American Rheinmetall will produce 3,104 MK93 weapon mounts and upgrade 245 existing systems under a $20.7-million US Army order.
The Maine facility will produce and upgrade the systems through October 2027, with deliveries to begin in 2026.
The order was placed through defense contractor ADS and the Defense Logistics Agency. American Rheinmetall said the systems will support army requirements, but did not identify the specific vehicles or units receiving them.
The MK93 is a dual-purpose weapon mount designed for the M2 heavy machine gun and MK19 40mm grenade launcher. Its soft-mount design absorbs some of the weapon’s recoil, helping stabilize the weapon and improve accuracy during firing.
Rheinmetall introduced an upgrade kit for the MK93 in 2018 that replaced its internal cradle with a redesigned system intended to reduce recoil and improve accuracy. The upgrade also added a shoulder bar to improve weapon handling and reduce gunner fatigue.
“Our Maine facility takes great pride in producing and upgrading these systems, ensuring they are ready for the demands of today’s missions,” American Rheinmetall director of business development Michael Thibault said.
American Rheinmetall Expands US Portfolio
The MK93 order is one of several recent US defense efforts involving American Rheinmetall as the company expands its manufacturing and systems portfolio in the country.
In September, the company delivered the first of eight Lynx XM30 prototypes to the US Army for government developmental and performance testing. The vehicles are part of the program to replace the M2 Bradley, with American Rheinmetall leading Team Lynx alongside US industry partners.
The same month, the US Marine Corps awarded American Rheinmetall a $7.28-million contract for 12 Mission Master SP autonomous UGVs and five amphibious kits. The vehicles will support continued evaluation of autonomous logistics and expeditionary mobility capabilities.
Earlier, in July, the US Army tapped American Rheinmetall to provide hybrid-powered autonomous unmanned ground vehicles for logistics missions. The company is working with Harbinger, Forterra, and Primordial Labs on the effort.