Over the weekend, Japanese X account @teppoblog surprised us with a post listing National Stock Numbers associated with the Lightweight Intermediate Caliber Cartridge (LICC) Individual Weapon System (IWS), a novel weapon and ammunition manufactured by FN America. We reached out to several sources to validate the NSNs and they came back as real. We must point out that Teppoblog has a history of sharing correct info.
The LICC IWS project originated in 2019 from requirements provided to the Irregular Warfare Technology Support Directorate (IWTSD), a government office, which is responsible for conducting research and development in support of U.S. and allied organizations involved in Irregular Warfare. In fact, one of those sponsors of this system, Canada Special Operations Forces Command just nominated the program’s caliber, 6.5 x 43mm (.264) for NATO Standardization. FN America was awarded a development contract and we’ve kept up on the program with a couple of updates. Last November, FN delivered carbines, machines guns, suppressors, and ammunition to several SOF organizations.
The LICC IWS has four purpose-built components:
• Lightweight ammunition family
• Improved Performance Carbine
• 25-round purpose-built, polymer magazine
• Signature Suppressor
These new NSNs pertain to the three variants of the Improved Performance Carbine (11.5” Close Quarters Battle (CQB), 14.5” Carbine, and 18.5” Recce (Designated Marksmanship Rifle)) as well as two suppressors associated with the system.
The NSNs are:
NSN 1005-01-729-0039, FN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE 12.5 IN CQB WITH BII*
NSN 1005-01-729-0052, FN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE 14.5 IN CQB WITH BII
NSN 1005-01-729-0046, FN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE 18.12 IN REECE (sic) WITH BII
NSN 1005-01-728-9868, SUPPRESSOR, FLOW 264 FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE
NSN 1005-01-728-9874, SUPPRESSOR, FLOW 7.62 FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE
*Basic Issue Items
The suppressors are manufactured by HUXWRX.
The NSNs are managed by the Special Operations Forces Support Activity at Lexington Bluegrass Army Depot and are available for requisition by Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force and SOCOM elements and activities.
Coincidentally, they’ve added a belt-fed machine gun to the capability in the form of the FN Evolys, but we still haven’t seen an NSN. Logic goes, that if the carbines have them, it should as well.
FN has also demonstrated versions of Evolys in 7.62 NATO and 6.5 CM in addition to the .264 model developed for this program. In fact, the first version of Evolys seen in the US was as the 6.8mm candidate for Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle which rolled into NGSW. While it proved a desirable candidate for NGSW, it was too heavy for the specs spelled out in the requirement.
Due to the multiple caliber options, a forward leaning organization could buy the LICC machine gun and then arrange for the conversion kit from FN America for the desired caliber.
Likewise, we have not yet seen any Department of Defense Identification Codes (DODIC) for the ammunition. Not saying they don’t exist, but a reliable source of .264 ammunition is critical for adoption.
At any rate, these NSNs offer an opportunity for select DoD organizations (or perhaps Federal LE) to take advantage of the production contract associated with this program.
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