WEAPON-PMCBAC-2025-03 Light Machine Gun 7.62mm with Optics (2025) Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy (Marines)

The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) has raised a requirement for the acquisition of new 7.62mm Light Machine Guns (LMGs) as part of its acquisition for Fiscal Year 2025.

This is part of a multi-year effort to improve the overall firepower delivery capability of the force, as well as replace ageing assets.

With this, the Philippine Marine Corps, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invited manufacturers and suppliers to submit a bid for the Light Machine Gun 7.62mm with Optics Acquisition Project (2025).

The MG-M1 7.62mm LMG from Arsenal JSco., which we believe will be competing for this project. Photo credits to Wikipedia.

Project Summary:

Light Machine Gun 7.62mm with Optics (2025) Acquisition Project:

Note: Edited as of 30 March 2025

* Project Number: WEAPON-PMCBAC-2025-03

* End User: Philippine Navy (Philippine Marine Corps)

* Quantity: 95 units

* Modernization Phase: Philippine Navy GAA Acquisition for 2025

* Project ABC: Php122,400,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Public Bidding

* Source of Funding: Philippine Navy GAA Funds for 2025

* SARO Release: N/A

* Winning Proponent: TBA

* Product for Delivery: TBA

* Contract Price: TBA

* Residual Difference (Savings): TBA

* First post by MaxDefense: 22 February 2025 (this post)

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PMC762LMG2025Acquisition 

* Status: Public tender was opened on 30 November 2024, SOBE was scheduled on 19 December 2024. No result posted yet as of 22 February 2025.

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Overview:

For the last few years, the Philippine Marine Corps have been investing more in replacing its ageing heavy infantry weapons including squad automatic weapons, machine guns, mortars and assault weapons as part of its modernization drive.

Its current standard 7.62mm machine gun is the American M60, with the Philippine Marines operating a variety of old and new variants, the latest being the E6 variant delivered through US Foreign Military Sales several years ago.

The PMC's primary LMG is the M60E3 or M60E4 7.62mm machine guns, as seen here carried by PMC MARSOG personnel during the Battle of Marawi. Photo credits to original source.

As the Philippine Marine Corps start to replace some of their lost or ageing M60s while also to arm new units, the service has started the acquisition of new 7.62mm LMGs.

As discussed in the Potential Replacement portion of this resource page, it appears that the PMC is also departing from further use of the M60 platform, which originally entered service with the US military in 1960 and already substantially replaced by the Belgian-designed M240.


Technical Requirements:

Based on the technical specifications provided by the Philippine Marine Corps, the 7.62mm LMGs shall have the following requirements:

Platform: "MAG / L7 / M240 / NG7 / AJSC"

Caliber: 7.62mm x 51mm NATO
Overall Length: maximum of 1,260mm
Overall Weight: maximum of 9.5kg
Barrel: maximum of 24 inches, quick changeable type

Design: air cooled
Bipod: lightweight ground mount with traverse and elevation mechanism

Receiver Assembly Material Composition: Machine steel or aluminium
Rail Interface: MID STD 1913 Picatinny, or M-LOK
Butt Stock: Fixed with non-slip butt plate, or collapsible folding stock
Safety Button: Push botton manual safety (ambidextrous)
Operating System: Gas Piston, open bolt

Minimum Point Target Range: 600 - 800 meters
Minimum Area Target (Bipod Supported) Range: 800 - 1,100 meters
Maximum Range: 3,500 - 4,500 meters
Rate of Fire: 550 to 750 rounds per minute

Firing Mode: Safe / Semi-Auto / Auto
Feeding: belt-fed (50, 100 or 200-round belt), disintegrating metallic link belt, with switchable feed tray

Major Accessories:
* 2 x Magazine (Polymer/Plastic), 50/100/200 rounds capacity per LMG
* 1 x Spare Barrel per LMG
* 1 x 2-point Tactical Sling per LMG
* 1 x Optic Sight per LMG

* 1 x Blank Firing Attachment per LMG
* 1 x Hard Plastic / Polymer casing per LMG
* 1 x Bipod Assembly per LMG
* 1 x Complete Cleaning Paraphernalia per LMG

* 1 x Complete Armorer's Special Tool per LMG

Other Requirements
* LMG is already in market for at least 5 years
* LMG is coming from 1 manufacturer only
* Optic Sight is coming from 1 manufacturer only

* Bidder is the manufacturer of the LMG


Possible Options:

While the product has specifications included, it is surprising that there was a very particular requirement in the specifications, regarding the platform.

According to the technical specifications, the platform is "MAG / L7 / M240 / NG7 / AJSC"

It appears to us that the Philippine Marines tried to specify a type but was careful not to mention exact models and brand names.

"MAG" may refer to the Belgian FN Herstal FN MAG 7.62mm LMG, while the L7 and M240 refers to the FN MAG's British and American versions, the Royal Ordnance L7 and the M240 machine guns. 

The Philippine Army already have some versions of the M240 in service although only supplanting the M60.

The US version of the FN MAG, the M240, is already in service in limited quantity with the Philippine Army although no confirmation if the Philippine Marine Corps already have some of them. Photo credits to SOFREP page.

The "NG7" may refer to the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Negev NG-7, which is the 7.62x51mm NATO variant of the Negev LMG. The Negev in both 5.56mm and 7.62mm variants are already in service with the Philippine National Police (Special Action Force, Regional Mobile Force Battalions, Maritime Group, and various local and SWAT units), as well as the Philippine Coast Guard.

IWI's subsidiary Meprolight is expected to supply the optics for the Negev NG-7, which has been the case for the Philippine Coast Guard.

An illustration of the Negev NG-7 which include some specs. Photo credits to Ricardo Torres for his original work.

IDF troops during war operations in Gaza. Photo credits to Wikipedia.

The "AJSC" may refer to Bulgarian state-owned manufacturer Arseal JSCo., which has marketed its mortars and mortar munitions, rocket propelled grenade launchers and munitions, assault rifles and LMGs to the Philippine Army, while the Philippine Marines already have RPGs from them. 

The Philippine Army already have a few of the company's MG-M2 7.62x51mm LMGs, which is a Bulgarian version of the Soviet/Russian PKM LMG that fires the 7.62mm NATO standard rounds and with modern features.

Our parent page MaxDefense Philippines believes that the M240, the FN MAG, the IWI Negev NG-7 and the Arsenal MG-M2 will compete for this project, all of which have respective local partners in the Philippines which can act as their Joint Venture or liaison partner.

Price-wise, the Negev NG-7 and Arsenal MG-M2 may have an edge over the M240 and FN MAG.

Israel's current policy of prioritizing the Israel Defense Force and its war requirements may be hindrance for IWI, as this may mean that deliveries for the Philippines is not a priority unless if there is excess production. This was already apparent in several other projects awarded to Israeli companies.

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First edit and release: 30 March 2025
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource