It is capable of being converted quickly into an XM307 with a small number of parts and a few minutes of work at the unit level (and vice versa from the XM307).[1]
The Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations bill awarded $10 million to General Dynamics for the XM307 and XM312.[2]
In May 2008 the
U.S. Army had awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) a $9 million contract to develop a lightweight .50-caliber machine gun called the
XM806 to supplement the Browning M2.[3] The XM806 was canceled in 2012.[4] The Army at present will continue buying new M2s and Mk 19s to replenish the current guns that are wearing out.[5]
Operation: Currently a hybrid gas &
recoil operating group. Gas powers the bolt mechanism while recoil drives the barrel/barrel extension and the feed system. Design changes are underway to totally eliminate the gas system to provide increased reliability and reduced complexity.
Environmental: Operationally insensitive to conditions.
Feed system: Weapon-mountable
ammunition can or feed from any can using bellmouth attachment. M9 rear stripping link—common with current M2 ammunition. Left hand feed, right hand eject of cases and links.
Program status
September 2005: The XM312 is test fired by troops from the 1st Infantry Division at the Grafenwöhr Training Area in Germany.[8]