The US Army wants to replace the M240 machine guns with something new and stronger

The American army is thinking about changing one of its main machine guns, the M240, which has been serving in the military for a long time. The reason is easy to understand: the military needs a machine gun with better range and ballistics in order to more effectively support infantry on the battlefield.

This machine gun fires 7.62 x 51 mm cartridges, and although it is reliable, it is outdated in terms of performance. Especially in comparison with modern threats and new combat missions. Therefore, the military is looking for a replacement.

Several options are being considered at once.:

- .338 Norma Magnum (8.6x64 mm) is a more powerful and long—range cartridge. Earlier, the army was already interested in machine guns for him.

- 6.8x51 mm — the same caliber used in the new M7 rifles and M250 machine guns is already being introduced into the military.

- The Unified Machine Gun of the Future (FMMG) is a new project that has just begun to be discussed. Its creation is included in the budget for fiscal year 2026, but it is not yet known exactly how much money will be allocated.

This machine gun is supposed to replace the M240 in close Combat units (Close Combat Force) — it includes not only regular infantrymen, but also intelligence officers, medics, engineers, special forces and other elite units.

The main goal of the FMMG is to effectively suppress and destroy the enemy in order to maintain a high tempo of combat operations. However, the exact requirements for the weapon have not yet been disclosed: what should be the weight, range, type of cartridge, and so on.

An important point is that the transition to a new caliber requires an established production of cartridges. The United States is already planning to produce millions of 6.8 mm cartridges per year. According to the plans, the new plant should be launched by 2028.

The American army is preparing for a major modernization of small arms. The M240 can be replaced either with something with a more powerful cartridge, or with a completely new FMMG machine gun. Everything is still under development, but one thing is already clear — the standard 7.62 mm machine gun is gradually becoming a thing of the past.