The US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWE) facebook page has shared some interesting photos from a range session at their annual technologies event. The photos, posted on 11 February, show a new prototype suppressed Personal Defense Weapon from SIG Sauer.

AEWE aims to bring together Army operators, procurement specialists, industry representatives and partner nations. AEWE is described as “the Army’s premier prototype technology and concept event focused on the squad and small units.” The photos were taken during a demonstration of the RAMP – or the Rapid Access Magazine Pod. Soldiers of A Co 1-29th Infantry ran a course at Fort Benning’s Shelton Range, using the RAMP rather than conventional pouches.

Most interestingly, however, is the weapon they were running on the course. A new SIG PDW, clearly based on the MCX Rattler but the new PDW is seen running a short suppressor. The can looks similar to the commercially available SIG SRD556-QD suppressor, however, this suppressor looks shorter than the standard SRD556, like the commercial model it appears to be of steel construction and uses SIG’s QD system, it seems this ‘SRD556K’ is currently available to the military only.

Soldier running a RAMP and a SIG Rattler-based PDW (US Army)

I did some digging and found the ‘participating technologies’ Systems Book which list all of the industry and government demonstrators. AEWE 2019 includes 38 industry and 12 government demonstrators including ARDEC, ARL, Nammo, Daniel Defense, GD-OTS and SIG Sauer. SIG’s tech on display is a MCX Rattler-based PDW. The Systems Book also include a photograph of the weapon and explains its capabilities, but does not state what the PDW is chambered in 5.56 or .300BLK:

SIG SAUER (MCX) is the most technically advanced proven short barrel user configuration PDW or URG and can be fired suppressed and/or unsuppressed exceeding weight and length objectives. Benefits: special operations units would benefit from the stand alone MCX or URG. Both systems incorporate the same captured buffer system. Modular capability provides the operator with the ability and flexibility to change barrel lengths, calibers, suppressors and buttstock configurations at the soldier,
unit or armorer level to meet the global mission requirements.

The SIG SAUER MCX is smaller and lighter than the M4A1 with capabilities beyond any pistol. The MCX design maintains normal operator controls that mirror M4 style designs with additional ambidextrous features; standard M4 controls offer the operator increased capability without training to a different platform.
The unique design of SIG SAUER’s MCX PDW allows the weapon to be fired semi or fully automatic in the collapsed or folded position safely without limiting functionality.

Prototype MCX PDW featured in the AEWE Systems Book (US Army/SIG)

The photograph above may be a placeholder image representing the MCX PDW. Interesting to note that the weapon has a KeyMod forend, what appears to be an M400 rather than Rattler lower and a longer muzzle device to enable suppressors to be threaded or use a QD system. It’s also running what looks like a SIG ROMEO4DR 1X20 red dot optic.

Another photograph from AEWE 2019 showing the MCX PDW in action, note the longer muzzle device to work with QD mounts (US Army)

Earlier in February, AEWE also posted another photo of the MCX PDW in action, sans suppressor, but running the same SIG Optics ROMEO1 1×30 reflex sight. It is also worth noting that the PDW in the AEWE range photos appears to have a Rattler lower receiver, with the standard Rattler pistol grip, and also an MLOK, rather than KeyMod, forend. This development appears to be separate from the Army’s search for a 9x19mm Sub-Compact Weapon launched last year.

Sources: 1 2