U.S. Army picks Textron Systems for weapons contract

The U.S. Army’s Project Manager Soldier Weapons awarded Textron Systems a contract to deliver automatic rifles.

Textron Systems, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., will deliver 43 6.8mm CT Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) Automatic Rifles and 53 NGSW-Rifles. Further, it will provide the Army with 845,000 rounds of CT ammunition during a 27-month period of performance.

Textron Systems has decades of small arms experience. Its package includes Heckler & Koch, which provides small arms design, research and development, and manufacturing capabilities, and Olin Winchester, which has small caliber ammunition production capabilities.

“We have assembled a team that understands and can deliver on the rigorous requirements for this U.S. Army program with mature and capable technology, reliable program execution and dedicated user support,” Wayne Prender, Textron Systems’ senior vice president, Applied Technologies and Advanced Programs, said. “Together, we are honored to support America’s soldiers with the next-generation capabilities they need in their most dangerous missions.”

Textron Systems 6.8mm CT system provides performance enhancements over current Army systems. The design features improved accuracy and greater muzzle velocity for increased performance. Further, it incorporates advanced suppressor technology to reduce the firing signature and improve controllability. Textron Systems scaled its lightweight CT technology into numerous calibers and configurations, demonstrating its scalability for future growth to support U.S. close combat forces.