SCAR

The FN SCAR (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle) was designed by Belgian manufacturer FN Herstal in 2004. Development followed a solicitation from the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for a rifle family featuring high commonality of parts and identical ergonomics across different platforms. Production is conducted by FN Manufacturing, LLC in Columbia, South Carolina, for military contracts, while semi-automatic versions for the commercial and law enforcement markets are produced in Herstal, Belgium.

The firearm utilizes a gas-operated short-stroke piston system and a rotating bolt. Its architecture consists of two primary receivers: a one-piece aluminum upper receiver and a polymer lower receiver. The design incorporates an integral, uninterrupted Picatinny rail on the top receiver, supplemented by side and bottom rails for mounting accessories. Ergonomic features include an M16-compatible pistol grip, a flared magazine well, and a folding front sight. The weapon employs a tappet-type closed gas system. The platform is modular, allowing for barrel changes and the attachment of the Mk 13 Mod 0 grenade launcher, which features a side-opening breech and a double-action trigger.

Operational fielding began in April 2009, with the 75th Ranger Regiment being the first unit to deploy the system in combat. The family includes the SCAR-L (Mk 16), SCAR-H (Mk 17), and the Mk 20 Sniper Support Rifle. USSOCOM cancelled the procurement of the Mk 16 in 2010, but the Mk 17 and Mk 20 variants remain in service. Conversion kits were developed to allow the Mk 17 to utilize alternative ammunition types. The rifle has been adopted by various nations, including Belgium, Portugal, and Lithuania, and has seen use in conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine. Other variants include the SCAR-SC subcompact carbine and the Heat Adaptive Modular Rifle (HAMR). In 2026, an update was announced featuring M-LOK rails and a hydraulically buffed bolt carrier.