#FNHerstal

Last week TFB travelled to the UK’s largest defense exposition, Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), where we took a look at some of the newest small arms technology – including FN Herstal’s new EVOLYS. Officially unveiled in May, DSEI 2021 is the first major event where the FN EVOLYS has been on display for the public to handle. On its launch FN Herstal hailed it as a ‘new chapter’ but some asked what set it apart from the battle-tested FN Minimi light machine gun, which FN continue to upgrade and offer for sale.

The Norwegian Armed Forces just awarded FN Herstal with a multi-year contract to supply up to 4,000 FN MINIMI 7.62 Mk3 Light Machine Guns. In association with this order is also a supply of spare parts over a 7-year period and maintenance and support equipment over a 20-year period. This gives you an idea of the lifespan of a product like machine guns. It will be interesting to see which country will be the first to adapt FN’s new Evolys?

FN Herstal continues to develop their series of less lethal launchers with a compact and modular version of the FN 303 Tactical. The launcher uses a light, durable polymer chassis with a variety of buttstocks and pistol grips that are easily and quickly interchangeable. The FN 303 Tactical uses a more compact compressed air tank which is refillable. It comes with semi-auto fire which is said to produce no noise, flash or recoil. The magazine holds 15 rounds. The Tactical model does not exceed 508mm (20″) in length when folded, and you can still launch projectiles if needed in a confined space for instance.

Photo Of The Day – We’re happy to see that the life of exhibitions is going back to normal. FN Herstal are exhibiting at DEFEA 2021 in Greece next week. There are no real new firearms to be exhibited, but FN Herstal attached a few really nice photos to their press release for us to enjoy. Their highlights will be the FN SCAR family of rifles, the 5.7x28mm weapon systems, the FN MINIMI and the FN MAG machine guns. They will also show their Sea deFNder remote weapon system.

In case you missed it,  FN Herstal has a new ultralight machine gun called EVOLYS. The weight for the 5.56mm is just 5.5 kilograms and 6 kg for the 7.62mm. Compared to the FN Minimi and similar competitors, it is up to 30% lighter, and as you know, low weight is one of the most important factors when it comes to moving from A to B. We managed to find some new pictures of FN EVOLYS, perfect for our Photo Of The Day.

Born in the 1970s, the Belgian FN FNC (Fabrique Nationale Carabine) was adopted by the Belgian Armed Forces in 1989 to replace the FN FAL. It is now being phased out and replaced by FN SCARs. The FNC was also adopted by the Swedish Armed Forces, and it is still in use. Sweden calls their version the Ak5, and you can find more information about it here. The FNC uses a gas-operated long-stroke piston system with a rotating bolt locking mechanism, and I’ve spent quite a lot of time cleaning them. The lower receiver is made from aluminum alloy while the upper uses stamped steel.

For a few weeks, the Belgian company FN Herstal have been promoting an event called: “A New Chapter Begins“. As you know, the company already provides an extensive range of firearms for use in the ground role, or mounted on vehicles, ships and aircraft from 5.56mm cal to .50 cal machine guns.

Thirty-five years after it was invented, the 5.7x28mm caliber is now standardized by NATO. The new standardization comes after the 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm calibers, which were both designed by FN Herstal, and standardized by NATO in 1957 and 1981 respectively. Two other NATO calibers are the 9x19mm NATO and the 12.7x99mm NATO. The main use for the 5.7x28mm is for handguns and Personal Defense Weapons (PDW) like the FN P90.

With IDEX 2021, the first major international defence exhibition of the year coming up in Abu Dhabi later this month, FN Herstal have announced a pair of improved machine gun mounts for land and sea vehicles. The FN M3M WM (Weapon Mount) and the FN Light MWM (Multi Weapon Mount).

FN Herstal has recently been commissioned by The German Bundeswehr to supply heavy machine guns for their fleet of NH90 helicopters. The NH Industries NH90 is a medium, twin-engined helicopter for multi-role military missions, and has seen combat in Mali, for instance.

The SCAR rifles from FN Herstal are being used by several French units. For instance, the FN SCAR-SC is used by an unnamed unit and recently the French Army selected the SCAR-H PR with an S&B riflescope and Night/Thermal Vision as their next DMR/Sniper Rifle. However the French Commando Units have been using the FN SCAR before this, and this is the subject of our Photo Of The Day.

Belgium’s own Fabrique Nationale Herstal, known as FN Herstal or simply FN for short, has produced some phenomenal and highly successful guns over its 131 year history. From their contributions in the handgun market with pistols like the Hi-Power and Five-Seven, to rifles like the P90 and SCAR series – and many more – FN has made some memorable guns.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense is looking for a Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) via their Defence Materiel Organisation.

The French Army has selected the SCAR-H PR as their new Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle.

TFB’s Photo Of The Day and we are looking (above) at a Green Beret assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), as he fires an MK17 SCAR-H rifle.