The U.S. Army is moving forward with plans to replace its decades-old M240B machine gun, launching a multibillion-dollar initiative to develop and field a next-generation automatic weapon for dismounted combat troops.
The new effort, called the Future Medium Machine Gun (FMMG) program, is outlined in the Army’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget.
The M240B, a belt-fed, crew-served weapon chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, has been in Army service since the late 1970s. First mounted on armored vehicles before being adopted by infantry units, the M240B replaced the M60, a Vietnam-era machine gun with a reputation of unreliability. FN America manufactures the M240 in several variants, including the 27.6-pound M240B and the 21.8-pound M240L lightweight model.
While the Army has not released specific technical requirements or a projected fielding timeline for the FMMG, budget documents describe the weapon as a direct-fire system designed to improve lethality, reduce logistical burdens, and maintain operational tempo in close combat.
“The FMMG is 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,” Army budget documents state. “The FMMG will provide increased lethality and capability to the warfighter compared to present machine gun technologies fielded to operational units.”
The FMMG program is expected to cost $3.6 billion, encompassing research, development, acquisition, and contract award phases. It is prioritized for the Army’s Close Combat Force, which includes infantry, scouts, combat medics, forward observers, combat engineers, and Special Operations Forces.
Army officials have not disclosed what caliber the FMMG will use, but the introduction of 6.8mm ammunition for other weapon systems may influence future decisions. The Army began fielding the M7 rifle and M250 light machine gun — both chambered in 6.8mm — in 2024 under the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program.
Despite the FMMG program’s scope, the Army has remained tight-lipped about its current progress.
“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 told Task & Purpose.
The War Zone was the first to report the Army’s FMMG funding request. No vendors have been officially named, and development timelines remain unspecified.
