FN UK has signed a 10-year contract with the UK MoD to upgrade and provide through-life support for the L111A1 Heavy Machine Gun.
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Press Release, London, 18 September 2025: FN UK, the sole manufacturer and assembler of machine guns in the United Kingdom, has signed a 10-year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to upgrade and provide through-life support for the L111A1 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG), the British designation of the FN M2HB-QCB.
Awarded by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence, this £20+ million contract encompasses a comprehensive Mid-Life Improvement (MLI) Programme of the whole fleet of the UK’s armed forces HMGs, followed by the continued in-service support.
Julien Compère, CEO of FN Browning Group, commented: “We are extremely honoured to support the British Armed Forces through this 10-year contract, which will ensure that soldiers are always equipped with mission-ready, dependable heavy machine guns. This perfectly embodies the FN purpose: ‘to empower those who serve, defend and protect us with the most dependable Defence & Security solutions’. The MLI Programme also provides the long-term visibility essential for local investment, growth and job creation, further strengthening the United Kingdom’s security of supply and strategic autonomy in the field of small arms.”
The MLI Programme aims to overcome obsolescence, enhance performance and dependability, and reduce through-life support costs, generating significant savings for the Ministry of Defence while maintaining cutting-edge capability for Army and Navy operations. It will ensure that the L111A1 HMG continues to serve to the highest standards across Army and Navy operations, including deployment on Royal Navy vessels and ground platforms. All work will be carried out in the United Kingdom, contributing to the security of existing and creation of new jobs at FN UK’s manufacturing facility in Kent.
Michelle Cantoni, CEO of FN UK, added: “FN UK’s role in this programme is a testament to our industrial capabilities in the United Kingdom and our dedication to supporting the British Armed Forces, which are the reason our company exists. As FN UK celebrates 50 years of manufacturing in the UK, this long-term agreement reflects the longstanding, trust-based relationship between our company and the Ministry of Defence. It is both a recognition of our past and a commitment to the future.”
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