Geissele Automatics unveils HICAR rifle for SOCOM program
US company Geissele Automatics of Pennsylvania has unveiled a production-ready model of the Hypervelocity Improved Capability Assault Rifle, or HICAR. The weapon is being developed under the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) program aimed at extending the service life of the M4 carbine through new capabilities, Defense News reports.
In May, the US Naval Surface Warfare Center issued a request for proposals for an M4-based platform capable of using advanced high-velocity 5.56 mm ammunition. The request called for increasing the weapon’s effective range from 300 to 600 meters. The 21-day deadline for responses has already expired.
Higher-pressure ammunition
Company founder and president Bill Geissele said the manufacturer was able to respond quickly to the request because it had spent about three years working on government and commercial projects involving high-pressure ammunition. The company also holds a contract to produce sniper rifles for SOCOM.
Details of the US high-velocity 5.56 mm round designated M855A1+ have not been disclosed. The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command described it as a conceptual approach to increasing range and performance within existing calibers. For internal testing, Geissele Automatics created its own round from commercial components, which the company says replicates the military ammunition.
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Barrel testing continues
According to the manufacturer, the case pressure of the high-velocity round is 82,000 PSI, approximately 20,000 PSI higher than that of a standard 5.56 mm round. HICAR uses higher-grade steel, normally used for artillery barrels, to withstand the additional stress.
The company says the rifle, with an 11.5-inch barrel and ammunition with a 77-grain bullet, provides a muzzle velocity of 2,700 feet per second and is accurate at ranges of up to 800 meters. At the same time, weapon service-life testing has not yet been completed: engineers must fire thousands of rounds and monitor material wear. Geissele called HICAR a product that has moved beyond the prototype stage, but noted that the final version is still taking shape.
The company does not plan to sell a civilian version of HICAR until the relevant ammunition becomes available on the commercial market.
