will test-fire next-gen weapon prototypes this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Textron Systems has created a new kind of cartridge and weapons to lighten the load and reduce recoil on machine guns and rifles. Military Times ground combat reporter Todd South breaks it down.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

The long-awaited replacement to the standard M16\/M4 service weapon<\/a> and the squad level light machine gun<\/a> are expected to be on the firing line in summer 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Next Generation Squad Weapon<\/a> program has seen rapid changes and a flow of top-tier support that may bring an end to close combat reliance on a weapon that\u2019s been in service for more than half a century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After much public guessing on what caliber the new weapon might fall into, the Army selected 6.8mm as the caliber for both its M16\/M4 and Squad Automatic Weapon replacement with a prototype notice posted in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\t