SOCOM allegedly dropping SCAR-L

Excitement in the USA about a report from the online service KIT UP!: They recently published that SOCOM had "cancelled" the MK16 - SCAR-L (pictured above being used in Iraq) - program, but will instead order MK17 (SCAR-H). The public outcry has led SOCOM itself to clarify, which, apart from different wording, hardly contradicts the version first published by KIT UP!. The SCAR program is not being terminated, SOCOM says, but no more SCAR-Ls will be ordered and introduced. 850 units are already available, but they are said to be unpopular and teams that have used them in operations have determined that none should accompany them on a new mission. On the other hand, the MK17 - currently with 750 units - seems to prevail: its main advantage is that the 7.62 caliber allows firefights at distances of 400 to 600 meters, which is often necessary in Afghanistan - see image below (SCAR-L with 5.56 has a "short" combat distance of up to 300 meters). Mk17 is therefore going into procurement and is now essentially the flagship project. SOCOM clarifies that no further MK16s will be procured, but that a kit is to be developed that allows the conversion of the MK17 from 7.62 caliber to 5.56. Uh, wasn't that supposed to be the MK16? To add to the confusion: FNH-USA, the manufacturer of the SCAR, did not want to comment on the report at all. After all, FNH-USA had recently announced that the complete SCAR program had received green light for the introduction of the weapon with SOCOM... SPARTANAT will continue to report on what will become of the SCAR, in whatever version.