Conclusion
To recap: the m16 and the 5.56mm are fantastic as a combination of rifle and round, but are showing their age since it was first fielded in 1964. The Army is looking to replace that older round with the new 6.8NGSW, which will be a polymer-cased bullet that saves weight and increases range. To fire it, a few companies are developing rifles in several formats. While this is certainly interesting, it does raise questions about the future of not only the US army, but NATO as a whole, meaning that this is a story that will likely continue to develop for years to come.