FN EXTENDS .50 CAL PINTLE WEAPON SYSTEM PRODUCT LIFE PLUS REDUCES MAINTENANCE WITH LAUNCH OF FN® M3M ENDURANCE
Herstal, Belgium – 09 October 2026
FN – the iconic brand of FN Browning Group’s Defence & Security division, which includes FN Herstal, FN UK and FN America – is proud to introduce the FN® M3M ENDURANCE, the latest in the international series of M3 .50 caliber machine guns. FN has taken the most powerful, combat-proven .50 calibre weapon system and increased its service life by 50% while also extending maintenance intervals by three times, all while retaining its worldwide-recognized high firing rate for maximized hit probability.
Backed by over 135 years of empowering those who serve, defend and protect us with the most dependable defense and security solutions, the FN M3M ENDURANCE is part of a cutting-edge, fully integrated pintle system designed to counter current and emerging threats, including C-UAS. The globally warrantied system includes not only weapons, but also ammunition, mounts, ILS support services, operator training and accessories such as the FN ELITY® LITE laser range finder and IR laser pointer/illuminator, plus the FN SMARTCORE® shot counter for maintenance tracking and optimization.
Fully integrated and qualified by FN, the FN M3M ENDURANCE is the next generation .50 caliber machine gun, still delivering a high rate of fire of 1,100 RPM and specifically designed for seamless integration onto new or in-service FN crew-served weapon systems across air, land, sea and ground-based platforms. It is the answer to users who want to reduce maintenance workloads and increase machine gun operational availability.
Complete FN pintle weapon system featuring FN M3M ENDURANCE
“Our goal was to create a cutting-edge, fully integrated system delivering ultra-high firepower with extended service life and low maintenance requirements. It addresses key customer challenges in airborne applications, where the FN M3 is widely used, as well as in land and naval applications, where maintenance requirements differ from the airborne sector,” said Rudi Collin, Vice President of Integrated Weapon Systems at FN. “With this state-of-the-art innovation, we are proud to provide warfighters with the most advanced .50 caliber machine gun available on a pintle mount, backed by an undisputed expertise and a comprehensive warranty for the entire pintle system.”
Design Differently
FN expertise in pintle weapon systems has been recognized for decades. In the late 1970s, the company – already a global leader in the design and development of small calibre firearms and ammunition – began to integrate its unequalled machine guns into pintles for use on a wide range of air, land and sea vehicles. The FN M3M ENDURANCE takes this approach to new levels, improving both in-service time and ease of maintenance. In addition, it can also be mounted on a ground-based pedestal and used for perimeter defence and C-UAS missions.
Building on the only proven open-bolt .50 calibre FN M3 machine gun platform in service worldwide, the FN M3M ENDURANCE increases lifetime from 40,000 to 60,000 rounds while extending preventive maintenance intervals from 5,000 to 15,000 rounds.
With its high firing rate and exceptional firepower, the new FN M3M ENDURANCE delivers an overall lower cost of ownership by providing:
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Longer weapon service life with an operational lifetime increase of 50%.
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Less armourer workload and greater weapon availability, as maintenance interventions can be reduced by a factor of three.
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Reduced logistics as fewer maintenance kits and spare parts need to be stocked, managed and deployed.
The FN M3M ENDURANCE is a fully automatic .50 calibre machine gun designed to fire Ball, Tracer, AP, API, APIT and APEI ammunition. With full control in any firing position, the open-bolt weapon has an effective range of 2,500 meters and a maximum range of 6,500 meters, plus can be fed from the left or right side. The system is also fully mechanical and autonomous from the carrier’s power, with no electrical power required for operation, ensuring continued weapon availability even in the event of an electrical power failure, loss of power, or electrical-system limitation on the carrier. Additionally, the system offers outstanding balance and accuracy, along with crew safety and performance reliability.
New FN M3M ENDURANCE .50 calibre machine gun, featuring optional FN ELITY® LITE laser range finder and IR laser pointer/illuminator, along with optional FN SMARTCORE® shot counter
FN pintles are engineered and manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001 and AS/EN 9100-certified quality systems and Nadcap-certified processes and qualified for use across a broad range of military aircraft, land vehicles and naval platforms, delivering proven performance, reliability and confidence mission-critical applications demand.
The new FN M3M ENDURANCE, along with a wide range of other FN innovations and solutions, will be on display in the FN booth (Hall 6, Stand F44) at EURONAVAL in Paris, 3-6 November.
More information on the FN® M3M ENDURANCE.
Most armor does one job. This panel does six. Wear it alone, behind a rifle plate, or as padding on a riot line or in the saddle. Keep it in your carrier until you need plates, or slip it into a bag. And it floats. All at 231 grams,” said Ganor.
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