Less than nine months after announcing a strategic development partnership, Texas-based advanced technology company True Velocity and FN America, global leader in the development and manufacture of high-quality, reliable firearms and other technologies for military customers, announced today their efforts to produce a 6.8TVCM conversion kit for existing M240 machine guns are nearing completion, with availability for defense procurement expected as soon as Q4 2024.
The two companies said that extensive, rigorous evaluation of the “switch-barrel” capability is nearly finished and that manufacturing plans are underway. True Velocity and FN commenced a First Article Test of the conversion kit at FN’s Columbia, S.C., facility on May 8, 2023, requiring more than 30,000 rounds of True Velocity’s proprietary 6.8TVCM cartridge to be fired through the M240 platform over several months.
The “switch-barrel” conversion kit allows existing M240 machine guns initially chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge to convert to True Velocity’s advanced 6.8TVCM composite-cased cartridge with only minor modifications, including a barrel change. Results of the evaluation indicate that the conversion of the M240 from the standard, brass-cased 7.62x51mm cartridge to the advanced 6.8TVCM composite-cased cartridge results in as much as a 50 percent increase in effective range and reduces ammunition weight by approximately 30 percent, with minimal modification to the weapon.
The combination of True Velocity’s commitment to innovation and FN’s industryleading experience in designing, developing and producing some of the world’s most prolific, dependable and innovative machine guns is a powerful statement.
The results of our independent ‘switch-barrel’ development efforts not only demonstrate that our warfighters will be more accurate, more effective and more lethal on the battlefield because of this technology, but they also indicate our ability to extend this capability to additional weapon systems, like the FN MK 48, the M110 and the M134. We’re just getting started.
Kevin Boscamp, True Velocity Chairman and CEO
The U.S. Army has tested more than 700,000 rounds of True Velocity’s 6.8TVCM cartridge, and results indicate that the cartridge meets or exceeds Army requirements, including the expanded temperature range testing and obstructed bore testing.
The M240 machine gun is the renowned and proven general-purpose machine gun platform in the world and has been in service globally since it was introduced. Our efforts to continually adapt the platform have resulted in innovations like the titanium receiver of the M240L, significantly reducing weight by 5.5 pounds, shorter barrel configurations, lighter-weight bipods and buttstocks, along with other advancements.
This next innovation leap with the 6.8TVCM ‘switch-barrel’ conversion kit, in partnership with True Velocity, proves that the M240 platform is futureproof and ready for the next generation of warfighters.
Mark Cherpes, President and CEO of FN America, LLC
FN America is the designer and preeminent manufacturer of the M240 machine gun, which is currently fielded by all branches of the United States military. The M240 is the American version of the FN MAG® manufactured by FN Herstal and used in more than 80 countries worldwide. The weapon system is capable of a cyclic rate of between 600-900 rounds per minute, depending upon which variant of the M240 is being fired.
True Velocity and FN America intend to market the M240 conversion kit and composite-cased 6.8TVCM ammunition to the U.S. and Allied militaries and have participated in multiple military live-fire demonstrations displaying the enhanced capability.
Source: True Velocity news release
