Senator Seeks More Competition for Army Arms Contract

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. has written to U.S. Army Secretary John McHugh asking him to open up competition for the Army's small arms contracts to other U.S. manufacturers, including Remington Arms. Currently only Defense LLC, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, and FNH Manufacturing are allowed to compete for small arms parts contracts.

“Our No. 1 priority is making sure that our troops in the field have the equipment they need to do their job, and opening up the Army's small arms contracts to more competition from high-quality firms like Remington will do just that,” Schumer said in a statement. “Right in Central New York, we've got a great company – Remington – that is chomping at the bit to make sure our troops have the best equipment.”

Schumer said the broad array of challenges that the U.S. military has faced since 9/11 has brought about a comprehensive overview of the equipment that individual soldiers use in the field. As part of its comprehensive review the Department of the Army has appointed Brigadier General Peter Fuller to be the Army's Program Executive Officer (PEO) Soldier. As PEO Soldier, General Fuller has undertaken an examination of the resources that our troops are given in the field to determine if the Army should take new steps to ensure that our soldier's have the best equipment.

Recently, General Fuller recommended a change to the Army's Small Arms Production Industrial Base Program (SAPIB) which is responsible for supplying troops with small arms like the M-4 Carbine which is the military's primary battle rifle used in combat. The current structure of the program only allows a small number of domestic producers to compete for the SAPIB contract- Colt Defense LLC, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, and FNH Manufacturing. As part of his effort to ensure our troops have the best equipment possible, General Fuller has recommended a change to the SAPIB program which would open up the Army's small arms contract to more domestic manufacturers. More precisely, the Army is seeking to improve the M-4 Carbine which sees action in Afghanistan and Iraq. Right now Army Secretary John McHugh is considering General Fuller's recommendation.  If accepted the decision would open up the Army's small arms contract to domestic producers across the country, particularly Ilion's own Remington.

Schumer said the Ilion manufacturing center's specialty in developing the M-4 Carbine would be a huge boost to the Army as they seek to improve a weapon that is widely used in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Schumer added, “Competition is the best ingredient for innovation. If more qualified manufacturers are competing for the Army's business then the end result will be more innovation and better equipment for our troops- that's a win-win.”

“If more qualified manufacturers are competing for the Army's business, then the end result will be more innovation and better equipment for our troops, he said.

The senator's announcement comes on the heels of a similar appeal from U.S. Rep Michael Arcuri, D-Utica. Rather than focusing on a change through administrative measures, last month Arcuri announced that he proposed legislation to open up military firearms contracts to more vendors including Remington Arms.

Arcuri's bill would help companies compete for work to update the M4 rifle, in part by adjusting criteria for firearms production that currently serve as obstacles for such competition. Currently, Colt Defense Co. makes such weapons.