M27 IAR

The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle is a light machine gun produced by Heckler & Koch. It was designed as a support weapon variant of the HK 416 Assault Rifle, and is compatible with standard 5.56mm STANAG magazines. It is currently in USMC service alongside the M-249 SAW.

The M27 IAW is the real designation for the USMC variant of the HK416. It is actually deployed as a standard assault rifle in real life. By design, it is basically an M4A1 carbine with a heavier barrel and a piston rather then the ar 15's direct impingement system, designed to be more reliable and consistent at the cost of increased felt recoil compared to the current AR15 series of rifles.

Battlefield 3
In Battlefield 3, the M27 IAR is the default USMC light machinegun. Like the other LMGs, it comes pre-equipped with a bipod. It functions opposite of the RPK-74, and has similar traits: unlike the other light machineguns, the M27 and RPK both have a smaller magazine size, at 45, and a much faster reload as they are both fed by box magazines rather than belts. However, the RPK features a higher damage, while the M27 has a higher rate of fire. The M27 IAR and RPK-74 are the only light machineguns that do not unlock the Extended Mag attachment.

In terms of usage it is functionally identical to the M416, sharing the same fire rate, damage, and recoil profile. They are aesthetically similar as well, sharing iron sights, reload animations, and general appearance. They only differ in attachments, (with the M416 having access to underbarrel attachments) magazine size, (with the M27 having 15 more rounds in each magazine) and fire mode options. (with the M416 possessing burst fire while the M27 does not)

In multiplayer use the M27 functions similarly to an assault rifle, and suits aggressive tactics better than most other light machine guns, though it can perform defensively with success as well. Its quick reload, high fire rate, and small magazine make the more usual stationary tactics of light machine guns less worthwhile than belt-fed LMGs. As such, the use of the foregrip over the bipod is recommended, as the M27's mild recoil profile and short clip render any benefit of the bipod marginal. The iron sights of the gun while open, are quite large and flat, making optics useful for long range encounters. The final attachment slot is left open to preference rather than strategy, as the versatility of the gun makes any of the available attachments useful.