The NGSW XM8 is here

The US Army designated the XM8 and issued a national stock number last month. The NSN reads 1005-01-737-3402. Featuring an 10″ barrel, the 6.8 x 51mm XM8 (the shorter one in the picture) weighs naked 7.3 lbs versus the 8.3 lbs of the naked M7 carbine with 13.5″ barrel. Developed by SIG SAUER as part of the Product Improvement Effort, it is a carbine version of the M7 Rifle. Along with the M250 Automatic Rifle, these weapons are being issued to the US Army’s close combat forces as part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon program.

Although the main changes to the XM8 carbine are the shorter barrel, it also has no folding buttstock. This safes some weight. Considering the Carbine has been given an M designation it looks like there’s a good chance that it will be adopted for issue to at least some of the force.