The same with cars. With automakers ordering production from each others factories, only very small asthetic changes are going into the cars.
There’s a Stellantis factory nearby and they’re assembling only one model that rolls out the line under five different badges - Opel, Peugeot, Citroen, FIAT and Toyota - with only minute aesthetic front bumper and lights changes between them.
It’s not about running out of imagination or going for the most efficient design; it’s about true competition between manufacturers of any industry becoming inexistent.
That’s just badge engineering. It has always been a thing especially in America. Doesn’t everyone remember the Cadillac Cimmaron?
Most of this comes down to a few things. The AR15 has become so ubiquitous that most designs copy its ergonomics and controls, to save money on training. That explains most of the similarities. NATO has also standardized the magazine, the STANAG, so all guns have the same type of magazine well. A lot of countries tried and tested bullpups and none are satisfied with then, and all of them are being replaced now due to the awkward ergonomics, and proliferation of the AR15.
War is also getting longer in range, with contact regularly engaging in excess of 300-500 meters, right where shorter rifles and carbines start losing effectiveness, so military arms are getting longer barrels to adapt, so all of the rifles have longer barrels.
Basically it comes down to the fact that we have reached the meta, and to an extent the limits of the NATO 5.56 cartridge.
That’s super interesting thanks for the insight ! (I’m not at all versed in the subject)
Armalisation
Which one is best, argue now.
The ARX is undergoing mitosis and will soon split into two rifles. Very good for logistics.
