#NGSW-R

It has been 11 months since the US Army awarded three OTA contracts as part of its Next Generation Squad Weapon program. Despite the uncertainty around the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the program remains on track and set to begin its next major phase. TFB had the pleasure of speaking with Lt. Col. Jason Bohannon, Product Manager – Next Generation Weapons, and Matthew Walker, Capabilities Developer, Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team at U.S. Army Futures Command, to discuss the program, the weapons and the challenges ahead.

TFB have been closely following developments in the US Army’s Next Generation Small Arms Program and it has been a while since we heard any major developments. On the evening of the 29th August, however, the Army Contracting Command posted an award notice for the NGSW program that signals progress in selecting the US Army’s next rifle and automatic rifle.

Cobalt Kinetics has published a news release announcing that in cooperation with MARS Inc. they have submitted a new carbine (NGSW-R), light machine gun (NGSW-AR) and 6.8mm cartridge to US Army’s NGSW (Next Generation Squad Weapons) program. The program is targeted to replacing the M4/M16 family of rifles and carbines as well as the M249 SAW LMG by new weapons and ammunition that will provide enhanced performance.

The US Army has launched their official Prototype Project Opportunity Notice (PPON) inviting design submission for both the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-R) and the Next Generation Squad
Weapon-Automatic Rifle (NGSW-AR), both chambered in the Army’s new specification general purpose 6.8mm round.