Textron have established that they are working in partnership with Heckler & Koch who are providing not just design and development assistance but also manufacturing capabilities – the full extent of their input in the project is yet to be revealed. The NGSW program requires companies to develop their own ammunition using the Army’s new 6.8mm GP projectile, as such Textron have confirmed that they have developed their own 6.8mm cased telescopic or CT round which if selected will be produced by Olin Winchester.
No new photographs of the Textron submissions, for NGSW-R and NGSW-AR are currently available, although we have seen Textron’s belt-fed and rifle CT prototypes in the past
Here’s Textron’s press release in full:
Hunt Valley, Maryland. August 30, 2019 – Textron Systems, a business of Textron Inc.
(NYSE: TXT), announced today its selection by the U.S. Army’s Project Manager Soldier
Weapons as one of three organizations to deliver Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) based on the company’s mature, high-performance cased telescoped (CT) technology. Under this award, Textron Systems will deliver 43 6.8mm CT NGSW-Automatic Rifles and 53 NGSW-Rifles, as well as 845,000 rounds of CT ammunition during a 27-month period of performance.To support the NGSW prototype program, Textron Systems leads a world-class team that offers decades of trusted small arms experience and includes Heckler & Koch, as well as Olin Winchester. Heckler & Koch provides renowned small arms design, research and development, and manufacturing capabilities, while Olin Winchester brings renowned small caliber ammunition production capabilities.
“We have assembled a team that understands and can deliver on the rigorous requirements for this U.S. Army program with mature and capable technology, reliable program execution and dedicated user support,” says Wayne Prender, Textron Systems’ Senior Vice President, Applied Technologies and Advanced Programs. “Together, we are honored to support America’s soldiers with the next-generation capabilities they need in their most dangerous missions.”
Textron Systems has successfully demonstrated its high capability and low-risk 6.8mm CT system that provides significant performance enhancements over current Army systems. The design features improved accuracy and greater muzzle velocity for increased performance, as well as weight savings of both weapon and ammunition over current Army systems. It also incorporates advanced suppressor technology to reduce the firing signature and improve controllability.
Under earlier development programs, Textron Systems successfully scaled its lightweight CT technology into numerous calibers and configurations, demonstrating its technical maturity, as well as scalability for future growth to support U.S. close combat forces against current and future adversaries.