Testing, testing...

[Tony Williams]

Tony,

You've done very well at positing the next family of weapons and ammunition, but an immediate step to that family may be larger than can be swallowed just now. Try to think incrementally from where we are today and where we need to go.

I am, which is why I keep plugging the idea of firming up on the required calibre and ballistics using conventional technology first (preferably fielding some weapons in the new calibre for thorough testing), then transferring the lessons learned to the next phase of LSAT development.

What I am worried about is that if LSAT is adopted in 5.56mm, we'll be stuck with that calibre for ever.

If LSAT fails, then we can look at introducing the new calibre in conventional form but probably using lighter case materials (part-polymer, stainless steel and light-alloy are all being worked on at the present time).