An infantry machine gun which has been in service since the early 1960s, the GPMG can be used in the light role fired from a bipod or can be fitted to a tripod for use in the sustained fire role. 

The gun is also found pintle mounted on many armoured vehicles. Used on a tripod the gun is effective out to 1,800m although it is difficult to spot strike at this range because the tracer rounds in the ammunition belt burns out at 1,100 m. The GPMG in the light role is the principal manoeuvre support weapon for the platoon.

1999 SDR cuts in the TA and Regular Army have now made it possible for Light Role and Mechanised Infantry Battalions to have two light role GPMGs in a fourth Manoeuvre Support Section in each platoon. This additional heavy, long range, firepower, while less accurate than the LSW provides an excellent depth suppression area beaten zone of fire.

Machine Gun platoons in air assault battalions remain equipped with the GPMG in the sustained fire role.

GPMG performance has been enhanced by the issue of a Maxi Kite night image intensification sight giving excellent visibility out to 600 m.

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