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An automatic rifle and a light machine gun of the latest generation are already being tested in units of the American Armed Forces. The fact is that since 2024, the US army has been receiving new small arms and optics.
This was reported in the American newspaper Army Times with reference to informed officials.
We are talking about the newly developed XM7 automatic rifle and the XM250 light machine gun participating in the US Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) rearmament program, as well as the XM157 optical fire control system.
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In the future, both types of small arms will enter service with infantry reconnaissance and sapper units, as well as special operations forces, replacing the M4 rifle and the M249 machine gun. As soon as this happens, the weapon will receive a new name – M7 and M250. Its main difference from its predecessors is the use of 6.8 mm cartridges instead of 5.56 mm cartridges. They have much greater armor penetration, which has been proven experimentally.
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All these weapons and equipment for testing were received by the military personnel of the 101st Airborne Division, based in Kentucky. This weapon was also tested by soldiers of the US Marine Corps.
Image source: topwar.ru
The XM157 fire control system uses computer ballistics to match weapons and ammunition with an optical sight, increasing the accuracy of firing. The fighter takes aim and executes the shot, and the optical system automatically corrects it.