U.S. Army leaders are one step closer to deciding on a supplier for its Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW ) system which will replace trusty 5.56mm M4A1 carbine and the M249 squad automatic weapon used in combat units until now.
A Texas-based Textron ammunition company recently unveiled its new 6.8mm cartridge to be used on the NGSW from 2022 and DRDO and Textron officials had a closed-door meeting on possible collaboration on the development of next-gen 6.8mm Cartridge under defense collaboration between U.S.-India, Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). US Army is switching from 5.56mm to 6.8mm rounds and DRDO already has developed a new assault rifle prototype chambered for 6.8×43 mm rounds and it will be ready for trial in the Infantry School located at Mhow soon.
New DRDO assault rifle prototype will use the long-stroke gas piston mechanisms of the INSAS Rifle and a new barrel and ammunition developed by India’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) located in Pune. In 2013-2014 the army had summarily rejected three prototypes of the gas-operated MCIWS, designed to fire 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm and 6.8 x 43 mm special purpose cartridge, by merely changing the barrel and magazine.