Army considers options in replacing the M4

[unhappycamper]

Colt Defense LLC Advanced Colt Carbine Monolithic


Army considers options in replacing the M4
By Matthew Cox - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 24, 2008 20:17:06 EST

The Army took its first formal look at the latest weapons from gun makers hoping for the chance to unseat the M4 carbine as the service’s primary soldier weapon.

Nineteen small-arms companies, including M4 maker Colt Defense LLC, hauled their top carbines to a Washington-area hotel to attend the Nov. 13 industry day designed to help Army weapons officials assess what the U.S. small-arms industry is capable of producing.

This represents a significant course reversal for the Army. Until recently, senior officials have maintained that the M4 is a “world-class weapon” and saw no reason to consider anything new.

The Army-sponsored event attracted other large firms such as FNH USA, Sig Sauer Inc., Heckler & Koch and Colt Defense LLC. But several small companies like New Bremen, Ohio-based Precision Reflex Inc. and Troy Industries from West Springfield, Mass., also showed up to display their weapons crafting prowess.

There were M4 look-alikes available in multiple barrel lengths. There were also several futuristic weapons with names that used “advanced” and “adaptive” to describe their potential. Many companies offered weapons in larger calibers than the M4’s 5.56mm, such as 6.8mm and 7.62mm NATO.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/army_carbineday_112308w/%2e