The standard length 3rd Generation SCAR-L (top) and SCAR-H (bottom).
The Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Assault Rifle, or SCAR is a modular rifle made by FN Herstal 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 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge and the SCAR-H, for "heavy", fires 7.62x51mm NATO. Both are available in Long Barrel and Close Quarters Combat variants.
The 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 in 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 5.56mm 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.
Overview[]
SCAR-L equipped U.S. Army Rangers on the infield of the Lowes Motor Speedway.
The SCAR is manufactured in two main versions: Light (SCAR-L, Mk 16 Mod 0) and Heavy (SCAR-H, Mk 17 Mod 0). The L version fires 5.56x45mm NATO using improved STANAG (M16) magazines. The H fires the more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO from a newly designed 20-round magazine. Different length barrels will be available for close quarters battle and for longer-range engagements. The initial solicitation indicated that the SCAR-H would also be chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 Kalashnikov cartridge and 6.8x43mm Remington SPC cartridge. However, FN is not currently offering other calibers.
The Mk 16 Mod 0 was intended to replace the M4A1, the Mk 18 CQBR and the Mk 12 SPR currently in SOCOM service, before SOCOM decided to cancel their order for the weapon (see below). The Mk 17 Mod 0 will replace the M14 and Mk 11 sniper rifles. However, the weapon will only supplement the other weapons while issuing remains at the operator's decision.
The Mk 20 Sniper Support rifle is based in the 7.62mm Mk 17 rifle. It includes a longer receiver, a beefed up barrel extension and barrel profile to reduce whip and improve accuracy, and an enhanced modular trigger that can be configured for single-stage or two-stage operation together with a non folding precision stock.
The SCAR features an integral, uninterrupted Picatinny rail on the top of the aluminum receiver, two removeable side rails and a bottom one that can mount any MIL-STD-1913 compliant accessories. It has a polymer lower receiver with an M16 compatible pistol grip, flared magazine well, and raised area around magazine and bolt release buttons. The front sight flips down for unobstructed use of optics and accessories. The rifle uses a 'tappet' type of closed gas-system much like the M1 Carbine while the bolt carrier resembles the Stoner 63 or Heckler & Koch G36.
The SCAR is built at the FN Manufacturing LLC plant in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Fabrique Nationale introduced a semi-automatic version of the SCAR modular rifle system, the 16S (Light) and 17S (Heavy), at the end of 2008 This version of the SCAR is designe for the law enforcement and commercial markets, and is manufactured in Herstal, Belgium and imported by FNH USA, Fredricksburg, Virginia, United staes. FNH USA slightly modifies the rifle (supplying a U.S. make magaines and machining a pin in the magazine well) to be in compliance with U.S. Code before selling them.
HAMR IAR[]
In 2008, a variant of the FN SCAR-The Heat Adaptive Modular Rifle (HAMR)- was one of four finalist rifles for the Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) competition. The IAR was a U.S. Marine Corps requirement for a lightweight automatic rifle for squad automatic use. The FN entry was different from existing SCAR versions in that it combined a closted bolt operation (fires from bolt forward/chambered cartridge) with open bolt operation (fires from bolt to the rear, no chambered cartridge), switching automatically from closed to open bolt as the weapon's barrel heats up during firing. There have been pervious firearms with mixed open/closed bolt operation, but the automatic remperature-based operating mode switch is an innovation. The IAR competition was expected to result in Marine Corps procurement of up to 6,500 automatic rifles over 5 years, but eventually the SCAR variant was passed over in favor of the H&K HK416 rifle, later designated as the M27.
FNAC[]
A variant of the SCAR was entered into the Army's Individual Carbine competition, known as the FNAC (Advanced Carbine). The weapon is similar to the SCAR Mk 16 Mod 0 but with modificatios including a .3lb weight reduction, a bayonet lug for an M9 bayonet (which the Mk 16 does not have), and a non-reciprocating charging handle.
Enhanced Grenade Launching Module[]
The FN40GL, or Mk 13 Mod 0.
Introduced in 2004 as an addition, the Enhanced Grenade Launching Module (EGLM), officially referred to as the FN40GL, or Mk 13 Mod 0, is a 40mm grenade launcher based on the 'GL1' designed for the F2000. The FN40GL is marketed in both an L (Light) and H (Heavy) model, for fitting the appropriate SCAR variant. The EGLM system features a double action trigger and a swing out chamber. These offer two advantages over the M203 system, the first being that the launcher does not need to be re-cocked if the grenade does not fire, and the latter being that longer grenades can be used. Like the M203, the FN40GL uses the same High-Low Propulsion System.
Evolution[]
An early prototype of the SCAR-L.
In July 2007, the US Army announced a limited competition between the M4 Carbine, FN SCAR, HK416, and the previously shelved HK XM8. Ten examples of each of the four competitors were involved. During the testing, 6,000 rounds apiece were fired from each of the carbines in an "extreme dust environment". The purpose of the shootoff was for assessing future needs, not to select a replacement for the M4.
During the first test, the SCAR suffered 226 stoppages. Since a percentage of each weapons' stoppages were caused by magazine failures, the FN SCAR, XM8, and HK416 performed statistically similarly. The FN SCAR ranked second to the XM8 with 127 stoppages, but with fewer stoppages compared to the M4 with 882 stoppages and the HK416 with 233. This test was based on two previous systems assesments that were conducted using the M4 Carbine and M16 rifle at Aberdeen Proving Ground in 2006 and the summer of 2007 before the third limited competition in the fall of 2007. The 2006 test focused only on the M4 and M16. The summer 2007 test only had the M4, but with increased lubrication. Results from the second test resulted in a total of 307 stoppages for the M4 after lubrication was increased, but did not explain why the M4 suffered 882 stoppages with that same level of lubrication in the third test.
The SCAR was one of the weapons displayed to US Army officials during an invitation-only Industry Day on Nov. 13, 2008. The goal of the Industry Day was to review current carbine technology for any situation prior to writing formal requirements for a future replacement for the M4 Carbine.
Acceptance[]
The SCAR was selected in 2004 out of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Assault Rifle program. The Mk 16, Mk 17, and Mk 13 were officially designated as operationally effective, operationally suitable, and sustainable as a result of a 5-week Field User asessment conducted by operational SOCOM forces in late 2008. These SCAR variants began fielding in April 2009. On May 4, 2010, a press release on FNH USA's official website announced the SCAR Acquisition Memorandum was finalized on Apr. 14, 2010, moving the SCAR program to the Milestone C phase. This was an approval for the entire weapons family of the Mk 16 SCAR Light, Mk 17 SCAR Heavy, and the Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module.
In late October 2010 SOCOM approved full-rate production of the Mk 20 sniper variant of the SCAR, with fielding beginning in mid-May 2011.
Mk 16 Cancellation/Mk 17 Preference[]
On June 25, 2010 SOCOM announced that it was canceling the acquisition of the Mk 16 citing limited funds and a lack of enough of a performance difference in another 5.56mm rifle to justify the purchase. Remaining funds would be expended for the Mk 17 7.62x51mm version and the Mk 20 sniper rifle. "FNH USA beleives the issue is not whether the SCAR, and specifically the [originally contracted] Mk 16 variant, is the superior weapon system available today ... it has already been proved to be just that ... recently passing Milestone C and determined to be operationally effective / operationally suitable for fielding. The issue is wheter or not the requirement for a 5.56mm replacement outweighs the numerous other requirements competing for the customers' limited budget. That is a question that will only be determined by the customer." FN Herstal though has stated that the 5.56mm variant will be retained by SOCOM, and that "The choice between the 5.56 and 7.62 caliber will be left the the discrection of each constitutive component of USSOCOM's Joint Command (e.g. SEALs, Rangers, Army Special Forces, MARSOC, AFSOC) depending on their specific missions on today's battlefield."
By Aug. 19, 2010, word from US Special Operations Command had not changed: SOCOM decided to procure the 7.62mm Mk 17 rifle, the 40mm Mk 13 grenade launcher, and the 7.62mm Mk 20 Sniper Support rifle variants of the Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) manufactured by FN. SOCOM would not purchase the 5.56mm Mk 16. At that point the individual service component command within SOCOM would or would not still buy the 5.56mm Mk 16 SCAR for some or all of their respective subordinate units even with overall US Special Operations Command opting not to.
On Dec. 9, 2011 the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Divisio released a sole source 5 year IDIQ procurement notice for the Mk 16 Mod 0 (SCAR-L), Mk 17 Mod 0 (SCAR-H), Mk 20 Mod 0 (SSR) and Mk 13 Mod 0 (40mm EGLM) from FN.
Variants[]
Military[]
- SCAR-L Mk 16 Mod 0 - 5.56mm NATO Assault rifle
- Mk 16 CQC (Close Quarters Combat) - 10 inch barrel
- Mk 16 Standard - 14 inch barrel
- Mk 16 LB (Long Barrel) - 20 inch barrel
- SCAR-H Mk 17 Mod 0
- Mk 17 CQC (Close Quarters Combat) - 13 inch barrel
- Mk 17 Standard - 16 inch barrel
- Mk 17 LB (Long Barrel) - 20 inch barrel
- Sniper Support Rifle (SSR) Mk 20 Mod 0 - 7.62mm NATO sniper rifle
Experimental[]
- HAMR IAR (Heat Adaptive Modular Rifle Infantry Automatic Rifle) - Automatic rifle entered in the United States Marine Corps Infantry Automatic Rifle competition that was eventually won by the HK416 variant.
- FNAC - (FN Advanced Carbine) - 5.56 NATO assault rifle entered into the US Army Individual Carbine competition.
Commercial[]
- SCAR 16S - Civilian 5.56mm version, semi-automatic only
- SCAR 17S - Civilian 7.62mm version, semi-automatic only