Mysterious M60 Machine Gun Contract Awarded By U.S. Army

The Army is buying E4 and E6 variants of the M60, a family of machine guns that the entire U.S. military largely stopped using decades ago.

by Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 30, 2024 5:16 PM EDT

The U.S. Army has awarded a contract worth nearly $15 million to U.S. Ordnance for an unspecified number of 7.62x51mm M60E6 and M60E4 machine guns, and/or kits to convert older M60s into either of those configurations, as well as ancillary items and training. The service announced its interest in buying these guns, which the U.S. military largely stopped using decades ago, earlier this year, but was curiously tight-lipped about for whom and why. The weapons could be intended for a foreign ally or partner, such as Ukraine, or to support some other operational, test and evaluation, or training requirements.

The Pentagon included the new deal with U.S. Ordnance for “M60E4 and M60E6 machine guns, spare parts and accessories, conversion kits, and training,” which is valued at $14,960,325 and came via the Army’s Contracting Command-New Jersey (CCNJ), in its daily contracting announcement last Monday. “Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 21, 2029,” the Pentagon’s notice adds without elaborating on who might be the intended recipient of the guns. Neither the M60E4 nor the M60E6 are known to be in any kind of widespread Army service currently...

Complete article:

https://www.twz.com/land/myste...-awarded-by-u-s-army

Interesting, but the US military regularly procures all sorts of non-standard small arms for foreign aid.

For example, recall the large purchase of Sig Pro and S&W Sigma pistols by the Army back in the 2000s.

The US military has also acquired batches of AKs and RPG-7s for foreign aid, including contracting with a US manufacturer (AirTronics) to produce updated, domestic-made RPGs.


Since the M60 is a US government design, I suspect it's cheaper to produce new M60s than it would be to license additional M240 production from FN. Especially since at least part of the plan appears to be to convert some existing older M60s that are already on hand.

These could be destined for Ukraine, or could be used to bolster one or more of the smaller NATO countries, like the Baltic states, that already have 7.62 NATO ammo on hand.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Interesting, but the US military regularly procures all sorts of non-standard small arms for foreign aid.

For example, recall the large purchase of Sig Pro and S&W Sigma pistols by the Army back in the 2000s.

The US military has also acquired batches of AKs and RPG-7s for foreign aid, including contracting with a US manufacturer (AirTronics) to produce updated, domestic-made RPGs.


Since the M60 is a US government design, I suspect it's cheaper to produce new M60s than it would be to license additional M240 production from FN. Especially since at least part of the plan appears to be to convert some existing older M60s that are already on hand.

These could be destined for Ukraine, or could be used to bolster one or more of the smaller NATO countries, like the Baltic states, that already have 7.62 NATO ammo on hand.

Those SIGs and S&Ws were purchased by Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM) for the Iraqi and Afghan forces. I saw the SIGs in Iraq, they also had Rugers too. I saw the S&W Sigmas in ASTAN with the ANPs.

I was also called in to check out an "American Dshk". It turned out that we purchased US Ordinance M2 machine guns for the ANA.

Thoe 60s could be for an allied nation, or being purchased for SOF elements. The M60E variants used to be regarded as lighter and handier then the M240s.

probably another quid por quo type of deal to keep some US based mfg afloat.

When I was in, an M60 was $5k (2000) the CG transitioned to the M240B and it was the same price. We had to move to the FN because the M60 was no longer being produced…anywhere (and the Navy told us to- Compatibility issues)

Strange that big Green would begin asking for the M60E again.

I wonder if the SNs will be retro-dated to spoof as surplus weapons donated by a third party? Which country still uses those models?

quote:

Originally posted by mr kablammo:
Which country still uses those models?

Denmark is the primary user of the M60E6. It's their standard GPMG.

The Phillipines use the M60E4 as their standard GPMG.

South Korea still uses a few different M60 models produced locally by Daewoo under license, though they're being gradually replaced with a new homegrown GPMG the K16.

Some other allies still use smaller numbers of various models of the M60, primarily in vehicle/aircraft mounts. Like the UK in their Chinook helicopters.