KF41 Lynx displayed...the real news is that the Germans are gonna consider offering their version of the 50mm discarded in the 80's...

Everyone's all fired up because Rheinmetall displayed the KF41.  That's not the real news.  via Janes.

Rheinmetall is investigating the possibility of offering the RH503 50 mm cannon that it developed in the 1980s as the main armament for its KF41 Lynx for the US Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) programme.

Philipp Tomio, Rheinmetall’s vice president and capture manager for OMFV, said on 9 May that the RH503 now fires a 50 mm round, greatly increasing its muzzle energy and lethality compared with a 35 mm weapon.

Rheinmetall is also spending much effort to ensure that the turret of the KF41 Lynx can accommodate a 50 mm cannon, said Tobias Baumart, vice president and capture manager for the Australian Land 400 requirement.

Yeah.

I hope HQMC is paying attention.  

The US Army has set the new standard in IFV firepower and its not the 30/35/40mm cannon.  Its the 50mm.

What should concern everyone is we've been down this road and don't know where it will end.  Beyond the 50mm is the 57mm.  We've seen that trialed on vehicles all over the place.  Beyond the 57mm is the 60mm hypervelocity gun we saw on Israeli Shermans.  Beyond the 60mm hypervelocity gun is the freaking 75mm cannon we saw on the AAI Rapid Deplyment Force / Light Tank (RDF / LT).

What will be the new upper limit for IFV firepower?  I have no idea.  What should be obvious to all is that the 30mm is as dead as disco.