US Marines Keep Their M27 Rifle Over the Army's New M7 and Double No-Bid Purchase Cap to $84.6M

The U.S. Marine Corps raised the ceiling on its sole-source M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle contract with Heckler & Koch Defense by $45.4 million to $84.6 million. The November 6, 2026, modification allows the service to order rifle systems, spare parts and associated equipment through April 27, 2028, with funds committed through individual orders. The M27 is a select-fire derivative of the HK416 chambered in 5.56×45 mm NATO. The Marine Corps confirmed earlier in 2026 that it would retain the M27 for its close combat formations while the Army fields the 6.8 mm M7.