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United States SIG Sauer
XM7
The U.S. Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon rifle, adopted to replace the M4A1 in close-combat units and chambered in a new high-pressure 6.8x51 mm hybrid-case cartridge for improved range and armor penetration. Based on the commercial SIG MCX Spear, it is fielded with the XM157 smart fire-control optic.
In service since 2023 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-01
600
m range
600
rpm
945
m/s
20
rds
Pricing: Unit cost not fully disclosed under Army contract
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2023. Status: active · ~100,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Effective range
Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope.
- 600 m Stronger than 71% of rifles
- Rate of fire
Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.
- 600 rpm Stronger than 12% of rifles
- Muzzle velocity
Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration.
- 945 m/s Top 8% of rifles
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 6.8×51 mm hybrid
- Caliber
Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.
- 6.8 mm
- Ammunition
Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity.
- 20 Stronger than 18% of rifles
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Length
Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.
- 0.94 m
- Empty weight
Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.
- 4 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 1
- Barrel length
Barrel length — longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling.
- 356 mm
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Units built
Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.
- 100,000 Stronger than 32% of rifles
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 1 Bottom 6% of rifles
Specifications compiled from public SIG Sauer and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the SIG Sauer XM7 require? +
The SIG Sauer XM7 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the SIG Sauer XM7? +
The SIG Sauer XM7's primary weapon is the 6.8×51 mm hybrid.
What is the SIG Sauer XM7 used for? +
The SIG Sauer XM7 is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the SIG Sauer XM7? +
The SIG Sauer XM7 is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the SIG Sauer XM7 cost? +
SIG Sauer XM7: Unit cost not fully disclosed under Army contract. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
