At Partner 2025, Zastava Arms unveiled what may be the next step in Serbia’s small-arms evolution: a light machine gun (LMG) derived from the company’s long-running M84 general-purpose machine gun, but chambered for the intermediate 6.5×39 (6.5 Grendel) cartridge. This new variant follows a wider Serbian program to move away from purely legacy calibers toward modern intermediate cartridges that offer improved ballistic performance without the weight and recoil penalties of full-power rifle rounds. The result is a clear operational requirement: a lighter, more accurate squad automatic weapon in 6.5×39 that extends reach and terminal effect while keeping logistics and carry weights manageable for infantry squads.