SOCOM cancels SCAR project

[Graves]

From http://www.thetacticalwire.com/story/219885
June 29 : 2010  

SOCOM Cancels SCAR Project
Military.com is reporting that the United States Military's Special Operations Command has "abruptly" decided to cancel the Mk-16 (5.56mm) variant of the SOCOM Combat Assault Rifle - the SCAR. The heavier Mk-17 (7.62mm) version will, however, remain in the current arms inventory.

According to the Military.com report, SOCOM officials say the SCAR rifle in 5.56mm does not "provide enough of a performance advantage over the M-4 to justify spending USSOCOM's limited...funds when competing priorities are taken into consideration."

Instead of the SOCOM rifle, there will be additional Mk-17 variants using the 7.62mm NATO round (.308), enhanced grenade launchers, and new Mk-20 Sniper Support Rifles purchased.

Wow.

The decision puts the brakes on a six-year project to develop a new rifle that was designed from the ground-up for the military. It will undoubtedly set off another raging debate between decision-makers and the people inside the program who felt the SCAR in 5.56mm offered more flexibility, a better operating system (piston) and better performance in "dusty environments"- like the desert and mountain theaters where troops are currently deployed.

Just over a month ago, FNH, the builder of the SCAR rifle, announced they had cleared the final requirement hurdles and were going into production on both systems. Those rifles were scheduled to be issued in a Mk 16 CQC (Close Quarters Combat), Mk16S (standard), and Mk16LB (long barrel) configuration.

Instead, orders have been issued from SOCOM to turn in the approximately 850 Mk-16s currently deployed to Army Rangers, SEAL units and Naval Special Warfare Combat-Craft crewmen.

[Elhuero]

You think big O is going to let the army spend money on a new rifle when he has social programs to pay for?

By the time he leaves office our troops will be throwing rocks.

[Graves]

You think big O is going to let the army spend money on a new rifle when he has social programs to pay for?

By the time he leaves office our troops will be throwing rocks.

I think new gear in the field is great but I don't think the SCAR is a huge jump from the standard M4.

[Elhuero]

I think new gear in the field is great but I don't think the SCAR is a huge jump from the standard M4.

yeah, there's that too

[DocMedic]

I think new gear in the field is great but I don't think the SCAR is a huge jump from the standard M4.

Agreed, although they're still gonna pick up the 7.62 Mk.17 rifles.

[Byte Stryke]

Sorry ahead of time, but as much as I do not like Obama or his policies I believe that common sense and logic had more to do with this that socialism or politics.

The SCAR was a novel approach at a light weight combat assault weapon, the M4 did essential the same thing at a lower cost.

[OgenRwot]

I think new gear in the field is great but I don't think the SCAR is a huge jump from the standard M4.

This is the big thing.
The SCAR was waaay more expensive than the M-4 but didn't give a return worth the cost. Keeping the SCAR in the 7.62 varient is obviously a nice option for SpecOps to have when they want to use that round. The current "battle rifles" in 7.62 are more of a marksmen rifle than a battle rifle.

[BigBear]

It's all about the bottom dollar. There's not politics at play here. The stoner design has done what it needs to do for over 30 years now... There is no fiscal need to replace it unless some major breakthrough or amazing new technology comes out.