Army makes moves toward new carbine - Army News, news from Iraq, - Army Times: "The Army is now following not one but two paths to give soldiers a better weapon than the current M4 carbine.
The Army launched an effort to find a new weapon in November 2008, a year after the M4 finished last in an Army reliability test involving three other carbines.
Officials hoped to start a competition for a new carbine last fall.
Army weapons officials said March 2 that the service still intends to go after a new carbine.
The requirement, or blueprint, for the new weapon, however is still awaiting approval from the Defense Department, said Col. Doug Tamilio, the head of Project Manager for Soldier Weapons.
“People have asked me how long it will be in the joint staff,” Tamilio said. “I don’t know when this will go through.”
Tamilio added that it could be late summer before the Joint Requirement Oversight Council makes a decision.
In the meantime, the Army is making progress on an effort to make significant improvements to the 500,000 M4s in the inventory."
