FN SCAR: Mark 16 and Mark 17- Special Forces Combat Assault Rifle (USA / Belgium)

US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM) issued a solicitation for the procurement of SOF Combat Assault Rifles (SCAR) on October 15th, 2003. The requested:"a new combat rifle, specially tailored for the current and proposed future needs of the US Special Forces" which are somewhat different from latest generic US Army requirements, which are being fulfilled by the newest Heckler-Koch XM8 assault rifle.


The key difference in basic requirements between XM8 and SCAR is that, while XM8 is a single-caliber weapon system, tailored for 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition, the SCAR should be available in various different calibers. The idea 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-H Sniper variant, 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

The above picture - SCAR Light (SCAR-L)is chambered in the 5.56mm NATO

The above picture - SCAR heavy (SCAR-H), which should be initially available in significantly more powerful 7.62x51 NATO chambering

FN SCAR is to be easily adaptable in the field to other chamberings. These other chamberings include the well-spread 7.62x39 M43 ammunition of the Soviet / Russian origins, and probably some others (like the proposed 6.8x43 Remington SPC cartridge, especially developed for US Special Forces).

Both SCAR-L and SCAR-H are available in three versions, Standard (S), Close Quarters Combat (CQC) and Sniper Variant (SV; now it is dubbed Long Barrel - LB). All these variants, regardless the caliber and exact configuration, will provide the operator with the same controls layout, same handling and maintenance procedures, and same optional equipment, such as sights, scopes, and other current and future attachments.

	Mk.16 SCAR-L (Light)	Mk.17 SCAR-H (Heavy)
Caliber	5.56x45 NATO	7.62x51 NATO basic 7.62x39 M43 and others additionally
Overall length, standard configuration	850 mm (max) / 620 mm (min)	997 mm (max) / 770 mm (min)
Barrel length	254mm/10" (CQC), 355mm/14" (Std), 457mm/18" (LB)	330mm/13" (CQC), 406mm/16" (Std), 508mm/20" (LB)
Weight	3.5 kg empty	3.86 kg empty
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute	600 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	30 rounds standard	20 rounds (7.62x51 NATO) 30 rounds (7.62x39 M43)

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