M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)
Mission
Deter, and if necessary, compel adversaries by enabling individuals and small units to engage targets with accurate, lethal, direct automatic fire.
Description and Specifications
A lightweight, gas-operated, one-man-portable automatic weapon capable of delivering a large volume of effective fire at ranges up to 800 meters. Two M249s are issued per infantry squad. It is scheduled to replace the M60 7.62 medium machine gun in certain units.
- Caliber: 5.56 mm
- Weight: 16.5 lbs
- Max. Effective Range: 750 rounds per minute
- Entered Army Service: 1987
- Manufacturer: FN Manufacturing (Columbia, SC)
