Some news coming in of the 5.56 Caracel carbine contract being cancelled. A short thread on the way ahead as per my perception. Note, my perception. All are welcome to comment

The Carbine. A definition I'd read a while back was that the Carbine was developed basically for the mounted Cavalry and the first proper carbine came into use during the American civil war. It was to bridge the gap between handguns and the rifles or the muskets

Using an intermediate cartridge which had a lower rg than the rif but higher than the handgun. Reqmt of the Carbine kept changing over the years and in our context, it became auth to Cdrs so as to reduce their load and also to detachments of spl wpns

This may have been pertinent in the times of the SLR and even the INSAS weighing upto 5 kgs or even more with the carbine weighing in at about 3.5 kgs. Now, is it pertinent any longer? With the Sig 716 weighing 4.3 kgs and the AK 203 at at 3.8 kgs. And with the shorter

Overall length of these wpns when compared to both the SLR and the INSAS, the issue of CQB also gets taken care of. So, do we really need a new carbine? NO! Have one basic wpn for the complete section. At the max, since we've already contracted the Sig, supplement it with

The AK 203 as in the areas where the Sig is being held as a sector store and let the whole IA be equipped with AKs till the time we devp a new wpn around a new caliber to serve the function of the carbine, aslt rif and the LMG. Just imagine the ease of lgs.

As an aside to the carbine vs rif, anyone knows how many US troops are using the M16 anymore? Just as a reminder, the M4 was the carbine version of the M16. Shouldn't we learn from others mistakes?

Ok so based on your reactions( thanks to all) continuing this thread.
My proposal for the wpns at section level. One caliber, LMG with 18 to 20 inch brl and rif/ carbine with a 12 to 14 inch.
Rgs:
LMG about 800m
Rif about 400m
Why these magical figures?

LMG to be fitted with aan uncooled TI sight and rif with 3rd gen II sights for night. Daytime all with telescopes and Rifles with red dot/ holographic sights. My thoughts on a perfect section. LMG with both belt and mag feed options. Utopian I know but still...