Small Arms and Weapons

The Small Arms and Weapons program (Line Item 4129) within the Navy's Weapons Procurement budget is designed to support the acquisition, sustainment, and modernization of service-common weapon systems and associated equipment for all US Navy forces. The program's primary objectives are to ensure that Navy personnel, including those in Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), have access to reliable, modern, and standardized small arms and weapons to support training, security, foreign internal defense, peacekeeping, and combat operations worldwide. Funding under this line item also covers transportation and production engineering costs necessary to meet inventory objectives and maintain readiness.

For Expeditionary Warfare, the program focuses on the procurement and modernization of a broad spectrum of small arms and related systems. Key goals include fielding the Mk22 Advanced Sniper Rifle to replace legacy precision rifles, acquiring Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, and providing new rifle/carbine sights and machine gun optics. The program also supports the acquisition of mortars, grenade launchers, night vision devices, and gun mounts, all of which are essential for expeditionary forces operating in diverse environments. Modernization efforts are justified by the need to improve lethality, meet ongoing fielding requirements, and replace aging equipment with more capable solutions.

Within the Surface Warfare segment, the program aims to equip surface fleet units with updated small arms, shotguns, carbines, machine guns, pistols, grenade launchers, and associated sights and mounts. Specific objectives include the refurbishment of MK44 miniguns, procurement of shotguns, and acquisition of carbines and machine guns. The program also includes the procurement of new service pistols, grenade launchers, and advanced optics for rifles and machine guns. These investments are intended to ensure that surface warfare units maintain effective defensive and offensive capabilities, with equipment standardized across the fleet for ease of training and logistics.

A notable modernization initiative is the planned transition to the .338 Medium Machine Gun beginning in FY 2028, which will replace the current M240B. The .338 MMG offers enhanced range and lethality and will consume a significant portion of small arms funding in future years. This transition reflects the Navy's objective to maintain technological parity or superiority in crew-served weapons, ensuring that personnel are equipped to meet evolving operational threats.

The program also addresses inventory management and sustainment requirements, such as annual replacement rates for critical items like night vision goggles, rifle/carbine sights, and machine gun optics. Adjustments in procurement quantities are made to align with changing operational needs and higher-priority recapitalization efforts, particularly within Naval Special Warfare. Reductions in night vision goggle quantities were implemented to fund higher-priority recapitalization, while increases in rifle/carbine sight procurements are linked to the upcoming fielding of the .338 MMG.

Procurement planning and execution are managed through contracts with industry partners, with production schedules and delivery timelines structured to meet Navy requirements. The program utilizes a mix of firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to balance cost control and flexibility. Production engineering and transportation account codes are included to support the logistics and technical integration of new systems into the fleet.