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Belgium FN Herstal
M249 SAW
A gas-operated, belt-fed light machine gun adopted by the U.S. military as the Squad Automatic Weapon, based on FN's Minimi design and chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO. It provides infantry squads with sustained suppressive fire and is used by more than 75 countries.
In service since 1984 · 75 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
800
m range
850
rpm
915
m/s
200
rds
💲 ≈ $4,000, Approximate U.S. military unit procurement cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Belgium export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 75 operators
In service since 1984. Status: active · ~300,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 800 m |
|---|---|
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 850 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 915 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 5.56×45 mm NATO |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 5.6 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 200 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 1.04 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 8 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 465 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $4,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 300,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 75 |
Specifications compiled from public FN Herstal and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the FN Herstal M249 SAW require? +
The FN Herstal M249 SAW requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the FN Herstal M249 SAW? +
The FN Herstal M249 SAW's primary weapon is the 5.56×45 mm NATO.
What is the FN Herstal M249 SAW used for? +
The FN Herstal M249 SAW is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the FN Herstal M249 SAW? +
The FN Herstal M249 SAW is operated by 75 countries.
How much does the FN Herstal M249 SAW cost? +
The FN Herstal M249 SAW has an approximate unit cost of 4,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
