Soldiers prefer LSAT Machine Gun to M249 in user eval
From a press release at Army.mil ... the Army has concluded a user assessment of the Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) lightweight machine gun at Fort Benning, and concluded that soldiers preferred it to the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Nineteen soldiers participated in the two week experiment which inlcuded firing 25,000 rounds of ammunition, and the overwhelming majority of the soldiers participating preferred the new weapon, favoring its light weight, controllability, and ease of use. Quote:
[image error]
Fifteen of the 19 Soldiers who participated stated that, if given a choice, they would rather take the LMG to war over the M249.
The study also revealed a significant reduction in the time it took the Soldiers to zero the LMG compared to the M249 SAW. Zeroing the weapon means customizing it for a more accurate shot since each weapon is unique and no two are exactly the same.
The Soldiers had to qualify on a known distance range with both the SAW and the LMG. One Soldier repeatedly failed to meet qualification standards while firing the SAW, but passed on the first try with the LMG.
Compared to the M249 SAW, the light machine gun is 21.5 pounds (41 percent) lighter for the gunner, and there is a 12 percent reduction in ammunition volume. This decrease in weight was evident when all the Soldiers maneuvered the woodland obstacle course faster while carrying the LMG versus the SAW.
The results are, frankly, unsurprising. Two two week assessment consisted of a typical series of assessment tests, which include range and field firing as well as movement exercises designed to assess the ability of the soldier to maneuver with the weapon (for example, execution of assault and obstacle courses). The weight difference alone would have resulted in LSAT getting a good grade, and other performance benefits aside.
The value here is that it should clear the weapon for a Forward Operational Assessment in Afghanistan. Living with the weapon for a couple of months in typical combat conditions with regular long-term exposure to environmental factors -- being sent back to the arms room at the end of the day -- will be the real test of the suitability of the concept. As I've predicted before, I think that will go fine; the real obstacle to overcome is in cost and producibility, not operational value.
