FAMAS

FAMAS
Schematics of a FAMAS rifles
Type	Bullpup assault rifle
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1981–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	See Conflicts
Production history
Designer	Paul Tellie[1]
Designed	1967–1971
Manufacturer	Nexter
Unit cost	F1: 1500 € G2: 3000 €
Produced	F1: 1975–2000 G2: 1994–2000
Number built	F1: 400,000
Variants	F1 G1 G2 FAMAS Export FAMAS Civil FAMAS Commando
Specifications
Weight	3.61 kg (7.96 lb) ("FAMAS F1") 3.8 kg (8.4 lb) ("FAMAS G2")
Length	757 mm (29.8 in) 965 mm (38.0 in) with bayonet
Barrel length	488 mm (19.2 in) ("F1/G2") 405 mm (15.9 in) ("G2 Commando") 320 mm (12.6 in) ("G2 SMG") 620 mm (24.4 in) ("G2 Sniper")
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Lever-delayed blowback
Rate of fire	900–1000 rounds/min ("F1") 1000–1100 rounds/min ("G2")
Muzzle velocity	960 m/s (3,100 ft/s) ("F1") 925 m/s (3,030 ft/s) ("G2")
Effective firing range	300 m ("F1") 450 m ("G2")
Maximum firing range	3200 meters
Feed system	25-round detachable box magazine ("F1") 30-round detachable box magazine (STANAG) ("G2")
Sights	Rear aperture fitted with tritium night inserts, front post

The FAMAS (French: Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne or "Assault Rifle from the Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory") is a bullpup-styled assault rifle designed and manufactured in France by MAS located in Saint-Étienne, which is now a member of the French government-owned Nexter group. It is the service rifle of the French military.

History

The first French bullpup rifles were developed between 1946 and 1950 at the AME (Atelier Mécanique de Mulhouse) and MAS, testing rounds such as .30 US Carbine, 7.92×33mm Kurz, 7.65×38mm (Made by Cartoucherie de Valence) and some other intermediate calibers. Since France was engaged in the First Indochina War at the time, and was also the second-largest contributor to NATO, the research budgets for new types of weapons were limited and priority was given to the modernization and production of existing service weapons. Nevertheless, approximately forty different 7.62×51mm NATO caliber prototype rifles were developed between 1952 and 1962, most notably the FA-MAS Type 62. However, the United States adoption of the M16 rifle and 5.56×45mm cartridge caused the French to rethink their approach, and consequently the Type 62 was not adopted.^[2][3][4][5]

Cutaway of the muzzle of a FAMAS F1 on display at the Weapons Department in the Museum of Art and Industry in Saint-Étienne, France.

In the 1960s, MAS began to manufacture under license the Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle and later on the Heckler & Koch HK33 assault rifle as temporary substitutes. At the same time, the French embraced the idea of developing a new 5.56 mm automatic rifle. However, simply adopting the German-designed HK33 rifle was considered unsatisfactory for many members of the French high command. General Marcel Bigeard was also against the idea of relying on foreign weapons; while visiting the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne, he asked the engineers to develop a homemade French 5.56 mm automatic rifle, which subsequently led to the creation and adoption of the FAMAS.

The FAMAS project began in 1967 under the direction of General Paul Tellié and the first prototype was completed in 1971, with French military evaluation of the rifle beginning in 1972.^[1] When production problems delayed the general issue of the new rifles, and with the 1978 Battle of Kolwezi showing an immediate need for a more modern weapon, the French Army began searching for an emergency temporary rifle until the FAMAS came into full production. While the Heckler & Koch HK33 was considered, with a batch of 1,200 examples tested, it was ultimately turned down in favor of the SIG SG 540, built under license by Manurhin, until enough domestically-built FAMAS rifles were produced to issue to French forces. In late 1978, the French military accepted the FAMAS as their standard-issue rifle.

After adoption, the FAMAS F1 replaced both the aging MAS 49/56 rifle and MAT-49 submachine gun. Approximately 400,000 FAMAS F1 assault rifles were produced by MAS. While a capable rifle, the F1 had numerous problems to overcome. For instance, many plastic pieces on the rifle easily broke, including critical parts like the cheek riser on the buttstock. The FAMAS was also susceptible to malfunction on occasion because of poorly-built magazines. The FAMAS was also designed around the concept of single-use, disposable magazines; when the limited budget of the French military forced soldiers to reuse disposable magazines over and over, the FAMAS would jam and require immediate attention. MAS would eventually manufacture more durable magazines for the FAMAS that reduced malfunctions.

The F1 was followed by the G1 version that included several minor improvements, such as redesigned grips and an enlarged trigger guard for operation with gloves. However, the G1 remained conceptual and was never actually produced.

FAMAS G2

The FAMAS G2 was developed in 1994 to comply with NATO standards by accepting standard NATO magazines and by employing tighter barrel rifling to accurately fire both older 5.56 mm 55 gr (3.6 g) ammunition and new standard 5.56mm NATO 62gr ammo. The G2 also included several other upgrades taken from the G1 model, such as an enlarged trigger guard and improved hand guards made from reinforced fiberglass instead of plastic. The French Navy purchased the FAMAS G2 in 1995 and issued it to their Fusiliers Marins and Commandos Marine. However, the French army refused to purchase the G2, preferring to rely on the FAMAS F1 as their primary rifle.

Views of different versions of the FAMAS
FAMAS F1 with bayonet  FAMAS-G2 with bayonet The G2 features - a larger trigger guard - a STANAG magazine - a small hand-guard protrusion (bump) on the front of fore-stock under the muzzle - a 1/9 rifling, instead of the 1/12 rifling of the F1

FAMAS Infanterie

The FAMAS Infanterie is an improvement of the FAMAS F1, obtained by retrofiting an accessory rail onto the top of the handguard. This allows mounting combat optics, most notably reflex sights or the 4× magnification SCROME J4 scope.

MAS .223

During the late 1980s, Century Arms imported a very small number of semi-automatic FAMAS rifles into the United States. However, due to poor sales, production and importation ceased and the existing number are not only extremely rare but cost in the range of $10,000 with no spare parts available on the market.

Design details

Action

A schematic of the lever-delayed blowback mechanism used in the FAMAS assault rifle.

The FAMAS assault rifle is a bullpup configuration, with the ammunition feed behind the trigger. The receiver housing is made of a special steel alloy, and the rifle furniture is made of fiberglass. The rifle uses a lever-delayed blowback action, an action used on the AA-52 machine gun derived from the prototypes built during Army Technical Department tests having taken place between the First and Second World Wars.

Ergonomics

Fire mode is controlled by a selector within the trigger guard, with three settings: safe (central position), single shot (to the right), and automatic fire (to the left). Automatic fire can be in three-shot bursts (rafale) or fully automatic; this is determined by another selector, located under the housing and behind the magazine.

The FAMAS G2 weighs 3.8 kg (8.38 lb). The G1 and G2 have a large, grip-length trigger-guard like a Steyr AUG to allow easy access to the trigger when wearing gloves.

Both F1 and G2 models of the FAMAS feature a bipod attached to the upper hand-guard.

The FAMAS-G2 and some F1 sport a "polyvalent hand-guard" which features a standard NATO Accessory Rail, allowing a variety of sights to be mounted, notably red dot sights and night vision units.

1. Rubber buttpad
2. Removable stock
3. Cheek rest. Can be reversed for right or left-handed shooter.
4. Mobile assembly and ejection port
5. Pins
6. Bipod
7. Handguard
8. Charging Handle
9. Grenade launcher sight
10. Grenade support
11. Muzzle brake/22 mm rifle grenade launcher
12. Barrel
13. Fire control selector: Safety, semi-automatic, automatic
14. Trigger
15. Magazine release
16. Magazine block (safety device)
17. Serial number
18. (right): 3-round burst or full automatic selector
    (left): Sling ring

Ammunition

Soldier of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment using FAMAS Infanterie upgraded with an Aimpoint red dot sight

The FAMAS uses a delayed blowback operating system that functions best with French-specified steel-casing 5.56x45mm ammunition. Using standard brass-casing 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition employed by other armies can create over-pressure and case ruptures in the FAMAS, which can lead to severe malfunctions.^[6] Using incorrectly built ammunition also results in approximately two minor injuries for every million rounds fired from a FAMAS.^[6] As a result, the French military has discreetly banned the use of foreign-produced ammunition in all French-issued FAMAS rifles.^[6]

The FAMAS F1 uses a proprietary 25-round magazine. It has a chrome-lined barrel with 1 turn in 12 inch (1:12 inch) rifling and functions best with the 55 gr (3.6 g) (M193 type) ammunition. When using the French made 5.56 mm 55 gr (3.6 g) ammo it has a muzzle velocity of 3,150 ft/s (960 m/s).^[7]

The FAMAS G2 uses M16-type, NATO-compatible 30-round STANAG magazines.^[7] It has a chrome-lined barrel with 1 turn in 9 inch (1:9 inch) rifling and functions equally well with both the older 55 gr (3.6 g) (M193 type) ammo and the newer 62 gr (4.0 g) (SS109 type) ammo.^[7] When using the French made 5.56 mm 62 gr (4.0 g) ammo it has a muzzle velocity of 3,035 ft/s (925 m/s).^[7]

During training with blank ammunition, a special plug is added to the muzzle of the FAMAS. This plug is necessary for automatic or semi-automatic blank fire operation, and functions by blocking part of the gas used in a blank bullet.

Rifle grenades

The FAMAS can use a variety of rifle grenades up to 500 grammes. Notable examples include the antipersonnel APAV40 and the antitank AC58.

Alidade for direct fire of the APAV 40 grenade

The FAMAS features two alidades for aiming rifle grenades with several modes:

• direct fire at 75 or 100 metres, in anti-vehicle role
• indirect fire, in anti-personnel role:
  • with the FAMAS inclined by 45°, allowing fire from 120 to 340 metres
  • with the FAMAS inclined by 74°, allowing fire from 60 to 170 metres

In indirect fire mode the grenade support (more exactly named "grenade enforcement ring" in French) is moved forwards or backwards on the barrel which has markings (12/13?). This changes the position of the grenade on the barrel and automatically the volume of the chamber in which the gas expands to push the grenade forward. Each position of the grenade support has a number which is multiplied by a certain fixed number depending on the alidade position, 45° or 75°; this will accurately indicate the firing distance of the grenade.

The FAMAS can also accommodate an external grenade launcher as an add-on module under the hand guard; the US M203 grenade launcher is sometimes used.

Service

Improved FAMAS F1 Félin system

The FAMAS first saw service in Chad during Operation Manta and again in desert operations during Operation Desert Storm and in other various peacekeeping missions. Officially, operational conditions proved the weapon to be reliable and trustworthy under combat conditions. The FAMAS is affectionately known by French-speaking troops as le Clairon ("the Bugle") because of its shape. An improved version of the FAMAS F1 is integrated in the Félin system.

Senegal and the United Arab Emirates received a small number of FAMAS F1 rifles from France,^[8] though it was unknown when they received them. Djibouti uses this weapon in its military as the standard infantry weapon. The Philippines also received a limited number and is used by the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.^[9]

Conflicts

The FAMAS has been used in the following conflicts:

Future replacement

The French armed forces are still using F1 series rifles, some produced as early as 1979. With the closing of the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne (MAS) factory in 2002, the newest produced FAMAS rifles were over a decade old in 2016. The French armed forces currently use an estimated 400,000 FAMAS F1 and G1 rifles in their arsenal.^[16] The military also ceased manufacture of special steel-case ammunition for the FAMAS.^[17] Because the FAMAS did not function properly with NATO standard brass-cased ammunition,^[17] coupled with concerns about the age of existing weapons, the French military sought a replacement for their standard issue FAMAS rifle.

HK416N

On May 2014, the French Ministère de la Défense announced a European Union-wide tender for 90,000 rifles and carbines to be issued across the entire French armed forces.^[18] On August 2016, the Ministère de la Défense selected Heckler and Koch's HK416 rifle to replace the FAMAS as the new general-issue service rifle.^[19][20] Under the French contract, the new rifle is to be designated as the HK416F, with 'F' designating the France version of the rifle.^[21] 16,000 rifles will be annually purchased until a final total of 90,000 to 101,000 rifles are delivered. Upon issue, the new rifles are expected to be in French service for at least 30 years.^[20][22]

Users

•  Argentina: Used by a few units of the amphibious and tactical divers of the Argentinian navy.^[23]
•  Djibouti^[24]
•  France: Used by the French Armed Forces since 1979, with over 700,000 rifles purchased.^[11] Also used by several law enforcement agencies.^[11]
•  Gabon^[8]
•  Indonesia: Komando Pasukan Katak (KOPASKA) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group.^[25]
•  Lebanon^[24]
•  Papua New Guinea^[26][27]
•  Philippines: Used by the Philippine National Police and Special Action Force.
•  Senegal^[8]
•  Serbia: Used by the police special forces unit PTJ (Counter-Terrorist Unit), and formerly used by JSO (Special Operations Unit).
•  Tunisia: Used by the Tunisian Presidential Guard.
•  United Arab Emirates^[10]
•  Vanuatu^[28]

See also

• List of bullpup firearms
• List of assault rifles

Sources and references

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FAMAS.

• Official Nexter FAMAS page
• Buddy Hinton FAMAS Photo Collection
• FELIN article, with FAMAS pictured as part of FELIN system
• Modern Firearms
• REMTEK
• FAMAS

Manual

• Nazarian's Gun's Recognition Guide (MANUAL) FAMAS .223 Manual (.pdf)

Delayed blowback firearms
Lever Delayed	AA-52 Benelli B76 Cristóbal Carbine Danuvia 43M Dlugov FAMAS FN Five-seven FNAB-43 Garanin MAC-58 Sterling 7.62 ST Kinetics CPW TKB-517
Roller Delayed	Calico M960 CEAM Modèle 1950 CETME Ameli CETME rifle CETME Model L HK G3 HK G41 HK MP5 HK P9 HK PSG-1 HK SR9 HK UCP HK21 HK33 HK43 PTR 91F SIG 510 SIG MG 710 SRM Arms Model 1216 StG 45(M)
Gas Delayed	Arsenal P-M02 Grossfuss Sturmgewehr Heckler & Koch P7 M-77B Steyr GB Volkssturmgewehr 1-5 Walther CCP
Hesitation Locked	M50 Reising Remington Model 51 Remington Model 53 Remington R51 SIG MKMS
Primer Actuated	Clarke carbine Garand Model 1919
Flywheel Delayed	Barnitzke machine gun MGD PM-9
Vector Delayed	KRISS Vector

Bullpup firearms
Rifles	A-91 Advanced Individual Combat Weapon Armtech C30R ASh-12.7 BMCR Bushmaster M17S EM-2 EM-4 EMERK FAMAS FB MSBS FN F2000 Heckler & Koch G11 HS Produkt VHS IWI Tavor IWI X95 Interdynamics MKR K-3 KAL1 GPIR Kel-Tec RDB Kel-Tec RFB KH-2002 L64/65 L85 L98 LA-1 LA-4 LAPA FA-03 Magpul PDR MAS-54B Model 45A NIVA XM1970 Norinco Type 86S OTs-14 Groza PAPOP QBZ-95 S&T Daewoo XK8 SA80 SAR 21 Sieg SLEM-1 Steyr ACR Steyr AUG TKB-011 TKB-0146 TKB-022PM TKB-059 TKB-408 Type 11 Valmet M82 VB Berapi LP06 Vektor CR-21 Vepr W+F C42 (Stgw 90 "kurz Version C 2") Walther G22
Carbines	AGM-1 L22 Thorneycroft
Machine guns	L86 LSW Pecheneg Bullpup QBB-95 SAR 21 LMG Steyr AUG HBAR Steyr AUG LMG Steyr AUG LMG-T
Submachine guns	FN P90 IWI X95 SMG JS 9 mm QCW-05 Steyr AUG Para Steyr AUG A3 Para XS
Handguns	Bushmaster Arm Pistol Remington XP-100
Sniper rifles	Bor Desert Tactical Arms Stealth Recon Scout SVU DSR-Precision GmbH DSR-1 M89SR OTs-48K QBU-88 VSSK Vykhlop Walther WA 2000
Anti-materiel rifles	Barrett M90 Barrett M95 Barrett XM500 Denel NTW-20 DSR-Precision GmbH DSR-50 Falcon Gepárd KSVK Mambi MICOR Leader 50 RT-20 Solothurn S-18/100 Solothurn S-18/1000 Solothurn S-18/1100 Steyr IWS 2000 WKW Wilk
Shotguns	ENARM Pentagun Franchi mod .410 Heckler & Koch HK CAWS High Standard Model 10 Kel-Tec KSG Kushnapup KS-23K Mossberg 500/590 Bullpup NeoStead 2000 Pancor Jackhammer UTAS UTS-15
Other	ADS amphibious rifle S&T Daewoo K11 Special Purpose Individual Weapon XM25 CDTE XM29 OICW