The M249 version of the Minimi was adopted by the US military in 1982; since 1984, production for the US military has been carried out entirely in the US by a local subsidiary, FN …

The FN M249S®, a semi-automatic version of the M249 SAW light machine gun, was originally developed by FN Herstal as the FN MINIMI® and adopted by the U.S. military in 1988.

Introduction The FN Minimi light machine gun was developed by the famous Belgian company FN Herstal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Mass production began in 1982 in Belgium, and at …

The M249 SPW (Special Purpose Weapon), also known as the Minimi SPW or the M249E4, is a modified M249 Paratrooper developed by Fabrique Nationale in 1996 to meet the …

Dec 24, 2025 · The 5.56mm Minimi, also known as the M249 in the U.S. military, is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed light machine gun that has been a cornerstone of modern …

The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), officially designated as the Light Machine Gun, 5.56 mm, M249, is the United States Armed Forces adaptation of the Belgian FN Minimi.

To meet a US requirement it quickly adapted to 5.56mm NATO. In US service the Minimi is called the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). The US adoption of the Minimi spurred …

The MINIMI was adopted by the U.S. military in 1982 as the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) and quickly became a key component of small unit tactics, providing sustained …

Feb 25, 2025 · The Minimi was adopted as the M249 with an initial order for 68,000 machine guns, the first 2,000 to be produced in Belgium and the remainder in an FN plant in the USA.

The M249 is a light machine gun manufactured by FN. The design of the M249 was developed from the FN Minimi series design. The M249 has been seen used extensively by the United …