M4 replacement competition? Ha-ha, what a joke.
What are we up to now for the "stimulus", aka bailout of big companies that even OUR new president and company is wholeheartely saying go-go-go. What? $760 bil? Now what programs do you think will get cut in order not to raise taxes? Just remember what another never served president did to our military some 16 to 8 years ago.
Also this will include almost anything slated for new government programs, positions, and equipment.
I've already told my guys, "See that parking lot of new 2008 trucks and SUV's? Take care of them because we won't be seeing much of replacement vehicles for who knows how long.
I'm sure this will also include any replacement carbine, the HMMWV replacement, just about anything new.
Well it's funny to see all this crap happening. BTW, didn't Cerebus (BM/Remington's parent company) run in to some fiscal shenanigans during the "meltdown"?
However if they do manage to get 'er done before the ax (which I doubt) I really only see one company making it, and that is FN with the SCAR. The G'vmt has rarely allowed any truly competetive contracts having the outcome usually pre-determined. And even in the instances that they have I've never seen it where the lil company that could end up with the contracts for years to come. The biggest reason there are competitions is to show that the product does work and the g'vmt can say they were fair. At least the SCAR shows alot of potential.
Update: I've been out hunting for the past 3 days. I hadn't realized that the bailout is now 5 trillion (is this on top of the already 760B ?). Well anyways, whatever amount they will dream up, and print, will definitely mean the ax to the M4 replacement as well as a bunch of other things. Can you say g'vmt hiring freeze?