Armed Forces seeking new 5.56mm lightweight machine gun for dismounted troops
Procurement officials at the Ministry of Defence have issued an open tender to purchase a new lightweight assault machine gun for dismounted troops.
The notice, under the name Project Troubler, says: "The Authority is running a project to procure a 5.56mm lightweight (current system 7.1kg) assault machine gun capability for the dismounted user."
In 2018 the MOD confirmed it was dropping the use of the L110 A2 Light Machine Gun (LMG), which is better known to personnel as the Minimi. This weapon weighs 7.2kg and saw widespread use in Afghanistan and Iraq.
FN Herstal's latest Mark 3 variant of the Minimi weighs around 8kg and would not meet the criteria of the procurement notice due to its weight.
However, some defence commentators have suggested a likely contender to replace the Minimi would be FN Herstal's brand new FN Evolys Ultralight Machine Gun.
This has been developed in two calibres, 5.56x45mm Nato and 7.62x51mm Nato ammunition.
According to the manufacturer, the FN Evolys 5.56mm has a much lighter weight of approximately 5.5kg, while the 7.62mm variant weighs 6.3kg.
FN says it "fires like a machine gun, handles like a rifle".
Nato ammunition refers to the standardised cartridges that are designed to certain size specifications for use by all Nato armed forces members.
This reduces the logistical challenge of having to providing many different calibres and in theory means any soldier can be issued with another nation's ammunition on the battlefield.
The new contract is valued at up to ÂŁ4m and weapons manufacturers and suppliers have until 24 March 2025 to submit their proposals.
No details have been given on when any new weapon system will enter service or be trialled, however a contract start date of 1 June 2026 was provided in the notice.
Lightweight machine guns, know in the US as squad automatic weapons, have been typically used by dismounted infantry at section level in recent conflicts.
However, it has been debated whether the current, not-so-lightweight machine gun's high rate of fire, poorer accuracy at greater distances and extra weight is enough of a substitute for something much lighter and accurate with less rate of fire.
In 2010, the US military also decided to move away from the M249, its own version of the Minimi, being replaced it with the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle in the Marine Corps.
The British Army previously used the L86A2 Light Support Weapon at section level.
It was nicknamed the Crow Canon by troops, because it would have typically been handed to and carried by the most junior soldier in the section, nicknamed the crow, or combat recruit of war.
The need to fight light
The L86A2 LSW was the bigger brother of the current in-service assault rifle, the L850 A3.
The LSW had a greater range and accuracy due to its longer barrel, but this also meant it was very front end-heavy and awkward to carry, but only weighed around 6kg.
Due to the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the LSW was quickly phased out and the Minimi was then used.
Now, there are many weapons manufacturers using advances in technology to design and build much lighter alternatives.
And it has been the ambition of defence chiefs in recent years to provide troops with the ability to "fight light" and they see every 100g or so which can be shaved from the weight of weapons, kit or uniform as a win for dismounted troops in close-combat roles.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has again proved that dismounted personnel carrying lighter kit and being less burdened, along with good logistics and resupply is a battle-winning combination.
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