Considerations on the Evolution of War

[stanc]

Actually the answer is different...

Nah, it's the same basic answer: "Whoever wins the contract."

"Doing it on their own dime" is the model imposed in the late 20th century to make R&D costs appear to be reduced. It was actually a path to eating one's seed corn.

Any company that has the resources and expectation of sales will make that investment if they are brave or stupid enough. They exist, but counting on this, perhaps serendipitous, path does not constitute sound national policy in my opinion.

That may all be true, but it looks to me like the only way to get a completely new LMG at this point in time is if some company can be convinced to do the design and development on their own, without waiting for a military contract.