The U.S. Army Joint Munition and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a $9 million contract to develop a lightweight .50-caliber machine gun.

The weapon will be developed at the company’s technology center in Burlington, Vt., and production and fabrication work will be done at General Dynamics' Saco facility.

According to a General Dynamics press release, the gun will have significantly less recoil and will be lighter than current weapons. It will be easier for soldiers to carry and will provide them the potential for increased accuracy and lethality in combat.

General Dynamics employs 394 people at its Saco plant.