12-07-2017, 01:25 AM
My understanding why we got the FN Minimi was because of the 3-way NATO nation requirement for the licensed manufacture of the F-16A/B.
Denmark and Norway had already agreed to the deal and were waiting on Belgium to join, otherwise it wouldn't have been a viable option for only 2 nations to attempt to manufacture the multirole fighter.
Belgium smartly negotiated to include their SAW entrant as the deciding factor, then they would gladly jump aboard the F-16A/B licensed mfg deal.
The US was providing the engines and much of the critical components, while the European partners would manufacture the airframes, so there was a lot of money to be had all around for General Dynamics, Pratt & Whitney, and the other sub contractors.
Instead of the US Army getting the Colt LMG, Ford Aerospace LMG, or HK select-fire SAW entrants, we got an AK smashed together with a MAG58 feed tray mechanism inside of a welded sheet receiver with a lot of slop between the parts, especially the fire control mechanism housing and how it attached to the receiver.
Since World War II, the Infantryman has basically been neglected as to his weapons, equipment, and training. More focus has been allocated to armored personnel carriers, tanks, artillery, and Army aviation because those were correctly seen as more decisive systems in conventional warfare, and proven as such in the Gulf War. The only problem is that every other war we've fought has been an Infantry and SOF-centric asymmetric engagement driven by concern for collateral damage of civilian populations, elusive insurgents that require small arms fire to engage under restrictive ROEs, and adaptive combined component commands with better trained dismounted soldiers.
The budget still dictates that the conventional systems will get the funding, while infantry might get a bunch of modern weapons and equipment, but very little training, and most senior leadership seem to be perfectly comfortable with that.
Denmark and Norway had already agreed to the deal and were waiting on Belgium to join, otherwise it wouldn't have been a viable option for only 2 nations to attempt to manufacture the multirole fighter.
Belgium smartly negotiated to include their SAW entrant as the deciding factor, then they would gladly jump aboard the F-16A/B licensed mfg deal.
The US was providing the engines and much of the critical components, while the European partners would manufacture the airframes, so there was a lot of money to be had all around for General Dynamics, Pratt & Whitney, and the other sub contractors.
Instead of the US Army getting the Colt LMG, Ford Aerospace LMG, or HK select-fire SAW entrants, we got an AK smashed together with a MAG58 feed tray mechanism inside of a welded sheet receiver with a lot of slop between the parts, especially the fire control mechanism housing and how it attached to the receiver.
Since World War II, the Infantryman has basically been neglected as to his weapons, equipment, and training. More focus has been allocated to armored personnel carriers, tanks, artillery, and Army aviation because those were correctly seen as more decisive systems in conventional warfare, and proven as such in the Gulf War. The only problem is that every other war we've fought has been an Infantry and SOF-centric asymmetric engagement driven by concern for collateral damage of civilian populations, elusive insurgents that require small arms fire to engage under restrictive ROEs, and adaptive combined component commands with better trained dismounted soldiers.
The budget still dictates that the conventional systems will get the funding, while infantry might get a bunch of modern weapons and equipment, but very little training, and most senior leadership seem to be perfectly comfortable with that.
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com