Improvements in battlefield optics have extended the range of the modern battlespace creating a new requirement for a round such as the .338 Norma Magnum, that can deliver increased accuracy and lethality at extended ranges. Additionally, the proliferation of Level III body armour, which cannot be defeated by 7.62mm NATO rounds at extended range, further strengthens the necessity for an extended range direct fire support solution.

The LWMMG offers a distinct advantage in both extended and close-in fighting, eliminating the gap between 7.62mm and .50 calibre weapons. It utilises the highly efficient .338 Norma Magnum cartridge to offer unmatched accuracy and lethality while extending the battlespace out to an impressive 1700 meters. Capable of defeating Level III body armour and incapacitating soft-skinned vehicles at 1000m, the LWMMG’s .338NM round delivers in excess of 1900ft/lb of energy to the target, more than four times that of the 7.62mm NATO round.

With a comparable weight and recoil to the MAG 58 GSMG and yet delivering greatly enhanced lethality on target, the LWMMG offers a considerable increase in combat effectiveness without any reduction in mobility. The patented technology of the Short Recoil Impulse Averaging mechanism substantially reduces recoil and improves target retention during automatic fire.

NIOA exhibited the LWMMG at the recent Land Forces 2018 Expo in Adelaide.

NIOA remains committed to supporting Australia's Defence Forces with next-generation warfighting solutions.