U.S. Special Operations Command has selected Lewis Machine & Tool to supply new assault rifles designed to extend the range and accuracy of USSOCOM forces, the Pentagon announced this week.
The Iowa-based manufacturer received a 10-year contract worth up to $92 million to provide Medium Range Gas Gun-Assault rifles chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor, according to the Department of Defense’s daily contracting announcement released August 22.
The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract covers rifle kits, spare parts, accessories, training, and engineering modifications through August 14, 2035.
The MRGG-A rifles represent the assault variant of a new weapons system designed to give special operators enhanced capabilities at extended ranges.
Lewis Machine & Tool Defense of Eldridge, Iowa, will manufacture the weapons at its Iowa facility. The company’s MRGG-A design belongs to its Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System-Heavy family, based on the AR-10 platform, the larger predecessor to the widely recognized AR-15/M16 pattern rifles.
The contract award concludes a multi-year competition between Lewis Machine & Tool and Geissele Automatics for two related weapons systems. Geissele previously won a $29 million contract in late 2023 to supply the Medium Range Gas Gun-Sniper variant, which features a 20-inch barrel compared to the 14.5-inch barrel of the assault model.
Both rifle variants chamber the 6.5 Creedmoor round, a cartridge that has gained popularity in precision shooting applications due to its superior long-range accuracy and terminal performance.
The MRGG-A contract follows closely after U.S. Special Operations Command announced a separate $40 million ammunition contract with Black Hills for 6.5 Creedmoor rounds, indicating the military’s significant investment in this new caliber for special operations applications.
Special Operations Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, serves as the contracting activity for the rifle procurement. The command oversees elite military units including Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, and other specialized combat forces that operate in high-risk environments worldwide.
