SAF equips active combat & combat support units with new light machine gun

Come end-July, all active combat and combat support units in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be equipped with the new Light Machine Gun (LMG).

The Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) 6940E-SG replaces the Ultimax 100 Section Automatic Weapon (SAW), which was produced by ST Engineering and has been in service since 1982.

While the SAW has served the Singapore Army well over the last 42 years, a more versatile weapon was necessary to keep the force’s fighting edge amid today’s evolving warfighting landscapes, said Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Chan Wen Kai, Head Plans in Headquarters 9th Singapore Division/Infantry.

“We need to find a weapon that can better suit the conventional and urban terrain, and will minimise collateral damage (while) in the urban terrain,” said the 42-year-old.

“That’s why we embarked on the journey in 2021 to look for a new machine gun that can do both jobs.” 

Versatile warfighter

Unlike the SAW, the LMG can fire both single rounds in semi-automatic mode, and multiple rounds in fully automatic mode.

This means that it can deliver suppressive firepower in conventional warfare, and targeted shots that will minimise collateral damage in the urban domain.

A new sighting system – featuring a parallax error-free red dot sight and 3x magnifier scope – helps soldiers to zero in on targets at a distance of up to 600m, a step up from the SAW’s range of 460m.

The multi-purpose laser aiming device (LAD) comes in four modes: visible laser, infrared laser, infrared illuminator torch and white light torch.

These different modes allow soldiers to fight more effectively in various combat scenarios in both day and night.

Customisable for different combat environments

The LMG’s Picatinny Rail, which is a mount for firearm accessories, allows new modules to be attached to the weapon.

This means that technologies and accessories can be easily added on in the future to address new challenges and trends, said LTC Chan.

The weapon also features a retractable buttstock. When retracted, the LMG is only 85cm long (17 per cent shorter than the SAW).

When fighting in the tight confines of an urban environment, the shorter length makes the weapon much more manoeuvrable and its users more nimble.

At the same time, soldiers can move with greater ease while carrying the weapon – whether it’s running, clearing obstacles or getting on and off vehicles.

“We conducted trials in different operational settings. At the same time, we looked into human factors like engineering design, to ensure that our weapons would meet our different needs and movements and obstacles,” LTC Chan explained.

Configured to suit any soldier

Left-handed soldiers sometimes have more difficulties operating weapons that are built for right-handed uses. With the new LMG, this challenge is removed as the fire mode selector and magazine release catch are accessible from both sides.

They can also adjust the position of the foregrip and length of the buttstock, giving them more stability when firing.

The 6940E-SG variant of the Colt IAR was further customised to suit the Singapore Army’s requirements, said Ms Elizabeth Tan, a Programme Manager in the Defence Science and Technology Agency’s (DSTA’s) Systems Management Programme Centre.

“My team worked closely with the Army to understand their operational needs, and conducted market surveys on the available options that could meet these key requirements."

"We had to consider the ergonomics (of the weapon) and ensure optimum performance of the weapon for our soldiers. We customised the charging handle to be ambidextrous and added accessories like vertical foregrip and bipod. These accessories were selected during the firing trials,” said Ms Tan.

The 32-year-old was part of the team that worked closely with the Army to learn their operational needs and conduct market surveys to source for the best firearm option to replace the SAW.

Positive user feedback

Soldiers who will be equipped with the LMG are currently undergoing qualification training to prepare them to operate the new weapon.

And so far, feedback on the new LMG has been positive, said Master Sergeant (MSG) Mohamed Nazhan Bin Alkamah. The 26-year-old is a senior trainer in the Infantry Training Institute.

“The common feedback is that the weapon is very accurate and the ergonomics suit their comfort. In a way, it makes training faster as they can pick up the (necessary) skills faster.” 

How well did a noob like Benita do when she tries out the new LMG? Watch to find out!