FN FNC

FN FNC
FNC rifle equipped with a bayonet.
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Belgium
Service history
In service	1979–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Anti-guerrilla operations in Indonesia Somali Civil War War in Afghanistan Conflict in the Niger Delta 2007 Lebanon conflict
Production history
Designer	FN Herstal
Designed	1975–77
Manufacturer	FN Herstal Bofors Carl Gustaf PT Pindad
Produced	1979–1999
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	Rifle: 3.840 kg (8.47 lb) Carbine: 3.7 kg (8.2 lb)
Length	Rifle: 997 mm (39.3 in) stock extended / 766 mm (30.2 in) stock folded Carbine: 911 mm (35.9 in) stock extended / 667 mm (26.3 in) stock folded
Barrel length	Rifle: 449 mm (17.7 in) (rifle) Carbine: 363 mm (14.3 in)
Width	70 mm (2.8 in) stock extended 75 mm (3.0 in) stock folded
Height	238 mm (9.4 in)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated long-stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	Approx. 700 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	M193: 965 m/s (3,166 ft/s) SS109: 925 m/s (3,034.8 ft/s)
Effective firing range	250–400 m sight adjustments
Maximum firing range	450 m
Feed system	30-round detachable STANAG box magazine (standard issue) or other STANAG magazines
Sights	Rear flip aperture, front post 513 mm (20.2 in) sight radius (standard rifle)

The FN FNC (French: Fabrique Nationale Carabine) is a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed by the Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal and introduced in the late 1970s.

The rifle was developed between 1975–1977 for NATO standardization trials. The rifle’s design is based on the FNC 76 prototype, which itself originated from the commercially unsuccessful FN CAL rifle. This prototype was soon withdrawn from the NATO competition after performing poorly due to its rushed development. Later trials for the Swedish Armed Forces held between 1981–1982 using updated prototypes proved the utility and efficiency of the design, impressing both the Swedish military and Belgian Army staff back at home. The FNC was finally adopted by the Belgian Armed Forces in 1989, as a service-wide replacement for the 7.62×51mm NATO FN FAL, after having been issued in small numbers to airborne infantry units for several years.

Indonesia purchased approximately 10,000 rifles in 1982 for its air force, and later acquired a license to manufacture these rifles for all branches of the armed forces. These are built by the Indonesian firm PT Pindad as the Pindad SS1 and Pindad SS2. A version of the FNC adapted for arctic conditions was adopted in 1986 as the standard service rifle of the Swedish Armed Forces (with the designation Ak 5) and is used in relatively small numbers by a number of other armies and police organizations.