I think a key rationale for the QTS11 is to counter ever advancing body armour.
agreed although it can also be based around fighting entrenched or defiled enemy forces.
The US is looking at 6.5/6.8 and higher cal rounds to counter Russian and Chinese lvl4 equivalent plate. That adds significant weight in weapon and ammo.
6.8mm it’s confirmed as 6.8mm. However in terms of weight not quite. As I point out the QTS-11 weighs 15 pounds in battle configuration ( loaded with optic).
Recently one of the NGSW rifle entry’s was published in TFB the XR68 from VK Integrated system and Bachstine Consuilting. Unloaded they say it’s under 9 pounds and that’s with a power rail system. So although heavier than the M4A1 it’s about on par with a .308 in terms of weapon but that weapon has a integrated power management system.
The ammo types are being pushed to use lighter materials, Polymers, compound cases and alternative metals reducing the ammo weight so you basically are using a ammo that weighs the same as the current 5.56mm. Basically with a little guess work we are looking at 11-12.5 pounds that is assuming XR68 loaded with 30 round of ammo weighing the same as current and a optical fire control system like the Trackingpoint system which is a requirement for NGSW. That’s 3 pounds less than the QTS11 full system. Add a M320 for identical weight. This for a weapon the XR68 that is dimensionally close to and based off the AR15 series in operation and design.
China has show little sign that it is interest in such ‘overmatch’ calibers, and instead is playing with the QTS11 and smart grenades.
Well to a degree remember that the PLA is said to have new ammo on the way for there new rifle.
The long barrel and high pressure especially means the smart grenade probably shoots pretty flat, so I can easily see them using those for direct fire and HEAT like rounds to penetrate plate with explosive jets on impact.
The 20mm in this case is not a High pressure type. This is a low pressure round. What gives it a flatter trajectory is it’s also a lighter smaller caliber round than say the 40mm. It’s being fired from about a 16 inch barrel fine but it’s still a grenade. It’s not a cannon. The pressure load has to be kept low to pressure the weapon from killing the shooter.
The corner shooting ability with scope and eyepiece also seems like a direct counter to the suppression fire centric infantry tactic US and NATO forces prefer.
Suppressive Fire is universal. However as the M27 indicates the use in US and NATO is more specialized to accurate fire than spray and pray. Farther-more remember that the US and Europe had this same concept in the works for sometime.
The ENVG-B mated to the current M4A1 already displays a feed from a rifle mounted sight to the Soldiers NVGs that’s not a big step from aiming around corners. The Commercial Trackingpoint and Israeli Smartshooter also allow such.
That seems like a really bad idea. I don't know how prevalent level IV armour is, but if it becomes standard issue then the opposing force is going to be hosed if all they have to defeat it are 20mm grenades. What's wrong with going back to 7.62mm or exploring 6.5+mm ammunition?
The Russians have already loaded there squads back up with 7.62x54R LMGs and some military are looking back to 7.62x51mm. 6.5mm is also an option but it’s not the 6.5mm in the small assault rifle class but the larger battle rifle class. So weight is a factor the rifles get bigger and heavier. Harder to control in rapid fire.
It seems like the aim for the moment of the PRC is to hot load and harden tip 5.8mm rounds in the next service rifle.
