According to Capt. Pat Sullivan, representing the U.S. Navy’s Program Executive Office for Littoral and Mine Warfare, Navy Special Warfare, the Navy began a small arms modernization program around 2006, focusing on a range of what were presented as “obsolete” weapon systems.

“And we’re nearing the completion of that modernization, we expect, in FY 10,” he said.

In medium machine guns, for example, the Navy modernization program is replacing M60s with M240N/B and M60E3/Mk. 43 with the Mk. 48 lightweight machine gun. Likewise, the inventory of naval surface small arms mounts – including Mk. 26 MOD17, Mk. 64 MOD4, Mk. 82, and Mk. 58 – are being replaced by the Mk. 93 universal mount and Mk. 97 mount. In carbines, the plan has been phasing out the Colt 727 carbine for the M4A1 carbine. Rifle plans have been replacing both M16A1HB (heavy barrel) and M14 with M16A3/5, while M79 40 mm grenade launchers have been replaced by M203 models. Finally, to fulfill the role of surface ship machine guns, the plan is replacing the Mk. 19 grenade machine gun and Mk.  44 “mini gun” with twin M2 heavy-barrel machine guns and twin M240 machine guns, respectively.

In terms of future needs from industry, Sullivan pointed to several issues, including a continuing service interest in new and improved maritime coatings; lighter, smaller, and more compact weapons and ammunition; and automatic round counters.

Along with these naval small arms activities, representatives at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division have been working with industry to develop several new ammunition options to enhance the effectiveness of Naval Special Warfare elements and other forces for both sniper and assault weapons.

One example of these U.S. Navy small arms ammunition advancements for sniper systems is the 7.62 mm Special Ball, Long Range, Mk. 316 MOD0, designed to replace the M118LR cartridge to enhance the effectiveness of the Mk. 11 sniper rifle. Likewise, the new .300 Winchester Magnum Match Product Improvement Mk. 248 MOD1 will extend the effective range of Naval Special Warfare sniper rifles like the Mk. 13 MOD5.

In terms of assault effectiveness, NSWC has also fostered the development of new 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm ball ammunition, designated Mk. 318 MOD0 and Mk. 319 MOD0 respectively, that will optimize the performance of the new Mk. 16 and Mk. 17 Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifles (SCAR).

Another maritime JSSAST participant, the U.S. Coast Guard, has been conducting its own small arms activities, ranging from the continued fielding of a new handgun to use of precision fire weapons out of helicopters.

The Coast Guard handgun replacement project is replacing the 9 mm M9 Beretta with the .40-caliber SIG SAUER P229R-DAK. Type classification of the new handgun is being conducted by NSWC Crane, with approximately 85 percent of the Coast Guard already transitioned to the new weapon as of this writing.

Other near-term goals include refinement of the tactics, techniques, and procedures for three new weapon initiatives in the Coast Guard inventory: the Mk. 11, designed for precision engagement; and the M14T and M107, both of which are designed for support of “airborne use of force” operations.

The Coast Guard is also developing a new Precision Service Shotgun (PSS), intended to deliver flash/bang rounds, rubber anti-personnel rounds, and copper slugs for “disabling fire.”

Although there are no small arms programs or activities being led by the U.S. Air Force, that service also participates in JSSAST and works to further interoperability with sister services and components in DoD by partnering on programs that they are developing. Within the Air Force, primary emphasis is on sustainment and product improvement of the current small arms inventory as well as improving and expanding small arms training and range capabilities.

Wrapping up the service elements of the JSSAST symposium overview, Lt. Col. Tom Henthorn, chief of the Small Arms Branch at the U.S. Army Infantry Center, pointed to the Army’s current 2009 weapons development strategy.