Peruvian Special Forces Buy FN SCAR-L
Defensa.com reports that the Peruvian Army has awarded FN Herstal a contract for SCAR-L rifles and grenade launchers.
Peru have announced the purchase of a further 256 SCAR-L 5.56x45mm assault rifles and 24 40mm FN40GL under-barrel grenade launchers. These weapons are destined for units of Peru’s Army special forces including units assigned to the Valle de los Rios Apurimac, Ene y Mantaro (VRAEM) region, known for its cocaine production and decades-long struggle with the communist guerrilla’s organization, Shining Path.
Peru’s Marine Corps provides the country’s primary special forces, these include the Espíritus Negros and Fuerza Delta – their answer to the US’ Rangers and Delta Force. The Peruvian military feels the SCAR-L is the ideal weight for special forces operations in the country’s dense jungle regions.
This is not Peru’s first purchase from the famous Belgium small arms manufacturer having already purchased a number of bullpup F2000 and FN P90 PDWs. The Peruvian regular army is currently armed with a confusing array of infantry rifles in various calibers including M16s, M4s, AKMs, and Galils. In a move to standardize Peru is acquiring over 8,100 FN SCAR-H 7.62x51mm rifles, it deploys as standard issue rifles to some of its front line units. The $31.5 million contact for SCAR-Hs was signed in 2013 and a separate deal was made for 1,640 SCAR-Ls. The new contract brings the Peruvian inventory of 5.56 SCARs to around 3,500 rifles.
FN Herstal is also currently fulfilling another Peruvian military contract to provide the Peruvian Marine Corps with 700 new SCAR-Ls. The purchase of the smaller caliber SCAR-Ls and grenade launchers comes as the Peruvian government steps up its efforts to combat the illegal production of Cocaine in the VRAEM region and tackle increasing attacks from Communist insurgent groups in the area.
Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com
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We've had a LONG relationship with FN regarding small arms; so far we've purchased FN 1906s, 1910s, 1935 "Mausers", 1935 Hipowers, FALs, MAGs, military ammunition of assorted calibers (Mainly 7.65x53mm. for our Mausers) and more recently these rifles.
Are they the best choice? For special forces, maybe; regular troops might be better armed with something not as expensive and "indestructible" like AKs.
Currently Armed forces, included police have been using an assorted hodgepodge of small arms, including North Korean AKMs, AK-47s, HK G-3s, FALs, Galils, Daewoo K2s, and M-16s (Few), along with assorted pistols (Star M-30s, Beretta 92Fs, Jerichos, Sig SP 2220s and old .357 S&W revolvers; add to that a plethora of personal pistols) & SMGs (UZIs, MP-5s and Locally-made MGPs).
Money is FAR from abundant, so a standard or at least reduction on rifle types might be a sound idea. Talking with assorted servicemen that has fought in every theater of our tough geography, usually under pre-WWI logistical conditions and most of them would LOVE the sturdiness of and AK and the punch of a 7.62NATO; few of them are fans of the 5.56 although like its lighter weight vs carried amount ratio.
Shining Path is FAR from being the immediate military menace it was during the '80s; the bands still roaming in the thick, harsh mountain jungle is more related to drug production and traffic, although a bunch of their followers are beginning to show their heads disguised as a political movement, taking advantage of the local socialist "useful idiots" and our bland, soft-bellied democratic ways. For those who wonder, those communist criminals would literally make ISIS cry like little girls.
Parades are for weak unprofessional armies with an inferiority complex. There's a reason you don't see America or Israel doing them.