Tactical Life posts that the military is changing to the 6.8 in SAW and M4

[LRRPF52]

There is a Prototype Project Opportunity Notice from FedBizOpps.Gov that specifically calls for use of a 6.8mm weapon.

The purpose of this Prototype Project Opportunity Notice (PPON) is to award up to three prototype Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 2371b, with each COMPANY developing two weapon variants under the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program and 6.8 millimeter ammunition common to both weapons. The weapons include the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-R) and the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Automatic Rifle (NGSW-AR). These prototype OTAs will develop industry’s potential solutions/concepts through prototypes, user evaluation, and testing to ensure producible weapon systems that are safe, suitable, effective, and sustainable with a goal of delivering production representative weapon system(s) with ammunition.

“Ammunition” is an assembled cartridge case with propellant, primer, and a 6.8 millimeter projectile. This includes the Load, Assembly and Pack (LAP) and is linked, unlinked, or both. The assembled cartridge case for Surrogate and General Purpose (GP) may contain different propellant type and charge weight for each projectile type.
“Common Cartridge” refers to ammunition designed to work in both the NGSW-R and NGSW- AR.

“NGSW-R” refers to a prototype 6.8 millimeter rifle with sling, flash hider, suppressor, cleaning kit, suppressor removal tool, and quantities of magazines required to provide a minimum of 210 stowed rounds.
“NGSW-AR” refers to a prototype 6.8 millimeter automatic rifle with bi-pod, sling, flash hider, suppressor, cleaning kit, suppressor removal tool, and quantities of magazines/drums/belts/other required to provide a minimum of 210 stowed rounds.

SECTION 2 – PPON STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)
2.1. SOW INTRODUCTION
This SOW identifies the work to be performed by the COMPANY in developing two weapon variants under the NGSW program and 6.8 millimeter ammunition common to both weapons that meets the COMPANY’s proposed requirements in Attachment 1– Capability Matrix. The weapons include the NGSW-R and the NGSW-AR.

The deliverables include:

* The 2 types of prototype weapons
* Rechargeable batteries that interface with the NSN battery charger (NSN: 6130-01-659-7090)
* 3 magazines/belts/drums
* Surrogate projectiles to simulate the government-specified 6.8 projectile
* Electronic Pressure, Velocity, Action Time (EPVAT) Barrels
* DDI/Inert Dummy rounds
* 180 HPT cartridges conditioned from -65˚F to 160˚F
* Loose and Linked 6.8 NGSW cartridges
* Bulk energetics (primers and explosives)
* Spare barrels
* Suppressors, removal tools, spare parts
* Compliant Ammunition packaging and marking adhering to specs

The cartridge I saw at PCP's booth had the surrogate projectile form factor. It looks like they might be trying to stuff .270 WSM into 7.62x51 COL of 2.800" to fit in magazines that are the same length (COL length, not height). The projectile had a very conical secant profile immediately from the neck, and looked almost like a .17 caliber relative the beastly case diameter and volume.

Recoil is going to be impressive on this. The original numbers I've seen floating around in the Army Times for mv are not mentioned anywhere in the PPON. First was a 125gr 6.8mm at 3500fps from a 16" barrel at anywhere from 60,000-100,000psi chamber pressure.

The latest one mentioned 14" barrel with a 135gr doing 3100fps. That's 26" .270 Weatherby Magnum performance. These performance metrics are not spelled out in the PPON that I can find. Maybe they are listed in one of the attachments, but I don't see references yet.