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Small arms1984–present
Light machine gun Squad automatic weapon
M249 Squad Automatic Weapon is a light machine gun Squad automatic weapon originating in Belgium / United States. It was built by FN America. Reported operators include Afghanistan, Argentina, Colombia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Haiti, Hungary, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Kurdistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, United States.
Belgium / United StatesM249 Squad Automatic Weapon
Photo Courtesy of PEO Soldier · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · ModifiedLight machine gun Squad automatic weapon
Belgium / United States
1984–present
See Users
United States invasion of Panama Gulf War Somali Civil War Bosnian War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War (2014–present) Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Saudi-led intervention in Yemen Haitian gang war
1976
FN America
US$4,087
Late 1970s–present
See Variants
7.5 kg (17 lb) empty 10 kg (22 lb) with 200-round soft pouch
40.75 in (1,035 mm)
465 mm (18.3 in) 521 mm (20.5 in)
5.56×45mm NATO
Gas-operated long-stroke piston system , open bolt , rotating bolt
850 rounds/min
915 m/s (3,000 ft/s)
700 m (2,300 ft) (point target, 465 mm barrel) 800 m (2,600 ft) (point target, 521 mm barrel) 3,600 m (11,800 ft) (maximum range)
M27 linked disintegrating belt in a 100- or 200-round soft pouch STANAG magazine
Iron sights or Picatinny rail for various optical sights
Afghanistan
Argentina
Colombia
Czech Republic
Georgia
Haiti
Hungary
Iraq
Lebanon
Malaysia
Kurdistan
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
Thailand
United States
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
True scale
Sourced dimensions beside a 1.75 m human reference.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept 2026 | 1.035 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
M249 Squad Automatic Weapon equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
Afghanistan
Argentina
Belize
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Chile
Colombia
Czechia
Georgia
Haiti
Hungary
Iran
Iraq
Kosovo
Lebanon
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
Nepal
North Macedonia
Pakistan
Philippines
Romania
Taiwan
Thailand
TongaReported count for M249. Country-wide list; no individual service specified. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): number: 20. Origin: USA. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
Tunisia
Türkiye
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates United StatesAfghanistan, Argentina, Colombia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Haiti, Hungary, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Kurdistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, United States
Equipment reference ↗