The U.S. Special Operations Command this week announced it intends to extend the contract for suppressed uppers from SIG Sauer, used to upgrade M4A1 rifles.

The notice, published July 13, named SIG as the sole source for the Suppressed Upper Receiver Group that SOCOM has been acquiring since 2018. The extension is for two additional years. 

"This system will continue to be fielded and supported solely by SOCOM and the extension with provide numbers to Full Operational Capability and spares support for the projected life of the system," noted the command.  

The SURG was adopted to produce a weapon system able to be continuously suppressed while offering better thermal characteristics and less blowback than simply adding a suppressor and threaded barrel to a standard upper. The original contract award saw most of the big names in tactical ARs toss an entry into the ring, but SIG came out with the win. 
 

The winner was a drop-in 5.56 NATO caliber upgrade that essentially converted the standard Mil-Spec AR platform into an adjustable gas system SIG MCX, complete with a side-folding stock.

Using an 11.5-inch barrel capped with a direct thread Inconel suppressor, the latter is shielded by a distinctive titanium cage to help prevent burns by hot suppressors to operators moving through dynamic situations that, for instance, may require rapid transport to and from an objective in a cramped vehicle or helicopter.  
 

While the original SOCOM SURG contract was listed at a top value of $48 million, the amount of the extension has not been released. 

For those looking for a SURG of their own, SIG intends on offering a limited run of the uppers (798681675456), complete with can and titanium cage, for commercial sale. Price starts somewhere in the $4K range on preorder, not including the NFA taxes, and when they are gone, they are gone.