M249

M249 Squad Assault Weapon (SAW), is the name given by the [US military]? to the [Fabrique National]? Minimi light machine gun.

The M249 fires NATO 5.56mm rounds. It weighs 6.8 kg and has two choices for cyclic rate of fire: 750 and 1000 rounds per minute.

In the United States Marine Corps, the SAW is usually carried at the fire team level, that is, one member of a 3 to 5 man team carries this weapon. The SAW is also standard issue for a 4-5 man amphibious reconnaissance team.