
M240 Gun Active Recoil (GAR®)
M240 MACHINE GUN |
---|
ROLE |
• General-Purpose Machine Gun |
NATIONAL ORIGIN |
• United States |
MANUFACTURER |
• Fabrique Nationale |
IN SERVICE |
• 1977–present |
PRIMARY USERS |
• United States Armed Forces |
ACME M240 GUN ACTIVE RECOIL SYSTEMS DELIVERED |
• Pathfinder / CAE Montreal (C6 Varient) / Aegis / Kratos |
ACME produces M240 machine gun simulators that give the full-force, full rate of recoil feel of the actual weapon in a full scale gun replica that can be mounted on any aircraft, watercraft or vehicle simulator. Our machine gun simulators use a unique, patented all-electric Gun Active Recoil system within the mounting cradle to provide the recoil. ACME’s gun active recoil is the only weapon training system available anywhere that provides training critical, full force recoil using an electric system. ACME produces unique machine gun weapon training systems that feature full-force, all-electric recoil at full rate of fire. ACME’s weapon training systems combine highly realistic replica (non-weapon) guns, our patented, Gun Active Recoil System (GAR®) weapon cradle, and the electronics to drive it.
The M240, officially Machine Gun, 7.62mm, M240, is the US military designation for the FN MAG (Mitrailleuse d’Appui Général, meaning General Purpose Machine Gun), a family of belt-fed, gas-operated medium machine guns firing the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.

M240 Machine Gun on Vehicle Mount
The M240 has been used by the United States Armed Forces since the late-1970s. It is used extensively by infantry, most often rifle companies; as well as ground vehicles; watercraft; and aircraft. Despite not being the lightest medium machine gun in service, it is highly regarded for reliability, and its standardization among NATO members is also seen as a major advantage.
All variants are fed from disintegrating belts, and are capable of firing most types of 7.62 mm (.308) NATO ammunition. M240 variants can use non-disintegrating belts (following replacement of a few easily swappable parts). There are significant differences in weight and some features among some versions which restrict interchangeability of parts. The M240s used by the US military are currently manufactured by FN Manufacturing, a US-based branch of FN Herstal.
The M240B and M240G are usually fired from an integrated bipod, a vehicular mount, an M192 tripod that is mostly used by the U.S. Army; and the M122 tripod (a slightly updated M2 tripod) that is mostly used by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Standard GAR® Simulator Features:
ACME Gun Active Recoil Simulators offers many standard base features for your Gun solutions.
- Realistically replicates recoil motion, frequency, and intensity
- Adaptable to ANY small arms weapon or trainer
- Works directly with the existing weapon system trainer/simulator firing signals
- Electric motors eliminates expensive blank rounds and maintenance intensive pneumatic systems
- Variable intensity to fine tune recoil
- Easy access to system components for maintenance and tuning
- Ruggedized systems available to adapt actual weapons for field use
- Actual Handles and Triggers
- 120VAC 15A Wall Power or 12/24VDC from Vehicles
Available GAR® Simulator Ancillary System Options:
ACME can provide ancillary systems to expand the base features for your advanced Gun solutions.
- Laser Illumination/Targeting – The weapon supports laser mounted targeting for visual tracking of weapon aim points and student understanding of recoil compensation.
- Windloading System – Puts variable resistance on the gun based on simulated air speed and the weapon’s angle of attack to the air stream (for helicopter door gunner sims).
- Ammunition Countdown System – Ensures that trainees cannot spray bullets without regard for realistic limits.
- Ammunition Belted System – The GAR™ can cycle ammunition belts through the gun for added training and realism.
- Visual Muzzle Flash System – The GAR™ can have lighted muzzle flash physically added for cueing, training and realism. Visibile or IR spectrum.
- Gun Mount Systems – Your GAR™ can be fitted to cover any standard Military Gun Mount; Mk64, Mk93, Mk97, etc.
- Gun Use Sensor Systems – Your GAR™ can have various sensors integrated for Student Monitored Inputs such as:
- Proper Charge Position and Use
- Ammunition Change-Out Actions
- Azimuth and Elevation Mount Sensors
Malfunctions Options:
Since the weapon responds to external firing signals, we can support a wide range of malfunctions.
- Runaway – The weapon continues to fire even when the trigger is released. Standard response to run away is to keep the weapon pointed to safe location and perhaps break the ammunition belt to limit the rounds available for runaway.
- Round Cookoff – When the gun is hot, ammunition can self-fire. The gun could replicate this by erratic, sudden, or unintended recoil regardless of trigger position.
- Misfire – The weapon can fail to fire for one or multiple cycles. Response to this might be to cycle the charge handle to jack the offending round from the breach.
- Equipment Jams – The weapon can stop firing even with ammunition present. Response might be lift the top cover, remove the belt, cycle charge handle, reset ammo, and recharge the weapon.
- Firing Degradation – When the weapon gets hot and dirty, the rate of fire can significantly slow and the number of jams/misfires increases significantly. Defective ammunition is also another potential cause and these have different training responses for the gunner