The XM806 weighed about 63 pounds (29 kg) less (49% lighter), had 60% less recoil than the M2,[1][2] and had a greater rate of fire than the failed previous attempt to replace the M2, the XM312.

The XM806 was spun out from the cancelled XM307 and was developed by General Dynamics to augment the M2.

General Dynamics received a $9 million contract for the weapon in May 2008.

[4] It was expected to be deployed starting at the end of fiscal year 2012.

The XM806 was cancelled in July 2012, with the Army using the money allocated to upgrade their M2 machine guns to the M2A1 version.