The Army has another new rifle, the XM8 carbine

The Army is expected to begin fielding the XM8, a shorter, lighter carbine version of the M7 Next Generation Squad Weapon rifle, towards the end of the year.

Jeff Schogol
Mar 18, 2026 10:33 AM EDT

The Army is about to roll out a smaller carbine as part of its new, multi-billion-dollar rifle system. A slightly shorter and lighter carbine version of the M7 rifle, the Army confirmed, is now close enough to fielding that it has been given its own name: the XM8.

Troops tapped for early testing of the new carbine should start to get their hands on the first XM8s as soon as October, an Army spokesperson told Task & Purpose. The XM8 shares internal firing components with the Army’s new M7 rifle, firing a 6.8 x 51mm round...


Complete article with photos:

https://taskandpurpose.com/new...-generation-carbine/

Doesn't look that much shorter. Also wasn't the whole point of shifting to this calibre to have more velocity for longer engagements and to defeat body armor? So they shorten the barrel which reduces velocity. Makes perfect sense.

Still a football bat.

I know weapon designations are not manufacturer specific, but ‘XM8’ was already used for the 5.56mm carbine project of the mid-2000’s. HK’s 5.56mm carve out from the OICW project had the XM8 title, and was seen at the beginning of the movie XXX: State of the Union.

They couldn’t have picked a different ‘XM’ flavor??

There can be only one XM8.

Another article about the XM-8.

New Army 6.8mm Carbine Recycles XM8 Designation From Failed “Starship Troopers” Rifle Program

For a time in the early 2000s, the Army looked poised to adopt a very different XM8 family of small arms.

Joseph Trevithick
Published Mar 23, 2026 7:58 PM EDT

A slightly shorter and lighter-weight carbine version of the U.S. Army’s new 6.8x51mm M7 service rifle has now gotten its own designation: XM8. This choice of moniker is somewhat interesting, given that the service previously applied this designation to an abortive modular family of firearms designed to ape the looks of the guns in the 1997 movie Starship Troopers. The M7 had faced some significant criticisms of its own previously over its weight, ergonomics, and other aspects of the design, which the Army and manufacturer Sig pushed back strenuously against. At the same time, the design has continued to evolve and has been fielded more widely, as evidenced by the carbine version...


Complete article:

https://www.twz.com/land/new-a...oopers-rifle-program

Still a totally garbage design for the handguard to receiver interface. The Spear is dead in US mil inventory. Serious end users know the detractors of the rifle and optic and have sidelined them.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:
There can be only one XM8.

Truth.

This is an older thread.

Army says M7 ‘production line has changed to the XM8’ carbine

Although the Army has not purchased any M7 rifles since October, future purchases remain “pre-decisional,” an Army spokesperson said.

Jeff Schogol
Published Jun 29, 2026 4:21 PM EDT

When it comes to the production of the Army’s newest small arms, the priority has shifted from the M7 rifle to the lighter XM8 carbine, an Army spokesperson told Task & Purpose.

“The production line has changed to the XM8,” said David Patterson Jr., director of public affairs for the Army’s Capability Program Executive Ground, which oversees weapons development, helmets, sensors and other equipment for soldiers.

The M7 rifle and XM8 carbine are part of the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon program along with the M250, a machine gun variant. All three models fire the 6.8 x 51mm round, which is designed to give the weapons an increased range. The Army is fielding the weapons to soldiers who are most likely to see direct close combat.

The Army has not purchased any M7s this fiscal year, which began on Oct 1, Patterson said....

Complete article:

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-xm-8-production/

I think at this point most people have stopped paying attention or give a damn to what the Army want for their "new rifle". Small arms are treated like disposable items nowadays, whatever that's picked today will be superseded with something else in a year or two.

The Army's next rifle better be a phased plasma rifle in 40 watt range or some timelines are gonna really be screwed up.

quote:

Originally posted by Loswsmith:
The Army's next rifle better be a phased plasma rifle in 40 watt range or some timelines are gonna really be screwed up.

Only what ya see pal.