FN M3M ENDURANCE®
Proven Performance. Less Maintenance. Longer Life.
FN has taken the most powerful, combat-proven M3 .50 calibre weapon system to design and develop the next-generation FN® M3M ENDURANCE, specifically engineered for seamless integration onto new or in-service FN crew-served weapon systems across air, land, sea, and ground-based pedestals.
The FN® M3M ENDURANCE increases lifetime by 50% from 40,000 to 60,000 rounds while extending preventive maintenance intervals by three times from 5,000 to 15,000 rounds. It retains the exceptional firepower and high firing rate that characterise the FN® M3 family, widely in service in many NATO and allied countries.
Key benefits
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PROVEN PERFORMANCE
- Worldwide combat-tested open-bolt
firing system - Maximised hit probability
- Worldwide combat-tested open-bolt
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OUTSTANDING RELIABILITY
- Extended service life (up to 60,000
rounds) - Open-bolt firing system (no cook-off risk)
- Fully mechanical design, autonomous from the carrier’s electrical power supply
- Extended service life (up to 60,000
-
INCREASED WEAPON AVAILABILITY
- Drastically improved maintenance
intervals (every 15,000 rounds) - Less armourer workload
- Reduced logistics
- Drastically improved maintenance
A comprehensive solution
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WEAPON
- .50 cal FN® M3M ENDURANCE
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FN® MOUNTS AND INTEGRATIONS
- Airborne pintles
- Land & Sea pintles
- Ground-based pedestals
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AMMUNITION
- A wide range of .50 cal ammunition
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360-DEGREE EXPERIENCE
- Armourer and operator training
- Integrated Logistics Support (e.g., spare parts, tools)
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ACCESSORIES
- A wide range of certified accessories is available, e.g.,
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Faqs
How has the FN® M3M ENDURANCE been improved over the legacy FN® M3M/GAU-21 (NAVAIR designation)?
Several design enhancements have been introduced to reduce maintenance requirements and extend service life, while retaining all the benefits of the combat-proven legacy FN® M3M. These enhancements address key customer challenges in airborne applications, where the FN® M3M is widely used, as well as in land and naval applications, where maintenance requirements differ from those of the airborne sector.
What applications is the FN® M3M ENDURANCE designed for?
The FN® M3M ENDURANCE can be integrated onto new or in-service air, land and sea platforms using FN pintles, including ground-based pedestals, provided sufficient space is available for a .50 cal weapon system. FN pintles already deployed with the legacy FN® M3M can also accommodate the new FN® M3M ENDURANCE.
Can a legacy FN® M3M be upgraded to the FN® M3M ENDURANCE configuration?
No.
Does the FN® M3M ENDURANCE have a QCB barrel?
No. The FN® M3M ENDURANCE is not designed to accept a quick-change barrel (QCB).
Who can carry out maintenance operations on the FN® M3M ENDURANCE?
Basic maintenance operations can be performed by users and operators, while in-depth maintenance tasks must be carried out by armourers. Full maintenance instructions are provided in the Operator and Maintenance Manual supplied with each FN® M3M ENDURANCE.
FN also provides training for operators and armourers, either at its own facilities or at customer sites worldwide.
What features and benefits does the FN® M3M ENDURANCE offer over other .50-calibre heavy machine guns and rotary cannons?
- Fully mechanical operation, requiring no electrical power from the carrier
- Open-bolt design (no cook-off risk)
- High rate of fire (1,100 ± 100 RPM)
- Optimised weight
- Easy integration onto carriers
- High accuracy thanks to its single-barrel design
- Reduced logistics requirements and armourer workload
What types of ammunition can the fully-automatic FN® M3M ENDURANCE fire?
The FN® M3M ENDURANCE can fire a wide range of .50 cal cartridges: Ball, Tracer, AP, API, APIT and APEI. FN draws on its long-standing expertise in the design and manufacture of small calibre military ammunition to supply premium-quality cartridges.
Does the FN® M3M ENDURANCE accept optics?
Not directly. The weapon itself does not feature a Picatinny rail; optics must instead be mounted on the Picatinny rails fitted to FN® pintle heads.
What add-ons can be proposed with the FN® M3M ENDURANCE?
FN proposes a range of optional high-tech systems, including the FN® ELITY LITE laser range finder and IR laser pointer/illuminator, as well as third-party sighting solutions. These systems can be mounted on the pintle’s Picatinny rails to enhance targeting capabilities. The FN® M3M ENDURANCE can also be fitted with an optional FN SMARTCORE® shot counter to support maintenance tracking and optimisation.
