Re: Army buys rights to M4
> As of July 1, the Army has taken control of the design rights to the M4
> carbine from its sole maker, Colt Defense LLC. Translation: With an
> uncertain budget looming, the service is free to give other gun
> companies a crack at a carbine contract.
> The transition of ownership of the M4 technical data package marks the
> end of an era and Colt’s exclusive status as the only manufacturer of
> the M4 for the U.S. military for the past 15 years.
> In late November, Army senior leadership announced the service’s intent
> to open a competition for a new carbine this fall in preparation for the
> June 30 expiration date of Colt’s hold on the M4 licensing agreement.
> The Army is slated to finish fielding the last of its 473,000 M4
> requirement some time next year.
> Army weapons officials maintain that it’s good to have the option of
> inviting other gun companies to compete to make the M4 as it is now, if
> the need arises, said Col. Doug Tamilio, project manager for soldier
> weapons.