M20

The M20 is a next-generation assault rifle intended to be the successor to the M7A3 in use by the SDC since 2094. The rifle offers several new advantages over the M7 platform including better cooling characteristics, a faster firerate, and a completely ambidextrous design complete with ejection ports on both sides, for optimal performance from both left and right-handed shooters.

Action

The rifle, like its predecessor, is pulse-action -- where the method of firing the cartridge utilizes a spark (a "pulse") of electrical current rather than a striker or firing pin to detonate the round. This allows for less moving parts and enables an adjustable trigger pull weight, as well as an adjustable firerate. The gun is normally fired at 850 rpm, though with adjustments (and potentially GPMG conversions) this can be increased to over 1,250 rpm, though this puts a significant strain on the barrel and battery.

For the action system, the rifle uses an external 2 kWh solid-state rechargeable battery integrated into the bottom of the rear grip. The battery can provide the energy for approximately 36,000 rounds (or 1,200 30-round magazines) before requiring a replacement. This is further exacerbated by recycling energy from the fired ammunition using a linear alternator built into the gas system, which draws power from the ignited propellant. The alternator can extend the battery life to around 78,000 rounds (2,600 magazines) before replacement. Advancements in pulse-action have significantly improved the reliability and functionality of weapons using the system.

Design Characteristics

The rifle is built to extensive and comparatively brutal standards, designed to be able to withstand extreme temperatures, radiation, exposure to vacuum and even limited underwater operation (even with the pulse-action system) due to the wide employment of hermetically-sealed components, waterproofing, and self-cleaning ability featured by the rifle. The gun can fire at up to 5 times its optimal rated pressure for usage with extremely high-velocity cartridges.

Built from advanced metal alloys reinforced with carbon fiber and graphene, the weapon can handle extreme heat, with its barrel able to sustain approximately five hundred rounds in rapid succession before overheating in a room-temperature environment. The rifle is also built to be incredibly light, rated at merely 2.9 kg/6.4 lbs unloaded (3.2 kg/7.05 lbs with a 30-round magazine).

The rifle is additionally unique in that it features a completely ambidextrous firing system, with the fire selector, magazine ejector, charging handle, and even ejection ports on both sides of the weapon. The ejector port to be used can be toggled using a selector switch found in front of the charging handle, which can be toggled between the left and right ports. The dust cover on the ejector port not in use will automatically close when shifted away to prevent extra dust or foreign material from entering.

Electronics

The gun has an inbuilt computer that can wirelessly connect with a shooter's integrated PDA system (usually on their wrist) in order to determine the weapon's condition. The computer (which can be removed in the event of electronic failure risk) is able to self-diagnose any failures, stoppages, or dirty components inside the rifle that the shooter can then manually clean.

An array of sensors combined with the standard (detachable) red-dot optical sight mounted on the top of the gun provides an effective fire-control system with an inbuilt identification friend-foe (IFF) system in order to avoid hitting friendly targets on the battlefield. This can be toggled off in the event of hostiles possessing friendly IFF tags on their person.

The optic also can automatically adjust for bullet drop and windage by using a small, toggleable infrared laser to gauge the distance from the gun to the target. The stock sight is not the only one capable of doing this -- all optics designed for use with the M20 also feature automatic adjustment systems. The adjustment system can be toggled on and off at the press of a button.

Redundancy

In the event of a failure, or if the usage of electronic warfare (such as EMPs) are in play on the battlefield, the gun can be field-stripped to have its entire pulse action system replaced with a mechanical striker-fired action system built to the same specifications. The entire action, including the bolt and gas system, can be swapped between mechanical and electronic systems in about 120 seconds without requiring any tools to do so.

Every electronic component of the rifle can be safely removed (with vital components able to be replaced) without compromising or affecting the core ability of the gun to fire. Damage to non-essential components can be easily diagnosed and replaced, and, even if the pulse-action system is severely damaged without being able to be field-stripped, the rifle is still capable of firing in a semi-automatic mode for emergencies by using a backup striker system to fire the rounds.

Ammunition

Like many other weapons employed by the UN military, the M20 fires the 7x47mm CRC rifle cartridge in service since 2085, boasting much higher accuracy, improved ballistics, and greater stopping power than previous intermediate cartridges used in the 21st century. The cartridge comes in several special-issued variants, including armor-piercing and light-explosive, for distribution to special operations or when operating in unconventional or anti-vehicle environments.