Does FN make GI M-4's and M16s'?

[Texas Star]

Colt used to make M-16 rifles. Does FN's S. Carolina plant now make most? What about the M-249 SAW and the FN light machinegun, GPMG or whatever they call it?

What does the US military call that machinegun? How is it distributed? Did it replace the M-60 at platoon level? Or on tanks?

Is the M-16 still used a lot or have they mostly gone to the M-4 carbine version? I don't see a lot of M-16's on the news.

 

[zzzippper]

From my time deployed in 2008 I saw a lot of M4s that were made by FN and possibly one other contractor (Bushmaster?). My memory is fuzzy after six years.

The M249 is called the SAW, Squad Automatic Weapon. That and M2s were the only machine guns I recall.

I believe everything is M4 versions for the US but we equipped the Iraqi army with M16s.

 

[LVSteve]

It's my understanding from a couple of TV shows that FN make most, if not all of the M-16 and M-4s for the US armed forces. The Army is now almost entirely M-4, but I think the Marines still use a full sized rifle.

 

[gm272gs]

It is my understanding that the shorter M4 came from the USMC wanting a shorter rifle, when they decided to have officers only carry a rifle (and no pistol). I could be wrong, however.

 

[Doug M.]

My recollection is that only Colt and FN have access to the TDP (complete blueprints) and make the rifles to the standard. I do not recall how that is allocated. The Bushhampsters were not issue, but were only supposed to be provided to allies such as the Iraqi Army as we rebuilt them.

 

[zzzippper]

My recollection is that only Colt and FN have access to the TDP (complete blueprints) and make the rifles to the standard. I do not recall how that is allocated. The Bushhampsters were not issue, but were only supposed to be provided to allies such as the Iraqi Army as we rebuilt them.

The TDP (Technical Data Package) is made available to anyone invited to bid on a contract. If it is an open solicitation then anyone that wants to bid is given the TDP.

 

[Texas Star]

Thank, guys. I still think that FN machinegun is used on some armored vehicles. It's also used by some allies, like the UK.

 

[GatorFarmer]

The M60 was replaced by the M240 series, the letter suffic varies between the Army and Marines. The M240 is also known as the FN Mag and is a quite old design. In theory, as of aways back, there were supposed to be two M240s per platoon. These were GPMGs (general purpose machine guns), this has likely changed.

M249s are at the squad or fireteam level.

Colt was originally making all the M4s, but in recent years FN has made them.

FN makes all or most of the M16A3 and A4 rifles. The A2s have been retired.

Ironically, many years ago, the FN MAG could have been adopted instead of the M60.