August 7, 2026:
The USMC has converted its standard M240 7.62 mm machine guns into automated systems for drone interception and destruction. This is done by adding an automated AI-controlled mount, creating the L-MADIS/Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System. Also known as Bullfrog, the L-MADIS equipment will be distributed to Marine units expected to encounter small- and medium-sized attack drones as are encountered in Ukraine. L-MADIS will detect, track, and identify targets, but the Marine operator makes the firing decision.
L-MADIS fires 850 rounds per minute, which means each destroyed drone costs about $20, mostly for ammunition and wear and tear on L-MADIS. The M240 has been in use since 1977. Designed in Belgium by FN Herstal, each M240 weighs 12.54 kg and has a 630 mm long barrel. Effective firing range is 800 to 1,800 meters, depending on the mount used and the stability of the firing position. Each M240 costs about $7,000. Soldiers and Marines often use the M240 while advancing, with the machine guns forcing enemy troops to keep their heads down. Ammunition is in the form of fifty-round links. Each ammo bag is attached to the weapon's side.
When it first entered service, the M240S had a malfunction once every 7,000 rounds fired. That has improved over the decades, and failures now occur every 26,000 rounds. These failures can be quickly fixed, but when they occur in combat, the operator must rely on his training to recover quickly.
The Marines are particularly adept at developing special training methods. For example, several decades ago, they developed their Talking Guns tactic, in which two machine guns work in tandem. Each gun fires a short burst, then waits to hear the other gun fire its short burst before firing another. This ensures that the bursts are the proper six to eight seconds apart. Talking guns don't really help when the two machine guns are firing on different targets, although they do help each gun maintain its timing. It would be better to train each gun crew to count its own intervals, as it is difficult in combat to hear clearly what the other gun crew is doing.
There is also a tendency of one gun to increase its rate of fire when the second is reloading. This doesn't accomplish much if the two guns are not firing on exactly the same target. Doctrine calls for the gunner's left hand to remain on the elevating wheel of the traversing & elevation mechanism. This allows the gunner to adjust the fall of his rounds as needed or as directed by the team leader. Without intense training, however, the gunner tends to move his hand back to the gun after each adjustment. This makes the weapon less stable and harder to adjust quickly. Training gun teams on a firing range tends to get them used to thinking they are fighting alone rather than as part of a platoon.
Troops must also be trained to maintain situational awareness. During training maneuvers, a sergeant or officer should periodically ask the team what else is going on around them to encourage them to keep the broader picture in mind. When two machineguns are working together, something the Marine Corps demands of its riflemen, the junior gun crew should be deployed farther forward than the senior crew. This will allow the senior team leader to keep an eye on the other gun and coordinate barrel changes and reloading. One good trick is to start with a 100-round belt for one gun and a 200-round belt for the other. After firing the initial belt, each gun uses 200-round belts. This helps stagger the reloading cycles. The doctrinal rate of fire is a burst of 6-8 rounds followed by a pause of 6-8 seconds. As a practical matter, if friendly troops are not exposed while advancing on the target, a 10-12-second pause will be sufficient to keep the enemy pinned down.
More than half of American military operations are offensive, but over 90 percent of machine gun training focuses on defensive tactics. Gun crews should be trained in how to select and occupy a firing position while remaining under cover. One training technique is to tape a laser pointer to a cleaning rod. Insert this into the barrel of the weapon when dry firing inside a dimly lit large building, and the team leader can track the abilities of the gunner to aim and adjust his weapon. Gun crews should carry empty sandbags to help them set up interim firing positions during an advance. If they have access to a vehicle, they should have filled bags on it to get the gun into action faster.