Textron receives further funding for CT development
Textron Systems Unmanned Systems’ Light Armaments team will continue to develop lightweight, Cased-Telescoped (CT) weapons and ammunition, having received further funding for the work from the US Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium and the US Army's Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center.
The two-year $5.7 million contract will see the team develop a CT carbine, as well as 7.62mm CT ammunition and a machine gun operating mechanism. The CT ammunition is designed with a plastic casing to significantly reduce weight while retaining the performance of conventional ammunition.
The Textron Systems Light Armaments team developed the 5.56mm CT Light Machine Gun under the Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) programme. Providing up to a 40 percent, or 20lb, weight reduction over current technology, the LSAT Light Machine Gun and 5.56mm CT ammunition have been demonstrated at Technology Readiness Level 7. According to the company they improve lethality and reliability.
Building on this work, the team has created a family of lightweight, 5.56mm CT weapons. This includes a compact Light Machine Gun with a quick-change, 12-inch barrel and folding buttstock, developed for close-quarters applications, as well as the operating mechanism for a carbine variant. The team also has developed a caseless ammunition design, which aims to provide even greater weight reduction versus current technology.
The company intends to leverage prior designs to extend CT weapon and ammunition technologies to additional calibres and weapon configurations on the new programme.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Japan orders THeMIS UGVs]()
Japan orders THeMIS UGVs
Milrem’s Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, multimission, hybrid UGV. The current fifth-generation model incorporates knowledge gained during tests in the US, Europe and the Middle East, as well as during field-deployment in Mali in the French-led Operation Barkhane.
-
![GDELS rolls out Piranha HMC]()
GDELS rolls out Piranha HMC
General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) MOWAG has introduced the Piranha Heavy Mission Carrier (10x10), an enhanced version of its Piranha armoured vehicle series, featuring increased payload capacity and specialised configurations for diverse battlefield roles.
-
![US deploys Mid-Range Capability missile defence system to the Philippines]()
US deploys Mid-Range Capability missile defence system to the Philippines
Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile defence system has leveraged Lockheed Martin’s expertise with two in-service USN systems: the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) and the Aegis Weapon System.
-
![USMC narrows down field for light loitering munition requirement]()
USMC narrows down field for light loitering munition requirement
The US Marine Corps selected a team of UVision and Mistral to meet a requirement for Organic Precision Fires Mounted (OPF-M) loitering munition in 2021. It has now awarded contracts for the soldier carried light (OPF-L) version after the success of similar systems in Ukraine highlighted the potential for such weapons.
