The US Army has decided, according to reports from credible sources, to cancel the competition to select a new 5.56mm carbine. (...) An analysis of the proposals resulted in a shortlist of six with designs submitted by Fabrique Natonale of Belgium, Heckler&Koch of Germany, Beretta of Italy and three US bidders: Colt, Adcor Defense; and a joint effort by Remington, Magpul, and Bushmaster. (...) The winner of the carbine competition was to be tested against the M4A1 to see if it was worth making the change to a new gun. The general view has been that no new carbine is likely to be considered so much better than the improved M4 as to justify the cost of changing it, because rifles in the 5.56mm NATO caliber are so well developed that performance differences between them are insignificant. (...)
Stattdessen wird ein upgrade fürs M4A1 angedacht, mit Wechsel von Burst zu FA und schwererem Lauf.
Die Kaliberdebatte ums ideale Infantriekaliber geht jedoch weiter zwischen 5.56, 6.5 Grendel, 7x46 UIAC, 6.5x47 Lapua, .260 Rem und 7.62 Nato...
