The US Department of Defense has announced that Colt’s Manufacturing and FN America have been selected to compete for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts worth up to $383,311,941 to produce M16A4 rifles for US allied nations including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Nepal. The companies will bid for each of the orders.

The M16A4 is the fourth generation of the US Army’s M16 rifle family. The design was finalised in the late 1990s and features a removable carrying handle and a full quad rail forend but retains the 20in barrel and fixed buttstock. While no longer in service with the US Army or USMC, it has been adopted and purchased either privately or via FMS contracts by dozens of countries.

Original caption: “U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. John M. Tully a low altitude air defense (LAAD) gunner with 2nd LAAD Battalion, fires a M16A4 rifle during combat marksmanship training on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 26, 2017.” (US Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cody J. Ohira)

Here is the Department of Defense’ announcement of the contracts:

FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina (W56HZV-20-D-0024); and Colt’s Manufacturing Co. LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut (W56HZV-20-D-0025), will compete for each order of the $383,311,941 firm-fixed-price contract to provide M16A4 rifles for Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Grenada, Iraq, Lebanon and Nepal). Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 28, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.

An M4A1 Carbine without optic (FN America)

In February, FN America were also awarded a five-year contract worth more than $119 million to produce M4/M4A1 carbines for the US Army. Here is the Department of Defense’ announcement of the contracts:

FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina, was awarded a $119,216,309 firm-fixed-price contract for the M4/M4A1 carbines.  Bids were solicited via the internet with six received.  Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2025.  U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-D-0006).