Newington, N.H. – October 12, 2026 -- SIG SAUER will begin fielding the XM8 carbine to the U.S. Army's Close Combat Force in December, after ramping up production to meet the Army's schedule, the company said as it prepares to exhibit at the AUSA trade show in Washington, D.C., October 12-14.
The company is also doubling the square footage and workforce at its North Carolina facility through a multi-million-dollar expansion covering R&D, engineering, manufacturing and training. The source does not disclose the investment figure or a completion date.
SIG SAUER pairs XM8 rollout with expanded unmanned and counter-UAS offering
Ryan Scott, Director of Advanced Concepts and a 22-year Army veteran, said the expansion supports U.S. Armed Forces and allies and now includes the company's counter-UAS capability. The company's unmanned lineup covers drones, counter-UAS and remote-control weapon stations (RCWS), backed by training for first-time users through experienced technicians.
The new XRAY9-CUAS is a mounted electro-optic that uses a proprietary laser rangefinder to target and engage drones.
XM8 weighs 12 percent less than the SIG M7 and replaces the M4
The XM8 is the Army's Next Generation carbine. SIG says it offers greater range and lethality than the M4 it replaces, with a full ambidextrous safety and bolt release, a heat shield and a suppressor. Against the SIG M7, the XM8 is 12 percent lighter.
M250 light machine gun and MMG anchor the booth display
The M250, the Army's Next Generation light machine gun, is belt-fed, gas-operated and reduced-recoil. It fires a 6.8x51 mm hybrid cartridge intended to give infantry greater range and lethality against advanced body armor. SIG's medium machine gun (MMG) is chambered in .338NM, 6.8 hybrid and 7.62 NATO hybrid.
SIG Hybrid Ammunition was engineered for the Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon program. The Advanced Concepts display includes the fixed-wing SCYTHE aircraft, the SABER quad-copter and the M-HORNET 22 LR payload attachment.
SIG SAUER is exhibiting at booth #8015, Hall E, of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.