M249

The M249 light machine gun (LMG), formerly designated the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and formally written as Light Machine Gun, 5.56 mm, M249.The M249 is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "Squad Assault Weapon".M249s have seen action in every major conflict involving the United States since the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989.Due to the weight and age of the weapon, the United States Marine Corps is fielding the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle with plans to partially replace the M249 in Marine Corps service.