FN SCAR

FN SCAR
United States Navy SEAL with SCAR-H
Type	Assault rifle (SCAR-L) Battle rifle (SCAR-H) Sniper rifle/Designated marksman rifle (SSR) Personal defense weapon (SCAR PDW)
Place of origin	Belgium United States
Service history
In service	2009–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Afghanistan War Iraq War Central African Republic Conflict
Production history
Designer	FN Herstal
Designed	2004
Manufacturer	FN Herstal
Produced	2004–present
Variants	SCAR-L (Mk 16 Mod 0) SCAR-H (Mk 17 Mod 0) SSR (Mk 20 Mod 0)
Specifications
Weight	3.04 kg (6.7 lb) (SCAR-L Short) 3.29 kg (7.3 lb) (SCAR-L Standard) 3.49 kg (7.7 lb) (SCAR-L FT) 3.49 kg (7.7 lb) (SCAR-H Short) 3.58 kg (7.9 lb) (SCAR-H Standard) 3.72 kg (8.2 lb) (SCAR-H FT) 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) (SCAR PDW) 4.85 kg (10.7 lb) (Mk 20 SSR)
Length	787 mm (31.0 in) stock extended, 533 mm (21.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-L CQC) 889 mm (35.0 in) stock extended, 635 mm (25.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-L Standard) 990 mm (39 in) stock extended, 736 mm (29.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-L Long) 889 mm (35.0 in) stock extended, 635 mm (25.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-H CQC) 965 mm (38.0 in) stock extended, 711 mm (28.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-H Standard) 1,067 mm (42.0 in) stock extended, 813 mm (32.0 in) stock folded (SCAR-H Long) 632 mm (24.9 in) stock extended, 521 mm (20.5 in) stock collapsed (SCAR PDW) 1,080 mm (43 in) stock extended, 1,029 mm (40.5 in) stock collapsed (Mk 20 SSR)
Barrel length	254 mm (10.0 in) (SCAR-L Short) 355 mm (14.0 in) (SCAR-L Standard) 457 mm (18.0 in) (SCAR-L Long) 330 mm (13 in) (SCAR-H Short) 400 mm (16 in) (SCAR-H Standard) 500 mm (20 in) (SCAR-H Long) 171.45 mm (6.750 in) (SCAR PDW) 508 mm (20.0 in) (Mk 20 SSR)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO (SCAR-L), 7.62x51mm NATO .260 Remington 5.56x45mm NATO 7.62x39mm 5.45x39mm .300 Blackout (SCAR-H)
Action	Gas-operated (short-stroke gas piston),rotating bolt
Rate of fire	625 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	SCAR-L: 2,870 ft/s (870 m/s) (M855) SCAR-L: 2,630 ft/s (800 m/s) (Mk 262) SCAR-H: 2,342 ft/s (714 m/s) (M80)
Effective firing range	SCAR-L: 300 m (330 yd) (Short), 500 m (550 yd) (Standard), 600 m (660 yd) (Long) SCAR-H: 300 m (330 yd) (Short), 600 m (660 yd) (Standard), 800 m (870 yd) (Long)
Feed system	SCAR-L: STANAG box magazine SCAR-H/SSR: 20-round box magazine
Sights	Iron sights or various optics

The Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) is a gas-operated (short-stroke gas piston) self-loading rifle with a rotating bolt and a firing rate of 625 rounds/min. It is constructed to be extremely modular, including barrel change to switch between calibers. The rifle was developed by FN Herstal (FNH) 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 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and the SCAR-H, for "heavy", fires 7.62×51mm 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 into combat with 600 of the rifles in 2009. The US Special Operations Command later cancelled their purchase of the Mark 16 (or MK 16) SCAR-L and planned to remove the rifle from their inventory by 2013. However, they will continue to purchase the Mk 17 SCAR-H version, and also plan to purchase 5.56 mm conversion kits for the Mk 17, supplanting the loss of the Mk 16.

As of early 2015, the FN SCAR is in service in over 20 countries.

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 5.56×45mm NATO using improved STANAG (M16) magazines. The H fires the more powerful 7.62×51mm 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 7.62×39mm M43 Kalashnikov cartridge and 6.8×43mm Remington SPC cartridge. However, FN is not currently offering other calibers. The default magazine facilitates 20x20Caliber rounds.