Canadian modular assault rifle project, a C7 replacement?

[PrairieFella]

Mounting a GL on the rifle/carbine is useless.

1) You get a 5lb weight added all the time, for a small amount of actual usage.
2) The GL (and it doesn’t matter what type) makes holding the weapon for any decent shooting very awkward (even worse with the M203A1 Colt Canada mount).
3) In the event of a casualty, you need to recover both rifle/carbine and GL to get the GL.

GL’s should be setup in a stand alone configuration. This allows it to be used when needed and stowed when not.

Ammunition for the GL should not be integrally affixed to the vest, etc of the Grenadier. It should be on a bandolier/belt solely for 40mm storage. That way it can be removed and recovered quickly from a combat casualty.




If the ammo is anything like the HiCar ammo down here, it is capable of excellent accuracy, with extremely low standard deviation in muzzle velocity. Minute of angle results out to 500m should be possible with a capable shooter. Precision effects out to 800m should be very possible with good shooters (albeit not necessarily combat conditions).

Just with an EOTech RDS I was able to consistently hit LaRue steel poppers out to 800m with an 11.5” Sons of Liberty MCAR system.

100% - I believe the new GL can be used standalone with a detachable stock.

 

[markppcli]

100% - I believe the new GL can be used standalone with a detachable stock.

Thats what the slides would lead one to believe.

 

[KevinB]

100% - I believe the new GL can be used standalone with a detachable stock.

Yeah, I just wish they would redesign the body housing to be a stand alone from the get go.
The M320 (and M320A1) suffers the same issue with the add on standalone is that it really isn’t the most ergonomic setup. Going back in time the Hk69 (and M79) have much better ergonomics for actually fighting with the launcher.

Frankly for a dedicated Grenadier, I prefer the M32A1.

 

[KevinB]

More on HICAR for those who care.

Sam Acquisition 360

sam.gov

Hypervelocity Improved Capability Assault Rifle (HICAR)

Amendmendent 0001

This amendent is issued to extend the deadline for solution brief (also known as white paper submission) to June 12th at 1400 EDT. The Questions and Answers for this AOI are hereby attached and the link to the original CSO is hereby posted here: SAM.gov



PROBLEM STATEMENT

USSOCOM is seeking a carbine system to act as a replacement or upgrade for the current URG-I (Upper Receiver Group - Improved). The goal is to integrate advancements in material science and weapon design to provide operators with a technically superior individual weapon system capable of firing both legacy 5.56x45mm NATO and emerging hyper velocity ammunition.

The current URG-I is an M4-based platform optimized for standard 5.56NATO ammunition, with a recognized effective range of approximately 300 meters. Special Operations Forces (SOF) require the ability to provide effective fire on targets with their primary 5.56mm carbine out to 600 meters and beyond. This weapon system will allow an operator to effectively engage targets at extended distances while maintaining the portability and ergonomics of a lightweight carbine.

The Hypervelocity Improved Carbine (HICAR) program will develop an improved carbine capable of operating with currently issued 5.56NATO ammunition, while also incorporating design features that ensure reliability, durability, and longevity with the use of future hypervelocity 5.56x45mm ammunition. The ability to leverage the performance benefits of current and future experimental hypervelocity rounds is vital to addressing future capability gaps on the battlefield.

Weapon submissions that address the following technology priorities will benefit during the selection process:

• Hypervelocity Ammunition Compatibility: The ability to accept and reliably cycle both 5.56NATO and hyper velocity 5.56x45mm ammunition is a primary objective. The development of a complete weapon system or conversion kit optimized for hypervelocity ammunition will be a collaborative effort between the government and the proposer. Hypervelocity rounds offer significant performance benefits, including:
  • Increased Effective Range: Higher muzzle velocity allows the projectile to maintain kinetic energy over longer distances, extending the effective range to 600m+.
  • Improved Terminal Performance: Enhanced energy transfer upon impact leads to more effective terminal ballistics.
  • Enhanced Barrier Penetration: The increased velocity and kinetic energy enable the projectile to more effectively defeat body armor, barriers, and other hardened surfaces.
• Longevity and Durability: The system must be engineered to withstand the increased chamber pressures and bolt thrust generated by hypervelocity ammunition without compromising the weapon's service life or operator safety.
• Interoperability: The system must remain fully interoperable with USSOCOM’s existing suite of Visual Augmentation Systems and Weapon Accessories (VASWA).

PROPOSED SOLUTION

A successful solution will be contingent on the completion of the Proposer’s Shoot, Limited Safety, User Evaluation, Product Verification Testing (PVT), and Operational Testing (OT). Some of the technical attributes are listed below. A solution brief’s Technical Merit and Relevance will be based on the ability to meet the primary attributes and the cumulative evaluation of the secondary solution attributes/capabilities:

Primary Attributes:

• HICAR shall be chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO. (T=O)
• HICAR shall be compatible and capable of fit and functioning with the M4A1 lower receiver group without permanent modifications (T); with zero modifications (O)
• HICAR shall fire and function with M855A1, Mk262 as well as Government supplied M855A1+ hypervelocity ammunition loaded to 82kpsi (T); with future hypervelocity ammunition designs optimized for projectile velocity and terminal effects on target (O).
• HICAR barrel shall be between 11- 12 inches in length, measured from bare muzzle to bolt face (T=O).
• HICAR shall not fire when on safe and dropped in accordance with TOP 3-2-045 (T=O).
• HICAR shall employ the HUXWRX Flow 556k L In “Black Magic” suppressor (SKU: M3228) to reduce signature (T=O).[1] (this suppressor will serve as a surrogate for HICAR testing, an optimized suppressor requirement will follow in the future)

Secondary Attributes:

• Average Mean Radius of 1 MOA (T); 0.5 MOA (O) when fired unsuppressed.[2]
  • Measured by averaging total of three (3) groups of ten (10) shots each fired by three (3) separate weapons in unsuppressed, manned, supported configuration at 100 meters with Black Hills Mk262 Mod1-C 77gr, PN# MP460556N9-COMM ammunition.
  • No single ten round group larger than 2.5MOA extreme spread (T=O)
• Barrel muzzle threaded to 1/2x28 or 5/8x24 threads per inch (T=O).
• Weight not to exceed, unloaded and without suppressor, of 8lbs (T); 6.5lbs (O).
• Length not to exceed, when measured from the end of the receiver extension to the end of muzzle device, of 31 (T); 28 (O) inches.
• Continuously timed and biased M1913 picatinny rail at 12 o'clock minimum of 16 inches in length. (T=O)
• Interoperability with all current SOCOM POR Visual Augmentation Systems (VAS) accessories and enablers (T=O).
• Recoil shock impulse less than the POR Mk17 7.62NATO to ensure VAS survivability (T=O)
• HICAR ergonomics similar to M4A1 (T=O).
• HICAR MRBS of 800 (T); 1,600 (O) rounds between stoppages.
• HICAR MRBF of 5,000 (T); 10,000 (O) rounds between failures
• Cycle and function with M855A1 and Mk262 ammunition (T) cycle and function with current training ammunition to include ball, frangible, and tracer cartridges (O).
• Barrel life 8,000 (T); 20,000 (O) rounds.
  • Measured with M855A1+ ammunition fired as a function of Muzzle Velocity loss of 5% below mean or dispersion above an established threshold, whichever occurs first (T=O).
• Trigger pull weight less than 5lbs (T), 3lbs (O)
• Selection of fire: Safe, Semi-auto (T) fully Automatic (O).
• Cycle and function with Gen3 PMAG Magazines (T=O)[3].
• Handguard should minimize deflection and POI shift when under load from a bipod or supported on a barricade (O).
• Handguard with M-LOK mounting points at 7 positions radially for mounting accessories and enablers (T=O).
• Modular ambidextrous safety lever (O). (“Modular” defined as ability to have a selector lever on left, right or both sides simultaneously)
• Ambidextrous bolt catch/bolt release, ambidextrous magazine release, and ambidextrous charging handle (O).
• Fencing around the controls to prevent accidental engagement of the magazine release and bolt release mechanisms (T=O).
• Single rigid sling point at the rear of the receiver for maritime operations (O)[4].
• Resistant to damage from immersion in three (3) feet of seawater for two (2) hours without affecting the weapon's performance and able to fire within thirty (30) (O); ten (10) (T) seconds after submersion.
• Protected with durable corrosion resistant coating in all SOF climatic environments including NBC contaminated environments. Corrosion and abrasion proof coatings to minimize the attraction of dust and contaminants (T=O).
• Utilize where possible self-lubricating coatings and minimize buildup of dust, carbon, copper, and debris (O).
• Fully functional in all environments from -40 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit (O).
• Comply with relevant direct-fire MIL-STD specifications as directed by NSWC-Crane SOCOM Weapons Team (O).
• Industry Partner submit to and successfully perform all tests required by NSWC-Crane SOCOM Weapons Team to achieve limited safety release (LSR) from the Navy Weapon Safety Evaluation & Review Board (WSESRB) (O).
• Inscribed at position of Government-choosing with Industry Partner, OASW (SO/LIC) & SSO CD&I TOS Team Lethality logos.
• Contain markings to include caliber, year of manufacture, and manufacturer identification.
• Not rely on any first-order-supply-chain components from adversary countries as defined in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (O). Any such reliance must be fully documented and mitigated in the Contract Risk Register by Industry Partner (T).
• If not already in BASE, Industry to provide industrialization plan to produce HICAR in the United States by the completion of the contract (T). Designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States (O).

A complete HICAR system to consist of the following:

• Weapon System, Urban
  • Heat Mitigation Rail Covers
  • Buttstock, Multi-Point Adjustable
  • 7x Magpul Gen3 556 Magazines
  • Field Maintenance Kit, Fix-It Sticks
  • Field Cleaning Kit
  • User Manual and Maintenance Manual, hard copy and digital.