The Army Selects Sig Sauer to Provide New Rifles in $20 Million Effort
The U.S. Army announced on April 19th that it had awarded a 10-year firm-fixed-price follow-on production contract to Sig Sauer for the manufacture and delivery of two Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) variations, including the XM5 Rifle and the XM250 Automatic Rifle, and the 6.8 Common Cartridge Family of Ammunition.
"This award was made following a rigorous 27-month prototyping and evaluation effort that included numerous technical tests and soldier touch points of three competing prototype systems," an Army spokesperson stated.
The value of the initial delivery order is $20.4 million for weapons and ammunition, including testing, accessories, spares and contractor support. The contract also provides the other Department of Defense services and potentially sales to Foreign Military countries.
The XM5 Rifle will replace the M4/M4A1 carbine for close combat use, while the XM250 Automatic Rifle replaces the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon."Both weapons provide significant capability improvements in accuracy, range and overall lethality," the Army noted. "They are lightweight, fire more lethal ammunition, mitigate recoil, provide improved barrel performance, and include integrated muzzle sound and flash reduction."
Both weapons fire common 6.8 millimeter ammunition utilizing government provided projectiles and vendor-designed cartridges. The new ammunition includes multiple types of tactical and training rounds that increase accuracy and are more lethal against emerging threats than both the 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition, according to the service.
reover, the XM5 and XM250 will be paired with the XM157 Fire Control, a ruggedized advanced fire control system that increases accuracy and lethality for the close combat force. The XM157 integrates a number of advanced technologies, including a variable magnification optic (1X8), backup etched reticle, laser rangefinder, ballistic calculator, atmospheric sensor suite, compass, Intra-Soldier Wireless, visible and infrared aiming lasers, and a digital display overlay. It is produced by Sheltered Wings Inc. d/b/a Vortex Optics, Barneveld, Wisconsin.
