XM5

The XM5 is the US Army variant of the SIG MCX SPEAR, a 6.8×51mm, gas-operated, magazine-fed, assault rifle designed by SIG Sauer for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program in 2022 to replace the M4 carbine.

XM5
The XM5 rifle, based on the MCX Spear
TypeAssault rifle[lower-alpha 1][1]
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2022-present
Used byU.S. Army
Production history
Designed2019
ManufacturerSIG Sauer
Specifications
Caliber.277 Fury (6.8×51mm)
ActionGas-operated

History

In January 2019, the United States military began the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program to find replacements for the M4 carbine and M249 light machine gun. In September 2019, SIG Sauer submitted their designs.[2] The XM5 was designed to fire the 6.8×51mm SIG Fury cartridge in response to concerns that improvements in body armor would diminish the effectiveness of common battlefield rounds such as the 5.56×45mm NATO (used in the M4 and M249) and 7.62×51mm NATO.[1][3][4]

On 19 April 2022, the United States Army awarded a 10-year contract to Sig Sauer to produce the XM5 rifle, along with the XM250 Automatic Rifle, to replace the M4 and M249, respectively.[5][6]

Operational testing of the XM5 Rifle, XM250 Automatic Rifle, XM157 Fire Control Optic platform agnostic unit and the 6.8×51mm ammunition squad weaponry is expected to begin in 2024 and does not guarantee actual widespread future issue.[7]

See also

References

Footnotes
  1. The Army Times states this is "intermediate caliber 6.8mm cartridge"[1] suggesting it does not have a fully powered cartridge.

Citations
  1. South, Todd (2022-04-19). "Army chooses Sig Sauer to build its Next Generation Squad Weapon". Army Times. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  2. Moss, Matthew (2022-04-19). "SIG Sauer Wins US Army Next Generation Squad Weapon Contract". Overt Defense. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  3. Schogol, Jeff (2022-04-19). "Army selects Sig Sauer to produce Next Generation Squad Weapon and ammo". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  4. Mizokami, Kyle (2022-04-21). "The Army's Next-Gen Infantry Weapons Will Be More Lethal and More Accurate". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  5. Beynon, Steve (2022-04-19). "Army Picks Its Replacement for the M4 and SAW". Military.com. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  6. "Army awards Next Generation Squad Weapon contract". Army.mil, 19 April 2022.
  7. Parsons, Dan (2022-04-20). "Here's Everything We Now Know About The Army's New Squad Rifles". The War Zone. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
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