The World's Second Developed 6.8mm Rifle... First Public Reveal

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] SNT Motive has unveiled its 6.8mm rifle for the first time. The 6.8mm rifle is the second rifle developed after the United States, and it is evaluated that in case of emergency, South Korea and the U.S. can interchange weapons.

According to SNT Motive, when the effective range of the 6.8mm rifle exceeds 500m, its ballistic stability is higher compared to using the existing 5.56mm rounds. This means greater accuracy and destructive power, serving as a countermeasure against improved performance body armor. The 6.8mm rifle is reportedly close to undergoing basic performance testing.

The U.S. Army has already invested $111.2 million in the 6.8mm rifle Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program. Three companies?General Dynamics, Sig Sauer, and Textron?have entered the competition for this program.

At a recent defense exhibition, SNT Motive also showcased new advanced small-caliber firearms in the K series, including the 7.62mm Machine Gun-II, STC-16 Submachine Gun, and K-15 Machine Gun. The 7.62mm Machine Gun-II is an independently developed model that addresses the shortcomings of the outdated M60 machine gun. It has been developed into three models: coaxial type mounted on tanks, a basic type for infantry squad support, and a crew type mounted on tanks, helicopters, and naval vessels.

An SNT official stated, "Through domestic production of parts and equipment performance improvements, we plan to contribute not only to strengthening national defense but also to defense exports."