Afghanistan requests US weapons
The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale (FMS) for individual and crew served weapons, equipment, training, and support to Afghanistan at a cost of $60 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 18 August.
Afghanistan has requested 4,891 M16A4 5.56mm rifles; 485 M240B 7.62mm machine guns; and 800 M2 .50 calibre machine guns. The request also includes M3 tripod machine gun mounts; MK-93 40mm machine gun mounts; MK-19 40mm grenade launchers; M110 7.62mm sniper rifles; and M249 light automatic machine guns.
Spares, training and support equipment and services are also included in the request.
The Afghanistan National Army (ANA) will use the equipment and weapons in ongoing offensive and defensive counter-insurgency operations.
Is the sale goes ahead FN America will be the principal contractor for the M240B machine guns. The principal contractors for M2, M16A4 and other weapons will be determined in open competitions.
While equipment for the ANA is typically purchased with Title 10 Afghanistan Security Forces Fund appropriations and implemented by DSCA through pseudo-FMS cases, Afghanistan will use US government grants to fund and support this proposed purchase.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Lithuanian 1st Division to achieve initial operating capability in 2026]()
Lithuanian 1st Division to achieve initial operating capability in 2026
Lithuania is one of the countries stepping up its defences in the face of the war in Ukraine with a particular focus on its neighbour and Russian ally Belarus, which has been making incursions into Lithuania’s airspace with balloons and drones.
-
![Medium knocked out of British Army LMP, with CAVS as heavyweight champion]()
Medium knocked out of British Army LMP, with CAVS as heavyweight champion
As the British Army seeks to modernise and consolidate its diverse vehicle fleet, yet another change in direction is underway.
-
![Energy evolution: How laser defence systems are powering the next phase of air defence (podcast)]()
Energy evolution: How laser defence systems are powering the next phase of air defence (podcast)
Laser-based air defence is moving from promise to deployment as global threats evolve. In this special podcast, we explore how high-energy laser systems are reshaping interception strategies.
