Brazilian Army Orders 120 M2A1 .50 BMG Heavy Machine Guns

m2a1, m2a1 machine gun, m2a1 machine guns, brazil army m2a1, m2a1 machine gun firing — Pfc. Habel Santiago, an infantryman assigned to Troop K, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, fires rounds from an M2A1 machine gun during weapons training, Sept. 18, 2014. Each Soldier familiarized with the weapon by firing numerous rounds, learning to control the weapon before moving to qualify with the weapon system.

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The Brazilian Army has placed an order for a batch of M2A1 .50 BMG heavy machine guns.

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Brazilian Army Deal

According to Jane’s 360, the service plans on buying a grand total of 120 M2A1 HMGs through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The deal was evidently brokered back in August, when the Brazilian Army Commission—the Washington, D.C.-based organization that acquires and ships defense materials to Brazil—signed what’s called letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for the M2A1.

There’s no indication as to the dollar amount of the deal; Jane’s, however, indicates that the contract includes “tripod mounts, spare parts and additional barrels.”

Right now, the plan is for the first 60 M2A1 HMGs to be delivered in Brazil in 2019. In 2020, the Brazilian Army will receive the remaining 60 guns. Brazilian machine gunners will receive training on using the M2A1s once they’re delivered.

M2A1 Overview

An updated version of the M2 Ma Deuce, the M2A1 boasts a quick-change barrel; fixed headspace and timing; and a flash hider that reduces the its signature by 95 percent in nighttime situations. Meanwhile, this belt-fed, recoil-operated, crew-served gun weighs in at 84 pounds. It also has a cyclic rate of fire of 450 to 600 rounds per minute, with an effective range of roughly 2,000 yards.

The features and specs on this General Dynamics-produced weapon can be seen below.

M2A1 Features

Fixed headspace and timing: Reduces safety concerns associated with barrel changing
Simplifies warfighter training: Eliminates operator requirement to adjust the headspace and timing
Positive barrel engagement: Ensures the barrel is securely locked and aligned with the patented J-slot barrel retention system
Improved flash hider: Decreases muzzle flash, making the M2 night-vision friendly
Robust, removable barrel handle: Streamlines hot-barrel changing