Army Weighs Future “Next Generation Squad Weapon” (NGSW) Industry Offerings

Video Above: Lieutenant Colonel, Scott Rutter on Russian Tanks and Javelin Missiles

By Kris Osborn – Warrior Maven

The precision, range and lethality of an Army rifle is often arguably the deciding factor in the outcome of any dismounted firefight between dug-in infantry and invading ground forces. The ability to maneuver, target and fire in close quarters, urban situations or rugged natural terrain can shut down an enemy’s advance should defenders effectively execute with dispersed, highly precise and penetrating fire.

This equation and its many variables now inspires a much sharpened Army focus upon its upcoming decision to choose which new Next Generation Squad Weapon offering will replace the current Army M4 Carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. 

Next Generation Squad Weapon 

The service is now weighing the merits, attributes and potential limitations of two distinct industry offerings from Sig Sauer and another submission from a Beretta USA-LoneStar Weapons Systems team.

The new weapon will likely be mass produced and put in service for decades into the future as an upgradeable, paradigm-changing combat capability for infantry closing in on an enemy or defending attacks.

LoneStar and Beretta have partnered to architect a gas and recoil-operated, magazine-fed automatic rifle. The weapon is impulse averaged and air cooled to optimize lethality and combat performance. LoneStar’s gun is designed for short-recoil and automatic fire.