Fabrique Nationale FN FNC

Assault Rifle / Assault Carbine [ 1978 ]

The FN FNC was an improved form of the ultimately abandoned FN CAL - both of 5.56x45mm NATO caliber.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/19/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image courtesy of the United States Department of Defense.

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The Fabrique Nationale FNC ("Fusil Nouveau Type Carabine") emerged from the commercial failure that was the FN CAL. The FN CAL was, itself, a scaled-down version of the hugely popular FN FAL which debuted in the early 1950s and was chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO-standard, full-powered rifle cartridge. The FN CAL was itself chambered for the smaller 5.56x45mm NATO intermediate rifle cartridge and retained the same gas-operated system. Unlike the FAL, however, which utilized a tilting breechblock design, the CAL was furnished with a rotating bolt action. However, there proved too few buyers in the now-crowded 5.56mm market for a relatively expensive assault carbine and this forced FN to drop the line in 1975 in favor of a more refined, modified version that became the improved "FNC".

Design work on the FNC spanned from 1975 to 1977, producing the "FNC 76" prototype, which saw production begin in 1979 (reportedly continuing today, 2014). The FNC was originally scheduled to partake in the important NATO trials of 1977-1980 to settle on a standardized assault rifle for participating nations (the NATO endorsement would have been tremendous) however the FNC was a product too early in its development phase to prove competitive enough, being promptly removed from the trials in short order. Once finalized with its issues ironed out, the weapon was formally adopted by the Belgian Army in 1989. Initial issue was to Belgian paratroopers prior to issuance to the main force and two versions were accepted - the full length FMC M2 and the carbine-minded FNC M3. These replaced the aged and outgoing line of FN FALs then in service.

At its core, the rifle remained a highly-conventional assault system of the same form and function as the CAL it replaced. It retained use of the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge but instead was fed through a standard 30-round curved, detachable box magazine (unlike the 20-round count of the preceding CAL). The action was appropriately contained in a metal receiver which incorporated the angled pistol grip and trigger unit, the charging handle and ejection port and magazine feed just ahead of the trigger. The stock was typically skeletal to save on weight and hinged to fold over the receiver for a more compact profile though a solid stock was also made available. Bayonet support was added for close quarters work not requiring firing of the weapon. As in the FAL and CAL before it, the FNC situated its gas cylinder over the barrel and its barrel featured a perforated muzzle brake (supporting the launching of NATO-standard grenades). Two different rifled barrels allow for the firing of the Belgian SS109 bullet or the American M193 bullet. Iron sights were afforded the operator through a rear flip-up type aperture combined with a front post. Effective range of the weapon was up to 400 meters when properly sighted. Rate-of-fire was up to 675 rounds per minute with a 3,160 feet per second muzzle velocity. Overall weight of the standard rifle was 8.5lbs with a 40 inch overall length (30 inches with stock collapsed).

The standard rifle version was known to FN as "Standard Model 2000" while the assault carbine became the "Short Model 7000". Both were largely similar to one another save for dimensions and weight. The carbine weighed a handier 8lbs with an overall length of 36 inches and a collapsed length of 26 inches. It s barrel was also 14.3 inches long compared to the 17.7 inches of the standard FNC rifle. Law enforcement versions of both forms existed though these came with a semi-automatic-only firing function.

Sweden had adopted the FNC in 1986 and secured a local production license through Bofors Carl Gustav. FNCs were known in the Swedish inventory as the "Automatkarbin 5" ("Ak 5"). Having purchased a quantitative stock of FNC rifles in 1982, Indonesia, similarly followed suit and began local production of the FNC as the "SS1" by Pindad. In time, an improved form appeared in the "SS2". Rounding out the list of FNC global operators were the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mongolia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tonga and Venezuela. Despite the rather contained list, its reach still proved considerably longer than that of the failed CAL.

The FNC still sees operational service today (2014).©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1978

Origin

Belgium

Classification

Assault Rifle / Assault Carbine

Fabrique Nationale de Herstal - Belgium; Bofors Ordnance - Sweden; PT Pindad - Indonesia

(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)

Belgium; Democratic Republic of Congo; Indonesia; Mongolia; Nigeria; Sri Lanka; Sweden; Tonga; Venezuela

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Automatic Function
Features a mechanical function to automate the firing action.

✓ Assault Rifle
Modern class of long gun featuring select-fire properties, automatic internal function, and magazine feeding.

Overall Length

997 mm
39.25 in

Barrel Length

449 mm
17.68 in

Empty Wgt

8.38 lb
3.80 kg

Sights

Iron Front and Rear; Optional Optics

Action

Gas-Operated; Rotating Bolt

Rotating Bolt
System utilizes internal mechanism to lock the breech or rear barrel assembly prior to firing.

Gas-Operated
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

Caliber(s)*

5.56x45mm NATO

Sample Visuals**

Graphical image of a 5.56mm intermediate rifle cartridge

Rounds / Feed

30-Round Detachable Box Magazine

*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.

Max Eff.Range

1,300 ft
(396 m | 433 yd)

Rate-of-Fire

650
rds/min

Muzzle Velocity

3,160 ft/sec
(963 m/sec)

FNC ("Fusil Nouveau Type Carabine") - Base Series Designation.

FNC M2 - Belgian Army rifle form

FNC M3 - Belgian Army carbine form

Standard Model 2000 - Rifle Form

Short Model 7000 - Carbine Form

Model 7030 - Law Enforcement rifle variant; semi-automatic fire only.

Model 6040 - Law Enforcement carbine variant; semi-automatic fire only.

Ak 5 - Swedish Army Designation of FNC Model 2000

Ak 5B - Swedish variant; sans iron sights; support got 4x SUSAT optics.

Ak 5c - Swedish "modularized" variant

Ak 5D - Swedish compact form intended for vehicle crews and confined-space fighting.

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