The Marine Corps Has A New Sniper Rifle

Sgt. Randy Robles, Quantico Scout Sniper School instructor and Marine Corps Systems Command liaison, demonstrates the Mk13 Mod 7 Sniper Rifle during training aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. MCSC will field the Mk13 in late 2018 and throughout 2019 to increase the lethality and combat effectiveness of scout snipers on the battlefield. Marines.mil

We Are The Mighty/Marines.mil: MARSOC gets more lethal with this new sniper rifle

The Marine Corps is adopting a new precision sniper rifle to increase the lethality and combat effectiveness of scout snipers on the battlefield.

The Mk13 Mod 7 Sniper Rifle is a bolt-action rifle that offers an increased range of fire and accuracy when compared to current and legacy systems. It includes a long-action receiver, stainless steel barrel, and an extended rail interface system for a mounted scope and night vision optic.

The Mk13 is scheduled for fielding in late 2018 and throughout 2019. Units receiving the Mk13 include infantry and reconnaissance battalions and scout sniper schoolhouses. This weapon is already the primary sniper rifle used by Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, or MARSOC.

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WNU Editor: The response has been positive .... The Marine Corps is rolling out its first new sniper rifle since the Vietnam War — and 'this upgrade is an incredible win' (Business Insider).

Update: The Marines are not happy with their other rifles .... Leaked Report Points To Accuracy, Reliability Issues With The Marine Corps' Newest Rifles (The Warzone/The Drive).

No One Knows Why The Marine Corps’ New Rifle Is Super Expensive

Task & Purpose: The Marine Corps’ New Rifle Is Super Expensive — And No One Knows Why

In their race to field a more powerful automatic rifle, the Marine Corps sidestepped the normal acquisition process and approved a contract to buy them at price tag five times that of the current M4 rifle. The $150 million deal, which may have involved a government employee who recently worked at the foreign arms maker that won the bid, is now under intense scrutiny from Congress — and raises questions about the Corps’ aggressive focus on fielding more lethal gear into troops’ hands as quickly as possible.

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WNU Editor:  This is a good post that explains how these decisions are made.

The U.S. Army And The U.S. Marines Want Different Rifles For Their Troops

Tech. Sgt. Kyle Luthman shoots an M4 carbine during the 3rd Annual Andrew Sullens State Marksmanship Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 11, 2016. Air National Guard photo/Tech. Sgt. Amber Williams

Business Insider: The Marines have their eyes on a new rifle, but the Army says it's forging ahead with a totally new, next-generation weapon

* The Army and Marine Corps have both been working on new small-arms programs for years.
* The Marine Corps will distribute the M27 more widely, but the Army says it's moving ahead with plans for a new rifle.
* The Army is also bringing its modernization programs under one roof to streamline development.

The Army and the Marine Corps have both been looking for new small arms, and while the Marines have decided to give the M27 to a wider portion of the force, the Army says it will forge ahead with the development of a totally new, next-generation rifle.

The Army ditched plans for a interim replacement for the M16/M4 platform in November, announcing that it would direct funds dedicated to that effort to the development of the Next Generation Squad Weapon, which will be the permanent replacement for the current rifle platform.

The program will now proceed in two phases, senior Army officers told a Senate Armed Services subcommittee this week. Lt. Gen. John Murray, Army deputy chief of staff, G-8, said the first step will be acquiring the 7.62 mm Squad Designated Marksmanship Rifle.

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WNU Editor: This has been ongoing for years. But if I was to go into battle, even though it is heavier, I would stick with the platform that uses 7.62 rounds.

The U.S. Army Wants A More Powerful Combat Rifle

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Hoyle, 321st Special Tactics Squadron combat controller, prepares to fire a SCAR-H assault rifle Nov. 18, 2013, at a shooting range.. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kyla Gifford/Released)

Military.com: Army Launches Competition for More Powerful Combat Rifle

U.S. Army weapon officials just opened a competition for a new 7.62mm Interim Service Combat Rifle to arm infantry units with a weapon potent enough to penetrate enemy body armor.

"The Army has identified a potential gap in the capability of ground forces and infantry to penetrate body armor using existing ammunition. To address this operational need, the Army is looking for an Interim Combat Service Rifle (ICSR) that is capable of defeating emerging threats," according to an Aug. 4 solicitation posted on FedBizOpps.gov.

The service plans to initially award up to eight contracts, procuring seven types of weapons from each gunmaker for test and evaluation purposes. Once the review is concluded, the service "may award a single follow-on Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) based contract for the production of up to 50,000 weapons," the solicitation states.

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WNU Editor: More evidence that advances in body-armor is going to force the development and adoption of more powerful combat rifles.

The U.S. Army Wants A New Rifle

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner

Popular Mechanics: Three Rifles That Could Replace the Army's M4A1 Carbine

The Army is "taking a hard look" at new arms for soldiers.

In new comments to the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Mark Milleyhas said the Army is "taking a hard look" at a new German assault rifle and other designs to replace its existing weapons.

The M4A1 carbine is currently issued to U.S. Army combat troops worldwide. A descendant of the original M16 rifle, the M4A1 has a 14.5" barrel, is chambered for the 5.56-millimeter round, and weighs approximately nine pounds when fully equipped with optics, lasers, foregrips, and other attachments. There are concerns in Congress, however, that the M4A1 could not penetrate modern Russian body armor, which is what prompted Milley's comment.

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More News On The U.S. Army's Search For A Better Rifle

Army to Gunmakers: Show Us a New 7.62mm Service Rifle -- Military.com
The U.S. Army Is Playing 'Transformers' with One of Its Most Lethal Rifles -- National Interest
US Army chief: The infantry needs a new 7.62 mm rifle -- Business Insider
Lawmakers press for better rifles, bigger bullets for soldiers, Marines -- Army Times
Here’s What Gen Scales Thinks The Next Infantry Rifle Should Look Like -- Task & Purpose
Retired Generals to Lawmakers: Infantrymen Need a More Powerful Rifle -- Kit Up
U.S. sending infantry into battle with ‘inferior small arms,’ says retired general -- Guns.com
U.S. Army On The Hunt For A New Rifle: Potential Winners -- Seeking Alpha
5 Things To Know About The Army’s Plan To Pick A New Rifle -- Task & Purpose
Here’s What The Future Of The Army’s Small-Arms Program Looks Like -- Task & Purpose
Chief: The Army has developed a bullet that penetrates 5.56 mm-resistant body armor -- Army Times

The U.S. Marines Want To Buy A Rifle That Cost $3,000 Per Unit

Fiscal Times: The $3,000 Rifle That Could Make the US Marines Even More Lethal

The Marines are considering arming more of its infantry with a lightweight, highly reliable automatic rifle, but there’s one catch: It costs about three times more than the rifle that is currently standard issue.

The standard-issue M4 carbine could be replaced by the M27 infantry automatic rifle. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said the M27s that have already been deployed are “the most reliable, durable, and accurate weapons in our rifle squads,” according to Marine Corps Times.

The M27, a variation of the HK416 built by the German gunmaker Heckler & Koch, sells for about $3,000. The M4, which is used by most Army and Marines combat units, is manufactured by Colt Defense and FN America and costs less than $1,000.

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Update #1: The Marines Are in the Market For Brand New Rifles (Popular Mechanics)
Update #2: The Corps' quest for the best rifle for infantrymen (Marine Times)

WNU Editor: From Popular Mechanics ....

.... Each M27 costs $3,000, plus another $2,000 for the ACOG optic and other accessories, such as bipods and lasers, for a total of $5,000 per weapon. Eleven thousand rifles would cost $55 million dollars. That's not a lot of money considering a single F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, of which the Marines plan to purchase 353, cost approximately $122 million each.

The U.S. Marines Are Showing-Off Their New Rifles

CBS: The M4: The Marines' new weapon of choice

There are gun lovers -- and then there are Marines.

To a Marine infantryman like Sgt. Joshua Sherman, his weapon may mean the difference between success and failure, life and death.

"Our weapon system is basically your tool to keep yourself and your friends alive and then do the job at hand," he said.

Marines refer to their rifle as "she" -- like a girlfriend.

"When you push forward and you're actually in Iraq, in Afghanistan or wherever the Marine Corps might send you, that weapon never leaves your side," Sgt. Sherman said.

He's holding an M4, the newest rifle to be issued to Marines. His battle buddy, Corporal Shamar Methany, is carrying the older M16. The M4 has a slightly shorter range, but it's two pounds lighter.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. Marines are not the only ones who are showing-off their new weapons .... Ukraine's New Sniper Rifles: Deadly weapons to fight Russia's war in Donbas (Ukraine Today).

A List Of Modern Assault Rifles In The World

All Military Weapons: The List of Modern Assault Rifles in the World

Assault rifles are known worldwide with the various understanding or definitions. Amongst all of those definitions, there is one definition that said that assault rifles are standard military rifles those capable to control fully-automatic fire from shoulder and have effective range for at least 300 meters. From here, it is known that assault rifles are primary offensive weapons those are stable and produce enough muzzle energy. These are powerful weapons but not the traditional full power weapons. These are the type of weapons those become the choice of modern military units from all around the world as the main weapons used by modern army troops.

WNU Editor: This website (All Military Weapons) also has a good directory of other weapon platforms and systems.

U.S. Army Is Starting To Test 'Smart Rifles'

US Military Is Testing Gun That Could Turn ANYONE Into An Ace Sniper -- Daily Mail

* Users simply 'tag' their target using a button near the trigger
* Smart rifle can then work out the range and weather conditions before shooting
* Can even send target details to other nearby rifles - and be controlled by an iPad app

The US military is testing a radical 'smart rifle' that can automatically aim itself, it has been revealed.

The army is believed to have acquired six $27,000 'smart rifles' from Texas firm Tracking Point.

It uses a built in computer to aim at a target, and can even 'lock on' top targets and automatically track them.

Oren Schauble, a marketing official with the Austin, Texas-based company, confirmed the military bought a handful of them in recent months for evaluation.

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More News On The U.S. Army Now Starting To Test 'Smart Rifles'

U.S. Military Begins Testing ‘Smart’ Rifles -- Defense Tech
US military begins purchasing and testing smart rifles -- Daily Caller
U.S. military begins testing ‘smart’ rifles -- FOX News/Military.com
The US Army Is Now Field-Testing Smart Rifles -- Motherboard
US Army buys 6 self-aiming smart rifles for evaluation -- Geek

No Replacement For The U.S. Army's Current M4 Rifle

Army Killed New Carbine Because It Wasn’t Twice As Reliable As Current M4 -- Breaking Defense

The Army has half a million M4 carbines, the lightweight version of the Vietnam-vintage M16. So if the service was going to invest in a replacement, it wanted a “leap ahead” that would, among other things, cut in half the number of times the weapon jammed – a criterion the Army has not made clear until today. None of the eight designs offered for the Individual Carbine competition met that standard, Army officials said, so the service is going to stick with the M4 indefinitely.

That, in a nutshell, is the word from a half-dozen Army experts and officials at a hastily convened press conference to explain the service’s decision to, for all practical purposes, kill off the $1.8 billion Individual Carbine program. The Senate Armed Services Committee has already cut the $49.5 million requested for the program in 2014 “based upon the Army’s decision not to continue with the competitive evaluation program,” to quote the SASC’s official summary of the bill, released just before 1:00 pm today. On the flip side, the Senate left in $21.3 million to buy 12,000 more of the current M4A1. But after years of technical controversy and political pressure, M4 critics are unlikely to just let the matter rest.

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Update: Army Kills Competition To Replace Service Rifle -- Business Insider

My Comment: A replacement will eventually be found .... but not today.

U.S. Army Looking For A New Combat Rifle

Soldier firing an M4 rifle. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)

Gun Makers Jockey For DC Influence -- DoD Buzz

American and international gun makers want to build a new carbine to replace the U.S. military’s ubiquitous M4, and they’re making moves in Washington to give themselves as much of an edge as possible in influencing the government’s decision, AP reports in a must-read story. Colt — which makes the M4 — Remington, Smith & Wesson and others all are hiring lobbyists and working their relationships with lawmakers so that their guns have the best chance in the next pending acquisition battle.

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More News On The U.S. Army Looking For A New Combat Rifle, And the Lobbyists Hired To Try And Get The Contract

Army Looks For New Combat Rifle -- CBS news
INFLUENCE GAME: As Army eyes a new combat rifle, companies load with lobbyists to win the work -- Washington Post/AP
Colt on the Outs as Defense Department Opens Bids for Combat Rifles -- FOX News

My Comment: I can only imagine the politics and lobbying that is now happening in Washington for this new rifle.

The Ultimate Rifle

Deadly: The 'gunfire locator' is mounted to the rifle to detect the sound of enemy bullets being fired. Experts predict that the device could save the lives of hundreds of British troops

The Ultimate Rifle: British Snipers To Be Armed With Supergun That Pinpoints The Enemy By 'Hearing Bullets' -- The Daily Mail

* 'Gunfire locator' uses sonar to calculate the enemy's position in little more than one second
* Cross-hairs on target screen show sniper where to return fire
* Sensor has been developed using same technology as Nintendo Wii games

A supergun that targets enemy snipers by the sound of their gunfire is being trialled by British soldiers, it emerged today.

The 'gunfire locator' is fitted next to the scopes of rifles which uses sonar to calculate an enemy's position within 1.3 seconds.

Paratroopers even field-tested the device by offering themselves as targets to Taliban insurgents last weekend in order to draw out the fire.

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My Comment: I want one.