Negev NG7 video.

Israel’s Negev NG7 Light Machine Gun Debuts

Israel Weapon Industries is set to soon unveil the very latest variant of its Negev Light Machine Gun.

The highly-advanced and upgraded Negev NG7 will make its international debut at the upcoming FIDAE International Air & Space Fair 2012 which opens in Santiago, Chile, on 27 March. It'll then go on to be showcased at the DefExpo India 2012 event, which begins in New Delhi on 29 March.

According to a statement made by Uri Amit - the Chief Executive Officer of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), the Negev NG7 offers several advantages over its predecessors. It's described as being more ergonomic and more reliable, offering lightweight and effective performance to battlefield-deployed troops.

Negev NG7 LMG

The design's roots lie in the Negev 5.56mm calibre Light Machine Gun, with close to 80 per cent parts commonality. However, the Negev NG7 LMG is a 7.62mm calibre gun and features both a semi-automatic firing mode and a fully-automatic mode, for precision attacks and all-out firepower bursts, respectively.

Initial development work on the original IWI Negev Light Machine Gun began in the mid-1980s, with the first examples passing into the hands of Israeli military personnel in 1997. Besides to Israel, the design's also been sold to six other nations including Georgia and Thailand, which has acquired 1,500 examples to date.

NG7 Light Machine Gun

The Negev NG7 Light Machine Gun's weight is under eight kilograms and it can be mounted to a variety of platforms, both land-based and on naval craft. There's also a series of safety elements that mitigate the uncontrolled fire risk, Picatinny rails allowing optical sights to be affixed and a gas regulator, which boosts the gun's efficiency in harsh operational environments.

"These advances, together with its unique characteristics, make it the most effective lightweight 7.62 available for infantries", Amit added. "As with all other weapons built by IWI, it was developed together with the Israel Defense Forces.

"The close cooperation between IWI and the Israeli army in the development of new weapons - and the testing of these weapons on the battlefield by the IDF - is one of the most important factors contributing to the success of our weapons among armies around the world."

Negev LMG image copyright Israeli Defense Forces

New light machine gun aims to 'SAW' Soldiers' load

FORT BENNING, Ga., Nov. 4, 2011 -- Nearly 20 Soldiers participated in a two-week assessment of a prototype light machine gun to demonstrate its potential impact on mission effectiveness and to help engineers develop possible improvements to the weapon and its unique ammunition.
The evaluation sought the warfighter's perspective after enduring a series of strenuous combat performance drills with the weapon.
It had taken six years to get from a concept to a fully functioning weapon that was ready for evaluation, but Kori Phillips, a project management engineer in the Joint Service Small Arms Program, or JSSAP, said it was well worth the wait.
"This is exactly what we have been waiting for," said Phillips. "This is what we need to move forward."
The Soldiers' feedback will be used to influence the user community to develop a Capability Development Document. A CDD is required before the system can transition to a program of record and enter the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the acquisition life cycle.
This would be the next step needed for the program to move forward toward an eventual fielding of the weapon to Soldiers in the field.
The light machine gun is part of the Lightweight Small Arms Technologies, or LSAT, program, which is managed by the JSSAP, part of the Army's Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, or ARDEC, at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.
The LMG is a gas-operated, cased telescoped light machine gun. It is air-cooled and belt fed with selectable semi-automatic and fully automatic fire and fires from the open-bolt position. Its rate of fire is approximately 650 rounds per minute.
The JSSAP team hopes that the LMG will eventually replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, knows as a SAW, as the standard issue machine gun used by Soldiers in combat zones.

GETTING TO KNOW THE WEAPON

The machine guns and their operators were tested through automatic rifleman tasks and operational scenarios.
The purpose was to assess how the lighter machine gun affects the Soldiers' ability to effectively engage targets from various firing positions after completing tasks that induced physical stress and an elevated heart rate.
The weapons were also evaluated on their suitability regarding portability, safety, compatibility with Soldier equipment, durability in challenging environments, ease of use, and impact on Soldier mobility.
"We ran Soldiers through with both weapon systems and timed them to look at how much faster they could complete the course with the lighter weapon and to gain subjective feedback on mobility and portability issues while they negotiated the obstacles," said Maj. Matthew Bowler, a military advisor to the small arms program.
Immediately after each event, the Soldiers filled out surveys where they offered opinions about how they felt physically, and any issues or malfunctions they experienced with either weapon or its ammunition. They could also include any positive feedback.
On the first day of the second week, the Soldiers marched six miles in full combat gear, including body armor, a 50-pound rucksack and a basic load of ammunition for their respective weapons. Half the Soldiers carried the SAW and the other half carried the LMG.
After the road march, the Soldiers immediately started firing their weapons to measure the effects of muscle fatigue and stress while firing.
Sgt. Brandon Vega, an infantryman with the 2/29 Infantry Battalion, saw an increase in his accuracy when firing the LSAT after the march compared to the SAW.
"The first six round bursts were within the size of a quarter," Vega said. "Then I got three on top of one so I was real impressed with that."
Vega added that, using the SAW, he has yet to achieve the same level of accuracy.
According to a study conducted in 2005, the average fighting load for the SAW gunner is 79 pounds. That is nearly twice the weight a Soldier should carry, according to Army doctrine.
"The Soldier carries too much weight so anything we can do to reduce Soldier load increases the Soldier's effectiveness, his capability on the battlefield and his survivability," said Bowler.
The weight reduction provided by the LMG would have a significant effect on the SAW gunner, the most heavily burdened Soldier in the squad.
With a basic load of 1,000 rounds, the light machine gun and its cased telescoped ammunition is 20.4 pounds lighter than a traditional SAW with the same amount of standard, brass-cased ammunition.
During the assessment, more than 25,000 rounds were fired from eight prototype LMGs.
The suggested rate of fire for machine guns is three to five round bursts whenever possible, eight to ten round bursts at the most. This gives the gunner time to readjust his aim and helps keep the barrel from overheating as quickly.
A high rate of fire increases the possibility of a "cook off." Cook off occurs when the propellant is unintentionally ignited by the heat in the weapon chamber, firing a round unexpectedly and causing a significant safety hazard.
Because of the design of the chamber, the LMG is very unlikely to experience a cook off, Phillips said. Technical tests showed that more than 250 rounds could be fired without a risk of cook off. The M249 SAW has been known to cook off at 220 rounds under certain circumstances.

OTHER ASSESSMENTS

In another assessment of shooting while under physical stress, Soldiers wore body armor and sprinted 200 yards with their weapons and a basic load of ammunition, then rapidly engaged close-range targets from the standing position. Again, they performed this task with both weapons. Many Soldiers saw an improvement in their overall time with the lighter weapon.
"Today we ran with the LSAT and with the SAW," said Cpl. Nickolaus Hammack, one of the military police Soldiers participating in the assessment. "Both were pretty trying but the SAW hands down is way heavier. Especially going up a hill, you feel the weight on you. (The) LSAT is a lot lighter weapon. It really is a joy to have."
The third week of assessment involved Soldiers of the 75th Ranger Regiment. They used two of the LMGs as part of a squad maneuver live-fire exercise to determine how the attributes of the new weapon system would impact squad effectiveness.
The exercise was conducted in an urban setting where the Soldiers used the weapon for suppressive fire and for room-clearing.
The Rangers said they liked the semi-auto feature that made the LMG a much more viable weapon for room-clearing than the SAW.
Additionally, one Ranger commented that the weight of the LMG as a system was "noticeably better" than that of the Mk 46 variant of the SAW that they currently use, because of the significantly lighter ammunition that dramatically increased his mobility while maneuvering as part of the squad.

FUTURE OF THE LIGHT MACHINE GUN

Overall, the Soldiers' comments were positive and they overwhelmingly preferred the LMG to the SAW. They were impressed by the weapon's light weight, decreased felt recoil, and related increase in accuracy and better control.
The Soldiers' input could lead to design changes to any final product. However, no decision has been made on whether the LMG will eventually be fielded.
Spc. Brandon Smith, an infantryman, spent two weeks comparing the weapons.
"I could see a whole squad carrying it (the LMG)," he said. "You would own the battlefield."

Source and more pictures

Barrett M240LW

The U.S. military has called upon the M240B belt-fed medium machine gun for two decades to provide troop support with suppressive and direct fire. These weapons have put millions of rounds downrange, and littered the sand with hot empty brass, links and blood when called upon. The M204B is reliable, but troops in the field alerted their higher ups that improvements were needed. A request went out to "cut the fat" from a weapon that incorporates design features that date back to the end of WWI. Barrett Firearms, dependable provider of the M107 .50 semi-auto, took the initiative and designed the M240LW (Light Weight) to take advantage of cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. http://www.tactical-life.com/online/exclusives/barrett-next-gen-m240lw-sneak-...

Anniston Army Depot converts Army’s M2s

Samuel Burnham, an Anniston Army Depot small arms repairer, overhauls an M2 machine gun, converting it to the new M2A1 variant.

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala., Aug. 5, 2011 -- Anniston Army Depot is converting the Army’s inventory of M2 Flexible machine guns to a new variant, providing a constant stream of work for the installation’s Small Arms Repair Facility.

The variant, M2A1, has a fixed headspace, or distance between the face of the bolt and the base of the cartridge case, and timing, the weapon’s adjustment that allows firing when the recoil is in the correct position.
“In the past, every time a Soldier changed the barrel on the M2, the timing and headspace had to be changed as well. If that wasn’t done properly, the weapon could blow up,” said Sherry Young, a maintenance management specialist with the depot’s Directorate of Production Management, adding the fixed headspace and timing eliminates this risk to Soldiers.

During conversion, parts of the weapon that controlled the headspace and timing will be replaced with upgrades. Each weapon will also be overhauled by small arms repairers.
The biggest benefit in the change will be time given to the Soldiers who carry it.
“It only takes 30 seconds to change out the barrel on the M2A1 and you’re back in business. The M2 Flex version could take three to five minutes, depending upon your situation,” said Jeff Bonner, weapons division chief.
Bonner said this is the first major change to the M2 weapon system since the machine gun was fielded in the 1930s.

This fiscal year, the Small Arms Repair Facility expects to overhaul 1,700 M2 machine guns. An additional 3,600 are planned for fiscal year 2012 and the program is slated to continue for several more years.
“This is a lot of good work for the small arms facility,” said Bonner. “This work is going to last for several years.”
Approval for the conversion program included a pilot overhaul and conversion in February and March. In June, the first of the 1,700 weapons for fiscal year 11 were inducted.
Shortly after those weapons began the overhaul and conversion process, the shop instituted a lean event to standardize work procedures and improve the flow of work.

“The improvements employees are making will be compatible with the new building as well,” said Bonner, referring to the 83,385-square-foot Small Arms Repair Facility being constructed on the west side of the depot.
Plans are for small arms to move into their new building later this year.
“When we move into the new building, we will be able to pick everything up and the process flow will work the same in the new facility,” he said.
As part of the lean process, employees are finding the most efficient way to serialize certain parts. Several components on the M2A1 will have to be marked with serial numbers tying them to a particular weapon. 

Source

Hellenic Army Heckler & Koch - HK11

Hellenic Army HK11 slideshow

MG3 Slideshow

MG3 various photos

U.S. Army to buy 3,053 lightweight M240L 7.62mm machine guns.

The U.S. Army has ordered 3,053 of the new, lightweight, M-240L 7.62mm machine-guns, for $9,200 each. This model of the M-240 is 1.7 kg (3.75 pounds) lighter than the previous, M-240B. This was accomplished by using some lighter (titanium) components. Some other new components are also more durable. The reduction in weight makes a big difference for anyone carrying one of these up and down hills in Afghanistan for hours on end.

SOCOM (Special Operations Command) took a different approach. A decade ago they began using the Mk 48 7.62mm machine-guns. These are 8.2 kg (18.3 pound) weapons. That’s lighter than the 10.1 kg (22.2 pound) M-240L or the current standard, 11.8 kg (26 pound), M240B. SOCOM troops need the light weight for commando operations. But that light weight comes at the expense of durability. The lighter components don’t last as long. For example, the M240 bolt and receiver are both good for 100,000 rounds fired. But on the Mk 48, the bolt has to be replaced after 15,000 rounds and the receiver after 50,000. This was not a problem with the commandos, who made sure they had plenty of spares available, and kept track of the (approximate) number of rounds fired. Not so hard to do, you just have to pay attention.

Related article

Picatinny engineers deliver safer, more lethal gun mounts to helicopter crews

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- Three Picatinny engineers recently received U.S. flags flown by 10th Mountain Division helicopter crews over Afghanistan for designing better gun mounts for door and window guns in CH-47 “Chinook” helicopters.

Receiving the tribute were David Javorsky, chief of the Weapons Technical Support Branch, Adam M. Jacob, project officer for In-Station Gun Mounts, and Michael Colonnello, mechanical engineer.
The men, who work for the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center , or ARDEC, also received certificates of appreciation.
Javorsky has applied for a patent for his M24E1 machine gun mount design that holds the new M240H machine gun.
It features a swinging arm to allow easier passage through the aircraft’s openings, holds 400 rounds of ammunition and collects spent links and cases.
Javorsky’s design replaces the M24 armament subsystem that has been used since the 1960s to hold the M60 machine gun.
The Army began replacing the M60 in 2005. In 2007, the Army documented a requirement for improvements, including a mounting arm that could be easily moved from the deployed to stowed position.
Because the M24 mount was fixed in the aircraft’s passageways, Soldiers needed to climb over or slide under the arm to pass into and out of the helicopter.

In addition to slowing troop movements, Javorsky noted, the arm’s position was a safety concern if troops need to quickly pass through the openings during emergencies. Additionally, the M24 held only 200 rounds. Troops wanted greater capacity, as well as something to catch the spent links and rounds.
In March of 2007, when the Army’s project managers for Crew-Served Weapons and Cargo Helicopters agreed to a proposal by ARDEC to design the new mount, Javorsky had already been mulling over ideas for the new arm.
The form and fit process started at Picatinny and was based on crude measurements and photographs, Javorsky recalls.
Javorsky, Jacob and Colonnello needed to travel to the nearest Chinooks for the form fitting, eventually taking so many two-hour trips to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., and five-hour trips to Fort Drum, N.Y. They lost count of how many trips they had to make to get the product right.

They typically departed Picatinny carrying either metal or plastic mockups of the preliminary design to test fit them into Chinooks.
They met Army testers and flew on training missions with Soldiers to get their feedback on ways to improve mount’s initial design.
“They were great and continue to be great,” Jacob remembers of how they were received by the people at the installations -- despite the frequent visits.
Once they met with Soldiers, the visiting Picatinny trio found them very willing to analyze the design and offer suggestions.
“Soldiers would get right up into it,” said Colonnello.
“The mount was something the Soldiers had been waiting for for a while,” explained Jacob. From an engineering standpoint, the challenge was the very limited space in which to make the design work.

Competing for whatever space was available near the aircraft’s door and window openings were objects like a crew chief’s seat, a folding step ladder and new things “that always seems to be going in there.”
“We did a lot of tweaking with the design to make sure the pin-tile was in the right place,” said Javorsky, referring to the arm’s pivot point.
In August 2008, Javorsky completed his technical design and contracted with a firm to produce four prototypes, beginning the next phase of engineering and flight testing. Modifications to resolve several design issues were incorporated and, upon successful completion of flight tests, a decision was made to build mounts for a long-term user evaluation.
As the evaluation hardware was delivered, Jacob and Colonnello would conduct new equipment training with the Soldiers, first on the ground, then by participating in aerial gunnery training.

Interacting with the Soldiers was a “99.9 percent positive experience,” said Jacob. Nevertheless, he found that old habits die hard.
Although the new gun mount swung open, “the most experienced Soldiers had become so accustomed to swinging under the legacy gun mount they kept doing it anyway.”
On May 11, 2011, the team was involved in the packaging and delivery of the 120th new M24E1.
This met the number required for the operational evaluation and providing the system to all units in the theater of operations.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career,” said Javorsky.

Picatinny cobalt alloys show promise for sustained firepower

Photo Credit: Jesse Glass.

Far right, engineer Vinny Leto holds one of the various cobalt alloy barrels produced using the flow forming technique. The shortest barrel was the first produced, followed by full length barrels without rifling and later a prototype with rifling like the one that was tested. Other team members, from left, Michael Hespos and Keith Koehler.

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- During a firefight, the last thing a machine gunner wants to do is stop fighting to change barrels, but that's how it has always been done with standard, single steel-barrel machine guns.
The reason for the barrel change is that at high temperatures barrels lose "strength properties," according to engineers working on a promising alternative.

One of the engineers is Vinny Leto, systems project engineer, of the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, or ARDEC, Weapons System Technology Directorate. During a test firing of a proof-of-concept barrel in December, Leto witnessed a measure of success with the High Performance Alloys for Weapons Applications Project.
During testing, the first rifled, cobalt-alloy machine gun barrel ever produced using the "flow forming" process consistently reached high temperatures without degraded performance.
The proof-of-concept barrel was made of an alloy that contains more than 50 percent of the metal cobalt. Cobalt alloys are erosion- and corrosion-resistant metals that are designed to retain high strength during long-term exposure to high temperatures.

Cobalt alloys are frequently used in the aerospace industry, such as the hot-gas section of turbine engines, explained Leto. Cobalt alloys are also used as short liners for machine gun barrels.
"If you look at steel in a machine gun environment, it gets very hot at a high rate of fire," said Leto. "The benefit of the cobalt alloy is that it is designed to operate in high-temperature, high-stress environments. It has the added benefits of corrosion and erosion resistance."
While cobalt alloy barrel liners have been produced for years, it is very difficult with existing machining techniques to impart rifling. "The material, for all of its phenomenal properties, is very difficult to manufacture and machine," said Leto.

Different from machining, flow-forming is an advanced process used to manufacture precise cylindrical components. The process consists of high-pressure rollers exerting pressure on the exterior of a cylinder, pressing material against a rod-called a mandrel-on the interior of the cylinder. For this project, the flow-forming process was modified to produce the rifling in the barrel bore.
More testing and data gathering will be required before engineers know if flow forming manufacturing can be achieved with the alloy.
Success, however, would provide warfighters with three potential benefits: lightening their load, increasing barrel service life, and giving them a barrel that could operate at higher temperatures compared to a steel barrel, Leto said.

Soldiers and Marines typically carry spare barrels into battle so that they have a cool barrel to exchange if they engage the enemy in a firefight, explained Leto. Having that strength at higher temperatures means that barrels may not need to be changed during a firefight, eliminating the need for the extra barrel and maintaining a steady stream of firepower.
Engineering team members met all of their proof-of-concept test objectives when they fired more than 24,000 rounds and achieved an 1,100 degrees barrel temperature. Leto said the alloy barrel was fired from the ARDEC-designed Advanced Remote/Robotic Armament System.
Steel begins to lose strength at approximately 1,000 degrees, Leto noted, and the test yielded data needed to assess and design the next round of improvements. The team is planning to produce another prototype that will be fired from a fielded infantry weapon later this year.
Previously, the engineers had produced a half-length barrel as an initial demonstration of the flow-forming process before moving on to manufacturing full-length barrels.

The Office of Naval Research assigned the engineers as principal investigators into the flow forming manufacturing technology. They are leveraging ARDEC's expertise with metallurgy and small arms design and analysis. Prototype testing will be conducted here at the Armament Technology Facility, which is ARDEC's small arms design and evaluation facility.
Previously, the engineers had worked with the Office of Naval Research in development of lightweight 60mm and 81mm mortar tubes made with a nickel-based alloy.
The team is also working with the Joint Services Small Arms Program, which is also based at Picatinny Arsenal. The JSSAP office oversees the day-to-day implementation of the plan by the joint services regarding the development and investment in small-arms technologies.

 

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WWII-era M1919A4 headed to US weapons museum after discovery in Iraq

A World War II-era Browning machine-gun discovered by US Army reservists in Iraq will soon have a home in a U.S. museum.

The M1919A4 machine-gun was discovered by the 96th Sustainment Brigade of Utah’s Fort Douglas in Taji, Iraq, during its 2009-2010 deployment, The Standard-Examiner reported Tuesday.

The unit was working with Iraqi military and found the weapon while sorting through debris after the bombing of a supply depot.

Capt. John Lovejoy of the 96th Sustainment Brigade said the gun was immediately recognized by reservists, who got permission to keep it from the Iraqi military.

“There were probably 15 or 20 of them,” he said. “Their goal was to bring it back to Utah.”

The gun has been cleaned and demilitarized so it can’t fire and will soon be installed as an exhibit at the Browning Arms Museum at Union Station in Ogden. The Browning Arms Co. was founded in the northern Utah city.

Machine-guns are illegal to import, and the military paperwork involved in bringing one can be daunting, Lovejoy said.

Just how the Browning ended up in Iraq is a mystery.

The M1919 was invented by John M. Browning after World War I General of the Armies John J. Pershing asked him for something lighter and more durable than the water-cooled M1917.

The machine-gun was then exported extensively, including to the British, who occupied Iraq in 1917 and gave it political independence in 1927 but kept troops there to protect its oil interests.

Engraving on the recovered machine-gun shows it was made by General Motors at its Michigan steering gear works, said Roberta Beverly of the Union Station Foundation. She said she hasn’t had time yet to chase down its history through the serial number.

Diana Azevedo, who manages machine-gun displays at the museum, said the weapon will be displayed to play up the story if its discovery by the troops who determined they wanted it to go to a museum.

Lovejoy said that, as a soldier, he has great admiration for the Browning M1919A4. An upsized version, the M2 that uses .50-calibre bullets, is still in use today.

“Every war after (John Browning) invented it, that’s our primary weapon,” Lovejoy said. “Without that weapon, a lot more lives would have been lost.”

Source

Norwegian Armed Forces Adopt FN MINIMI™ Machine Gun

.February 8, 2011

Belgium-based FN Herstal is pleased to announce that the FN MINIMI™ 5.56 has been selected as the new light machine gun for the Norwegian Armed Forces.

The Norwegian Defense Logistics Organization (NDLO) confirmed their decision last November, putting an end to a yearlong competition.

The contract includes the manufacture and delivery of 1,900 MINIMI™ 5.56 machine guns together with spare parts and accessories up to the end of 2012. The contract also includes optional quantities and additional services to be provided by FN Herstal to the NDLO over a 15-year period.  

The MINIMI™ 5.56 light machine gun is the newest addition in line with the FN MAG™ medium machine gun and the FN M2HB-QCB heavy machine gun already in use by the Norwegian army.

FN Herstal Wins French Competition for 7.62 Machine Guns

The French DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement) has selected the MAG machine gun manufactured by Belgium-based FN Herstal to replace its existing AN F1 machine guns.

MAG Machine Gun

The DGA confirmed this decision on December 15, 2010 as a result of an international competition.

The FN MAG machine guns will be mounted on vehicles in service with the French army. Transformation kits will be supplied as part of the contract to enable rapid conversion into dismounted weapons.

The contract includes the manufacture and supply of more than 10,000 MAG machine guns (7.62x51mm NATO caliber) over a period of several years.

An order for the first 500 units has already been placed by the DGA for delivery in 2011.

MA DEUCE version M2A1-Proven Performer gets an Upgrade

On October 15, PEO Soldier’s Brigadier General Peter N. Fuller Type Classified – Standard the new .50 Caliber M2A1 machine gun marking a new chapter in the life of the Army’s “Ma Deuce.” By spring 2011, all new M2s coming off the assembly lines will be manufactured to M2A1 specifications, a significant upgrade that enables Warfighters to deliver increased volumes of fire at the enemy while enhancing Soldier safety in the operation of the system.

The M2A1 incorporates the following improvements:

• Fixed head-space and timing
• Flash hider to reduce muzzle flash by 95%
• Quick Change Barrel (QCB) with removable carrying handle
• Modified bolt
• Trigger block

The M2A1’s fixed “head-space and timing” enhancement resolves the number one safety issue for Soldiers operating the weapon system. “Head-space” is the distance between the face of the bolt and the base of the cartridge case, fully seated in the chamber. “Timing” is the adjustment of the gun so that firing takes place when the recoiling parts are in the correct position for firing. The current M2 requires Soldiers to manually set head-space and timing before firing, after assembly, and after required barrel changes when the barrel becomes extremely hot from high volumes of fire. Improper adjustment can damage the weapon and cause serious injury to the user. Fixed head-space and timing reduces operator risk and eliminates the need for Soldiers to master and execute this time-consuming procedure.

The upgrade was made possible by a host of organizations across the Army, from Project Manager Soldier Weapons and Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), to Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) and contracting centers at Warren and Picatinny. After the first unit is equipped with new M2A1s come summer, M2s in the field will begin to be returned to Anniston Army Depot for refitting with the Quick Change Barrel (QCB) Kit, bringing the M2s up to the new M2A1 standard. Units will receive M2A1s in a one-for-one exchange for their M2s.

“Soldiers love the M2, it’s their weapon of choice,” said Laura Battista, product director, M2/M2A1, Project Manager Soldier Weapons, “We didn’t want to change it. We wanted to enhance it by making it safer and easier to use.  Soldiers will love the M2A1 even more.”

Once new production and M2A1 conversion programs are fully under way, more than 750 guns will become available to Army units each month, enough to outfit more than a dozen brigade combat teams in just six months. Fielding priority goes to deployers and redeployers. In time, the Army’s entire fleet of more than 45,000 M2s will receive the upgrade.

“Not only is this weapon safer, but faster to operate as well,” said Bob Sulzbach, lead engineer M2A1 weapons system, ARDEC. “In tests, Soldiers demonstrated they could perform the barrel change in just eight seconds, giving them near continuous firepower and increased lethality. A common Soldier remark was simply, ‘Wow, it’s that easy? I can just shoot now?’”

Soldiers are so surprised by the system’s ease of use because for years they had to endure significant down time as they went through the barrel change routine and adjusted the head-space and timing properly. To change the barrel on the M2A1, a Soldier simply needs to press back on the charging handle slightly, rotate the barrel by its carrying handle, and slide the barrel off the receiver. He then slides the new barrel on and locks it into the J-slot on the barrel support and the gun is ready to fire. It’s that easy. The removable carrying handle also serves to protect Soldiers from the extreme temperatures of heated barrels, no special gloves are needed – one more finishing touch on an outstanding upgrade of a proven performer.

Hellenic Army MG 3

MG3 Front. Sight, recoil booster, bi-pod

History

The MG3 (an abbreviation for the German word Machinengewehr meaning "machine gun, model 3") is a direct descendent of the WWII era German machine gun, the MG42, which was in turn, an improvement the MG34, originally developed by Metall und Lackierwarenfabrik Johannes Grossfuss AG, which entered production in 1942. The MG42 was one of the most terrifying infantry weapons of its time (nicknamed "Hitler's chain saw" and "Hitler's zipper" because of its high ROF.)The original MG34/42 was chambered to fire 8mm (7.92x57mm) Mauser ammunition, the same rifle ammunition used in the Mauser K98 bolt-action rifle service rifle. In 1959 the MG42 was rechambered to fire 7.62x51mm NATO and redesignated the MG42/59. In 1968 the MG3 officially entered production.

The MG3 is still in production and in service world wide. It is one of the most popular MGs ever produced (it is one of the most reliable weapons in service today and has one of the highest ROFs for any single barreled machine gun.) The MG3 currently serves as the primary MG in the German army (Bundeswehr) where it serves as an infantry support weapon (it can either be carried and fired off of an attached bipod by an individual soldier, or tripod mounted and fired from a defensive position.) as well as a vehicular MG (the MG3 is used as an anti air/ GP MG on all German armored vehicles, such as the Leopard II and the Marder.)

Description

The MG3 is air cooled, belt fed, short recoil operated, and capable of firing on full automatic only. It fires from the open bolt position to facilitate cooling. ROF exceeds 1200 rounds per minute. Barrels are changed every 150 rounds or so to extend barrel life and prevent thermal damage to the barrels. Barrels are replaced by pushing the barrel locking lever (located on the right hand side of the receiver) forward to unlock the barrel. Once unlocked, the barrel can be withdrawn and a cold barrel inserted and locked into place. This entire process can be accomplished in as few as 5 seconds. Since the weapon fires from the open bolt, the chamber remains empty, which helps facilitates these quick barrel changes. The bolt operates off of a dual roller principle, where by the bullet cartridge pushes out a pair of rollers when chambered to lock the bolt and barrel together. Once fired, the barrel/bolt group recoil a short distance whereupon the spent cartridge is extracted, unlocking the rollers, and allowing the bolt to travel freely to the rear, ejecting the spent casing.

Video with MG3 filmed in slow motion

Video with MG3 shooting

Army Working on Lightweight .50 cal

The Army wants to field a new .50-caliber machine gun that’s about 64 percent lighter than the venerable Ma Deuce.

Weapons officials classified the General Dynamics-made lightweight .50-caliber machine gun as the XM806 in March 2009, clearing the way for further testing of the radical new design.

While it would not replace the M2 .50-caliber machine gun, also known as Ma Deuce, the Army hopes to field the 30-pound XM806 in 2012 as a lightweight alternative to the 84-pound M2, said Lt. Col. Mike Ascura, product manager for crew-served weapons.

“Now that it is an experimental weapon, we will look at the design … and determine if the gun meets the needs of the Army to move forward as a program of record,” he said. “There is some real potential here.”

The XM806 is an offshoot of the XM307, a crew-served weapon that fired 25mm air-burst ammunition and featured a high-tech fire control system.

The Army began developing the XM307 in the 1990s for its Future Combat System, but the program was shelved as the result of budget cuts in 2007.

But the Army’s Infantry Center released a new requirement for a lightweight .50-cal machine gun later that year, giving the futuristic design a second chance.

The XM806 no longer features the computerized fire control system but can now fire the same M9 linked ammunition that the M2 uses.

The rate of fire on the XM806 is much slower than that of the M2 — 250 rounds per minute compared to the M2’s 500 rounds-per-minute rate. This helps to make the weapon easier to control and more accurate, Ascura said.

The lighter recoil also means the XM806 can use a lightweight aluminum frame instead of a more rigid steel frame like that of the M2, which greatly reduces the XM806’s weight.

Currently, the M2 is mounted on everything from Humvees to heavy armored vehicles.

Army officials maintain that the XM806’s lightweight design would allow combat units to use it in a limited dismounted role such as over-watch and support positions, Ascura said.

If all goes well, the Army plans to buy 12 XM806s for developmental and operational tests between now and 2011, Ascura said. The Army has not decided how many XM806s it intends to field, Ascura said, adding that he could not give cost estimates for the program.

“We hope to field this as early as 2012,” he said. “Right now, the plan for it is to augment the M2; the maneuver forces still need that high rate of fire found in the M2.”

 The above article is almost two years old and published in ArmyTimes 

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M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) Accessories

Mission
Provides the Soldier using the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon with accessories for enhanced performance.


The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) Collapsible Butt-stock allows shoulder firing in the extended and collapsed positions. It maintains a vertical buttstock position for full interface with the operator’s shoulder at all times and provides intermediate, locking firing positions. Weapon control improves when fired in confined spaces such as military operations on urban terrain. The butt-stock allows ease of ingress/egress from Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) vehicles and reduces storage space requirements in SBCTs.


The SAW Improved Bi-pod leverages the design of the existing bipod to improve the performance of the M249 weapon, providing the Soldier with increased reliability and weapon accuracy. The bi-pod legs can be adjusted to different heights, providing improved stability on uneven terrain.


The M249 200-Round Soft Pack program is a follow-on effort to the soft packs initially provided under the Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI). Based on requests from the field, RFI fielded a 200-round soft pack for the M249 that is designed to improve weapon retention and reduce the noise signature associated with the standard plastic ammunition container. This follow-on program selected a new design pack and resolved all issues identified with the fielded pack. User testing has validated the equipment’s performance. An initial production option was awarded in August 2008 for 9,000 M249 200-round Soft Packs. This option fulfilled requirements for the U.S. government to obtain government purpose rights for competitive procurement.


New 7.62 MG - HK 121

These are the first public photos after the gun was presented at the "day of the infantry" in Hammelburg. The HK 121 is scheduled to replace the aging Rheinmetall MG3 for both mounted and dismounted use in the German Army.

M2 Machine Gun Safety Message

The US Forces – Afghanistan Safety Office published a Safety Bulletin last monthdue to a mishap involving an M2, an M93 Gun Mount, and a loose .50 round. The results are tragic. 

“WHILE MOUNTING THE M2 MACHINE GUN ONTO THE TURRET SYSTEM OF HIS MATV DURING PRE-COMBAT CHECKS, THIS SOLDIER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE LOCKING PIN ON THE MOD 93 MACHINE GUN MOUNT. THE SOLDIER THEN ATTEMPTED TO FORCE THE LOCKING PIN INTO PLACE WITH A ROCK. AFTER THIS FAILED, HE THEN SECURED A LOOSE .50 CAL ROUND, USING IT TO HAMMER AT THE LOCKING PIN, ATTEMPTING TO FORCE THE LOCKING PIN INTO PLACE. AFTER SEVERAL HITS WITH THE .50 CAL ROUND, THE PRIMER ACTIVATED, SETTING THE ROUND OFF IN THE SOLDIER’S HAND. THE INJURIES SUFFERED TO HIS RIGHT HAND, MIDDLE, RING AND PINKIE FINGERS ON HIS RIGHT HAND ARE SHOWN BELOW TO THE RIGHT.”

Making the Army’s First Titanium Machine Gun

First adopted by the Army in 1977 as an armor vehicle mounted secondary weapon system, the M240 7.62mm medium machine gun series has long been a dependable workhorse. After Army and Marine infantry units began employing the M240B in the mid 90s, the popularity of the gun soared as it became known for reliability, durability and low maintenance requirements. Despite its success, however, Soldiers still pointed to the added weight and length of the M240 as compared to its infantry squad predecessor, the M60. This feedback inspired the remedy which has arrived today in the titanium built M240L.

“We’ve taken a great gun and made it better,” said COL Douglas Tamilio, Project Manager (PM) Soldier Weapons for PEO Soldier. “The M240L meets all the standards of the M240B, but in a significantly lighter package. More than ever, we need weapons in the fleet that reduce the burden on our Soldiers who have to operate with heavy loads in extreme terrain.”

Manufacturing a Titanium Gun

The concept for the M240L originated on the drawing boards of PM Soldier Weapons at Picatinny Arsenal and the M240 manufacturer. The organizations collaborated to develop a variant of the M240B that would reduce the weapon’s weight by four to seven pounds without compromising the gun’s operational characteristics and outstanding reliability. To achieve this objective, engineers started evaluating high-performance, lightweight materials and alternative manufacturing methods.

After much research, engineers ultimately settled on using a titanium alloy as the primary metal for the M240L. Known as a “space age” metal, titanium is especially known for having the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal. The new titanium parts on the M240L include the receiver body, the front site post, and the carrying handle.

Working with titanium called for adjustments to the manufacturing process. The lighter weight metal takes longer to machine than steel and requires more frequent replacement of tooling bits. Early on, engineers experimented with welding the titanium components together, but ran into warping issues. The final solution rested in using stainless steel rivets, which are more pliable than titanium and resist corrosion when in contact with titanium.

Once assembled, the weapon needed a protective coating to preserve the metal. Steel weapons typically get a phosphate coat and are subsequently oiled, but the titanium receiver required a completely different process.

“Titanium alloys don’t actually rust, they gall, causing the surface to become rough and deformed over time,” explained Thomas Walsh, M240 Product Management Engineer. “To solve this challenge, we researched coatings that could protect the metal under extreme operating temperatures. We found success with a chrome carbo-nitride coating used for industrial, high-heat applications. A ceramic-based top coat is added to complete the process.”

The final product weighs in at just 22.3 pounds, nearly five pounds lighter than the M240B. To those familiar with the M240B, there is hardly a discernible difference in the new gun beyond its lighter weight. The M240L meets all the operational requirements of the original while maintaining the same high standards of reliability and durability.

A New Weapon on the Battlefield

This January, PM Soldier Weapons delivered 50 M240Ls to dismounted Army and SOCOM units for operational assessment. Starting in September, more ground pounders in Airborne, Air Assault, and Special Forces units can look forward to receiving the new guns as production gets underway for the Army’s initial purchase of 4,500 weapons. Early Soldier performance tests indicate that Soldiers will like what they see.

In Aberdeen Proving Ground studies, Soldiers carried the M240L significantly faster than the M240B on the cross country course and turned in improved completion times in obstacle course runs as well. Soldiers also rated the majority of the mobility and user acceptability characteristics for the M240L significantly higher than the M240B.

Future enhancements to the M240L are already underway. This spring, testing will be completed on the short barrel, which will reduce the gun’s overall length by four inches and bring the weapon’s weight down to just 21.8 pounds. In addition, a collapsible buttstock for all M240 series guns will be available by late summer. Finally, an adjustable bipod is in the works.

“As we continue to listen, we continue to learn,” said COL Tamilio. “The titanium M240L represents a leap in weapons technology inspired by Soldier feedback. The lessons learned from this program will undoubtedly benefit future weapons systems that will maintain our continued advantage on the battlefield.”

Source: Titanium M240L