U.S. Army to order prototypes of next-generation squad automatic weapon

The U.S. Army is preparing to order prototypes of the Next Generation Squad Weapon programme, both chambered in the Army’s new specification general purpose 6.8mm round.

In a recent notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website, the service asked industry proposals in regards to a Prototype Project Opportunity Notice (PPON) for Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW).

The U.S. Army has released a Prototype Project Opportunity Notice (PPON) for both its the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-R) and the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Automatic Rifle (NGSW-AR) as it considers replacing the M249 squad automatic weapon and M4/M4A1 carbine.

Published on 30 January, the PPON said the army intends to award up to three prototype Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 2371b, with each COMPANY developing two weapon variants under the NGSW program and 6.8 millimeter ammunition common to both weapons.

The weapons include the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-R) and the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Automatic Rifle (NGSW-AR). The NGSW-R is the planned replacement for the M4/M4A1 Carbine and the NGSW-AR is the planned replacement for the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) in the Automatic Rifleman Role in the Close Combat Force.

Deliverables for each prototype OTA include 53 NGSW-R weapons, 43 NGSW-AR weapons, 845,000 rounds of ammunition, spare parts, test barrels, tools/gauges/accessories, engineering support, and iterative prototyping efforts as defined in the Statement of Work. Each prototype OTA will undergo two prototype test events including Soldier Touch Points. The duration for each prototype OTA is estimated to be up to eight years. The first 27 months will be for prototyping the NGSW-R, NGSW-AR, and ammunition. Following this prototyping effort, there may be additional iterative prototyping efforts for the NGSW-R, NGSW-AR, and ammunition. These iterative prototyping efforts will each have separate durations and will occur within the eight year duration.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command have said that written proposals for the PPON have a deadline of 24th April 2019, and bid samples are due on 30th May 2019.

Also noted that the production awards may include 250,000 total weapons systems (NGSW-R, NGSW-AR, or both), 150,000,000 rounds of ammunition, spare parts, tools/gauges/accessories, and engineering support. The value of this follow-on production awards is estimated to be $10M in the first year and estimated $150M per year at the higher production rates.