LSAT Light Machine Gun Test Fire Demonstration

PicatinnyArsenal ^ | July 10, 2011 | Video

[Berlin_Freeper]

Soldiers and U.S. Army civilians test fired a new lighter machine gun called the LSAT at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., June 24. The new weapon is designed to replace light machine guns, such as M249 and M240. LSAT with 600 rounds of ammunition will weigh 23.8 pounds, representing 38% reduction from the current 38.3 pounds.

[Berlin_Freeper]

LSAT Light Machine Gun Test Fire Demonstration [YouTube]

[smokingfrog]

5.56mm ?

[US_MilitaryRules]

Nice!

[sixstriger]

Is it another .22 caliber or did they give the marines something better to shoot with?

[RandallFlagg]

Bookmarking.
Any chance I could get the BATF to get me one?

(heh-heh!)

[MasterGunner01]

LSAT is a light weight machine gun in the 5.56x45 NATO category. It is belt-fed like the M249 SAW. LSAT is also being tested with telescoped and caseless ammunition. The contractor is AAI Corporation. LSAT has been in development since 2004.

[WKUHilltopper]

If it’s 5.56mm, might as well just make the M16 full auto again instead of those 3 round bursts.

[NoLibZone]

5.56mm

There had been articles of case less rounds:

It will fire new case telescoped (CT) which promises to save between 35 to 40% of the ammunition weight. Caseless telescoped (CL) ammunition also under development promises to save up to 50% of the ammunition weight along with 40% reduction in volume. He use of High Ignition Temperature Propellant (HITP) allows the complete elimination of the cartridge case. The cartridges will be linked to each other using a flexible full loop polymer links. This system improves feed efficiency and minimizes mechanical jams, resulted from bent or damaged links. The weapon's design will also have improved reliability; utilizing rotating chamber provides in-line push through feed and ejection.

[NoLibZone]

[NoLibZone]

Data for LSAT machine gun, as of mid-2010

 

Caliber	5.56mm CT or caseless
Weight	4.2 - 4.5 kg empty
Length	n/a
Barrel length	n/a
Feed	belt, 150 rounds
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute

 

The LSAT Lightweight Small Arms Technology program was initiated by US early in 2000s, as an attempt to significantly reduce combat load of the infantrymen, especially those carrying the Squad Automatic Weapons / light machine , such as M249 SAW. In around 2004 the ATK corporation was selected as a prime contractor to develop appropriate small arms system, which would necessarily include new, ammunition and a gun (guns) to fire it. Initial intent was to develop a caseless ammunition (which provides maximum savings in the weight and size), with a fall-back option for polymer cased ammunition with telescoped design (in this design bullet is fully 'buried' inside the powder charge withing the simple cylindrical case). By the 2010, ATK sucessfully developed both caseless (CL) and  and cased telescoped (CT) ammo, and several prototype weapons to fire it. The CT ammunition and guns currently are most developed, and show average 41% weight and 13% volume reduction when compared to the standard 5.56x45 NATO ammunition. The caseless ammo shows somewhat better numbers, but it is also more expensive and, as of now, remains on earlier stages of development. Current plans are to deliver 8 LSAT machine guns and 100 000 rounds of CT ammunition to US Army by May 2011, for initial assessment. Additionally, ATK recently displayed the LSAT carbine, which same CT ammo from 4-row detachable box magazine, holding 42 rounds. The carbine is still in early development stage. According to the ATK presentations at NDIA 2010 symposium, the manufacturer is ready to scale the LSAT system up for more potent and promising calibers in 6.5 - 6.8mm range, but not until specifically asked to do so by the US Army. Current (mid-2010) documents suggest that it is possible to see first units equipped with LSAT small arms system by 2016.

The ammunition for LSAT weapons is made in the form of simple cylinder. Caseless (CL) ammunition is made from formed propellant, with bullet located inside and primer glued to the rear. Case telescoped (CT) ammunition uses cylindrical cases, made from plastic. Ammunition weights now 8.3gram (CT) and 6.3gram (CL) compared with 12.2 gram for 5.56mm M855.Plastic machine gun links weigh 0.5gram instead of 2.0 gram for steel. This results in combat load of 600 linked rounds weighting 9.4 kg with standard M855 ammo, and just 5.8 kg with CT and 4.6 kg with CL ammo. Ballistics of both CL and CT ammunition is similar to the 5.56mm M855, and similar bullets are used.

The LSAT machine gun uses gas operated action with gas piston, located below the barrel. It operates oscillating chamber, which swings sideways to eject spent case and load a one, and then swings back in line with the barrel to fire the round. Feed is from specially designed disintegrating belts with plastic links. It has a quick-change barrel and fires from open bolt, in full automatic and semi-automatic modes. Basic design of the weapon remains the same for CT and CL versions, although special measures are taken to provide gas seal between barrel and chamber in caseless version of the gun.
 The LSAT carbine uses same ammo, but the feed and moving chamber design are different. LSAT carbine is fed from high-capacity, 4-row box magazines, which are inserted from below the gun. Upon loading, the moving chamber is dropped down below the barrel, so the fresh case can be forced rearwards from magazine and into the chamber. This also forces the spent or misfired case to be pushed out of the chamber and then fall out of the gun. Once the round is fully chambered, action forces the vertically sliding chamber up and in line with the barrel, and the gun is fired.

[NTHockey]

I wouldn’t care if it shot BBs; the question is Does it kill? If it can’t do that as effectively as the heavier gun, it is worthless.

BTW, anybody see “Sons of Guns” show where they converted an M1919 LMG to a shoulder fired weapon - in three days? Maybe the Defense Department should be looking to them for new ideas. Next show is about creating a 1000 yd AK-47!

[org.whodat]

We are broke, make do with what you have. PERIOD.

[Lancey Howard]

LSAT Light Machine Gun Test Fire Demonstration

Huh... This sounds like a weapon to use against prospective lawyers.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

At close ranges, volume of fire is far more important that immediate lethality. The first one to score any kind of hit generally wins. At long ranges, greater than 200 yards (meters), accuracy and lethality are probably more important. Many engagements take place a close range in the kind of fighting we have been involved in recently, and at longer ranges heavier weapons are more likely to be decisive. We call on the infantry when we need to get up close and personal.

[NTHockey]

Machine guns are (supposed) to be designed to keep the enemy from getting close. I agree that in close quarter situations, volume is better. But, there are better weapons than a machine gun, i.e. MP-43, Uzi, MAC10, Thompson, etc. Granted they are all relatively heavy and ammo weight is considerable, with CL or caseless, it is alleviated somewhat.

A 5.56 mm LMG is somewhat analagous to the WW2 M-1 Carbine - it had a higher rate of fire than the M-1 Garand. Trouble was it didn’t kill. I don’t know if the LSAT has the same problem, just asking the question.

[org.whodat]

Same bullets same problem, hell in close quarters a semi auto 44 mag would be better. Just ask dirty harry. A Thompson in 44 mag, talk about cutting the wall down.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The M1 carbine was designed for and issued to rear echelon troops, for self defense. It was easier to handle and carry for a supply clerk than an M1 Garand and had more fire power than a pistol.

A lot of experience in various types of combat lead to the adoption of the current mix of infantry weapons. New experiences and new technologies may shift the mix.

[Senator John Blutarski]

Lonesome in Massachussets wrote: “The M1 carbine was designed for and issued to rear echelon troops, for self defense.”

..... True, but the M1 carbine saw a great deal of front line action as well - particularly with the USMC and the paratroopers. In some respects, the M2 version could arguably lay claim to having been the first “assault rifle” - i.e., a short and handy selective-fire weapon with a large capacity magazine (30 rd banana clip) in an intermediate caliber.

[Joe Brower]

[Travis McGee]

Caseless ideas have been tried many times, it always comes back to excessive heat buildup when you no longer have those brass or steel heat sinks leaving the receiver. Leading to cookoffs, etc. We’ll see if they have figured out how to beat those problems this time.