The M240 is a general-purpose machine gun used by the United States military and many other armed forces around the world. It is designed to fire 7.62x51mm NATO cartridges and can be mounted on vehicles, tripods, or used as a handheld weapon. The M240 is known for its reliability and versatility in various combat situations. Originally developed in the 1970s, the M240 is based on the Belgian FN MAG design. It has several variants, including the M240B and M240L, which feature improvements in weight and performance. The M240 is commonly used for suppressive fire and support roles in infantry operations.