The Army announced that its production line for the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program has been re‑oriented to the XM8 carbine, and no M7 rifles have been bought since the fiscal year began on Oct. 1. The shift reflects a priority on fielding the lighter, shorter carbine to soldiers expected to see direct close combat.
Both the XM8 and the M7 rifle belong to the NGSW suite, which also includes the M250 machine‑gun variant, and all three fire the 6.8 × 51 mm cartridge designed for extended range. The XM8 incorporates soldier feedback with a fixed stock, softer butt pad, a more rigid handguard, and a barrel that shortens the overall length by about 3.5 inches while shedding more than a pound of weight, improving balance, recoil feel, and maneuverability.
Army officials say they aim to field the XM8, M7 and M250 to the Close Combat Force as quickly as possible, though future purchases remain “pre‑decisional.” Sig Sauer’s vice president confirmed the M7 remains in service and ready for support, while the Marine Corps has already declined to adopt the M7 in favor of its own M27 system. Delivery numbers for either weapon have not been disclosed.
