A bunch of you seem fixated on the contract cost. The individual rifle is not worth $6700 replacement cost, the system over 30 years is what the cost is. Let's do a comparison, DND is buying a rifle that is to last 30 years with everyday use. So exchange rifle for a truck, DND is pre buying the parts and maintenance on the truck for 30 years. It is also buying a complete rebuild of the truck around the 15 year point so you get another new truck in essence. Plus spares so the systems don't have shortages during rebuild and regular maintenance. This allows the truck to remain in service for 30 years and meet the needs of DND.
So the purchase is not for a single rifle but rather the rifle and the means to maintain the rifle in service for the next 30 years including a rebuild and spares.
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