Question about US weapon nomenclature

[Erling]

As far as I was able to understand, "M" (as in M14, M16, M4) stands for universal standard within US military, "MARK" ("Mk") stands for approved use within USSOCOM (as in Mk 17 MOD 0) and standard within Navy and USMC, "X" stands for experimental weapon.

If FN SCAR-H (Mk 17 MOD 0) will ever be accepted as a standard for all branches of US military, will it remain Mk 17 or will it get a new name with "M" designation?

I'm writing "5 minutes into future" setting and I envision US military with a new rifle/carbine, hence need the name.

[copeab]

I don't think it needs to be adopted by all branches. If the US Army adopts it for general use, it should get an "M" designation. However, I don't think the FN SCAR has enough going for it to justify the cost of buying a new one for every soldier with an M4/M16 currently.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by copeab

I don't think it needs to be adopted by all branches. If the US Army adopts it for general use, it should get an "M" designation.

True, but once something has an M designation, it generally sticks with it through all services (it's a DOD standard, not an Army one). A few semi-exceptions exist here and there, for example, the M21 and M25 could have easily been designated as sub-models of the M14.

[sir_pudding]

The process by which the procurement process eventually names things is a bit arcane. It is possible that a standard issue SCAR would be the M17 Assault Carbine, but it is also possible that a different number would be chosen.

Also note that there are are weapons with Mk. designations outside of SOCOM. Notably the Mk. 19 AGL.

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

The process by which the procurement process eventually names things is a bit arcane. It is possible that a standard issue SCAR would be the M17 Assault Carbine, but it is also possible that a different number would be chosen.

Good point. Aircraft are a good example, with the bomber based on the F-111 becoming the FB-111 despite being a dedicated bomber and the number being badly out of sequence with bomber designation. Meanwhile, the A-12 was a reconnaissance aircraft with an attack designation, that was developed into the F-12 fighter, the M-21 drone carrier, a bomber design idea tentatively called the B-71 (as the previous bomber was the XB-70 Valkyrie), and the SR-71 (which was a non-standard designation, but Curtis LeMay didn't like the sound of RS-71).

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Also note that there are are weapons with Mk. designations outside of SOCOM. Notably the Mk. 19 AGL.

It's worth noting that the Mk. 19 originated in the Seal-heavy Mecong Delta river boat fleet.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by RyanW

It's worth noting that the Mk. 19 originated in the Seal-heavy Mecong Delta river boat fleet.

And for reasons that basically involved it short-circuiting the normal procurement channels it never was redesignated when it was put into wide service in all branches. The weapon is pretty ubiquitous now, but still doesn't have an M- nomenclature.