New Cartridge Developments and Implications for Dismounted Infantry Soldiers

[LRRPF52]

I think it's great that they plan to develop 6.5mm CT ammo and carbine, but I fail to see how CT technology in any of the mentioned calibers is going to change the game, which is try to kill the other guy. AFAIK, the only real change CT promises is reduced weight. Otherwise it has the same limitations as weapons that fire conventional ammo.

BTW, I can't help but wonder if the "Cartridge Optimization Trade Study" was based on 6.5mm Scenar or MatchKing projectiles, or realistic military bullet designs. If the calculations were done using the match bullet BC, the conclusions may be a bit optimistic.

The CT case is more efficient at burning the propellant, and with the 5.56 versions, soldiers involved in the testing of it stated that they use the 200m stadia line for 300m impact, so velocity appears to have increased as well.

The LSAT LMG also has a counter-recoiling operation that makes it so that not only is it more accurate and easier to shoot than the SAW, it also out-performs the M4 on the qual lanes. Since the cartridge length is significantly shorter, a soldier's basic loads increases dramatically, while also being lighter, even with a caliber increase over 5.56 NATO. Basically everything about it is a major positive and over-match over legacy systems.

It also changes things in that the entire concept of our MTO&E gets turned on is head since you have a very lightweight system that can be used for everything a rifleman, SAW gunner, and DM do, as LSAT has select-fire capability. When the new KAC carbines were deadlined during the testing, the guys pulled the Leupold Mk.6 optics off them, and tried them on the LSAT using SEMI to engage targets out to 800m effectively.

A 6.5mm LSAT with a .550 G1 or .265-.270 G7 projectile in 6.5mm would make the M240 and PKM obsolete.