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Using data from a range of sources, including military records and government websites, 24/7 Wall St. Army infantry units of today, weapons technology has evolved considerably over the nearly 250 years the U.S. And from the flintlock muskets used by the Continental Army in the American Revolution, to the M4 assault rifles carried by U.S. Perhaps second only to the will to fight, the rifle is the most important asset of any army infantry soldier.
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And while new and evolving technologies like precision guided missiles and drones have changed battlefield dynamics in recent years, outfitting troops with rifles that are reliable and effective remains a top priority – as it has since America’s founding. To maintain the upper hand, the Department of Defense spent $106 billion on research and development of weapons technology in 2021 alone. In any war, even the smallest advantage can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
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