SIG Sauer sweeps up next-gen US infantry weapon deals
The US Army chose the Sig Sauer MCX SPEAR design for its Next Generation Squad Weapon to replace the M4A1 rifle. (Photo: Sig Sauer)
After 27 months of tests and evaluations, the US Army has chosen the XM250 light machine gun and XM5 rifle as two of its Next Generation Squad Weapons.
SIG Sauer has won the competition to provide the US Army with a new rifle and automatic weapon in its Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) programme.
Under a ten-year contract with an initial delivery order value of $20.4 million, SIG Sauer will provide its SIG-LMG (XM250) light machine gun and SIG MCX-SPEAR (XM5) rifle, with SIG SLX suppressors as standard and 6.8mm SIG FURY hybrid ammunition.
The contract award, announced by the US Army on 19 April, followed a 27-month prototyping and testing phase involving US Army, USMC and SOF personnel.
‘Both weapons provide significant capability improvements in accuracy, range and overall lethality. They are lightweight, fire more lethal ammunition, mitigate recoil, provide improved barrel performance, and include integrated muzzle sound and flash reduction,’ the US Army noted in a statement.
SIG Sauer previously won the sidearm contract under NGSW in 2017, providing its M17 and M18 pistols to replace the Beretta M9.
In the rifle (NGSW-R) and automatic rifle (NGSW-AR) competition, the company prevailed over bids from Lonestar (previously General Dynamics Ordnance Systems – GD-OTS) and Textron Systems.
NGSW-R and NGSW-AR will see the US Army replace the M4A1 carbine and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) — both 5.56mm calibre — used by its infantry squads.
The XM250 lightweight belt-fed machine gun will replace the SAW, while the XM5 will replace the M4A1. Both new weapons include the XM157 fire control optic from Sheltered Wings.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Pearson Engineering remote mine-clearance system ploughs on]()
Pearson Engineering remote mine-clearance system ploughs on
The Weevil system is built around the Beacon remote control and a Pearson mine-plough. It is being evaluated on a British Army Warrior infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) but could be used for other platforms.
-
![Hanwha Defence Australia continues rush of deal signings as it picks up speed with Redback]()
Hanwha Defence Australia continues rush of deal signings as it picks up speed with Redback
Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) has signed a deal with the UK’s Pearson Engineering for combat dozer blades for Redbacks, a contract which follows an engine contract and hull production contract in the past fortnight.
-
![General Atomics and Rafael unveil new multi-domain missile]()
General Atomics and Rafael unveil new multi-domain missile
Currently under development, Bullseye has been designed to be a long-range, precision-guided strike capability.
-
![Canada lines up over-the-horizon radar purchase from Australia]()
Canada lines up over-the-horizon radar purchase from Australia
Ottawa is planning to procure a version of Australia’s Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN), which gives an over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) capability reaching approximately 3,000km for detection of air and sea targets.
