The UK Ministry of Defense has launched a major program to enhance the firepower of its L111A1 heavy machine gun, awarding a £20 million ($27.3 million) contract to FN Herstal. The initiative is part of a broader modernization effort to strengthen the British Army and Royal Navy’s frontline weapons.
The program will run for 10 years, combining a two-year mid-life upgrade phase with eight years of in-service support. The ministry emphasized that the improvements will extend the weapon’s effectiveness and ensure it continues to provide critical firepower in both land and naval operations.
Work will be carried out at FN Herstal’s Kent facility, where the company has produced military rifles and machine guns for the UK for five decades. Deliveries of the upgraded weapons will be phased, with 18 percent ready by March 2026, half by March 2027, and the remainder by March 2028.
The L111A1, a modernized version of the Browning M2, is known for its adaptability. It can be mounted on tripods for ground operations or integrated into vehicles for mobile fire support. Enhancements such as a soft mount and quick-change barrel will reduce recoil and boost accuracy, enabling soldiers to engage targets up to 2,000 meters away. Weighing 32 kilograms, the .50-caliber weapon delivers 485 to 635 rounds per minute, cementing its role as a vital asset in combat.
