Next Generation Squad Weapon

The Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program is a United States military program created in 2017 by the U.S. Army to replace the 5.56mm M4 carbine, the M249 SAW light machine gun, and the 7.62mm M240 machine gun, with a common system of 6.8mm cartridges and to develop small arms fire-control systems for the new weapons.

Seven defense manufacturers competed in the program, with five attempting to design and produce the weapons & two attempting to create and supply fire-control optics. The winners were officially announced by the Army in early 2022: SIG Sauer to produce the XM7 rifle and XM250 automatic rifle, Vortex Optics to produce the XM157 fire-control system, and Winchester to produce the custom 6.8mm ammunition cartridges designed by SIG Sauer. The program was expected to cost $10 million in the first year of production, and $150 million the next.