Singapore Army's new light machine gun IAR6940E-SG seen here at a media event on 17 July 2024. The service has begun equipping its active units with the new weapon type. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
All active Singapore Army units with a requirement for the section automatic weapon (SAW) would have been equipped with the Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle 6940 (IAR6940) light machine guns (LMGs) by the end of July 2024.
The matter was confirmed by representatives from the Singapore Army at a media event on 17 July.
In response to questions at the event, the representatives confirmed that a roll-out of the new weapon type across active units is progressing according to plan since it was received.
Induction of the weapon began in April 2024 and active units that require the SAW in its respective operational concepts have since been progressively trained to handle the new weapon.
While there are plans to also equip its reservist units with the weapon type, the Singapore Army representatives were not able to disclose when this will take place.
Similarly, the Singapore Army has made no disclosure on the units that are fielding the weapon type or the quantity of rifles that have been procured for the service.
The SAW is likely fielded by units within the Singapore Army's infantry, guards, and commando formations. Each seven-men section within these units will typically be formed up with two dedicated SAW riflemen.
Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) first disclosed in May 2024 that it has selected the Colt IAR6940, locally termed as IAR6940E-SG, for its army SAW requirements.
It will replace ST Engineering's Ultimax 100 Mk 2 LMG, which has been in service since 1982.
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