SOCOM Wants an Ultra-Light Machine Gun. What Options Do They Have?
Task&Purpose reported that US Special Operations Command is looking for a new light machine gun to replace the current special forces light machine gun, the MK 46. The MK 46 was adopted in 2003 and used extensively during the Global War on Terror by various special mission units.
But it seems that after 25 years, US SOCOM is serious about replacing it. According to a SOCOM spokesperson: “The goal is to replace the MK46 while integrating advancements in material, manufacturing, and technology to provide the operators with a technically superior weapon system that will allow an operator to effectively shoot, maneuver, and lay down suppressive fire.”
What are the requirements? In June, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) posted a request for information regarding a project with an interesting name: Flyweight Assault Machine Gun (FAMG). It outlines detailed requirements for a new machine gun.
The most striking requirement is weight: ‘The FAMG maximum weight with standard rail interface, carry handle, bipod attached, buttstock, and barrel shall be less than or equal to 11.5 lbs, with a goal weight of 10 lbs. Sights and other accessories will not be included in the weight requirement.’
Even the newest FN Evolys machine gun is heavier, 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg). Only a couple of weapons meet this requirement, and we will talk about them later in this article.
The next requirement is size: ‘The FAMG shall have a maximum length of 39 inches, with a goal of reducing to 35 inches. Measurement will be taken with buttstock collapsed (not folded), to the muzzle device’. This should not be a problem for weapon manufacturers, since size requirements are similar to MK 46.
The accuracy requirement for semi-auto mode is extremely generous - 10 MOA at one hundred meters. At the same time, burst dispersion requirements are quite tough: 11 MOA at the same distance. The effective range requirement seems realistic, only 500 meters, which makes sense, since a lightweight weapon will probably have a short barrel.
The reliability and durability requirements are tough as well: ‘Mean Round Between Stoppages (MRBS) of 1,400 rounds, with a goal of increasing that to 2,000+ rounds’. The document also mentions ‘FAMG should have zero stoppages when weapon and ammunition are exposed to extreme temperatures ranging from -20°F to +165°F’. For durability, receiver life requirement is 100,000 rounds and barrel life is 15,000 rounds.
The document specifically outlines several features: the machine gun ‘should have a quick-change barrel with the ability to swap the barrel in 30 seconds or less’, ‘side folding, collapsible buttstock’ and ‘2 position/folding charging handle’.
Is there a weapon that fits those requirements? Realistically, there are only three weapon systems available ‘off the shelf’ that fit those requirements. The first one is the Czech PZD MK 24, which weighs 5.2 kg (11.47 lbs) when equipped with a 14-inch barrel. Technically, it meets the requirements, but it is still way above the goal weight. The second one is Knight's Armament Company LAMG. Based on the KAC Stoner LMG, it was tested by some US SOF units.
There is a third system that actually fits the requirements quite well: MCR (Mission Configurable Rifle). It is a belt-fed machine gun that uses an AR-15 lower and is manufactured by US company FightLite Industries, a division of ARES Defense Systems located in Florida.
The first light machine gun that used this concept, Ares Shrike 5.56, was designed in the early 2000s, but for the last 25 years it didn’t get a significant foothold in the US. However, this design became popular in other countries.
In 2021, I wrote about Turkish Company System Defence that presented their new MFR 56 light machine gun at the IDEF exhibition in Istanbul. This LMG looks nearly identical to the MCR and was exported to Libya and the Philippines, where it is used by the Marine Corps.
Another major Turkish firearms manufacturer, Sarsilmaz, is offering the SAR 56 HMT, which again is nearly indistinguishable from the FightLite MCR.
But that is not all. At the EnforceTac 2026 expo in Germany, Czech-based manufacturer Archon presented their new machine gun called Archon L. TFB TV made a great video about it.
At the moment, it seems that the MCR light machine gun concept has been recognised everywhere except in its homeland. Maybe the US SOCOM requirement will finally change that, and after a quarter of a century, an AR-15-based light machine gun will become a part of special forces' arsenal.
Disclaimer: The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement
Vladimir Onokoy is a small arms subject matter expert and author of "From Balkans to Babylon: Zastava AKs of Yugoslavia, Serbia, and Iraq", the first English-language book about the history of M70 and Tabuk AKs. Over the years he worked in over 20 different countries as a security contractor, armorer, field analyst, product manager, and consultant. His articles were published in Recoil magazine, Small Arms Review, Small Arms Defense Journal, Overt Defense and Silah Report. He also worked as the historical consultant for movies and weapon history books, namely "Vickers Guide: Kalashnikov" series, and Ian McColum's "Small Arms of WW2: Soviet Union". You can contact him here vonokoybooks@proton.me
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In the quest for lighter weight, is durability/longevity being impacted?
The one advantage of the Knights Light Assault Machine Gun/ Stoner 86 is it has constant recoil. With constant recoil, the cycle rate is not effected by different powder pressures/charges (within reason).
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