Denmark strengthens infantry firepower with new M60E6 machine guns acquisition.

The Danish Ministry of Defence, through its procurement and logistics agency (Forsvarsministeriets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse, FMI), announced on August 7, 2025, the signing of a contract for a large number of M/60 E6 light machine guns. According to the official statement published on the agency’s website (FMI), the agreement was concluded in just six weeks, and all weapons are scheduled to be delivered before the end of the year. The acquisition is financed primarily through the Acceleration Fund, designed to support urgent procurements.
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Chambered in 7.62 x 51 mm NATO, the M60E6 is gas-operated, belt-fed with disintegrating links, and fires from an open bolt (Picture source: Danish MoD)

The new weapons will mainly be distributed to the Army but will also equip other branches of the armed forces as well as the Home Guard. The expanded inventory is intended to improve weapon availability for training, refresher programs, and exercises. At the same time, additional live-fire training sets will be acquired to increase opportunities for soldiers to train with live ammunition. The machine guns will also be paired with the recently delivered VooDoo-S thermal sights, designed for durability under battlefield conditions.

The M60E6 is the most recent development in a machine gun family that dates back to the 1950s. Originally developed by Saco Defense and adopted by the U.S. Army in 1957, the M60 was conceived as a general-purpose machine gun inspired by the German MG 42. It was designed to provide a versatile weapon usable as a portable infantry machine gun, mounted on a tripod, or integrated into land and air vehicles. Extensively employed during the Vietnam War, it gained a mixed reputation due to its weight, limited ergonomics, and rapid wear of key components. Several variants followed, including the M60E3 and the M60E4, the latter adopted by the U.S. Navy SEALs as the Mk 43.

The M60E6, produced by U.S. Ordnance, incorporates improvements based on more than five decades of operational feedback. Chambered in 7.62 x 51 mm NATO, it is gas-operated, belt-fed with disintegrating links, and fires from an open bolt. It features a quick-change barrel with an offset handle that allows replacement without a heat mitten. The weapon includes a machined aluminum feed cover with an M1913 Picatinny rail for optics, and a handguard with additional rails for mounting infrared laser aiming devices and other sensors, providing both day and night capability.

Among its technical features, the M60E6 has a lighter design that enhances mobility and enables accurate fire from standing, kneeling, or prone positions. Its barrels, lined with a cobalt-chrome alloy, extend service life and are available in short or heavy fluted configurations depending on operational requirements. The weapon includes a receiver-mounted bipod, a simplified gas system with a reversible piston, and an ambidextrous safety. Its controlled rate of fire, between 500 and 650 rounds per minute, balances accuracy and firepower. All major components remain interchangeable with earlier M60 variants, and the weapon mounts directly to standard NATO tripods and vehicle platforms.

Denmark adopted the M60E6 in 2014 after a competition against the German Heckler & Koch MG5, selecting it to replace the MG3 (designated M/62). Weighing 9.27 kilograms, it allows for barrel changes using the carrying handle and is paired with the Elcan C97 optic with 3.4 x 28 mm magnification. With this new order, Denmark further establishes the M60E6 as a central element of its infantry support weapons, combining updated design, adaptability, and reliability.