The M27 IAR in reality.
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 M249 and M240.
Battlefield Play4Free
— In-game description
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Battlefield 3
— Battlelog description
The M27 IAR appears in Battlefield 3 as a light machine gun.
Singleplayer
It is found during the campaign in Kaffarov before entering the dark room prior the target range on a table, equipped with a Red Dot Sight and Tactical Flashlight.
Multiplayer
The M27 is the default light machine gun for the United States Marine Corps' Support kit, and is unlocked later for both factions at 170,000 Support score. Like the other LMGs, it comes pre-equipped with a bipod. The M27 functions almost exactly the same to the M416 (its assault rifle variation) sharing iron sights, reload animations with the M27 having larger barrel and magazine size, and a comparable overall appearance; it also shares the same fire rate, damage, and a similar recoil profile, it also suits aggressive tactics better than most other light machine guns, though it can perform defensively with success as well. It functions opposite of the Russian Ground Forces' RPK-74, and has similar traits: unlike the other light machineguns, the M27 and RPK both have a smaller magazine size, at 45+1 rounds, and a much faster reload as they are both fed by box magazines rather than belts. However, the RPK features lower recoil, while the M27 has a higher rate of fire. Also, the M27 IAR is now able to use the extended magazine and heavy barrel after the June 4th patch, unlocked after getting 300 and 350 kills respectively.
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. The heavy barrel paired with a bipod make the M27 one of the most accurate LMG, and even when using the M27 agressively, a bipod is recommended over a foregrip, due to the inherently low accuracy shared among the weapon class. 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 recommended to have the heavy barrel attachment allowing it to maintain great accuracy on full auto, but the versatility of the gun makes all of the attachments useful in both offensive and defensive situations.
During the Battlefield 3 Alpha its rear iron sights were colored in a desert tan shade.
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Trivia
- The M27 IAR is basically an M416 with a longer barrel, a larger magazine, and an open bolt fire mechanism, similar to other LMGs.
- Like the M416, M417, and the Mk11 Mod 0, it has its charging handle incorrectly depicted as completely solid.