M7 rifle

The M7 rifle, previously designated as XM7 and originally as XM5, is the U.S. Army's adopted variant of the SIG MCX-SPEAR chambered in 6.8×51mm Common Cartridge, designed by SIG Sauer for the Next Generation Squad Weapon program in 2022 to replace the M4 carbine.
The M7 features a gas-operated system, a free-floating reinforced M-LOK handguard for direct accessory attachment to slotted hole mounting points, and uses a SR-25 pattern magazine. It was fielded beginning in March 2024.

History

In January 2019, the United States Army began the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program to find replacements for the M4 carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. In September 2019, SIG Sauer submitted its designs. The SIG Sauer MCX-SPEAR is chambered in.277 Fury in response to concerns that improvements in body armor would diminish the effectiveness of calibers such as 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO.
In April 2022, the Army awarded a 10-year contract to SIG Sauer to produce the XM7 rifle, and the XM250 light machine gun, to replace the M4 carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, respectively. The rifle was originally designated as the XM5, continuing the numerical sequence from the M4 carbine it is set to replace. In January 2023, the Army changed the name of the rifle from the XM5 to the XM7, to avoid a trademark conflict with Colt's M5 carbine.
The first batch of 25 XM7s was planned for delivery in late 2023. The Army may order 107,000 rifles over the next decade for close combat forces, including infantry, cavalry scouts, combat engineers, forward observers, and combat medics. There are no plans to issue the weapons to non-close combat soldiers. The contract has the option to build additional weapons should the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command choose to be included.
In September 2023, XM7s were delivered to the 101st Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment for user tests. Operational testing of the XM7 rifle, XM250 light machine gun, and XM157 Fire Control Optic was scheduled to begin in 2024, at which point it would become the M7, but widespread distribution was not assured.
In March 2024, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division began fielding the XM7.
In May 2025, the XM7 was type classified as the M7 rifle. The Type Classification confirms the system meets the U.S. Army's stringent standards for operational performance, safety, and sustainment.
In September 2025, SIG Sauer presented an improved M7 at DSEI 2025. The updated model is lighter and more compact than the original, with a 10.5-inch barrel instead of 13 inches, lightened internal parts, and a reprofiled handguard. The improved version of the rifle weighs about unloaded with a suppressor and without an optic, compared to about for the original M7. SIG reported that muzzle velocity with the shorter barrel is about 2,800–2,900 feet per second, a slight reduction from roughly 3,000 feet per second.
The SLX suppressor was shortened and paired with a new lightweight thermal shield, which delays the visible heat signature under night-vision and thermal optics until after roughly 100 rounds, rather than about 40 with the previous suppressor. It is not yet confirmed whether this version will be widely adopted or issued as a retrofit for rifles already in service with the U.S. Army.
In October 2025, at AUSA, SIG Sauer displayed an improved M7 rifle, also known as the Product Improvement Effort M7, and an M7 carbine. The PIE M7 has a 13.5-inch barrel. The M7 carbine has a 10-inch barrel. The standard PIE M7 has been lightened by about 0.7 lb, from roughly 8.3 lb, to about 7.6 lb. The carbine weighed about 7.3 lb. Those weights were given as baseline figures without an optic or a suppressor.
The reduction was achieved through a redesigned upper receiver, a slimmer barrel profile, lighter internal components, and removal of the folding stock hinge. U.S. Army officials are reviewing whether to field the standard-length M7 with the 0.7 lb reduction, adopt the shorter carbine as the new standard, or issue different configurations to different unit types.
In January 2026, the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division began fielding the M7 rifle. During the unit’s initial rifle training, many of the rifles were equipped with optics other than the M157 Fire Control optic. These included the EOTech EXPS3 with G33 magnifier and the Vortex “Eleanor” AMG 1–10×24 LPVO, as well as laser aiming modules like the Envision RAIL and the B.E. Meyers MAWL.

Design details

The M7 rifle weighs, or with a suppressor. It uses SR-25 pattern magazines that hold 20 rounds in a box magazine. An optional 25-round box magazine is available. The proposed combat ammunition load for each soldier will be 140 total rounds in seven 20-round magazines, in total weighing.
Compared to the M4A1 carbine weighing unsuppressed, with a basic combat load of 210 rounds in seven 30-round magazines, in total weighing, the M7 rifle weighs about more. Each soldier carries roughly a heavier load with 70 fewer rounds.