SPECNOTE 0003 Attachment 1

Lightweight Machine Gun – Assault

PROBLEM STATEMENT

USSOCOM through NSWC Crane is seeking a lightweight man portable select fire belt-fed weapon chambered in 7.62 NATO to act as the lifecycle replacement for the aging MK48 series of weapons. The goal is to replace the weapon while integrating advancements in material, manufacturing, and technology to provide the operators with a technically superior weapon. This weapon system will allow an operator to effectively shoot, maneuver, and lay down suppressive fire. The combination of the rate of fire and recoil of the weapon system will allow the operator to effectively engage targets at all distance within its effective range. The system will be interoperable with USSOCOM’s suite of Visual Augmentation Systems and Weapon Accessories (VASWA) and existing M240B tripods (to include the M192, M122A1, and M125). The MK48 series of weapons (including the MOD2) utilize traditional machine gun top covers which do not support VASWA as effectively as weapons with a monolithic or continuously timed top rail. The ability to swap calibers and accept high pressure ammunition is vital to addressing future combat needs and will be considered during this program. Weapon submissions that address USSOCOM’s technology priorities will benefit during the selection processes.
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Monolithic or Continuous Top Rails: A monolithic top rail and a continuous top rail (that is uninterrupted) allows for the maximum flexibility for VASWA with lessened risk for any zero shift. An interrupted but continuously timed top rail is of interest to USSOCOM as well; however a single continuous rail is preferred. High Pressure Ammunition: The ability to accept high pressure ammunition is of interest to USSOCOM. The development of a conversion kit for high pressure ammunition will be a collaborative effort between the GOV and the proposer’s. Novel Recoil Technology: USSOCOM is interested in novel recoil mitigation technology. The primary interest is that the weapon firing rate and recoil impulse when considered together allow for the operator to effectively engage targets.

PROPOSED SOLUTION

A successful solution will be contingent on the completion of the Proposer’s Shoot, Limited Safety, User Evaluation, Product Verification Testing (PVT), and Operational Testing (OT). Some of the technical attributes are listed below. A solution brief’s Technical Merit and

Relevance will be based on the ability to meet the primary attributes and the cumulative evaluation of the secondary solution attributes/capabilities: