The US Army receives the new 6.8 mm rifle.

The US Army's 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) is the first to receive new 6.8mm rifles and machine guns, marking a major change in individual weapon specifications after decades of sticking to the 5.56 caliber.

Thus the 1st Battalion of the 506th Regiment of the 101st Regiment received Sig M7 rifles and M250 light machine guns in the new 6.8 mm caliber.along with the corresponding ammunition, promising a balanced compromise for increased penetration and weight.

The new weapons have been qualified through the NGSW (Next Generation Squad Weapons) competition, and will replace the M4 rifle and the M249 SAW light machine gun (both also present in the Greek Army). The change in caliber was considered necessary, as was the previous change to the 5.56X45 cartridge. He considered that it had no room for development on the modern battlefield and that it had exhausted its “stopping power.”Especially against soldiers equipped with new technology helmets and bulletproof “vests” with armor plates.

However, there is a lot of debate in the United States about how heavy and combat-loaded the new weapons are compared to previous weapons, and whether they provide sufficient firepower. While many NATO countries are watching this transition to a new caliber, Although it has proven effective, it may lead to the need to replace millions of weapons over time.