MK48 7.62mm Medium Machinegun
The MK48 MOD 0 is a lightweight 7.62mm developed to meet a US Special Operations requirement for a lightweight variant of the M240 that would retain the intrinsic functionality and reliability of the standard model.
“Big Brother” to the MK46 (5.56mm LMG), it weighs 34% less than the M240B. It has 70% parts commonality between MK46, M249 and M240, and is interoperable with the USSOCOM SOPMOD Kit. It has a 100K Receiver Life, with 11,500 MRBS.
The current 7.62mm Machine Gun within the Naval Special Warfare [NSW] Inventory (M60/MK43) has proven to be less than reliable, NSW users had lost confidence in the weapon and the weapon is becoming unsupportable. Therefore, a MNS/ORD was approved on 21 March 2001 for a new Lightweight 7.62mm Machine Gun (LWMG). The 7.62mm LWMG program was patterned after the MK46 Program. The ORD required 492 weapons.
The program issued “Draft” Performance Specification May 2001, and issued Procurement Solicitation October 2001. They received 3 each Product Samples/Tech Proposals March 2002, and conducted Initial Technical Testing in March 2002. The Navy obtained Safety Release May 2002, and performed an Operational Assessment June 2002. The Navy awarded a contract for IDIQ Minimum Qty September 2002. The Crane IDIQ contract is valid through March 2007.
Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing, Inc., located in Columbia, SC, is a precision machining manufacturer specializing in the production of small caliber weapons and machine guns such as the M16, M240, M249, SAW, and the model 49 pistol for military and law enforcement markets.
The MK48 MOD 0 was developed from the M240 Series to meet specific mission critical military requirements for a lighter, reliable and more compact 7.62x51 mm medium machine gun. It is 70% common with M240, Mk46 and M249, and is interoperable with the SOPMOD Kit. It weighs 18.5 lbs, and is 39.5 inches long. The firing rate 711RPM, with a barrel Life 20K Rds and a receiver life of 100k Rds.
It was an FY02 new start program, with a FCT proposal submitted 01 February 2001. The ORD was approved 21 March 2001, with MS A/B approved 05 October 2001. The contract was awarded 08 March 2002, with MS C “Full Rate Production” achieved 21 March 2003. It achieved IOC in September 2003, with FOC in December 2003.
