FN America has delivered two next-generation 6.5mm prototype weapon systems to the US Department of Defense for testing and evaluation by the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD).
The shipment comprises the LICC-Individual Weapon System (LICC-IWS) and LICC-Assault Machine Gun (LICC-AMG), together with suppressors, magazines, and 6.5×43mm LICC ammunition variants.
The LICC-IWS is a modular, magazine-fed rifle offered in three barrel lengths tailored for close-quarters, general-purpose, and marksman roles. The belt-fed LICC-AMG, designed for lightweight assault operations, uses the same ammunition type and employs a side-feed configuration with metallic links.
FN has also provided stainless steel-cased rounds that cut overall ammunition weight by about 20 percent compared to conventional brass cartridges. Several LICC configurations and two suppressor variants have already been cataloged with national stock numbers, clearing them for unit-level requisition.
IWTSD’s field evaluations replicate expeditionary and low-intensity combat conditions to assess ballistic performance, reliability, and operator effectiveness. Firms that perform well in these trials may advance to subsequent government development efforts or pre-fielding contracts, as the directorate’s conclusions influence future weapons procurement priorities.
