The Armed Forces of Turkmenistan have been spotted carrying the latest US Army M7 automatic rifles and M250 machine guns during a parade in Ashgabat.
Footage showing the new American small arms in the Central Asian nation was highlighted by the Telegram channel Military Informant. During the military parade in the capital city of Ashgabat, a contingent of servicemen carried the M7 automatic rifles, while an M250 machine gun was seen mounted inside the turret of an armored vehicle.
Both firearm models were developed by arms manufacturer SIG Sauer under the Next Generation Squad Weapon program for the United States military. The US Army officially adopted both weapon systems into service in 2025.
Ashgabat is the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan, a nation located in Central Asia. The country's military frequently showcases its defense hardware during public national parades.
Firearm upgrades and new caliber
The M7 automatic rifle was created to replace the M4A1 carbine, which has served as the standard individual service weapon for American infantry for decades. The M250 machine gun was designed as the replacement for the M249 squad automatic weapon, a light machine gun widely used in squad-level combat operations.
Both of the newly spotted weapons fire a 6.8x51 mm cartridge. Military planners intend for this 6.8 mm caliber to replace the standard 5.56x45 mm NATO ammunition that Western armed forces have used since the 1980s. The new 6.8 mm round surpasses the existing 5.56 mm ammunition in both muzzle energy and effective firing range.
SIG Sauer, an international firearms manufacturer headquartered in the United States, designed the new platform and ammunition to provide infantry troops with increased range and lethality against modern armor.
Modernization program and delivery status
The US military initiated the Next Generation Squad Weapon program in 2017 to modernize squad-level firepower. Following multi-year testing and development, the M7 rifle and M250 machine gun received official US Army classification in 2025.
Despite the appearance of the weapons in Ashgabat, there is no official data or confirmation regarding deliveries of the M7 or M250 firearms to Turkmenistan.
