Infantry Automatic Rifle
The Infantry Automatic Rifle or IAR is the name given to a light weight, magazine fed, 5.56mm weapon sought by the United States Marine Corps which will enhance the automatic rifleman’s maneuverability and displacement speed while providing the ability to suppress or destroy not only area targets, but point targets as well. The IAR is planned to partially replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAWs) currently employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalions. The M249 SAW will remain in service at the company level to be used at the discretion of company commanders.
Contracts for sample weapons have been awarded to FN Herstal, Heckler & Koch, and Colt Defense (which is providing two competing designs).
[edit] References
- United States Navy press release regarding Contract #3928
- Marine Corps Times, So long, SAW?
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