FN America has delivered prototype firearms chambered in 6.5mm Lightweight Intermediate Caliber Cartridge (LICC) to the U.S. Department of Defense for evaluation by the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate, marking a significant advancement in American small arms modernization. The delivery, confirmed on October 8, 2025, includes the LICC-Individual Weapon System (LICC-IWS) and LICC-Assault Machine Gun (LICC-AMG), both designed to offer superior range, accuracy, and lethality over existing 5.56mm platforms while maintaining manageable recoil and logistical simplicity. The 6.5x43mm steel-cased ammunition is approximately 20% lighter than traditional brass, enhancing soldier mobility. This development occurs as India intensifies its own small arms indigenization, with DRDO’s 6.8x43mm rifle prototype emerging as a strategic response, aiming to balance firepower and portability for high-altitude warfare along the LAC, reducing reliance on imported systems like the SIG716 and addressing delays in the AK-203 program.​