As reported by Opex360 on March 31, 2024, the French Groupement de commandos parachutistes (GCP), part of the 11e Brigade Parachutiste (11th Parachute Brigade), is set to incorporate the new MCX Spear LT rifle manufactured by SIG Sauer into its arsenal. The SIG MCX Spear LT, introduced in 2022, is the third generation of the MCX series and a variant of the MCX Spear, which was chosen as the XM7 by the US Army under the Next Generation Squad Weapon Rifle (NGSW-R) program.
The GCP’s current equipment list includes Glock 17 and HK USP pistols, HK LG40 grenade launchers, FN Minimi 5.56/7.62 mm machine guns, HK MP5 submachine guns, and various rifles such as the precision Sako TRG, the 7.62 mm SCAR-H, the HK-416 (standard issue across army units), and the HK-417. The introduction of the SIG Sauer MCX Spear LT rifle, which is available in 5.56 mm or .300 Blackout calibers, is imminent, as reported by RAIDS magazine.
The MCX is a range of firearms developed and produced by SIG Sauer, launched in the United States in 2015. The product line encompasses rifles, carbines, short-barreled rifles, and pistols, employing a short-stroke gas piston system derived from the preceding SIG MPX submachine gun, which is designed to mitigate recoil and enhance weapon reliability. The models are available in semi-automatic and selective fire variants, and incorporate features that allow users to switch between calibers such as 5.56×45mm NATO, .300 AAC Blackout, and 7.62×39mm. This flexibility is further supported by the ability for rapid barrel changes and compatibility with standard AR-15 and M16 lower receivers through the use of an adapter.