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The M249 SAW has seen action in major conflicts involving the United States since the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989. In 2009, the United States Marine Corps selected the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle to partially replace the M249 in USMC service. [7] In 2022, the U.S. Army selected the SIG Sauer XM250 to replace the M249 SAW.
A non-commissioned officer from Fort Campbell fires an XM250.. The XM250 is the U.S. military designation for the SIG LMG 6.8, a 6.8×51mm (.277 in), gas-operated, belt-fed light machine gun designed by SIG Sauer for the U.S. Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon Program in 2022 to replace the M249 light machine gun.
A U.S. Army graphic detailing the competitors for the program as of December 2020. The Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program is a United States military program created in 2017 by the U.S. Army to replace the 5.56mm M4 carbine, the M249 SAW light machine gun, and the 7.62mm M240 machine gun, with a common system of 6.8mm cartridges and to develop small arms fire-control systems for the ...
On 19 April 2022, the Army awarded a 10-year contract to SIG Sauer to produce the XM7 rifle, along with the XM250 light machine gun, to replace the M4 carbine and M249 light machine gun, respectively. [13] [14] Originally the rifle was designated XM5, as the next number sequentially for the weapon it will replace. [15]
The USMC initially planned to purchase 6,500 M27s to replace a portion of the M249 light machine guns employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions. Approximately 8,000–10,000 M249s will remain in service with the Marine Corps to be used at the discretion of company commanders.
The weapon chosen to replace the M249 was the modified HK416, later designated the M27 IAR. The M249 SAW is still in use as a squad automatic weapon by the US Army. In 2019, US Army launched Next Generation Squad Weapon Program to find replacement for M249 SAW and replacement for 5.56×45mm NATO round. There are three competitors:
The IAR would be a non-developmental, 5.56mm automatic rifle that would be more durable and reliable than the M249 SAW. [ 3 ] The Marine Corps put across a specified kit that would accompany the IAR, which were a rear aperture sight (Matech BUIS), a blank firing adapter , cleaning kit, Grip Pod, 3-point sling , an operators' manual and ...
In July 2018, the US Army announced a new, different program to develop a replacement for the M249 light machine gun, with six companies, including Textron, competing to develop the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program (NGSW), replacing the SAW, as well as develop ammunition for it that is at least 20% lighter. [22]