FN announced the delivery of LICC-IWS assault rifles and LICC-AMG light machine guns to the US Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD).
IWTSD will test FN’s LICC-IWS assault rifle and LICC-AMG light machine guns (LMG) chambered in its new 6.5x43 mm LICC ammunition, following FN’s demonstrations of its new firearms.
The IWTSD is a supporting body to the US Department of War, responsible for identifying and developing capabilities for irregular warfare involving state/non-state actors through technical studies and operational support.
The new ammunition developed by FN, 6.5x43 mm LICC, is intended as a midpoint between 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm in many respects when it comes to performance. Due to its larger calibre and higher pressure compared to 5.56 mm, the round provides a longer effective range and improved lethality against body armour. To operate at higher pressures and reduce ammunition weight, a new steel case is used instead of brass, much like the 6.8x51 mm ammunition for the NGSW programme.
However, compared to 6.8x51 mm, 6.5x43 mm LICC has a milder leaning on the full-power side of the spectrum to avoid some of the disadvantages like recoil and magazine size constraints.
LICC-IWS was developed to provide M4A1-like ergonomics but with the 6.5x43 mm ammunition instead of the current 5.56 mm. To provide a familiarity to the US personnel using M4A1 carbines and M16 assault rifles, IWS was developed in CQB, carbine, and marksman lengths as well. Each standard magazine for LICC-IWS can hold 25 rounds.
On the other hand, LICC-AMG is a development of FN’s EVOLYS extra-light machine gun chambered in 6.5x43 mm LICC. Extensive use of polymers provides a reduction in weight from the level of legacy Minimi (M249 in 5.56 mm and Mk48 in 7.62 mm for US service) machine gun. Considering the weights of the 5.56 mm and 7.62x51 mm variants of EVOLYS, it is safe to say LICC-AMG would weigh between 5.5 kg and 6.2 kg.
While NGSW programme has provided a service rifle and a light machine gun with improved long-range performance, weight and ammunition load drawbacks might lead to the evaluation of an alternative that puts out less power but also with more tamed drawbacks as a balanced approach.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
