New Army "Caliber Configuration Study"

[stanc]

The earlier focus on retained energy at long range was understandable when discussing a GPC that would replace both 5.56 and 7.62 NATO in infantry units. It seemed likely that for the military to buy into this concept, the notional GPC would have to provide external ballistics and terminal effects at least comparable to those of 7.62 NATO.

However, the introduction of the CLAWS and LDAM programs makes it clear that the US Army intends to keep a two-caliber system: "Caliber A" weapons replacing the 5.56mm carbine, rifle, and SAW, plus the 7.62mm DMR and LMG; "Caliber B" MMG replacing the 7.62mm MMG.

With an LDAM MMG (for example, something like the GD .338 LWMMG) providing much greater terminal effects than the 7.62 M240 MMG, it doesn't now seem to be essential to match 7.62 terminal effects with CLAWS weapons, but achieving comparable trajectory and drift would still be desirable.

Unfortunately, the only information that I've seen on CLAWS and LDAM is the very minimal data in post #2 of this thread, so I can't answer your last question.