#Iar

The Marine Corps times have published the first photos of the M27 IAR in Afganistan.

It has been reported on the ARFCOM and Lightfighter forums that some USMC battalions are banning or restricting the use of Magpul PMAG magazines because they are incompatible with the M27 IAR. The PMAG does not work with the HK416 (it does not drop free and needs to be pulled out), and its derivative the M27 IAR, because of slightly different lower magwell geometry.

Military.com reports that the Marines will be replacing the M249 SAW with the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.

Nexus-7 at ARFCOM said …

The USMC like their M27 IAR so much that they are considering dumping the SAW in favor of it. Military.com reports …

A reader emailed me this cool photo of the FN HAMR, equipped with a 150 round Armatac SAW-MAG, in all its glory. Apparently, the rifle operated in open-bolt mode in both semi and full auto if the temperature is to hot. Interesting.

Photos have surfaced depicting Mexican Marines armed with the Colt IAR.

Military.com reports on the deployment of the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle.

Armatac has developed a new version of their 150 round AR-15 compatible drum magazine and named it the SAW-MAG.

A couple of weeks ago at the NDIA Joint Armaments Conference Brigadier General Michael M. Brogan revealed that Marine Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) had been given the designation “M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle”.

A couple of days ago I blogged about H&K winning the USMC’s IAR competition. There has been much confusion regarding the IAR competition since then.

After a year of speculation and commentary from pundits, myself included, the Marine Times reports that the H&K has won the competition and that their entry will enter production next year …

Military Times (via. SNAFU!) reports … (emphasis mine)

I missed this article when it was published last month, but luckily a reader alerted me to it. The Marine Times reported last month (Sep 21, 2009) that the result of the Infantry AUtomatic Rifle competition will be announced this month!

A leaked US Army report about the Battle of Wanat criticizes the reliability of the M4. On July 13, 2008 200 Taliban fighters attacked 48 US and 24 Afghan troops. Outnumbered 2.7 to 1 the M4 Carbines, which the troops were carrying, could not function reliably under the sustained fire they were required to put downrange. Fox News reports: