FN America Secures Multi-Million Dollar Army Contract for M240L Machine Guns

Major Defense Contract Award

FN America, LLC has successfully secured a significant $4.9 million contract from the U.S. Army for the continued supply of FN M240L medium machine guns. This latest contract award underscores the ongoing partnership between FN America and the U.S. military, reinforcing the M240L's position as a cornerstone weapon system in Army operations.

Revolutionary Lightweight Design

Development and Innovation

The M240L represents a groundbreaking achievement in military weapons engineering, having been officially adopted by the U.S. Army in 2010 following an intensive joint development program between FN and Army personnel. This collaborative effort focused on creating a medium machine gun that would maintain the legendary durability and performance of its predecessors while significantly reducing operator burden.

Technical Specifications and Weight Reduction

The M240L has established itself as the industry benchmark for lightweight medium machine guns, achieving a remarkable five-pound weight reduction compared to its predecessor, the FN M240B. This substantial 18 percent weight decrease was accomplished without compromising the weapon's renowned performance characteristics or operational longevity.

The weight reduction breakthrough was made possible through several key innovations:

• Integration of titanium components, including the receiver assembly
• Implementation of advanced manufacturing techniques optimized for titanium's unique material properties
• Introduction of a polymer trigger frame system
• Forward-mounted MIL-STD 1913 rail kit configuration

Leadership Perspective

Mark Cherpes, President and CEO of FN America, LLC, emphasized the significance of this ongoing collaboration: "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. 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."

M240 Family Legacy

Historical Background

The M240 general purpose machine gun (7.62x51mm NATO) traces its heritage to the proven FN MAG 58 platform, which was first adopted by the U.S. military in the late 1970s. Since its introduction, the M240 has maintained continuous service across all branches of the U.S. armed forces, establishing an unparalleled track record of reliability and effectiveness.

Variant Development

Throughout its service life, FN has developed an extensive family of M240 variants to meet diverse operational requirements:

• M240 coaxial
• M240B
• M240L
• M240D
• M240H models

The M240's widespread deployment within the U.S. Army has made it a ubiquitous presence in military operations, frequently appearing in field documentation and operational photography across various unit configurations.

FN America's Defense Portfolio

Established Military Supplier

FN America has distinguished itself as one of the premier suppliers of small arms to the U.S. military, with a comprehensive portfolio spanning multiple weapon systems and specialized applications. The company's commitment to innovation, exemplified by developments like the FN EVOLYS, positions it to remain at the forefront of military weapons technology.

Current Military Contracts

Beyond the M240 series, FN America maintains active contracts for several critical weapon systems:

• FN M249 lightweight machine gun
• FN MK 46, MK 48, MK 17, and MK 20 SSR for USSOCOM
• Various specialized contracts across different military branches