LSAT Light Machine Gun
AAI Corporation (Textron Systems) · Machine Gun · Prototype · 2009
Also known as: Lightweight Small Arms Technologies LMG, CT LMG, Textron LSAT
Overview
The LSAT (Lightweight Small Arms Technologies) light machine gun is a US technology-demonstrator squad automatic weapon developed by AAI Corporation (later Textron Systems) under a US Army program to dramatically cut the weight of small arms and their ammunition. It fires either cased-telescoped (CT) or caseless 5.56x45mm rounds using a rotating/swinging chamber with push-through feed-and-ejection, and is gas-operated firing from an open bolt. The cased-telescoped LMG weighs about 4.45 kg empty - roughly a 43-44% weight reduction over conventional 5.56mm light machine guns such as the M249.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4450 g (157.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 917 mm (36.10") |
| Barrel Length | 418 mm (16.46") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 100 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Belt |
| Muzzle Velocity | 920 m/s (3018 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1693 J (1249 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 650 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Frame Material | Polymer |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Polymer |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56mm NATO — also known as 5.56x45mm, 5.56 NATO, 5.56mm cased telescoped, 5.56mm caseless
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Polymer Linked Disintegrating Belt, Soft Pouch
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Cased Telescoped Ammunition, Rotating Swinging Chamber, Push Through Feed And Ejection, Quick Change Barrel, Telescoping Stock, Picatinny Rail, Weight Reduced Design
Variants
- LSAT LMG (Caseless) — Ammunition Type
Production
Production years: 2004-2013
Only a small number of prototype weapons built for testing and demonstration
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Notes
Prototype/technology demonstrator, never type-classified for general service. The program later evolved toward 6.8mm cased-telescoped concepts informing the NGSW effort. Feed uses 100-round (cased telescoped) or 150-round (caseless) polymer-linked disintegrating belts in soft pouches.
Background
The LSAT's cased-telescoped cartridges seat the bullet fully inside a stubby polymer case rather than a brass shell, letting the gun shove a fired round straight through the chamber as the next one pushes in - a feed cycle that looks more like a stapler than a traditional machine gun.