![]() In reference to the STEM news article which appeared in January 2013 (p.38), the piece quotes from an October 2012 report, “Assuring the U.S. Desperately wanting something new, yet obviously unable to justify two distinct rifles with essentially identical characteristics, the Marines began deliberate obfuscation by comparing the M27 IAR against the M249 SAW when in fact it should be compared against the current M16A4, also an IAR by definition if not official title. Well, now the Marines have decided to reduce the number of SAWs in the rifle squad and to simply replace them with automatic rifles. “Riflemen” were supposed to keep them set on “semi” while the designated “automatic riflemen” carried the same weapons but had them set on “full auto.” One should recall that before the SAW, the squad was uniformly armed with M16A1 rifles. The Marine Corps’ M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) is not a machine gun and does not “replace” the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) at all. The M26, - though under some other name that escapes me today - was among the weapons being demonstrated back then. I was the engineer school project officer dealing with “non-lethal weapons” and attended various conferences and working group meetings. Until I retired in early 2003, I was a combat development analyst at the Army Maneuver Support Center at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. However, its actual development and procurement date back at least a decade. The Army’s M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS) might have been “rapidly fielded” in the sense that once delivered to the Army the weapons were soon issued to troops. There is also a mention of novel lightweight ammunition, which hints at a capability to use the polymer-cased ammunition and the Lightweight Small Arms Technologies program being pursued by the Army.In reference to the January 2013 article, “Army, Marine Corps Succeed in Rapidly Fielding Specialized Individual Weapons” (p.28), your reporter has been doubly snookered. The rails must accept all current issue weapon lights and accessories, use the M27's heat-resistant rail covers, and come ready to field strip in manner similar to the M27 andīut even more interesting than the rail system is the list of secondary desired characteristics, including the ability to chamber a variety of calibers from the AB39 (7.62x51mm round optimized for long-range accuracy) and the Army's M80A1 round to two intermediate rounds: the. The RFI specifies a need for a continuous, uninterrupted 1913 Picatinny rail along the full length of the rifle, and while this can be semi-monolithic, the weapon must have anti-rotation features to stop movement. This year’s event follows 2016’s inaugural event, which Corps personnel praised as “the equivalent of Shot Show.”Īdditionally, the RFI suggests the Corps is looking for a lighter, more modern rail system compared to the current M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. These events give the Corps a chance to explore its options and look at the industry’s latest developments without committing to a purchase - the procurement version of window-shopping. Other surfaces may include holes/cutouts for air circulation and weight reduction.Ĭompanies are invited to showcase their offerings at the annual Marksmanship Technology Demonstration that coincides with the Modern Day Marine conference in September. Remainder of rail shall be M-LOK at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock.Rail must have integral forward 1913 Picatinny rail sections at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock of 2-3” in length.Rail must maintain rigidity and alignment with the rifle’s zeroed point of aim when external pressures (up to 20 pounds) are applied 11” forward of the receiver.14.5” barrel option, with 24,000 round life with AB49 – 2 Minute of Angle precision threshold, 1 MOA precision objective for majority of barrel life.Free floated handguard 13” for use with 14.5” or longer barrel, 9.5” for use with 10.3/10.5” barrel.Upgrade package (including an upper receiver) or complete rifle with enhanced M27 like capability and features.The RFI for the new infantry rifle lays out 12 specific required characteristics, a few of which are listed below: ![]()
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