C9 LMG

C9 LMG
Canadian soldier training with the C9A1.
Type	Light machine gun
Place of origin	Belgium Canada
Production history
Designer	FN Herstal
Manufacturer	FN Herstal Colt Canada
Specifications
Cartridge	5.56x45mm NATO
Feed system	100 or 200-round belt contained in a 100-round or 200-round soft pouch, or 200-round box or 30-round M16-type STANAG magazine to 60-round STANAG casket magazine

The C9 LMG is the Canadian variant of the Belgian FN Minimi light machine gun, made by Colt Canada ^[a]

History

The C9 LMG was adopted in the 1980s. ^[2]

Design

Main article: FN Minimi

Like the Minimi, its 5.56 sister model, the C9 LMG is a gas-operated, air-cooled, fully automatic belt-fed machine gun.

Variants

C9 LMG

Standard factory FN Minimi with a steel tubular buttstock.

C9A1

The C9A1 comes fitted with a Picatinny rail on the feed cover mounting a 3.4× ELCAN C79 telescopic sight and can mount a vertical grip on the underside of the stock for added stability in prone firing.

C9A2

The C9A2 mid-life upgrade ^[3] introduced a second barrel which was shorter (both with an upgraded muzzle device), reduced IR green furniture, a C8-style collapsible stock, folding vertical foregrip and a laser aiming module (LAM) C9-specific TRIAD.

Users

• Canada ^[4]
• New Zealand
  • New Zealand Defence Force
    • Under the designation C9 Minimi ^{[5] [6]}
      • Replaced by the 7.62 LSW Minimi ^[7]

• 
  Canadian soldier training with the C9A1.
• 
  Canadian soldier with the C9.

References

1. Originally made by FN. Upgrades over time done by Diemaco prior to company being bought and renamed. ^[1]

1. "Canadian Small Arms – Automatic Rifles – A Visual Guide". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
2. https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/lightweapons/lightmachineguns/c9lmg.htm
3. "Upgrades". coltcanada.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
4. Government of Canada, National Defence (2013-03-08). "C9A2 Light Machine Gun | Canadian Army". www.army-armee.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
5. "NZ Army - Our Equipment - Machine Guns". Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2011-06-24. New Zealand Army official site
6. "Firepower". army.mil.nz/. Archived from the original on 2016-10-21. Retrieved 10 Oct 2016.
7. Martin, Judith, ed. (February 2012). "New Light Support Weapon for NZ Defence" (PDF). NZ Army News. No. 428. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012. The New Zealand Defence Force has selected the FN Herstal 7.62mm Minimi TR as a replacement for the 5.56 mm LSW C9, currently in service. The weapons are being acquired now, with NZ delivery due to start from April this year, and introduction to service and issuing to units planned to occur in last quarter of 2012. The 7.62 LSW Minimi will be issued to certain Army and Air Force Units. This will replace the C9 capability, with priority being given to field force units and regional equipment pools.