Canada accelerates uncrewed aerial system procurement for NATO and Arctic forces
Canada plans to acquire at least 120 uncrewed aerial systems through two competitions with combined funding ceilings of C$32 million.
US infantryman fires a burst from an M240. (Photo: US Army/Pfc Jessica Scott)
Sole bidder FN America is to provide US troops with an undisclosed number of FN MAG M240 series 7.62mm machine gun variants and spare receivers, under a $92.1 million deal from US Army Contracting Command.
Work will be completed by June 2026, the DoD announced on 8 June.
FN America (the US subsidiary of Belgium-based FN Herstal) has manufactured nine variants of the M240 for the US armed forces.
The company also makes M249 Squad Automatic Weapon machine guns for the US Army, with the latest manufacturing contract due to expire in September 2025.
Canada plans to acquire at least 120 uncrewed aerial systems through two competitions with combined funding ceilings of C$32 million.
New counter-drone technologies, autonomous launchers and manufacturing modernisation initiatives highlighted emerging opportunities for defence suppliers, while the UK advanced a major military vehicle procurement programme.
Non-US companies are increasingly looking to establish subsidiary and partnerships to access the potential billions of dollars of vehicle and land systems contracts and there has already been some success.
Pearson Engineering has provided equipment and engineering expertise to the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. The British company is now working to deepen engagement with the Ukrainian defence industry, expanding its support for the country’s population and laying the foundations for future technological innovation.
Rather than developing entirely new weapons, defence companies are looking to build on existing weapons and systems to deliver greater capability, control costs and accelerate fielding.
With a production rate of more than 10 million vehicles annually, the US commercial car and vehicle manufacturing base is second only to China. Defence companies are looking at how the vehicles, technology and manufacturing capability can support programmes.