A Texas-based ammunition company recently unveiled its new 6.8mm cartridge, which the Army will consider for the Next-Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) effort designed to replace the 5.56mm M4A1 carbine and M249 squad automatic weapon in close-combat units.
True Velocity”s 6.8mm composite-cased cartridge will be part of the NGSW auto-rifle, rifle and ammo prototype package being submitted by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., which includes Beretta Defense Technologies, according to a recent True Velocity news release.
The Army recently chose General Dynamics OTS, along with AAI Corporation Textron Systems and Sig Sauer Inc., in a down-select that moves competitors to the next phase of testing for the future weapons effort.
The service plans to select a final design for both weapons and ammunition modeled around a government 6.8mm projectile from a single company in the first quarter of 2022 and begin replacing both M4s and M249s in an infantry brigade combat team in the first quarter of 2023, Army modernization officials have said.