American Rheinmetall has secured a significant contract to supply and modernize thousands of improved MK93 Softmount mounts for the U.S. Army. The project, valued at a total of USD 20.7 million (equivalent to EUR 18 million), specifically covers the production of 3,104 new MK93 Enhanced Softmount systems and the upgrade of 245 mounts already in service. This will bring all units to a uniform and modern state of readiness.
The planned deliveries under this agreement through the contractor ADS and the Defense Logistics Agency are set to begin later this year and are scheduled to be completed by October 2027.
MK93 Mount: Recoil-Reducing Weapon Mounting System
The MK93 (or MK93 Mod 2 / Enhanced Softmount System) is the standard weapon mounting system for heavy machine guns and grenade launchers of the U.S. armed forces as well as many NATO countries. It is designed as a universal soft-mount that drastically reduces recoil through integrated hydraulic dampers and is deployed on a wide range of land, sea, and amphibious platforms. These include HMMWV, JLTV, MRAP, Stryker, and American Rheinmetall additionally provides upgraded MK93 mounts, as well as tactical and logistic trucks, and patrol boats and fast boats. The compatible weapons include the heavy machine guns M2 / M2HB / M2QCB and the MK19 (40 mm) grenade launcher.
The Enhanced Softmount System is characterized by a rugged and durable construction that provides a stable mounting for crew-served weapon systems, increases reliability in operation, and optimizes long-term maintenance processes through configuration commonality.
In addition to supplying the U.S. armed forces, the system is also available for commercial sale to eligible international customers in compliance with applicable export controls, with a view to long-term follow-on orders and expanded worldwide standardization in the field of heavy weapons fire-control systems.
Author: Gerhard Heiming, Defense Economy Editor
