M60E3

The M60E3 is a variant of the M60 machine gun developed by the United States. It was introduced in the late 1980s as an improvement over the original M60 design, aiming to enhance its reliability and usability. The M60E3 incorporated several modifications intended to make the weapon lighter and easier to handle in combat.

Key changes in the M60E3 included a shortened barrel, a revised bipod that could be attached or detached more easily, and a pistol grip and foregrip arrangement designed for better control. These alterations were meant to address some of the ergonomic and weight concerns that had been raised about earlier M60 models. The weapon retained the gas-operated, belt-fed mechanism of its predecessors, firing the standard 7.62x51mm NATO round.

Despite the improvements, the M60E3 did not see widespread adoption by the U.S. military. Its operational service was relatively limited compared to other variants of the M60 or its successor, the M240. The M60E3 was largely superseded by newer weapon systems and further iterations of the M60 family, with its production and use eventually phasing out. It represents an evolutionary step in the development of the M60 machine gun, showcasing attempts to modernize a proven but aging weapon platform.