Textron Systems Unmanned Systems, a business of Textron Inc. announced on 15 May the achievement of two significant milestones in the continued maturation of its family of lightweight LSAT Cased-Telescoped (CT) Machine Guns in 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm calibre.
5.56mm CT Light Machine Gun required 30 percent less ammunition to accomplish a fire mission, provided a 20 percent tighter shot grouping / Photo: Textron Systems
Textron Systems’ 6.8 kg 7.62mm CT Medium Machine Gun recently completed Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 demonstrations, consisting of validating the performance of the integrated weapon’s operating mechanism. Upcoming milestones include obtaining a limited safety release and participation in Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) 2018.
Additionally, Textron Systems’ 4.08 kg 5.56mm CT Light Machine Gun, which is at TRL 7, recently completed a demonstration for the Swedish Armed Forces. The demonstration, which was conducted at the Land Warfare Centre in Kvarn, Sweden, assessed the weapon’s accuracy, mobility and maintainability against their current lightweight machine gun.
Results showed that the 5.56mm CT Light Machine Gun required 30 percent less ammunition to accomplish a fire mission, provided a 20 percent 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 U.S. Army’s Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) program, Textron Systems’ 5.56mm and 7.62mm CT machine guns program seeks to enhance and improve upon the Army’s current technology. To accomplish this, weapons offer reduced system weight, lower ammunition weight, and increased lethality and reliability.