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US Army Awards $4.9 Million Contract for More FN M240L Medium Machine Guns

Tuesday, July 1st, 2025

(McLean, VA — July 1, 2025) FN America, LLC is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $4.9 million contract to supply the U.S. Army with additional FN® M240L medium machine guns. The M240L was originally adopted by the U.S. Army in 2010, after a joint development effort with FN to create a lighter, yet durable, medium machine gun.

The M240L has been the cutting-edge for lightweight medium machine guns with an overall weight reduction of five pounds from its predecessor, the FN M240B, without any impact to performance or longevity. The 18 percent weight reduction was achieved by incorporating titanium into the design, including the receiver, and introducing new manufacturing methods to adjust for the material properties.

“The M240L continues the collaborative effort between FN, the U.S. Army and the individual soldier to provide the most effective weapon systems for the warfighter,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO for FN America, LLC. “The development saw the introduction of new materials along with new manufacturing techniques that have paved the way for the future generation of military equipment. We are extremely proud of this product and look forward to working with the U.S. Army to deliver against this contract.”

The M240 general purpose machine gun (7.62x51mm NATO), derived from the FN® MAG 58, was adopted by the U.S. military in the late 1970s, and has been in continual service since being introduced. FN has created multiple variants of the M240, including the M240 coaxial, the M240B, M240L, M240D and M240H models.

Throughout its history, FN has been one of the largest suppliers of small arms to the U.S. military and continues to develop innovative, future technology. In addition to the M240 and its variants, the company currently holds contracts for the FN® M249 lightweight machine gun; the FN® MK 46, MK 48, MK 17 and MK 20 SSR for USSOCOM and various other contracts.

For more information about FN’s military product line or current U.S. military contracts, please visit www.FNAmerica.com.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Press Release, weapons | 6 Comments »

LTG Mohan Visits Holston, Radford Ammunition Plants

Tuesday, July 1st, 2025

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. — On back-to-back days in mid-June, Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, Army Materiel Command deputy commanding general and acting commander, visited two of the nation’s most important ammunition production facilities — the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia and Holston Army Ammunition Plant in Tennessee.

The locations are government-owned, contractor-operated and are two of 18 subordinate installations of the Joint Munitions Command, headquartered at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois.

Both visits affirmed the Army’s prioritization of a modern, resilient munitions infrastructure. The engagements provided an opportunity to highlight ongoing modernization efforts, industry partnerships, and the challenges facing the U.S. munitions supply chain.

At RFAAP, Mohan received an orientation on the site’s historic and strategic significance, and he toured several key production areas, including the nitrocellulose boiling tub house, solvent propellant lines, the modern nitrocellulose facility, rocket final pack, medium-caliber load assemble pack, and the new state-of-the-art advanced ammunition facility.

“As a large-volume producer of nitrocellulose and a supplier of solventless propellants, RFAAP plays a pivotal role in national defense,” said Lt. Col. Marie Hough, RFAAP’s commander. “The discussions focused on accelerating modernization timelines, the importance of strengthening the munitions workforce, and enhancing collaboration with industry partners to ensure long-term readiness.”

At HSAAP, a large volume producer of explosive material, Mohan took part in a windshield tour through a variety of production areas with stops at the strong nitric acid unloading and storage area, the flashing furnace modernization project, and the melt-cast modernization project building.

“We discussed emerging challenges with strong nitric acid, and federal regulations that could impact production methods,” said Jeff Worley, the deputy to the commander at HSAAP. “Lt. Gen Mohan encouraged us to seek creative solutions through ongoing dialogue with Department of Defense leadership and regulatory agencies. Transparent and clear communications with state and federal agencies are critical for continued success.”

By Matthew Wheaton, Joint Munitions Command, Public and Congressional Affairs

Posted in Ammo, Army, Guest Post | Comments Off on LTG Mohan Visits Holston, Radford Ammunition Plants

AMC Enters a New Era of Data-Driven Logistics

Sunday, June 29th, 2025

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – On the path to becoming a more data-centric organization, Army Materiel Command is leaning into advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, or A3I, to improve its operations.

“Data is no longer just a support function, it’s central to everything we do,” said Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, AMC deputy commanding general and acting commander. “Our focus on A3I is about empowering our people to make smarter, faster decisions and deliver readiness with greater efficiency.”

Leveraging A3I demonstrates how the command is moving past simply collecting data from fragmented systems to proactively anticipating and solving challenges.

Existing Army systems, while individually capable, often operate in silos, lacking the interoperability needed for a comprehensive view of materiel readiness and limiting AMC’s ability to efficiently move and sustain operations. This is particularly critical given AMC’s complex mission set, which includes everything from ammunition production and vehicle maintenance to sustaining the Army’s global logistics operations.

In 2020, the Army acquired Vantage, integrating the data from systems like GCSS-Army and GFEBS into a unified analytics platform.

This paved the way for the “agility layer,” according to Dr. Chris Hill, AMC chief data and analytics officer and director of the AMC Analysis Group. The agility layer allows AMC employees to build their own apps and tools using the data in Vantage – helping them improve processes, streamline workflows, make better decisions, be more efficient, and ultimately improve the Soldier experience.

The command is already applying this concept with tools like Weapons System 360, which gives leaders a complete look at the Army’s supply chain, and ParaLine, an app that significantly reduces inventory processing time and improves property accountability for Soldiers.

But to fully harness the power of data, leaders believe a fundamental shift in operations is needed, starting with restructuring roles throughout the command. The change isn’t limited to those directly impacting materiel readiness, either, said Hill. Using and understanding and data is now critical for every function within AMC.

“In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, restructuring to fully leverage data is no longer a consideration – it’s a necessity. The benefits of data-driven insights will extend to all directorates, enabling more informed decisions and greater efficiency across the entire organization,” Hill said.

An upcoming order will establish data leads in each headquarters staff section who will be responsible for integrating A3I into daily operations. An AMCAG multi-functional team focused on A3I staff integration will support the data leads. Through a “train-the-trainer” methodology. AMCAG will help to build foundational data and analytics skills that allow the data leads to independently automate processes, build tools and dashboards, and leverage artificial intelligence to streamline operations.

While this transformation represents a significant shift for the workforce, early adoption across several AMC subordinate commands has demonstrated the strength of this organizational construct.

“We’re seeing great energy and innovation at our down trace units,” said Hill. “These teams aren’t waiting for direction. They’re identifying their own challenges and using the agility layer to solve them.”

Aviation and Missile Command is using tools like LAP360 to identify potential maintenance needs and supply availability challenges. Tank-automotive and Armaments Command is employing data analytics to predict vehicle failures and optimize maintenance schedules, and Army Contracting Command is leveraging data and implementing AI tools to identify trends and streamline the contracting process.

As AMC continues to unlock the potential of its data and workforce, this internal momentum will be key to supporting the mission, said Hill. A data-centric transformation is already gaining traction throughout the command, evidenced by an A3I insignia, created by Dr. Chelsea Jones, an operations research analyst in the AMCAG.

The A3I insignia will be featured on internal products to demonstrate the command’s commitment to driving sustainment, readiness and efficiency through data-driven innovation.

“This is about empowering our people to solve problems in new ways and more efficiently,” said Hill. “The A3I insignia is a reminder that data is now at the heart of everything we do.”

By Alyssa Crockett

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Logistics | Comments Off on AMC Enters a New Era of Data-Driven Logistics

New Name, Expanded Mission for Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute

Thursday, June 26th, 2025

(FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas) — The Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) was recently redesignated as the Security Force Assistance and Stability Integration Directorate (SFASID), and with the name change comes an expanded mission set.

Since its creation in 1993, SFASID has undergone SEVERAL significant restructuring events. Recognizing the need and requirements for forces able to conduct peacekeeping operations, the U.S. Army Peacekeeping Institute was formed to directly address the operating environment our forces were involved at the time such as Haiti, the Balkans, and Africa.

“There is a universal understanding of why the United States Army must be prepared for combat, but there is an equally compelling reason why the Army, the Joint Force, and our allies and partners must also prepare for stability activities that include consolidation gains during combat, setting the theater in competition, and conducting peace operations for collective conflict management,” said T.J. Moffatt, SFASID deputy director. “These DOTMLPF-P requirements all reside now in one Army organization.”

In 2005, after action reports from Iraq and Afghanistan helped the Army recognized the need for doctrine, training, and expertise in stability operations. The institute was renamed to PKSOI, and stabilization doctrine was added to their portfolio. PKSOI was reorganized again in 2019 to consolidate Irregular Warfare (IW) and Security Force Assistance (SFA) at Fort Leavenworth. PKSOI was realigned as a Direct Report Unit to the United States Army Combined Arms Center Commander, but remained at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, to continue its work as the formal, Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army directed lead as the Joint and Army Proponent for Stability and Peace Operations.

In 2022, IW Proponency was reassigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command, aligning the Security Forces Assistance Proponency (SFAP) under Mission Command Center of Excellence. With PKSOI and SFAP working in complimentary mission sets, the SFA Proponency was assigned to PKSOI. This reorganization shifted manpower back to Carlisle Barracks while creating an organization that more effectively supported the SFA Command, the Brigades, Theater Army Commanders, and the Geographic Combatant Commanders.

With the addition of this new mission, PKSOI underwent an internal reorganization in late 2024 that reflected a focus on SFA and Stability Operations concepts, doctrine, training, education, exercises, and policy. Peacekeeping is still in the portfolio and remains as one of the primary missions under stability operations, but the culmination is a name change to SFASID that accurately reflects the organization’s new mission.

Photo by Jason Bortz

U.S. Army Combined Arms Center

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Irregular Warfare | Comments Off on New Name, Expanded Mission for Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute

Army Accelerates Fielding of Advanced SUAS, Enhancing Combat Capabilities

Wednesday, June 25th, 2025

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — The Army is rapidly advancing capabilities in the Short-Range Reconnaissance, SRR, program by deploying cutting-edge small uncrewed aircraft systems, SUAS, to Transformation in Contact brigades.

These modernized systems amplify combat power and lethality, improve troop survivability and give commanders real-time intelligence on the modern battlefield.

Col. Danielle Medaglia, UAS Project Manager, highlighted the importance of the Army’s approach.

“The technology across the UAS environment is evolving at a rapid pace,” Medaglia said. “Therefore, in parallel to fielding the next tranche of SRR we are already working on future capabilities, leveraging new mature technology and quickly iterating on Soldier feedback.”

“Continuous iteration and integration of new technology, multi-vendor awards and continuous competition ensures we can field the most capable and cost effective UAS, at scale, that aligns with Soldier needs.”

SRR systems are integral to modern warfare. Equipped with advanced sensors, these SUAS provide real-time intelligence, reconnaissance, and target acquisition, empowering commanders with swift decision-making capabilities. Acting as force multipliers, they enable precise fires, support ground operations with timely information, enhance operational flexibility, and crucially, improve troop survivability by detecting threats and identifying safe routes.

Equipping of Next-Generation SUAS Capabilities

The Army continues to use a multi-vendor approach to drive competition and deliver technology at the speed of relevance.

“The rapid deployment of Tranche 2 SUAS to our combat teams is a testament to our commitment to providing Soldiers with the most advanced tools available,” said Brig. Gen. David Phillips, Program Executive Officer, Aviation. “These systems are not just about technology; they are about enhancing our operational capabilities and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of our troops on the ground.”

In April, PEO Aviation’s UAS Project Office responded to an urgent request to deploy Tranche 2 SUAS to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division in support of their rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.

Demonstrating the Army’s ability to rapidly equip its forces, Skydio X10D systems were delivered to the 1st Brigade Combat Team under the Army’s Transforming in Contact 2.0 initiative within one month of the request. Additionally, Teal Drones’ Black Widow system is preparing to field. Both Skydio and Teal will support Army Transforming in Contact brigades in developing and refining tactics, techniques and procedures for employing networked reconnaissance and surveillance systems against emerging battlefield threats.

The Army’s Vision for the Future of SRR

The deployment and evaluation of these SUAS are part of a larger Army initiative focused on Transforming in Contact — evaluating uncrewed aircraft systems and aligning personnel and tactics with new technologies. The Tranche 2 system is built upon Soldier feedback with improvements such as enhanced autonomy, a new ground control station and modular architecture.

The Army remains steadfast in its mission to strengthen Soldier lethality, creating a force that can dominate in large-scale combat operations across multiple domains.

“The modern battlefield is changing. I think we’ve seen that,” said Gen. Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army, during a recent interview. “We’ve learned a lot over the last year and a half with our transformation in contact. So, this is bottom-up innovation that we know we need, and we know we’ve been watching what’s happening on the modern battlefield.”

By PEO Aviation

Posted in Army, Guest Post, UAS | Comments Off on Army Accelerates Fielding of Advanced SUAS, Enhancing Combat Capabilities

New Machine Gun Optic Tested by 10th Mountain Division

Friday, June 20th, 2025

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Explosions echoed through the training area as Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (LI) trained with their newly issued XM152 Mounted Machine Gun Optic for the Mark 19 40 mm grenade machine gun.

Designed to enhance situational awareness and survivability, the XM152 MMO allows gunners to neutralize threats more effectively through accurate, controlled fire at various distances.

Before heading to the range, Soldiers received hands-on instruction from the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command on the optic’s capabilities and operation.

“This optic is important because we need first-round hit probability,” said Tyler Griffeth, a training instructor with TACOM. “A lot of times with the Mark 19 using the iron sights, the Soldiers are really focused on the iron sight when we really need the big picture, and that’s the battlefield.”

The optic enhances engagement capabilities in two key ways: first, by offering a wide field-of-view holographic reticle for rapid, close-range target acquisition, and second, by incorporating a three-times magnifier to extend the effective range and improve accuracy.

“This now switches it to where the Soldier can be more threat-focused, which will increase their first-round hit probability and their overall lethality,” said Griffeth. “Now that technology like this becomes available to the Soldier, we’re going to get out there and get more lethal.”

After familiarization, Soldiers headed to the range the following day to engage targets using the new optic. TACOM instructors joined them to ensure proficiency and understanding of the equipment.

“I feel like with this new optic, I’m very confident in the Mark 19 system, it was much easier to hit the farther ranges and was able to destroy the target as needed,” Sgt. Trever Linberg, a helicopter repairman with Delta Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “With this optic, I could qualify much easier, it took a lot less rounds.”

With new knowledge, experience, and confidence, these Soldiers can return to their units as subject matter experts and bring their fellow Soldiers up to speed on the latest equipment, making the 10th Mountain Division even more capable.

“I wish I had something like this back when I was in the service,” Griffeth said. “I wasted a lot of ammo that could have been right on target the first time.”

By SGT Matthew Connor

SSD Note: The MMO capitalizes on COTS optical technologies to provide a rugged, low-cost optic for the mounted Soldier in Combat Support and Combat Service Support formations. It has three variants, one each for the M2/M2A1 (MMO XM155), M240B/H/L (MMO XM156), and the MK19 (MMO XM152).

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Optics | 1 Comment »

116th IBCT to Field Test New Mobile Brigade Combat Team Organization

Wednesday, June 18th, 2025

RICHMOND, Va. –

The Virginia National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team during their 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation in June 2025 at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The MBCT concept is part of the U.S. Army’s transformation initiative with the goal of making units more agile and lethal.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Bedford-based Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a movement to contact situational training lane June 9, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to test a prototype task organization for a mobile brigade combat team, and it will be evaluated during a 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation. The MBCT concept is part of the U.S. Army’s transformation initiative with the goal of making units more agile and lethal. (U.S. National Guard phtoo by Cotton Puryear)

“The 116th has an incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of the Army’s transformation initiative, and I am confident the Soldiers of the Normandy Brigade will rise to the occasion,” said Col. Jared Lake, commander of the 116th. “There are still many variables in the transformation process, but our Soldiers are going to focus on their core warfighting skills that will make us a more ready and lethal organization by the end of XCTC.”

XCTC is a series of field training exercises simulating realistic combat scenarios including live fire, situational training lanes and force on force with a dedicated opposing force intended to increase the skills and readiness of National Guard units.

The 116th will be configured as the MBCT during the XCTC rotation, and it will be an opportunity to continue testing and evaluating the proposed force structure, Lake said.

The mobile brigade combat team force structure focuses on three infantry battalions with organic logistics support and the addition of a multi-purpose company in each battalion and a multi-functional reconnaissance company in the brigade.

Battalion scout, mortar and assault platoons move to a battalion MPC to provide ground and aerial reconnaissance, indirect fire support, launched effects, counter unmanned aerial systems and deception capabilities to fix and attrit enemy forces that allows for infantry companies to close with and destroy the enemy.

The MFRC provides reconnaissance and surveillance with the brigade deep area to enable targeting and provide timely, accurate reporting of enemy activity, detect and target enemy high payoff targets and shape the brigade deep area to enable operations.

The MPCs and MFRC will be employed along with the 116th’s three infantry battalions during the culminating field training exercise near the end of the XCTC rotation.

The cavalry squadron and the brigade engineer battalion are not a part of the prototype MBCT task organization. Future force structure for those organizations is still being analyzed at the U.S. Army level. Soldiers assigned to those units will still focus on honing their MOS-specific skills during XCTC.

The field artillery battalion will conduct live fire during XCTC in addition to other MOS-specific training. Long term, the artillery battalion will align under the 29th Division Artillery as that force structure comes online in the coming years.

A key piece of equipment for the MBCT is the infantry squad vehicle designed to transport infantry squads across the battlefield. The 116th has not fielded the ISVs, but they will still be able to train on employing the new MBCT formations with their existing equipment.

The official 116th IBCT force structure has not changed and is not scheduled to change until the Army validates and finalizes the new MBCT structure, and then approves that change for the 116th IBCT, Lake said. This process is anticipated to occur over the next three years.

“Every Soldier still has a home in the 116th IBCT and every opportunity to continue their service with the Virginia Army National Guard,” he said.

Lake explained that while some Soldiers may be attached to other units for XCTC, there are no plans for permanent reassignments until the new official force structure is approved. Some Soldiers may get the opportunity to change military occupational speciality and career field, but most of Soldiers will not need to change MOS.

The Army’s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team was first mobile brigade combat team, and they conducted a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation to experiment, test and collect Soldier feedback on the MBCT concept in July 2024 at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.

By Cotton Puryear | Virginia National Guard Public Affairs

Posted in Army, Forces Focus, Guest Post | 1 Comment »

PEO Soldier Marks Major Milestone in Aircrew Protection at ACE Vest Full-Rate Production Kickoff

Tuesday, June 17th, 2025

MEADOWS OF DAN, Va. — Project Manager Soldier Survivability (PM SSV), under Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier), marked the Full-Rate Production (FRP) kickoff of the Aircrew Combat Equipment (ACE) vest at the Aerial Machine and Tool Corp. manufacturing facility, June 4, 2025, in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. The ACE vest represents a major milestone in rotary-wing protection, delivering the Army’s most significant upgrades in more than two decades.

During the kickoff, Maj Caleb Hughes, assistant product manager for PM SSV’s Air Warrior, (AW) Air Soldier Systems and ACE vest program lead, provided a technical overview of ACE program objectives to senior PM SSV leadership focusing on showcasing the vest’s core deliverables, reducing the physical weight borne by the air warrior while enhancing Soldier protection and survivability.

Developed as a Preplanned Product Improvement (P3I) under the Air Soldier System, the ACE vest replaces the legacy Generation III Air Warrior Personal Survival Gear Carrier (PSGC), delivering a 19% lighter system, with a 10% reduction in bulk from the legacy carrier.

“The improvements to form, fit, and function dramatically increase mission effectiveness and survivability,” Maj. Hughes said. “Reducing body-carried weight is key to lowering fatigue and increasing aircrew sustainment during long-duration aviation missions.”

To achieve these efforts, the ACE vest integrates components from the Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) developed under the Soldier Protective Equipment (SPE) portfolio. The MSV’s low-profile soft armor replaces heavier legacy materials while streamlining compatibility with other ACE protective elements.

“The ACE vest is a strong example of cross-platform integration,” said Neal Nguyen, lead systems engineer for SPE. “The MSV’s upgraded soft armor reduces core areal density from 1.8 to 0.78 lb/ft², with a drop in carried weight from 9.3 pounds to 5.61. This transformational capability results in significant improvements to aircrew mobility.”

By aligning the MSV across platforms, PEO-Solider ensures proven ballistic technologies are fielded faster without requiring separate testing or validation from each system team, Nguyen added.

During the kickoff, Maj. Hughes also introduced the laser-cut Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS), a modernized textile solution replacing the traditional MOLLE system.

“The PALS eliminates unnecessary bulk from excess stitching and cloth and supports a more flexible gear configuration,” Maj. Hughes said. “This modular capability allows aircrews to tailor the vest based on mission and environmental factors, reducing equipment load without compromising protection.”

The ACE vest includes additional survivability features such as the advanced Personal Restraint Tether (PRT), an attenuating safety line designed to control deceleration during a fall from a rotary-wing platform.

“The tether helps reduce the jolt a crew member might otherwise experience during a fall,” Maj. Hughes said. “Instead of a hard stop that could cause secondary injuries, the design absorbs energy and enhances recovery safety.”

Another notable upgrade to Aircrew survivability is the repositioned Life Preserver Unit (LPU-42/P) floatation device, now mounted at the abdomen. The configuration increases the head’s range of motion, reducing fatigue and enhancing situational awareness during flight operations and water egress scenarios. The LPU-42 redesign also increases buoyancy by nearly 39%, a critical survivability improvement delivered through the ACE vest.

Following the technical presentation, senior leaders toured the production facility, observing elements of the ACE vest manufacturing line and Aerial’s recent technology upgrades implemented to support product development. The event concluded with a complete product layout, offering a firsthand look at the ACE vest’s fielded components and marking the milestone in the program’s transition to full-rate production.

“Today’s event highlights the culmination of hard work and collaboration across the Army to deliver the first update to Aircrew protection in more than 20 years,” said Col. James Lindh, Project Manager of Soldier Survivability. (PM SSV) “This dramatic increase in protection and comfort will make our Aircrews more lethal and survivable. This milestone reflects our commitment to delivering the best kit for our Aircrews available today, while supporting Army-wide modernization.”

Limited procurement for the ACE system began in fiscal year 2022, followed by initial fielding in FY24 to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and rapid delivery to elements of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, earlier this year. The ACE vest and modular component fielding will continue through FY32 based on aviation unit priorities.

“Supporting the Air Warrior mission means ensuring these systems are fielded where they are needed most,” said Maj. Hughes. “What this event means for the Aviator, is delivering the best equipment to the field faster.”

Story by Khylee Woodford

PEO Soldier

Posted in Army, Aviation, Guest Post, PEO-Soldier | 2 Comments »