SOFIC 2017: Textron details gun development progress

Textron Systems has detailed progress in its work to mature its lightweight Cased-Telescoped (CT) machine guns, the company announced on 15 May.

The 15lb 7.62mm CT medium machine gun recently completed technology readiness level (TRL) five demonstrations, consisting of validating the performance of the integrated weapon’s operating mechanism. The weapon is set to obtain a limited safety release and participate in the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment 2018.

The 9lb 5.56mm CT light machine gun, which is at TRL seven, recently completed a demonstration for the Swedish armed forces. The demonstration assessed the weapon’s accuracy, mobility and maintainability against the current in-use lightweight machine gun.

According to Textron, the 5.56mm CT light machine gun required 30% less ammunition to accomplish a fire mission, provided a 20% tighter shot grouping and scored significantly higher soldier ratings for ease of maintenance, trigger operation, recoil reduction and burst fire control.

As part of the US Army’s Lightweight Small Arms Technologies programme, Textron's CT effort is working to enhance and improve upon the army’s current technology through reduced weapon weight, lower ammunition weight, and increased lethality and reliability.