FN Minimi
FN Minimi
Type	Light machine gun
Place of origin	Belgium
Service history
Used by	See Users
Production history
Manufacturer	FN Herstal
Variants	M249 Squad Automatic Weapon
Specifications
Weight	7.1 kg
Length	1,038 mm (41 in) Para: 914 mm (stock extended), 766 mm (retracted)
Barrel length	465 mm (18 in) Para: 349 mm
Cartridge	5.56 x 45 mm NATO (STANAG 4172), 7.62×51 NATO
Action	Gas-operated, open bolt
Rate of fire	725 round/min with linked belt
Effective range	1,000 m Para: 800 m
Feed system	200-round M27 disintegrating belts 100 or 200-round reusable soft packs 100-round Beta C-Mag 30-round STANAG magazines

The FN Minimi is a squad automatic weapon — the name coming from Mini-mitrailleuse (French: "mini-machine gun". It is a 5.56 x 45 mm NATO light machine gun manufactured by the Belgian arms manfuacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) and its subsidiaries. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2507x1064, 798 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): FN Minimi Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, one of the most popular modern 5. ... Fabrique Nationale de Herstal, more often known as Fabrique Nationale and abbreviated simply as FN or FN Herstal originated in the Belgian city of Herstal, near Liège. ... The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (M249 SAW) is the United States military designation for a sub-family of the FN Minimi squad automatic weapon (from Mini-mitrailleuse French: mini-machine gun. Both are 5. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... U.S. Military 5. ... STANAG is the NATO abbreviation for Standardization Agreement, which set up processes, procedures, terms and conditions for common military or technical procedures between the member countries of the alliance. ... NATO 7. ... In firearms terminology, an action is the system of operation that the firearm employs to seal the breech (in a breech-loading firearm), and to load consecutive rounds. ... The gas-operated system for implementing automatic reloading of a firearm is one of five such systems, the others being recoil-operated, gatling, chain, and blowback. ... A semi or fully-automatic firearm which is said to fire from an open bolt is one where, when ready to fire, the bolt and working parts are held to the rear. ... Rate of fire is the speed at which a specific firearm or artillery piece can ]] per minute (RPM or round/min), or rounds per second Note that heat and ammunition concerns mean that most automatic weapons are unlikely ever to sustain their cyclic rate of fire for a full minute... The Beta C-Mag is a 100-round capacity magazine designed for assault rifles and submachine guns firing the 5. ... A squad automatic weapon (SAW) is a light or general-purpose machine gun, usually equipped with a bipod and firing a 7. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... U.S. Military 5. ... The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, one of the most popular modern 5. ... Fabrique Nationale de Herstal, more often known as Fabrique Nationale and abbreviated simply as FN or FN Herstal originated in the Belgian city of Herstal, near Liège. ...

The Minimi was the winner of a competition carried out by the U.S. military in the late 1970s–early 1980s for a new squad automatic weapon and adopted as the US M249, which is made by FNH USA, the American subsidiary of FN. Since then, the Minimi has been adopted by many other countries, especially among NATO members. The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (M249 SAW) is the United States military designation for a sub-family of the FN Minimi squad automatic weapon (from Mini-mitrailleuse French: mini-machine gun. Both are 5. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ...

The Minimi was one of many firearms that came about as a result NATO's adoption of a new smaller round replacing the previous standard 7.62 mm. The winner of the trials was the Belgian cartridge, the SS109, which was developed for use with the Minimi.

Minimi (and M249) usage

NATO

Belgium

• (Minimi): the Belgian Army and Belgian Air Force regular troops use the standard Minimi (M1). Paracommando troops use the para Minimi (M3).

Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... Flag of Belgium The Belgian Army forms the land component of the Belgian Armed Forces. ... Ensign of the Belgian Air Force // Early Years The Belgian Air Force was founded in 1909 as a branch of the Belgian Army. ...

Canada

Canadian Forces C9A1

• (C9): the original Canadian Forces C9 is a standard factory Minimi with a steel tubular stock. The C9A1 comes fitted with a Picatinny rail on the feed cover and a 3.4x Elcan C79 Optical Sight. The C9A2 mid-life upgrade introduces a shorter barrel, camo green components, cloth ammo boxes (replacing plastic magazines), an M4 Carbine-style collapsible stock, a folding pistol foregrip, and a standard-issue laser aiming module/device (LAM/LAD). Two C9s are carried by each infantry section.

A Minimi operator in the 93rd Marine Artillery Regiment of the French Army

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Canadian Forces (French: Forces canadiennes), abbreviated as CF (French: FC), are the combined armed forces of Canada. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada_(bordered). ... The Canadian Forces (French: Forces canadiennes), abbreviated as CF (French: FC), are the combined armed forces of Canada. ... A stock or buttstock is present in many firearms and some crossbows to transfer the recoil from firing the weapon into the shooters shoulder. ... Elcan is a Canadian optics company owned by Raytheon. ... The M4 Carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 made by ArmaLite. ... For other uses, see Laser (disambiguation). ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Image File history File links Minimi operated by 93th marine artillery regiment of the French Army source photo by adjutant Deschamps (93th marine artillery regiment) This work is copyrighted. ... Image File history File links Minimi operated by 93th marine artillery regiment of the French Army source photo by adjutant Deschamps (93th marine artillery regiment) This work is copyrighted. ... The French Army (French: Armée de Terre) is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces. ...

France

• (Minimi): the Minimi is widely used by the French Armée de Terre. It replaced the AAT-F1 GPMG.

Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... The French Army (French: Armée de Terre) is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces. ... The AA-52 (Arme Automatique Transformable Modèle 1952, Transformable automatic weapon model 1952) is one of the first French produced guns of the post World War II era. ...

Greece

• (Minimi): the Minimi is widely used by the Hellenic Army. It is mostly used by Special Forces Units.

Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... The Hellenic Army (Greek: Ελληνικός Στρατός) is the land force of Greece (The Hellenic Republic). ...

Italy

• (Minimi): the Minimi is made under license by Beretta, which has a partnership with FN, and is employed by all the Italian Armed Forces, replacing in the squad automatic weapon role the MG-42/59 (post-WW2 improved MG-42, which however still sees widespread mounted use). The Minimi is being widely employed by Italian forces in current international theatres of operation (Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq).

Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Logo of Pietro Beretta This article is about a firearm manufacturer; for the car, see Chevrolet Beretta. ... The Maschinengewehr 1942, or MG42, is a German machine gun, first manufactured in 1942 as the successor to the MG34. ...

Netherlands

• (Minimi): the Royal Netherlands Army has brought in the para version of the Minimi to replace the FN MAG in some infantry roles. The MAG is still being used as a GPMG and support fire weapon and as a vehicle-mounted weapon.

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... The Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht) is the land forces element of the Military of the Netherlands. ... The FN MAG is a machine gun manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN), Belgium. ... The general purpose machine gun (GPMG) is a compromise weapon, capable of doing the tasks of a light machine gun, a medium machine gun and a heavy machine gun, but none as well as a specialised weapon. ...

Norway

• (M249): used by Coastal Rangers and Army Ranger Command.

Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Combatboat 90 The Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command (Kystjegerkommandoen) was created when it became clear that the coastal fortresses had to be abandoned due to their vulnerability to modern precision guided weapons. ...

Slovenia

• (Minimi)

Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovenia_(bordered). ...

United Kingdom

• (L108A1 [SAW]/L110A1 [Para]): the British Army equips each four-man fireteam (2 per section) with the current variant of the Minimi Para. The L110A1 has essentially replaced the LSW in the British Army as a light section support or fire support weapon and is now used in that role, as well as that of a light machine gun. The L110A1 is often fitted with a SUSAT (Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux) 4x optical sight.

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... A fireteam is a small military unit of infantry. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The SUSAT L9A1 SUSAT is an acronym for Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux and is a 4x optical sight with tritium-powered illumination for night sighting. ...

United States

• M249: the M249 was officially adopted on 1 February 1982. However, official distribution was delayed until the late 1980s. In the U.S. Marine Corps, the SAW is usually carried at the fireteam level; one member of a three to five-man team carries this weapon. The SAW is also standard issue for a four to five-man amphibious reconnaissance team.

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Caliber: 5. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Football team sometimes know as Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military, within the United States Department of the Navy responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ...

Non-NATO

An Australian paratrooper equipped with a Minimi Para during an exercise in 2005.

• Argentina (M249): the Argentine Marine Corps uses the M249 SAW in all of its combat arms (e.g. Infantry, Artillery, Recce) units. These guns were acquired as part of the Marine Corps' modernisation programme of the mid to late 1990s.

• Australia (F89): the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Navy , and the Royal Australian Air Force use a locally built (ADI) version of the FN light machine gun. It is essentially the same, but fitted with a Picatinny rail and the same 1.5x magnification optical sight as used on the F88 rifle. It also has a longer flash suppressor (same type as the FN MAG 58) than the standard Minimi. There is no heat shield and the carrying handle is fixed, not folding. Each F89 comes with two live barrels and one blank-firing barrel. The gunner will normally carry the spare barrel in the field. Two F89s are carried in each nine-man infantry section. Small numbers of the Minimi Para are used by Australian paratroopers and special forces.

• Brazil (Minimi): the Fuzileiros Navais (Brazilian marines) adopt in mid-90's the Minimi as support weapon of platoon-sized unit.

• Chile (Minimi): the Chilean Army and Infantria de Marinas have used the Minimi since the 1990s

• East Timor (Minimi): the Minimi was recently adopted by the East Timorese military.

• Indonesia (Minimi): the TNI-AD and their Komar (Marine Corps) have recently fielded Minimi machine guns.

• Israel (Minimi): the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Limited numbers of Minimis were purchased in the early 1990s and saw combat in south Lebanon. The Minimi performed well and built itself a reputation, but in 1995 it was decided to purchase the IMI Negev, an Israeli manufactured 5.56 mm light machine gun, which fitted more into Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) requirements.

• Japan (M249): the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces replaced the Type 62 machine gun with the Minimi. It is manufactured under licence by Sumitomo Heavy Industries.

• Malaysia (Minimi): known to be in service with all Special Forces.

• Mexico (M249 and Minimi): the Mexican Army and Navy uses the M249 and Minimi machine guns, while the Grupo Aeromovil de Fuerzas Especiales and Fuerzas Especiales uses them as well.

• Morocco (Minimi): known to be in service with the Royal Moroccan Army (Moroccan SFOR contingent as well).

• Nepal (Minimi): the Nepalese Army uses 5,500 Minimi machine guns. The weapon delivery was endorsed on July 11, 2002 by the Belgian government.

• New Zealand (C9): the New Zealand Defence Force (Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force and New Zealand Army) uses the Minimi under the designation C9.

• Philippines (M249): in use by the Philippine Army and Marines. Acquisition of the M249 LMGs for use in the Philippine military were subject of a controversy due to allegations that AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) officials wanted to use them over the Daewoo K3 and the Ultimax 100 Mark 3 LMGs.

• Sri Lanka (M249)

• Sweden (Ksp 90): the Swedish Armed Forces use the Minimi machine gun.

• Taiwan (Type 75): the Taiwanese army field the Minimi under license as the Combined Service Forces (CSF) Type 75, formerly done under Hsing-Hua Arsenal.

• Thailand (M249 and Minimi): the Royal Thai Army use the Minimi machine gun replace M-16A1 with bipod.

• Venezuela (Minimi): the Venezuelan army has employed the weapon since the 1990s.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x908, 407 KB) Summary Australian Department of Defence Photo JPAU19SEP04JO258 Sourced from: http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x908, 407 KB) Summary Australian Department of Defence Photo JPAU19SEP04JO258 Sourced from: http://www. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... The Navy of the Argentine Republic (Armada de la República Argentina, ARA) is the navy of Argentina. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Australia. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... Australian Defence Industries (ADI) is the primary defence contractor for the Australian Defence Force. ... M4A Modular Weapons System carbine with M1913 rails on receiver and foregrip Picatinny Rail Dimensions, Cross Section The Picatinny rail is a bracket used on some firearms in order to provide a standardized mounting platform for scopes and other accessories such as tactical lights and laser sighting modules. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The FN MAG is a machine gun manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN), Belgium. ... An American Paratrooper using a MC1-B series parachute Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force. ... Special forces or special operations forces is a term used to describe relatively small military units raised and trained for reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and special operations. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile_(bordered). ... The Chilean Army (Ejército de Chile in Spanish) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_East_Timor. ... Military of East Timor from the CIA World Factbook 2002 // Military branches The Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste (Tetum: Forcas Defensa Timor Lorosae English: Timor Leste Defense Force) or FALINTIL-FDTL (often F-FDTL) comprises an Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are to develop a... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia_(bordered). ... Indonesias armed forces (Indonesian: Tentara Nasional Indonesia, abbreviated as TNI, formerly Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia, abbreviated as ABRI) total about 361,823 members, including the Army (TNI-AD), Navy(including marines), and Air Force. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel_(bordered). ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces... The IMI Negev is a light-weight, 5. ... The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan_(bordered). ... The Japan Self-Defense Forces (Japanese: 自衛隊, Jieitai) or JSDF, are the military forces in Japan that were established after the end of World War II. The force has been engaged in no real combat but has been engaged in some international peacekeeping operations. ... ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... The Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces or FES) is special operations unit of the Mexican Navy, and was oficially established in late 2001. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Morocco. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nepal. ... The Nepalese Army is the army of Nepal and a major component of the Military of Nepal. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three branches: the New Zealand Army; the Royal New Zealand Navy; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. ... HMNZS Te Mana The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is the navy of New Zealand. ... The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is the air force arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. ... Ngāti Tumatauenga or New Zealand Army is the land armed force of the New Zealand military and comprises around 4,500 regular personnel and 2,500 non-regulars and civilians. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... Seal of the Philippine Army Seal of the Philippine Navy Seal of the Philippine Air Force Seal of the Philippine Marine Corps The Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP (Filipino: Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) originated in the establishment of the Philippine Scouts in 1901. ... The Daewoo K3 Light Machine Gun was the third indigenous firearm developed in South Korea, following the K1A and K2. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sri_Lanka. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... The Swedish Armed Forces, or Försvarsmakten, is a Government agency responsible for the peacetime operation of the armed forces of Sweden. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... The Republic of China Army (中華民國陸軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó LùjÅ«n) is the largest of the military branches of the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Thailand. ... Royal Thai army soldier with an M16A2 rifle during maneuvers in 2000 The Royal Thai Army is the army of Thailand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Venezuela. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

FN Minimi variants designations

See also

• CETME Ameli
• Heckler & Koch MG4
• Light machine gun
• Machine gun
• Mini-Me

CETME Ameli, a Spanish squad automatic weapon which though aesthetically similar to a scaled down MG3 its mechanisms are wholly different. ... The MG4 is a belt-fed 5. ... The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, one of the most popular modern 5. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... Mini Me is a character from the Austin Powers movies. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Minimi

• U.S. Army M249 Fact File
• FN USA Webpage
• Official FN Herstal Minimi page
• Modern Firearms — FN Minimi
• RFP for new U.S. LMG
• Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide (FILM) FN M249 SAW Presentation (.MPEG)