INVESTMENT COMPONENT
Modernization
Recapitalization
Maintenance
Enables warfighters and small units to engage targets with lethal fire to defeat or deter adversaries.
The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) replaced the M16A1 Automatic Rifle at the squad level, as well as some M60 multipurpose machine guns in non-infantry units. The M249 delivers greater range and rates of fire than the M16 or M4. Improvements include a collapsible buttstock, a shorter barrel, and an improved bipod, providing increased combat efficiency.
The M240B 7.62mm Medium Machine Gun has been reconfigured for ground applications with buttstock, bipod, iron sights, and forward-rail assemblies.
The M240L 7.62mm Medium Machine Gun (Light) incorporates titanium construction and alternative manufacturing methods to achieve significant weight savings, reducing the Soldier’s combat, load while allowing easier handling and movement of the weapon. The M240L is approximately five pounds lighter than the M240B.
The M2 .50 Caliber Machine mounts on the M3 tripod and on most vehicles while also serving as an anti-personnel and anti-aircraft weapon. It is highly effective against light armored vehicles, low- and slow-flying aircraft, and small boats. It is capable of single-shot (ground M2 Machine Gun) and automatic fire.
The M2A1 with Quick Change Barrel (QCB) is an enhancement to the M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun offering Soldiers increased performance as well as new-features and design improvements. The M2A1 provides a fixed headspace and timing configuration, flash hider, and removable carrying handle. The M2A1 speeds target engagement and improves survivability and safety by reducing the time required to change the barrel and eliminating the timely procedure of setting headspace and timing.
The MK19 Grenade Machine Gun supports the Soldier by delivering heavy, accurate, and continuous firepower against enemy personnel and lightly armored vehicles. The MK19 can be mounted on a tripod or on multiple vehicle platforms and is the primary suppression weapon for combat support and combat service support units.
In this Publication
Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS)
M249:
M240B:
M240L:
M2/M2A1:
MK19
ACQUISITION PHASE
Technology Development
Engineering & Manufacturing Development
Production & Deployment
Operations & Support
M249 SAW:
Afghanistan, Colombia, Croatia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Tunisia
M240B:
Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bangladesh, Jordan
M2:
Afghanistan, Lebanon, Oman
MK19 Grenade Machine Gun:
Croatia, Kenya, Colombia, Bahrain, Chili, Czech Republic, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia
M249 SAW:
Fabrique National Manufacturing, LLC (Columbia, SC)
M240B Machine Gun:
Fabrique National Manufacturing, LLC (Columbia, SC)
Colt Defense LLC (West Hartford, CT)
M2:
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) (Williston, VT)
GDATP manufacturing facility (Saco, ME)
U.S. Ordnance (McCarran, NV)
MK19 Grenade Machine Gun:
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (Saco, ME)
Alliant Techsystems (Mesa, AZ)
