Virginia-based FN recently announced it has won a $4.9 million contract to supply the U.S. Army with additional M240L medium machine guns.

The M240L was adopted in 2010 as a lighter variant of the M240 7.62x51 NATO machine gun, which in turn was first adopted by the U.S. Army in 1977 as an improvement of the iconic FN MAG 58. The claim to fame for the M240L is that it is 5.8 pounds lighter than the M240B series gun, weight savings achieved by a titanium (rather than steel) receiver, a four-inch shorter barrel, a redesigned collapsible buttstock, and a polymer trigger frame. This came while the gun added multiple integrated MIL-STD-1913 mounting rails for optics, lights, and laser devices, something which the original M240 lacked. 
 

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"The M240L continues the collaborative effort between FN, the U.S. Army, and the individual soldier to provide the most effective weapon systems for the warfighter,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO for FN America. "The development saw the introduction of new materials along with new manufacturing techniques that have paved the way for the future generation of military equipment. We are extremely proud of this product and look forward to working with the U.S. Army to deliver against this contract."

Since its adoption 15 years ago, FN has repeatedly won contract extensions for the M240L, such as a nearly $50 million, five-year award in 2022. 

This latest contract comes on the heels of a $39 million award for new M240 and M249 machine gun barrels, which was issued earlier this year. 

Banner image: U.S. Army Soldiers with 3rd Platoon, A Company, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, conduct M-240L machine gun training during an urban rifle marksmanship course at the Djiboutian Range Complex, Djibouti, Sept. 29, 2021. (Photo: Staff Sgt. Christopher Dyer/USAF)