USSOCOM Orders More MK46 & MK48 Light Machine Guns

The US Department of Defense awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract (worth $13.5 million) to FN America for an undisclosed number of MK46 and MK48 light machine guns for US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), including spare parts and engineering support services. The contract was awarded on behalf of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division. The MK46 is the 5.56x45mm SOCOM variant of the M249 (or FN MINIMI), which has been significantly lightened (weighing just over 15lbs) and is belt fed only. The Mk48 is SOCOM’s upscaled 7.62x51mm (MAXIMI) variant of the M249 (MINIMI). The MK48 Mod 1 has a 19.75in barrel and a fully adjustable buttstock.

Work will be performed in Columbia, South Carolina (85% ); and Herstal, Belgium (15% by FN Herstal), and is expected to be completed by August 2023.