British infantry – believed to include Royal Marines – are to be equipped with a weapon described by Defence Procurement Minister Lord Bach as “one of the most effective light machine guns in the world.”

The belt-driven 5.56mm FN Herstal Minimi will be used alongside the battle-proven SA80 A2 automatic rifle in what the minister said will be a dramatic boost to infantry firepower.

The Minimi has already proved itself in the Iraq conflict, as it was rushed into service as an ‘Urgent Operational Requirement’.

This follows an exhaustive series of trials between four rival guns where they were tested in the most challenging conditions, from the deserts of Arizona and the jungles of Brunei to Arctic Canada.

The Minimi is already in service with American, Canadian and Australian units, and saw action in Iraq with 3 Commando Brigade, 7th Armoured Brigade and 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Weighing only seven kilograms, the one-man portable machine gun can fire 750 rounds per minute, from a standing, kneeling or prone position.

Lord Bach said: “The SA80 is an extremely accurate weapon against longer-range targets and, in its improved A2 version, has now proved itself in battle in Iraq.

“But one of the lessons learned from the Kosovo campaign was the need for an additional lightweight weapon that can provide a high rate of suppressing firepower.

“Punishing trials have been carried out to find the weapon that best suited our infantry – light enough for one man to carry, reliable in all sorts of conditions, yet able to lay down a high rate of fire over sustained periods.

“The weapon is needed to help our troops win the initial infantry firefight, to make sure the other side gives way so that our troops can achieve their objectives.”
A contract worth about £7.5 million is expected to be placed this summer with the preferred supplier of the Minimi, FN Herstal.