NATO FN SCAR

NATO FN SCAR

NATO FN SCAR (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle) is a modular rifle made by FN Herstal (FNH) for the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. This family of rifles consist of two main types. The SCAR-L, for "light", is chambered in the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and the SCAR-H, for "heavy", fires 7.62×51mm NATO. Both are available in Long Barrel and Close Quarters Combat variants.


The keyidea of SCAR rifle system is that it will provide the Special Forces operators with wide variety of options, from short-barreled 5.56mm SCAR-L CQC variation,tailored for urban close combat, and up to long range 7.62x51 SCAR-HSnipervariant, as well as 7.62x39 SCAR-H, which will accept "battlefield pickup" AK-47/AKM magazines with 7.62 M43 ammunition, available during the operations behind the enemy lines.

NATO FN SCAR MK 20

The NATO FN SCAR systems completed low rate initial production testing in June 2007. After some delays, the first rifles began being issued to operational units in April 2009, and a battalion of the US 75th Ranger Regiment was the first large unit deployed into combat with 600 of the rifles in 2009. The US Special Operations Command has currently cancelled their purchase of the Mk 16 SCAR-L and are planning to remove the rifle from their inventory by 2013. However, they plan to purchase 5.56 mm conversion kits for the Mk 17, supplanting the loss of the Mk 16. The SCAR is now one of the competing weapons in the Individual Carbine competition which aims to find a replacement for the M4 Carbine.

FNSCAR rifles are not based on any previous weapons but designed from the scratch. In all variants FN SCAR rifles feature gas operated, short stroke piston action with rotating bolt locking. Bolt system appears to be somewhat similar to that of FNMinimi / M249 SAW machine gun. This system apparently is less sensitive to fine sand, dust and any other fouling inside the receiver, than any system with M16-type multi-lug bolt and plunger-type ejector.

NATO FN SCAR MK 17

Overview:

• Type: Assault rifle (SCAR-L); Battle rifle (SCAR-H)
• Place of origin: Belgium; United States of America
• Manufacturer: FNH USA
• Variants: SCAR-L (Mk 16 Mod 0); SCAR-H (Mk 17 Mod 0)

Specifications

• Weight: 3.04 kg (6.7 lb) (SCAR-L Short); 3.29 kg (7.3 lb) (SCAR-L Standard); 3.49 kg (7.7 lb) (SCAR-L Long); 3.49 kg (7.7 lb) (SCAR-H Short); 3.58 kg (7.9 lb) (SCAR-H Standard); 3.72 kg (8.2 lb) (SCAR-H Long)
• Length: 787 mm (31.0 in) stock extended, 533 mm (21.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-L CQC); 889 mm (35.0 in) stock extended, 635 mm (25.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-L Standard); 990 mm (39 in) stock extended, 736 mm (29.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-L Long); 889 mm (35.0 in) stock extended, 635 mm (25.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-H CQC); 965 mm (38.0 in) stock extended, 711 mm (28.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-H Standard); 1,067 mm (42.0 in) stock extended, 813 mm (32.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-H Long)
• Barrel length: 254 mm (10.0 in) (SCAR-L Short); 355 mm (14.0 in) (SCAR-L Standard); 457 mm (18.0 in) (SCAR-L Long); 330 mm (13 in) (SCAR-H Short); 400 mm (16 in) (SCAR-H Standard); 500 mm (20 in) (SCAR-H Long)
• Cartridge: 5.56×45mm NATO (SCAR-L); 7.62×51mm NATO (SCAR-H)
• Action: Gas-operated (short-stroke gas piston), rotating bolt
• Rate of fire: 625 rounds/min
• Muzzle velocity: SCAR-L: 2,870 ft/s (870 m/s) (M855); SCAR-L: 2,630 ft/s (800 m/s) (Mk 262); SCAR-H: 2,342 ft/s (714 m/s) (M80)
• Effective range: SCAR-L: 300 metres (330 yd) (Short), 500 metres (550 yd) (Standard), 600 metres (660 yd) (Long)
• SCAR-H: 300 metres (330 yd) (Short), 600 metres (660 yd) (Standard), 800 metres (870 yd) (Long)
• Feed system: SCAR-L: STANAG box magazine; SCAR-H/SSR: 20-round box magazine
• Sights: : Iron or various optics