The US Army is seeking a potential replacement for its decades-old M240 medium machine gun, aiming for a weapon with improved lethality and capability.
The service outlined a Future Medium Machine Gun (FMMG) program in its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, describing it as “a belt-fed crew-served direct fire weapon system that will enable the rifle platoon to organically suppress and destroy enemy personnel targets and maintain operational tempo.”
It is meant to succeed the M240s used by the Close Combat Force, or the army’s group of “select infantry, scouts, combat medics, forward observers, combat engineers, and Special Operations Forces” operating at the “tip of the spear” on the frontlines.
However, detailed technical specifications or a timeline about the proposed replacement are scarce.
“We cannot provide an update on the Future Medium Machine Gun program at this time, but the Army is constantly working to ensure the warfighter is equipped to remain ready, lethal, and adaptive amid emerging threats,” an Army spokesperson informed Task & Purpose this month.
M240 Machine Gun
The M240, manufactured by FN America, has been in service since the late 1970s, replacing the M60.
It comes in several variants, including the M240B for standard army use and the M240L lightweight version.
The M240B measures 48.5 inches (123 centimeters) long and 11.6 inches (29.4 centimeters) tall, firing 7.62x51mm NATO rounds at 550 and 650 rounds per minute.
In March, the US Army released a market survey seeking industry input on a 6.8mm conversion kit for the M240B and M240L, indicating intent to modernize existing weapon platforms.
It would also enable it to share ammunition commonality with the 6.8mm Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) fielded in 2024, the M250 light machine gun, and the M7 rifle.
