The DOD recently awarded FN America and Colt a five-year, firm-fixed price joint Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to supply M16A4 carbines through the U.S. Army to US allies including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Nepal. The contract was a split award with Colt and has a potential value of up to $383 million.
According to the Department of Defense announcement:
Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 28, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
The FN M16A4 Carbine
As FN describes it:
The M16A2 weapon system was developed at the request of the United States Marine Corps to improve on the M16A1 and went into large scale production by 1987. Improvements included a thicker barrel in front of the front sight, modified flash suppressor (closed on bottom), new polymer buttstock (lighter and stronger, faster barrel twist (from 1:12 to 1:7), and spent case deflector for left-hand users.
The M16A4 is chambered to fire the 5.56x45mm (.223) NATO cartridge. It is a select fire rifle having semi-automatic and three-round-burst fire capabilities. Cartridges are magazine fed, and firing is achieved via a direct impingement gas operating system.
M16A4 Specs
- CALIBER: 5.56x45mm NATO
- OPERATION: Direct impingement
- MAG CAPACITY: 30 Rd.
- WEIGHT: 8.79 lb. w/ 30 Rd. mag
- BARREL LENGTH:
- OVERALL LENGTH: 39.63”
- EFFECTIVE RANGE: 550 – 800m
- TWIST RATE: 1:7” RH
- RATE OF FIRE: 800 RPM
About Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC
Colt self-describes:
Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC is one of the world’s leading designers, developers and manufacturers of firearms. The company has continuously supplied military and law enforcement customers in the United States and foreign allies throughout the world for more than 175 years. Colt’s subsidiary, Colt Canada Corporation, is the Canadian government’s Center of Excellence for Small Arms and is the Canadian military’s dedicated supplier of the C7 rifle, C8 carbine, C6 and C9 Machine Guns, with recently awarded domestic and international contracts for their C20 Semi-Automatic Intermediate Sniper rifle.
A Little FN History
And FN self describes:
Throughout its history, FN has been one of the largest suppliers of small arms to the U.S. military. In addition to the M4 and M4A1, the company currently holds contracts for the FN M240 medium machine gun and its variants; the FN MK 46, MK 48, MK 17 and MK 20 SSR for USSOCOM, and various other contracts.
For more information about FN’s military product line or current U.S. military contracts, please visit www.fnamerica.com.
About FN America
The World’s Most Battle-Proven Firearms. | FN America, LLC, the U.S. subsidiary of Belgium-based FN Herstal, S.A. provides U.S. military, law enforcement and commercial customers with a complete range of state-of- the-art, groundbreaking solutions developed around small caliber firearms and associated ammunition under the FN brand name.
FN Herstal is the Defense & Security entity of Herstal Group that also includes a Hunting & Sports Shooting entity (Browning and Winchester Firearms’ brand names) and operates globally.
FN product lines include portable firearms, less lethal systems, integrated weapon systems for air, land and sea applications, remote weapon stations, small caliber ammunition, as well as modern and cutting-edge solutions to provide enhanced combat, logistics, maintenance and communication capabilities.
In addition to FN America – headquartered in McLean, VA, with manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina –, FN Herstal is the parent company of FNH UK in the UK and Noptel (electro-optics) in Finland.
For more information on FN’s latest products, visit us at www.fnamerica.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.