XM806

The XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun (LW50MG) was a developmental .50 caliber belt-fed heavy machine gun.[2] Development began in 2009 and was cancelled in 2012.

XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun
TypeHeavy machine gun
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerGeneral Dynamics
ManufacturerGeneral Dynamics
Specifications
Mass40 lb (18 kg) (without XM205 tripod)[1]
Length1562 mm
Cartridge.50 BMG
ActionRecoil operation
Rate of fire265 rounds per minute or 40 rounds per minute sustained
Feed systemM9 belt
SightsModified M145 Machine Gun Optic, BUIS

Design
XM806, 2010

The XM806 weighed about 63 pounds (29 kg) less (49% lighter), had 60% less recoil than the M2,[1][2] and had a greater rate of fire than the failed previous attempt to replace the M2, the XM312. The XM806 did however have a considerably slower rate of fire than the M2.[3] The XM806 also had improvements to user safety and was easier to disassemble.

The XM806 was spun out from the cancelled XM307 and was developed by General Dynamics to augment the M2. General Dynamics received a $9 million contract for the weapon. It was expected to be deployed starting at the end of fiscal year 2012.[4] Delays caused its planned deployment to be pushed to 2013 or 2014. The XM806 was cancelled in July 2012, with the Army using the money allocated to upgrade their M2 machine guns to the M2A1 version.[5]

Notes
  1. Fuller, Peter N.; Douglas A. Tamilio (18 May 2010). "Project Manager Soldier Weapons Briefing for NDIA" (PDF). PEO Soldier. United States Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  2. XM806 on PEO Soldier Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Army eyes new, lighter machine gun
  4. Military.com: Army Working on Lightweight .50 cal
  5. Army Cuts XM806 - The Firearm Blog, 24 July 2012


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