Special Operations Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR)

5.56mm is now the EX-16 and will later be the MK-16.
The 7.62mm is now the EX-17 and will later be the MK-17.

FACT SHEET – SCAR IMPROVEMENTS OVER LEGACY WEAPONS

Background

The USSOCOM awarded the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for the United States Special Operations Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) after conducting a full and open competition throughout ten months beginning in January 2004.  FN Herstal won the contract award. The program will provide the first 21st century reliable modular assault rifle designed and built from the ground up for the finest fighting forces in the world.  The SCAR will be U.S.-made in South Carolina. The $634K (FY05) contract is set to begin immediately and will be managed by USSOCOM.

Begun with the joint operational requirement document on September 10, 2003, the SCAR program was:
 Conducted in a full and open competition
 Operator envisioned, tested and chosen with full operator involvement 
 Developed to provide the flexibility to match the way operations of today are conducted - with an increased need for modularity and reliability that reduces maintenance and weight carried by Operators.

SCAR focused on best in class performance approach focused on:
 Reliability
 Reduced Life Cycle Costs
 35K Round Barrel Life
 90K Round System Service Life
 Barrel and Caliber Modularity
 Use of Future Enhanced Calibers
 100% Ergonomic Compatibility Between Calibers
 90% Parts Compatibility Between SCAR Variants
 Over the Beach Capabilities

Below are specific improvements with the SCAR: 
Stock improvements, pistol grip, safety mechanism, magazine release, bolt release, charging handle, monolithic rail and frame, low cyclic rate, barrel changes, caliber changes & enhanced ammunition line.

Stock Improvements:

The 4 combined features listed below, (when combined) on the same stock have never been fielded on assault rifles.

 Folding stock – is the capability that allows operators to have a shorter (overall) length weapon. Operators can fire the weapon with the stock folded and they can conceal the weapon under clothing or in smaller bags. Operators can get into and out of vehicles with greater ease and less friction – this is especially an improvement over longer weapons they are replacing like the Mark 12.  The folding stock will also aid the operators in conducting parachute operations, helicopter infiltrations (fastrope) and various other missions.
o Shorter and more compact
o More applicable to more situations
o Answers an immediate combat need

Telescoping – is the capability on the stock that allows operators to tailor the length of their weapon to the optimum for their individual body size (draw length) even when wearing different equipment like body armor. Adjusting the draw length is also important when firing from different positions such as:  kneeling, sitting, standing, prone (either supported or unsupported).  Adjusting the draw length to the optimum position will allow the operators to be more effective (smoother, quicker, and more comfortable). It will also allow the sight picture to be acquired more quickly .
o Optimized length to body size
o Optimized length to adjust for various types of equipment
o Adjustable for various firing positions

 Adjustable cheek piece – is the capability to set the proper height of eye alignment to various weapons sights to SOPMOD or other acquired sights. This also aids the operators in acquiring sights quickly and repetitively from the various firing positions.
o Memory feature for repeating same cheek weld
o Facilitates quick proper eye alignment
o Enables quick response

 Sloped cheek piece (drop angle) – is the capability that allows operators to do minute adjustments to eye relief and eye alignment without changing the cheek piece height. This will vary based on the type of sights that the operator has mounted. 
o Fine tune eye relief within millimeters
o Fine tune cheek weld within millimeters
o First time on carbine (Goes up under adjustable cheek piece).

Pistol Grip

The SCAR pistol grip is optimized for all sizes of hands. Anthropometrical measurements were used to determine the best design. Options for modular adaptors are available for operators with larger hands. This will optimize the grip for each individual.

o Better grip means better control
o Smooth engagement of safety, magazine release and trigger
o Optimized per individual for individual hand size

Safety Mechanism

The SCAR safety mechanism is optimized for easy engagement of the safety.  Operators will have no more than a 90-degree throw of the safety mechanism, from safe to semi-automatic, automatic and return to safe.  This is different from today’s 180-degree arc throw.  The angle of safety has changed to allow simple engagement and disengagement of mechanism in safe, semi and auto with the firing hand thumb, while still gripping the pistol grip.  The SCAR is optimized for all hand sizes and has ambidextrous use – the safety is located on both sides of the gun - a very important characteristic, especially when Operators are injured.

o Used in all positions while gripping the weapon
o Smoother, more rapid engagements
o Ambidextrous use

Magazine Release

The SCAR magazine release is ambidextrous and optimized for all hand sizes and protected from accidental engagement. This means that just like the safety mechanism, the magazine release is located on both sides of the gun.

Bolt Release

The SCAR bolt release is ambidextrous and optimized for all hand sizes. This means that just like the safety mechanism and the magazine release, the bolt release is located on both sides of the gun.  It is designed to be activated with “gross” motor skills…that is to say with the slap of the whole hand, similar to the M4.

Charging Handle

The SCAR charging handle is ambidextrous and serves as a forward assist mechanism and back up bolt release.

Monolithic Rail and Frame

The SCAR monolithic (one continuous piece) rail and frame allows full use of all SOPMOD-related sighting systems.  This allows for a free floated barrel for improved accuracy.  The system also incorporates the barrel change screws that enable Operator level barrel change in approximately four minutes.

Low Cyclic Rate

The SCAR’s low cyclic rate allows firing on automatic to be more controlled and precise. It also allows single, double or multiple shots in the automatic setting. The probability of hit is greatly improved over the current assault rifles.

Barrel Changes

The SCAR barrel change allows Operators to best tailor the weapon for each operation, using the “standard”, the Close Quarters Combat (CQC) or “sniper” barrels. These changes will affect the velocity and directly relate to the “lethality”, but it allows for Operators to choose the right time for these tradeoffs.

Long Barrel = Higher Velocity and generally slower engagement…depending on the task. 
Shorter Barrels = Lower Velocity, and generally faster engagements…depending on the task.

Caliber Changes & Enhanced Ammunition Line

This is the first time an assault (CQC) standard or sniper rifle platform has been developed from the beginning with plans for multiple calibers.  Currently (January 05) this weapon exists in 5.56 mm, 7.62 x 51 mm (in early developmental prototype form) and is planned for other calibers, including the 7.62 x 39 mm.  This allows excellent flexibility for all SOF applications.

FN SCAR in CQC (Close Quarter Combat, short barrel) configuration, 7.62x51 mm NATO version

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