The French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) has selected the MAG machine gun, manufactured by Belgium-based FN Herstal, to replace its existing AN F1 machine guns. The DGA confirmed this decision on 15 December 2010 as a result of an international competition.
The FN MAG machine guns will be mounted on vehicles in service with the French army. Transformation kits will be supplied as part of the contract to enable rapid conversion into dismounted weapons.
The contract includes the manufacture and supply of more than 10,000 MAG machine guns (7.62mm x 51mm NATO calibre) over a period of several years. An order for the first 500 units has already been placed by the DGA for delivery in 2011.