Ever curious about what it takes the Army to rethink the weapons that characterize a soldier’s firepower entirely? For the first time in over sixty years, the U.S. Army is retooling its small arms on a large scale. This is not merely exchanging rifles—it’s a step forward in technology, an effort towards battlefield superiority, and a response to how realities of combat have evolved.
For decades, the M4 carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon have been the stalwarts of Army units. But with changing threats, the weak point of the 5.56mm round was exposed, particularly against an enemy clad in next-generation body armor. Brig. Gen. Larry Burris: “We are here to create overmatch against near-peer competitors, and that’s more pressing and important today than at any point in recent memory.” The Army knew it needed guns that provide more range, precision, and killing power at the squad level.
Enter the Next Generation Squad Weapons program—a quick-moving, 27-month program that disrupted the conventional eight-to-ten-year acquisition process. Industry titans bid against each other, and Sig Sauer came out with two new firearms: the XM5 rifle and the XM250 automatic rifle. These are not incremental improvements. The XM5 will supplant the M4/M4A1, and the XM250 supplants the M249 SAW, both shooting a new 6.8mm round that can penetrate newer armor and impart greater stopping power. In the Army’s description, the guns “provide significant capability improvements in accuracy, range, and overall lethality.
The technical advances are dramatic. The XM5 is roughly two pounds heavier than the M4, and the XM250 is approximately four pounds lighter than the M249. The new 6.8mm ammunition is heavier and more potent, so soldiers will have less in their pockets, but each will be much more lethal.
The XM250, for example, has an over-the-line lethal range of over 600 meters—twice that of the M249—and is lighter, more ergonomic, with ambidextrous controls and an upgraded suppressor that cuts down on sound and muzzle flash. Recent reports indicate that the XM250 is 13 pounds unloaded, as opposed to the 19.2 pounds of the M249.
One of the highlights is the XM157 Fire Control system, a durable optic that brings computer-aided aiming to the individual soldier. It’s not merely a scope—compact suite with variable-magnification sight, a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer, atmospheric probes, a compass, and visible and infrared lasers. The XM157, says the Army, “enhances accuracy and lethality for the close combat force.” Picture the mindset of a squad when they know their equipment enables them to shoot more precisely, even in extreme stress.
Deploying these new weapons is a herculean task. The Army will equip about 121,000 troops in infantry, cavalry scouts, combat engineers, medics, and forward observers. Full fielding is contingent on the ramp-up of production of the new 6.8mm ammunition.
Sig Sauer is already producing it, but the Army’s Lake City Ammunition Plant in Missouri is gearing up for full-scale manufacturing, scheduled sometime around 2026. Fielding will be phased until then, beginning with the likes of the 101st Airborne and Ranger brigades, especially those dedicated to the Pacific.
For soldiers, the shift is palpable. The XM5 combat load consists of seven 20-round magazines for a total of 140 rounds and 9.8 pounds—fewer than the M4’s 210 rounds but each more potent. The gunner for the XM250 carries four 100-round cases instead of the M249’s three 200-round cases, reflecting the heavier but more powerful ammo. The Army hopes the additional firepower and accuracy will more than make up for the reduced round count.
This is not only about new weapons—it’s about the way squads engage and survive. The NGSW program was informed by over 20,000 hours of soldier input and more than 100 technical evaluations so that the end product isn’t a concept but a workable, soldier-tested tool. As Brig. Gen. Burris explained, “This is a data-driven process and user-influenced, the Soldier who will ultimately gain advantage on the battlefield.”
The bigger picture is obvious. The Army is looking to sustain overmatch against its competitors in advanced armor and technology. The NGSW program is not just an upgrade; it’s a statement of intent, a promise to provide soldiers with the equipment to fight, win, and come back home. From conception to deployment, the process has been quick, targeted, and intensely competitive—and represents a new era in soldier lethality, one that will have an impact on combat for years to come.
