FN美国公司周一在美国陆军协会年会上推出了M240机枪的新升级套件，为士兵提供了一种在传统平台上安装现代光学瞄准具的方式。
FN America introduced a new upgrade kit for the M240 machine gun on Monday at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army, giving soldiers a way to mount modern optics on the legacy platform.
在新闻稿中，FN工业化武器部门主管达里尔·阿特金斯表示，M240战术长导轨升级套件将使军事组织能够继续“利用该武器经过验证的性能，同时使其符合当今作战需求。”
In a press release, Daryl Atkins, FN’s director for industrialized weapons, said the M240 Tactical Long Rail Upgrade Kit will allow military organizations to continue “taking advantage of the weapon’s proven performance while making it relevant for today’s combat requirements.”
根据公司介绍，该套件保留了武器的原始操作系统，可安装在新枪上，也可用于升级现有武器。套件包括：一根11英寸的一体式皮卡汀尼顶部导轨，可容纳夜视和热成像光学瞄准具，以及其他部件；FN侧点击式弹匣盖，旨在使单手操作更加便利；FN自动锁定弹匣盖固定系统，在装弹、卸弹和清洁过程中保持弹匣盖打开；一根长而带关节的搬运手柄，旨在容纳全尺寸光学瞄准具；一个可调节的枪托，使士兵能够调整拉距和腮帮高度，或为存储而折叠枪托。
According to the company, the kit preserves the weapon’s original operating system and can be installed on new guns or used to upgrade existing weapons. The kit includes: An 11-inch monolithic Picatinny top rail to accommodate night-vision and thermal optics, along with other components; An FN Side-Click feed cover designed to make one-handed operation easier; An FN Auto-Lock feed cover retention system that holds the cover open during loading, unloading and cleaning; A long, articulated carrying handle designed to accommodate full-size optics; An adjustable buttstock that allows soldiers to change the length of pull and cheek height or fold the stock for storage.
“通过此升级套件，现代作战人员可以实现更快的目标获取、更一致的射手适配度以及更好的光学瞄准具管理，而军事组织则可以延长当前装备平台的价值和相关性，”阿特金斯说。
“With this upgrade kit, modern warfighters can achieve faster target acquisition, more consistent shooter fit and better management of optics, while military organizations can extend the value and relevance of currently fielded platforms,” Atkins said.
FN是一家比利时枪械制造商，在弗吉尼亚州和南卡罗来纳州设有业务，自7.62毫米M240机枪于1977年投入使用以来，已为美国军方生产超过10万挺。
FN, the Belgian firearms manufacturer with operations in Virginia and South Carolina, has produced more than 100,000 M240 machine guns for the U.S. military since the 7.62mm weapon entered service in 1977.
然而，去年陆军通过预算文件透露，正在投资36亿美元用于一个名为“未来中型机枪”（Future Medium Machine Gun，简称FMMG）的项目，以取代该传统系统。
However, last year the Army revealed through budget documents that it was investing $3.6 billion in a project, dubbed the Future Medium Machine Gun, or FMMG, to replace the legacy system.
陆军和海军陆战队也在各自推进小队级武器现代化的独立工作。陆军已开始装备M7和M8步枪，并配备M250自动步枪；海军陆战队则采用M27步兵自动步枪作为其标准步兵自动武器。
The Army and Marine Corps are also pursuing separate efforts to modernize their squad-level weapons. The Army has begun fielding its M7 and M8 rifles along with the M250 automatic rifle while the Marine Corps has adopted the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle as its standard infantry automatic weapon.