The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) recently awarded a $6.34 million contract for the Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) to the U.S.based division of FN Herstal. Historically known as Fabrique Nationale, the Belgian gun maker developed a number of John M. Browning's guns from concept to production, not the least of which was the Browning M2 .50 caliber heavy machinegun and the P35 Hi-Power pistol.
SO COM awarded an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract after conducting a full and open competition throughout 10 months beginning in January 2004. The program will provide the first 21st century modular assault rifle designed and built from the ground up for the unique needs of Special Forces operators. The SCAR will be made at FN's South Carolina plant.
Troy Smith, Program Manager, Special Operations Forces, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), the center conducting the testing, said, "I am pleased to announce this partnership with FN Herstal. This company has a long and successful history of designing and manufacturing weapons that make a difference, having made the Mk 46, Mk 48, the M249, M240 and the .50 caliber M2/M3 machineguns.

"We are very excited to continue that legacy with this award and the SCAR program. As we all know, modularity is the key to flexibility. The SCAR Heavy comes not a moment too soon- with less weight, increased lethality, reduced maintenance and logistics burdens."
The SCAR H, a 7.62mm assault rifle, replaces the M14 and Mk11. The SCAR L, a 5.56mm assault rifle, replaces the M4A1and Mk12.

Both variants of the SCAR will have three barrel lengths. The SCAR barrel change allows operators to best tailor the weapon for each mission, using the standard barrel, a shorter CQB barrel or a heavy-profile "sniper" barrel. These changes
will affect the velocity and directly relate to lethality.
The key idea of the SCAR rifle system is that it will provide the Special Forces operators with wide variety of options, from short-barreled SCAR urban combat variations to long-range .308 counter sniper variants, as well as 7.62x39 SCARs that will accept "battlefield pickup" AK -47/ AKM magazines.

Modularity also allows operators to choose the right time for these tradeoffs. Changes in configurations are made by switching the entire upper receiver. These variants, regardless of caliber and configuration, will provide the operator with the same controls layout, handling and maintenance procedures. Accessory equipment, such as sights, scopes, Weapon Lights, laser sights and NVDs, all attach via the same Picatinny rails on every system. There is more than 90 percent commonality between the SCAR L and H versions.

The SCAR rifles are based on FN's proven FNC assault rifle. Like the FNC, all SCAR rifles feature gas operated, long-stroke piston actions with a rotating bolt.
The action has a Kalashnikov AK type bolt with two large locking lugs and a fixed ejector. With a long stroke gas piston system, the FN design is less sensitive to fine sand, dust and any other fouling inside the receiver than the gas operated M16-type rotary multi-lug bolt and plunger-type ejector.
The SCAR receiver, like the FNC, is made from two parts, upper and lower, connected with two cross pins. Both parts are made from aluminum alloy and stamped steel.
The SCAR H system also will have different lower receivers, adapted to various types of ammunition and various types of magazines, the M14 and AK magazines, respectively. SCAR L rifles will use improved M16-type magazines.

The trigger unit comes with an ambidextrous safety-fire mode selector switches with no provisions for limited-length bursts mode.
The charging handle can be easily installed on either side of the weapon, so the upper receiver has respective cuts on both sides.

The upper receiver is a flat-top style covered by a full-length integral Picatinny rail. Picatinny rails also are mounted on both sides and below the hand guard.
A side-folding polymer butt stock, derived from the FN FAL, is adjustable for length of pull, and is shaped to provide a positive cheek rest. SCAR rifles apparently will be fitted with removable, adjustable iron sights, with folding diopter-type rear sights on the receiver rail, and folding front sights on the gas block. Current prototypes of SCAR rifles do not have bayonet mounts and probably never will have.




From the article in combat tatics.

Ken RSA

Quoted: What a hideous piece of crap.  All the little bells and whistles seem to be just another liability to break and hang off.  The buttstock looks too damn bulky to be a decent folder too.  One plus is if you took the cheekweld piece off, it would make a kick ass AR stock (either collapsing or fixed)

What bells and whistles?

Mark my words. Within a few years, you will all want a SCAR variant.