I used to work with the Program Manager for the XM25. It was awesome in testing. Then they sent it to units deployed for T&E and after a few blew up, it got shitcanned then cancelled. Turns out it didn't work so well outside of low volume controlled testing in perfect conditions.
Programs and Projects are Money pits. Its in everyone best interest to drag them on for as long and for as much funding as possible. Everyone is getting their nut. Once these guns end up in units that could actually deploy and are run through some cycles of NTC and heavy training, they will either work (which based on everything we know is not likely) well or have significant problems result in recalls/reworks/cancellation of the program.
Even if this does work, its heavier, has more recoil, will break more often and to carry the same amount of ammo, its going to weigh even more. Soldiers are already overloaded to the point of not being combat effective. The place money should be spent is making everything lighter, smaller and more lethal. There is probally a small envolope of engagements where this would be a better choice than an M4 (mountains, desert,ect) but the future of warfare is urban and subterranean where people can hide from sensors. Hanging out in the hills or out in the open in the near future will be a death sentence.
If you look at the special operations community and how their gear has evolved, they have always placed a high priority on mobility for the sake of protection. Its hard to hit something always moving. Smaller kit, less weight allowing them to move fast , climb fast, and beat the shit out of someone without being weighed down by 60-80lbs of shit like a turtle.
www.armytimes.com
