Another step forward for SIG Sauer and the US Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program intended to select the new 6.8mm weapons that will replace both the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and the M4/M4A1 carbine, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO: the US Army has just designated Type Classification - Standard (TC-STD) to the SIG Sauer Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) M7 rifle and M250 (belt fed) automatic rifle.
Till now, the two weapons had an “XM” nomenclature (XM7 and XM250 respectively, where the “X” stands for “Experimental”) because they were in development or limited production phase and didn't have a type classification yet. In particular, the M7 – the US Army variant of the 6.8×51mm (.277”) SIG MCX Spear – was previously designated as the XM5, but in January 2023 the Army announced it would change the name to XM7 because of a trademark conflict with Colt, who manufactures the M5 carbine. The NGSW Program initiated in 2017. After a 27-month prototype phase, extensive testing culminated in the selection of SIG Sauer’s XM7 and XM250 in April 2022.
SIG Sauer M7 and M250: now ready for widespread fielding
But what does the Type Classification mean for the two weapons? “The Type Classification affirms the M7 and M250 meet stringent performance, safety, and reliability standards for widespread military use. This designation ensures seamless integration into the US Army’s inventory, streamlining procurement, training, and maintenance across units and asserting the materiel fully satisfies U.S. Army operational needs,” they explain at SIG Sauer. “This milestone marks the transition of these advanced firearms from developmental to standardized status, signifying readiness for widespread fielding.”
According to the manufacturer, the M250 doubles the effective range and is 40% lighter than the current M249 while maintaining the preferred belt-fed operation, with reduced felt recoil increasing soldier lethality. On the other hand, the newly designated M7 is a gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle with free-floating reinforced M-LOK handguard. The M250 and M7 feature familiar AR-style ambidextrous ergonomics and – more importantly – are chambered in 6.8x51, a lightweight hybrid cartridge where the stainless steel base is connected to a brass body through an aluminum locking washer. Designed to handle higher pressures, it provides increased velocity and terminal performance. The final component of the system is the SIG Sauer Next Generation Suppressors for reduced sound signature.
“The M7 and M250 represent a transformative leap in combat capability,” in the words of Steve Rose, Executive Vice President, Defense Strategies Group at SIG Sauer.
