The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £20 million contract to FN UK to upgrade and sustain the British Armed Forces’ L111A1 heavy machine gun, the latest step in modernising the country’s direct fire arsenal.
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) confirmed the ten-year deal this week, saying it would not only keep the weapon relevant but also bolster the UK’s industrial base.
The work will create ten new jobs and sustain around 80 at FN UK’s facility in Kent, the only site in Britain still manufacturing and assembling machine guns.
The L111A1 is the UK designation of the 12.7mm Browning M2, a design with more than 90 years of battlefield history. Still regarded as one of the most effective heavy machine guns ever developed, it provides integral close-range fire support from tripods, vehicles, and naval mounts, with an effective range of around 1,800 metres. The Royal Navy also uses the weapon against fast inshore attack craft.
According to DE&S, the mid-life update will address obsolescence issues, improve reliability, and lower through-life support costs. Officials estimate the changes could save the MOD around £9 million over the programme’s lifetime.
Brigadier Nick Serle, Head of Military Capability Delivery for the British Army, said the update would “further enhance the lethality of our close combatants” while also helping to secure skilled UK jobs. Richard Murray, Director of Lethality & Protect at DE&S, added that the partnership with FN UK would ensure the armed forces “continue to benefit from one of the world’s most capable heavy machine guns, with enhanced performance and reliability.”
FN UK’s chief executive, Michelle Cantoni, described the award as a milestone for the company, which is marking 50 years of British manufacturing. “At FN UK, we’re proud of this announcement as the only machine gun manufacturer in the UK… this achievement occurred during commemorations to mark 50 years of manufacturing in the UK and over 135 years of expertise as part of the FN Group.”
The contract will see upgrades rolled out gradually: 18 percent of the guns are due for delivery by March 2026, half by March 2027, and the remainder by March 2028.
