Firearms / Assault rifles / FNC
FNC
General Facts
- TYPE
Assault rifle - ORIGIN
Belgium
- NICKNAMES
Automatkarbin 5 / Ak 5 (Swedish designation)
SS-1 (Indonesian production) - DESIGNED
1975 - 1977 - DESIGNER
Fabrique Nationale - PRODUCTION
1979 - 1999 (FN)
? - present (Pindad) - PRODUCERS
Belgium - Fabrique Nationale
Licensed production:
Indonesia - Pindad
Sweden - Carl Gustav / Bofors
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Rugged and very reliable
Difficult to mount optics and accessories
Introduction
The FNC is an assault rifle of Belgian origin. It was developed by Fabrique Nationale in the late 1970's. The FNC was developed as a private venture in order follow the trend in the market that switched from the powerful and heavy battle rifles to intermediate power assault rifles. The earlier CAL 5.56x45mm assault rifle that was derived from the famous FAL battle rifle was unsuccessful. FNC stands for Fabrique Nationale Carabine, which is French for Fabrique Nationale carbine.
Design
The FNC was designed with reliability as most important feature. The FNC is gas operated and uses a long stroke gas piston and a rotating bolt. The three position gas valve has a setting for normal use, for adverse conditions and for launching rifle grenades. Except for the handguard and pistol grip the FNC is fully made out of metal. A foldable metal tubular stock is standard but fixed stock models with a plastic stock have also been produced.
Firepower
The FNC fires the 5.56x45mm round from 30 round STANAG magazines. The majority fires the NATO round, although versions for the M193 round have been available. The FNC is a select fire rifle with a 3 round burst option and a cyclic rate of fire of 700 rpm. The effective range is about 400 meters. The FNC has the ability to launch rifle grenades and the Swedish model may be fitted with a M203 grenade launcher.
Users
The FNC was primarily developed for export, but several years after its introduction it also became the Belgian standard issue rifle. The main users are Indonesia and Sweden, who also produced the FNC under license. Various other nations adopted the FNC, mostly non-Western nations with harsh climate conditions. The FNC has been replaced on the production line by the F2000, but remains in widespread use.
FNC Para
The carbine version of the FNC is similar to the full size rifle, except for the length of the barrel. For law enforcement use a different carbine is produced. This carbine has an intermediary barrel length and is semi-automatic only. The Model 7030 uses NATO ammunition and the Model 6040 uses M193 ammunition.
- Specifications:
- FNC Para
- FNC Law Enforcement
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO or M193 |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 650 - 750 rpm |
Barrel length | 363 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm or 305 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | ? |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 911 mm / 667 mm |
Width | 70 mm |
Height | 238 mm |
---|---|
Weight | 3.81 kg |
Sights | Iron sights, post front and flip aperture rear, 250 and 400 m gradations, 513 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO or M193 |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1 |
Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
Barrel length | 410 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm or 305 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | ? |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 958 mm / 727 mm |
Width | 70 mm |
Height | 238 mm |
---|---|
Weight | ? |
Sights | Iron sights, post front and flip aperture rear, 250 and 400 m gradations, 513 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
FNC
The full size version of the FNC is the original version all others were derived from. The vast majority of the FNC are of the Model 2000 type and fire the NATO round while the Model 0000 fires the M193 round. The FNC is capable of launching rifle grenades and mounting a bayonet.
- Specifications:
- FNC
- FNC (fixed butt)
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO or M193 |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 650 - 750 rpm |
Barrel length | 449 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm or 305 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 925 m/s (NATO), 965 m/s (M193) |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 997 mm / 766 mm |
Width | 70 mm |
Height | 238 mm |
---|---|
Weight | 4.01 kg |
Sights | Iron sights, post front and flip aperture rear, 250 and 400 m gradations, 513 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO or M193 |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 650 - 700 rpm |
Barrel length | 449 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm or 305 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 925 m/s (NATO), 965 m/s (M193) |
Stock | Fixed |
Length | 1.014 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | 238 mm |
---|---|
Weight | 4.06 kg |
Sights | Iron sights, post front and flip aperture rear, 250 and 400 m gradations, 513 mm sight radius |
Remarks | - |
Ak 5
The Ak 5 is the Swedish production model of the FNC and is also known as the CGA5. The changes include new plastic forearm, different folding stock, modified gas system, removed 3 round burst option, enlarged trigger guard and various minor modifications. The Ak 5 is the standard version with iron sights. The Ak 5 can also be fitted with the M203 under barrel grenade launcher. When fitted with the M203 it is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Ak 5C, which actually is a product improved model. The Ak 5B is a standard Ak 5 fitted with a SUSAT 4x optical sight and cheekpiece and serves in the designated marksman role.
- Specifications:
- Ak 5
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 650 - 700 rpm |
Barrel length | 450 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 930 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 1.005 mm / 750 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 3.9 kg empty |
Sights | Iron sights, post front and flip aperture rear, 250 and 400 m gradations |
Remarks | - |
Ak 5C
The Ak 5C is a product improved version of the Swedish Ak 5. The various upgrades on the Ak 5C include a retractable buttstock, accessory rails for mounting optics and other attachments, new magazines and a new flash hider, forearm and pistol grip.
- Specifications:
- Ak 5C
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 650 - 700 rpm |
Barrel length | 450 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 930 m/s |
Stock | Retractable |
Length | ? |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | ? |
Sights | Backup iron sight, normally fitted with optics |
Remarks | - |
Ak 5D
The Ak 5D is a subcompact version of the Ak 5. It has a much shorter barrel and handguard and is fitted with accessorry rails on the receiver for mounting optics. A semi-automatic version of the Ak 5D is produced for police use.
- Specifications:
- Ak 5D
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 650 - 700 rpm |
Barrel length | 250 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | ? |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 815 mm / 555 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 3.3 kg empty |
Sights | No iron sights, normally fitted with optics |
Remarks | - |
SS-1
The FNC is produced under license in Indonesia as the SS1. The first variants are similar to the Belgium models, later variants have been developed locally. The Indonesian models differ in minute details from the Belgian ones.
SS1-V1: FNC with folding stock.
SS1-V2: FNC Para.
SS1-V3: FNC with fixed plastic stock.
SS1-V4: SS1-V1 with optical sight.
SS1-V5: Subcompact FNC with shorter barrel and forearm.
SBC-1: Semi-automatic version of the SS1-V5.
SS1-M1: SS1-V1 with different finish for marine use. The M2 and M5 models are V2 and V5 models with similar finish.
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 720 - 760 rpm |
Barrel length | 449 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | ? |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 997 mm / 766 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 3.9 kg |
Sights | Iron sights |
Remarks | - |
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 720 - 760 rpm |
Barrel length | 363 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | ? |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 890 mm / 666 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 4.0 kg |
Sights | Iron sights |
Remarks | - |
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
Magazine | 30 rounds |
Operation | Gas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
Rate of fire | 720 - 760 rpm |
Barrel length | 252 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | ? |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 770 mm / 552 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 3.4 kg |
Sights | Iron sights |
Remarks | - |