Army's M7 rifle will get fewer real world, independent tests, watchdog warns
4 hours ago
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- The M7 rifle, part of the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon program, was removed from Pentagon oversight testing, raising concerns about its real-world combat readiness.
- Critics argue that without independent testing by the Department of Defense Test & Evaluation office (DOT&E), the M7 may face issues similar to past rifle malfunctions.
- DOT&E, established in 1983, ensures unbiased testing of military weapons, but recent staff cuts and restructuring have reduced its oversight.
- The M7 has undergone some testing (user, arctic, airborne, logistics) but lacks DOT&E’s independent operational testing, which assesses real-world combat scenarios.
- A DOT&E report highlighted usability issues with the M7’s fire control mechanism and a high risk of critical failure during extended missions.
- Army officials claim the M7 will still undergo live-fire testing and evaluations, but critics stress the importance of independent oversight for Congress and public transparency.