TheXM250is the U.S. military designation for theSIG LMG 6.8,a6.8×51mm (.277 in),gas-operated,belt-fedlight machine gundesigned bySIG Sauerfor theU.S. Army'sNext Generation Squad Weapon Programin 2022 to replace theM249 light machine gun.The XM250 light machine gun features a free-floating reinforcedM-LOKhandguard for direct accessory attachment onto the "negative space" (hollow slot) mounting points. The XM250 began to be fielded in March 2024.[5]
| XM250 | |
|---|---|
 XM250 with inserted ammunition belt | |
| Type | Light machine gun[1] |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2022–present |
| Used by | U.S. Army |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2019 |
| Manufacturer | SIG Sauer |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 13 lb (5.9 kg) (with bipod) 14.5 lb (6.6 kg) (with suppressor and bipod) 6.77 lb (3.07 kg) (100-round pouch)[2] |
| Length | 41.87 in (1,063 mm) (with suppressor)[3] |
| Barrellength | 17.5 in (444 mm)[4] |
| Caliber | .277 Fury(6.8×51mm Common) |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | ~800 rounds/min |
| Feed system | 30, 50, 100, or 200 rounds semi-rigid pouches |
History
editIn January 2019, the United States military began theNext Generation Squad Weapon Programto find replacements for theM4 carbineandM249 light machine gun.In September 2019, SIG Sauer submitted their designs.[6]The XM250's design is an offshoot of theMG 338which SIG was also developing forSOCOM.[7]The XM250 light machine gun andXM7 riflewere designed to fire the6.8×51mm SIG Furycartridge in response to concerns that improvements inbody armorwould diminish the effectiveness of common battlefield rounds such as the5.56×45mm NATO(used in the M4 carbine and M249 light machine gun) and7.62×51mm NATO.[8][9][10]
On 19 April 2022, theUnited States Armyawarded a 10-year contract to SIG Sauer to produce the XM250 machine gun, along with the XM7 rifle, to replace the M249 light machine gun and M4 carbine, respectively.[11][12]The names were chosen as the next numbers sequentially to the weapons they will replace (the rifle was originally designated the XM5, but was later changed to XM7). The first batch of twenty-five XM7s and fifteen XM250s were planned to be delivered in late 2023. In total, the Army plans to procure a total of 107,000 XM7s and 13,000 XM250s for close combat forces. The contract has the capacity to build additional weapons should theU.S. Marine CorpsandU.S. Special Operations Commandchoose to be included.[13]
The XM250 light machine gun weighs 13 lb (5.9 kg), or 14.5 lb (6.6 kg) with a suppressor. It has a basic combat load of 400 rounds in four 100-round pouches weighing 27.1 lb (12.3 kg). Compared to the M249 light machine gun weighing 19.2 lb (8.7 kg) unsuppressed, with a basic combat load of 600 rounds in three 200-round pouches, weighing 20.8 lb (9.4 kg), the XM250 light machine gun weighs about 4 lb (1.8 kg) less and a gunner carries roughly a 1 lb (0.45 kg) heavier load with 200 fewer rounds. The barrel on the XM250 light machine gun is not considered to be a quick-change barrel and the stock is collapsible but non-folding.[13][2][4]
The XM250 light machine gun was delivered to soldiers in the101st Airborne Divisionand75th Ranger Regimentin September 2023 for user tests.[14]1st Battalion,506th Infantry Regimentof the 101st Airborne Division officially began fielding it in March 2024.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Reinsch, Michael (13 May 2022)."NGSW signifies an evolution in Soldier lethality".U.S. Army.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2022.Retrieved18 July2022.
- ^abBeynon, Steve (2 May 2022)."How Well Do the Army's New Guns Perform? That's Classified, But Soldiers Will Carry More Weight, Less Ammo".Military.com.Archivedfrom the original on 30 May 2022.
- ^Popenker, Maxim."SIG Sauer NGSW-R MCX Spear XM5 assault rifle (USA)".Modern Firearms.Archivedfrom the original on 22 May 2022.
- ^abMoss, Matthew (16 May 2022)."US Army Shares Details on Next Generation Squad Weapons".The Firearm Blog.Archivedfrom the original on 18 May 2022.
- ^Lehrfeld, Jonathan (2024-03-29)."101st Airborne first Army unit to field Next Generation Squad Weapons".Army Times.Retrieved2024-06-04.
- ^Moss, Matthew (19 April 2022)."SIG Sauer Wins US Army Next Generation Squad Weapon Contract".Overt Defense.Archivedfrom the original on 20 April 2022.Retrieved20 April2022.
- ^"SIG Range Day 19 – SL MAG, SIG's New 338 Machine Gun".Soldier Systems Daily.20 January 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 25 January 2019.Retrieved4 June2022.
- ^South, Todd (19 April 2022)."Army chooses SIG Sauer to build its Next Generation Squad Weapon".Army Times.Archivedfrom the original on 18 May 2023.Retrieved20 April2022.
- ^Schogol, Jeff (19 April 2022)."Army selects SIG Sauer to produce Next Generation Squad Weapon and ammo".Task & Purpose.Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2022.Retrieved20 April2022.
- ^Mizokami, Kyle (21 April 2022)."The Army's Next-Gen Infantry Weapons Will Be More Lethal and More Accurate".Popular Mechanics.Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2022.Retrieved24 April2022.
- ^Beynon, Steve (19 April 2022)."Army Picks Its Replacement for the M4 and SAW".Military.com.Archivedfrom the original on 20 May 2022.Retrieved20 April2022.
- ^"Army awards Next Generation Squad Weapon contract".U.S. Army.19 April 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2022.
- ^abSouth, Todd (20 April 2022)."Army expects Next Generation Squad Weapon to get to its first unit by next year".Army Times.Archivedfrom the original on 18 May 2023.Retrieved18 July2022.
- ^South, Todd (20 December 2023)."Army to field new rifle, machine gun and optic in 2024".Army Times.Archivedfrom the original on 9 January 2024.
- ^Lehrfeld, Jonathan (29 March 2024)."101st Airborne first Army unit to field Next Generation Squad Weapons".Army Times.Retrieved4 June2024.
External links
edit
Media related toXM250at Wikimedia Commons
