Somehow Schiffhead, I don't believe it is connected, I just...

Somehow Schiffhead, I don't believe it is connected, I just think the DoD realised that the AICW concept was flawed, when you make the 3GL and integral part of the weapon it lends itself to a number of problems, if either the rifle or god forbid the 3GL go faulty? you have to hand in the whole weapon while it is being repaired, it also doen't lend itself to having the MAUL as an attachment, you could I suppose? but then you are carrying three weapons, also sometimes it is only necessary to carry the rifle, parades is an example so why bother carrying extra weight when it isn't necessary?
I think this will be a stopgap until the next generation of rifle comes out?

But I believe there may be another very good reason for going this way, I have heard that Thales are building a new weapon based on a similar action to the old SLR, it is piston driven gas operated, I think this type of rifle is better suited to Hyperburst for reliability reasons i.e. carbon build up in slide? I also think they are heading in the same direction as the Canadian ICW where all of the wiring harness is set up for 3GL MAUL and Electronic firing of the rifle itself.