Fn herstal a capo di un progetto europeo sulle munizioni leggere

The article is in French, titled ‘*FN Herstal à la tête d’un projet européen sur les munitions légères*’

PRÉCIS:
Three years ago, the U.S. introduced a new caliber for light firearms, and Europe has recently initiated its own project, led by FN Herstal, to explore potential alternatives. The growing divergence between the U.S. and European approaches to small arms ammunition comes amid strained relations, particularly after Donald Trump’s presidency.

In 2022, the U.S. Army surprised NATO allies by selecting two weapons with a new 6.8mm caliber as part of its “Next Generation Squad Weapon” (NGSW) program. This decision was driven by the need for better long-range precision and increased armor-piercing capacity, especially in the face of combatants wearing advanced body armor. The new weapons, produced by Sig Sauer, will gradually replace the M4 assault rifles and M249 machine guns that use the 5.56mm caliber. The U.S. Army’s first order, which includes a potential supply of 250,000 weapons over the next decade, began in 2024.

In response, nine European nations launched the Saat (Small Arms Ammunition Technologies) project in January, aimed at creating a new standard for light ammunition. FN Herstal is leading the initiative, which focuses on interoperability and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy. The Europeans, like the U.S. Army, have also recognized the limitations of current ammunition and have been exploring advanced optical systems and long-range shooting capabilities.

With a budget of €8.3 million from the European Defence Agency, Saat brings together 18 partners, including manufacturers, research institutes, and national defense bodies. The project’s goal is to assess needs and potentially develop new calibers or optimize existing ones. However, experts like Colonel Frederik Coghe argue that increasing caliber size may not be necessary, as current ammunition can be enhanced through better aerodynamics, improved penetration, or charge adaptation.

The stakes are high, as the U.S. could influence NATO’s ammunition standards. If other countries follow suit, the U.S. could set a global precedent, despite some concerns within the U.S. military, such as premature weapon wear. Europeans, on the other hand, may present a credible alternative, potentially creating a split within NATO. The ongoing FN Herstal-led research could ultimately confirm whether the U.S. caliber is the most effective.

I don’t think it was really a surprise the Americans selected two weapons chambered in 6.8mm as it was a part of the requirement for the NGSW selection from the get go.

Also worth noting is that this is for the land component, the Navy (ie the marines) just upgraded to the M27, which is just an HK416 chambered in 5.56mm with a beefier barrel.

As an avid fan of ukraine combat footage and an experienced armchair general, I have doubts about switching to a bigger calibre. It will mean less ammo on hand for the soldier because the ammo weighs more. Looking at Ukraine, assault units carry up to 16 magazines per person, showing that volume of bullets is very important. Most shots are suppressing fire anyway, rendering a bigger calibre kind of moot.

I wanted to post the translation to Dutch but I’m running into the character limit I think. It won’t let me post it.