Came across this article, I don't ever recall there being a Block 3 version? I'm thinking I would like to build a clone of this rifle...thoughts

Future Version

2005-2010 Integrated Carbine – The SOPMOD Block 3 upgrade will result in a more streamlined version of the M4A1 Carbine, designated the Integrated Carbine.  It will incorporate all of the refinements for the M4A1 carbine by getting the optics and lasers off the weapon and into the weapon itself, and it will provide a thermal sighting device.  Mode switches and buttons will be integrated into the vertical grip to activate lasers, thermal and other sights, and visible light.  The thermal sighting component might very well have the ability to be linked to Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS).

Specifications:

Caliber: 5.56mm
Weight: 5.56 pounds without magazine or 6.65 pounds with loaded 30-round magazine
Length: 33.0 inches with stock extended, or 29.8 inches with stock retracted
Barrel Length: 14.5 inches
Muzzle Velocity: 3,020 ft/sec with M193 round or 2,900 ft/sec with M844 NATO round
Muzzle Energy: 1,113 ft-lbs with M193 round or 1,213 ft-lbs with MM855 NATO round
Maximum Effective Range: 600 meters w/ M193 round or 656 yds w/ M855/SS109 NATO round
Cyclic Rate of Fire: 700 to 950 rounds per minute
Fire Selection: Semiautomatic or full automatic

Mods HURRY take this down before anybody else reads it

Interesting, I’m curious why they would keep the fsp over a free float, though I myself am a fan of the fsp

What kind of antique shit is that??

If that weighs 5.56 pounds I'm Shirley Temple

Nor does it look anything like the rifle described in the write up.

Im throwing out the bullshit card on this one... Not happening, fake news!(Guessing it was "leaked" by the Vltor folks to drum up biz years ago)

This is probably the "original" roadmap detailing what the "future" would look like in 2010.

As of today, it is "fake news".

Lol. Nah.

We don't regress backwards from BII to BIII

Looks like a 2009 gun show abortion

Muzzle Velocity: 3,020 ft/sec with M193 round or 2,900 ft/sec with M844 NATO round

Tell me more of this "M844" round. My curiosity is peaked.....

Exactly reads like it came off a force mod PowerPoint slide that I'm sure they briefed some generals on not actual technical specifications or projected working gun

Typo. First they call it M844, then they call it MM855, then they finally got it right with M855/SS109. Some serious herp-a-derp

and I love the fact it is not even a M4A1 receiver in the pic.

get that abomination out of here.

Sounds like an old school roadmap PP from NDIA.

The hand guard and top rail are similar to the A.R.M.S.(?) setup from the early to mid 2000s.
Black Water personnel had those setups, check Travis Haley's original rooftop footage.
The company (now Academi) still had those uppers as of 2017 at least. I was issued one in Afghanistan last year before they gave us new uppers.

The ARMS set up was garbage, heavy and the least ergonomic thing I had ever handle. What OP posted seems to be a direct copy or spin off of it.

It's a VLTOR CAS-V rail, it was designed for a Navy EOD contract and they had them for a long time when everyone was still running around with KAC RAS rails. They're much, much lighter than the old ARMS rails, they weighed about the same as the KAC RAS.

Yup. Maybe even some Air Force use too from what I remember.

It’s not even a select fire lower. The article above described a select fire weapon system. BS!  Vltor commercially available rifle in the pic.