FN America has supplied the US Department of Defense with two prototype 6.5mm weapon systems for live evaluation under the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD).
The delivery includes the LICC-Individual Weapon System (LICC-IWS) and the LICC-Assault Machine Gun (LICC-AMG), accompanied by suppressors, magazines, and the new 6.5×43mm Low-Impulse Cartridge Case (LICC) ammunition line.
The LICC-IWS is a magazine-fed rifle available in three barrel configurations, optimized for close-quarters, general-purpose, and designated marksman roles. The LICC-AMG is a lightweight, belt-fed system using the same 6.5×43mm round with a side-feed design and lightweight metallic links.
FN also provided a stainless steel cartridge case version that achieves about 20 percent weight reduction compared with traditional brass. Several LICC models and two suppressor designs have already been assigned national stock numbers, enabling direct military requisition for testing.
The IWTSD is conducting assessments replicating real-world irregular warfare environments, gauging factors such as accuracy, serviceability, mobility, and operator ergonomics under stress. Successful results could pave the way for more advanced trials, additional prototype contracts, and potential adoption pathways as the findings inform future program decisions.
