EmericD said:

So, the US Army "could" not only replace the M4 & M249 in the infantry role (the goal of the NGSW program - and keep the M4 for the PDW role), but also finally replace all & every M4 in service, even for non-infantry purpose... that's an interesting move

It could be a possibility. 

The issue to me is one of suppressors. 

-The Raptor unsupressed is very short (~Krinkov) but will be tremendously, possibly dangerously, loud. 

-The Raptor with suppressor (unless its the Brevis) will end up with a length comparable to the M4, making its PDW benefits dubious, especially when the added weight vs M4 + 20rd mags are factored in

On such short barrel, suppressor is 100% essential.

You can use such micro type unit , just so that you don't need double ear protection.  

Silent Steel Micro Streamer from Finland adds only 50mm in lenght but you would be looking at well over 150+DB with 9' barrel.

On this forum a number of years ago, RRBud and I joked about using 300 Win Mag out of a short-barreled machine gun for room clearing.  There would be no need for flash-bang grenades to disorient the bad guys!    

Man I'd love mini cans like that to be available on the American market.

The closest things we have are stuff like the Witt machine big body tu tu.

I've been considering picking one up for my 16" gun.

nincomp said:

On this forum a number of years ago, RRBud and I joked about using 300 Win Mag out of a short-barreled machine gun for room clearing.  There would be no need for flash-bang grenades to disorient the bad guys

Funny you mention that, a week ago on AR15 Forum, a member was showing off their 8" .300 Win Mag Nemo Omen, which was the first thing I had thought of when the 6.8 Raptor was debuted:

And then a photo of it firing:

Description was very flashbang:

"It gives minor concussions I think, I had to lay down on the couch and regroup the same day shooting it, and it will eliminate all your knuckle hair. It has a very mild recoil, which I assume is because 80% of the powder burn is outside the barrel."

Mr. T (MrT4) said:

Silent Steel Micro Streamer from Finland adds only 50mm in lenght

Thats a beautiful little baby suppressor. I'd love something like that for my AUG.

EmericD said:

So, the US Army "could" not only replace the M4 & M249 in the infantry role (the goal of the NGSW program - and keep the M4 for the PDW role), but also finally replace all & every M4 in service, even for non-infantry purpose... that's an interesting move.

And it's an inevitable move, IMO, for logistics, training, and soldier morale.

* Logistics -- Simplifies ammo production and distribution, with one caliber vs two calibers.

* Training --- All personnel train on rifles of the same type and caliber.

* Morale ----- Soldiers armed with a 6.8 PDW will feel their lives are as important as front-line infantry.

I distribute the whole range Silent Steel cans in our country, and since suppressors are now 100% unregulated in our country also manufacture a bunch of different designs,modular designs with optional add-on barrel tuners and muzzle brakes. Silent Steel is a very new company but offers class leading baffle less flowthrough designs here in Europe when it comes to backpressure and is still on par with other low back pressure designs noise suppression here in Europe ,designs are full auto rated and user serviceable

You have many excellent designs in US but whole tax stamp shitshow skyrockets the prices 

After 20 years. I cannot figure it out at all

It seems NGSW has recently gotten a Wikipedia entry:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Generation_Squad_Weapon_Program

Pretty bare bones. I'm not sure how one edits / writes for Wiki but it could definitely stand to be fleshed out. 

Interestingly it currently lists Textron as failed competitor.