MA6 assault rifle

The MA7B Individual Combat Weapon System was a type of rifle in use with the UNSC during the Swarm War. Designed to replace the venerable and extensive MA5 Series, the MA7B became the service rifle of all four branches of the UNSC after replacing its predecessors. Accurate, sturdy and lightweight, the MA7B was essentially the same weapon as the MA5C and its successor, the MA6C, though fully modernised and far more lethal. Universally popular, the MA7B was the most commonly issued weapon within the UNSC, alongside the more specialised BR62 Battle Rifle. The MA7B used the 7.62x51mm NATO round in various advanced and exotic forms, garanteeing its lethality even against shielded and armoured foes. While the round's comparatively low stopping power somewhat limited its effectiveness against Covenant and Swarm infantry, its rate of fire and accuracy more than compensated for this.

History
The MA7B drew heavily on not its direct predecessor, the MA6D, but its ancestor, the MA5C for design influence. The MA5C had been the most successful of the MA5 series and had served as the UNSC's service rifle until the late 2560s. The rifle was accurate, sturdy and popular, and benefited from a number of design elements that maximised both accuracy and power. The MA5C in particular was the most commonly issued infantry rifle and was extensively supported by modification and adaptability methods, which allowed it to remain competent despite combating a technologically superior enemy. The MA5C utilised the 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition; although this suffered from low stopping power compared to other infantry rifles, notably the 9.5x40mm KURZ round utilised in the BR55, its small size allowed for sustained rate of fire and low recoil, making it ideal for use in an assault rifle.

The MA5 series was replaced by the equally effective MA6, a relatively popular rifle that quickly gained a good reputation, and was considered comparable in most aspects to the rifle series it replaced. The MA6 series was used by the UNSC throughout the 2600s, with various models and upgrades throughout its service life. The UNSC sought a replacement for the ageing family in the 2680s, with the MA7B drawing on the well-liked and effective MA5, effectively taking the basic design and fully modernising and heavily updating it, improving its performance and bringing it up to date.

The MA7B, like the MA6D that preceded it, was the UNSC's service rifle, or standard infantry rifle, used in larger numbers than any other infantry rifle. It was lightweight, accurate, powerful and above all, reliable, guaranteeing its successful use in any action the UNSC was involved in. The MA7B was introduced in the late 2690s, and continued to be used in numbers throughout the Swarm War.