Some more NGSW Updates.

1. Encouraging noises continue to be made about fielding NGSW soon, with selection expected Mid 2022

https://www.armytimes.com/news/2021/10/11/the-armys-m4-m16-and-saw-replacement-is-on-its-way/

2. Sig is working to adapt its 6.8 SPEAR rifle into a civilian rifle, and also shows some potential variants such as a 20" and 8"

https://soldiersystems.net/2021/10/11/ausa-21-sig-spear-update/

3. L3 Harris displaying mock ups of its NGSW-FC; revealed they are partnered with Leupold for the project

https://soldiersystems.net/2021/10/12/ausa-21-l3-harris-next-generation-squad-weapon-fire-control/

And while researching the 30x113mm in the other thread, I came across some very interesting NGSW ADVAP news:

https://apps.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2021/Army/stamped/U_0603639A_4_PB_2021.pdf

Project EC2 ADVAP: The Advanced Armor-Piercing (ADVAP) project is a critical technology development in response to the 7.62 millimeter (mm) and 5.56mm Family of Ammunition Capabilities Development Documents (CDD) and the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team (SL CFT) Initial Capability Document (ICD) which outlines the requirements for new ammunition to support the rapid prototyping/development of the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) under the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) authority for rapid prototyping/rapid fielding. New ADVAP ammunition is designed to provide overmatch capability to defeat advanced light armored threats within typical machine gun engagement ranges.

The Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) ammunition is split into two initial variants, the General Purpose (GP) and the Special Purpose (SP). The nomenclature for the GP ammunition is XM1186 and the nomenclature for the SP ammunition is XM1184. The overall objective of the ADVAP project is to develop and Full Materiel Release (FMR) ammunition to defeat hard targets. 

Also in the document is the development of One Way Luminescent (OWL) ammo, which we would likely see applied to 6.8 NGSW if it is perfected. 

Project EB8 OWL for Small Caliber: The OWL project is a critical technology development in response to the 7.62 millimeter (mm) and 5.56mm Families of Ammunition Capabilities Development Documents (CDD) and .50 caliber munitions CDD.

Current small caliber ammunition tracer rounds are a pyrotechnic tracer mix which allows enemy forces to see the trace round and track its trajectory back to the shooter. The OWL project's objective is to develop and field a full tracer round to replace the current pyrotechnic cartridges with trace cartridges that are only visible to the shooter and soldiers in close proximity, increasing soldier survivability, and increasing lethality by incorporating Enhanced Performance Round (EPR) technology into the new tracer ammunition. 7.62mm and 5.56mm are the immediate focus followed by a similar development strategy for .50 caliber cartridges.

Some comments on the SSD spear post suggest Textron will announce their withdrawal from NGSW. If true, that’s terrible news for the program.

I read those, but the rumor seemed weakly sourced; based on LMT reportedly saying they are no longer making suppressors for textron. And then the video where this was allegedly said disappeared. 

Short of Textron getting into some Enron type scandal I can’t imagine them dropping out. They’ve just put so much into the project, with no market outside of victory in NGSW.

Alledgedly the very own SSD said

I have asked Textron to discuss NGSW and they have politely passed.

and also (about SiG)

They are still in NGSW.

Indeed. Decades of investments. Decades of DoD support. Theoretically CT reached matureness at the end of LSAT program. As you said, there is no meaningful civilian market for CT rounds on the short term, and if their bid is the winner... they could make mountains of money either for manufacturing weapons and ammo and selling intellectual rights to NATO partners. And remember: HK is involved

xmszeon has published a new and interesting infography

https://twitter.com/xmszeon/status/1449993882020704257

Absolutely fantastic find Poli, that really helps further the understanding of how the LSAT/CT ammo works.

Also really mindblowing how much thought went into that design.  

I have no merit in it. The talented hombre who is investing tons of time in data and patents is @xmszeon 

https://twitter.com/xmszeon

Latest T&P video has a number of xmszeon's animations.

YouTube

Textron NGSW 6.8mm Plastic Ammo Deep Dive | US Army

Follow me for live updates: https://www.instagram.com/cappyarmy/Textron's rifle to replace the M4 is by far the most unique firearm of the past 100 years. In...