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After much speculation and competition, FNH wins contract.
The Marine Corps Times reported last week that:
….Earlier this month, the MK-17 – dubbed the SCAR by its Belgian manufacturer FNH – went into “full rate production” making it the first new assault carbine to be purchased by the U.S. military since the M-16 and M-4 rifles went online four decades ago. The rifle is expected to be particularly valuable in situations like those faced by soldiers fighting in Afghanistan, where the weapon’s additional range will provide a significant upgrade.
The new rifle meets Special Operations Command’s, or Socom’s, goal of providing a flexible firearm to special operators that essentially puts the capabilities of five weapons into one, says Maj. Wes Ticer, spokesman for the command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base.
“This is the first modular weapons system, with the first interchangeable barrel, that the operator can change in the field,” Ticer says.
The advantage, says Ticer, is that special operators, who carry as much as 75 pounds of gear in extremely difficult terrain, can now carry a single, lighter weapon that can be used in close quarters or for longer-range shooting. It can also fire the standard 5.56mm bullets now used in the M-4 – the mainstay of special operators – or the larger, 7.62mm bullet, which is more effective at longer distances.
The MK-17 won’t replace the M-4, says Ticer. But it will fill a gap in a lighter-weight weapon that fires the larger rounds.
“There is a capability gap,” says Ticer. Socom, he says, has no assault rifle that can fire the 7.62 round.
“This is smaller and more maneuverable than the existing weapons,” like the M110, the MK-11 and the MK-14 Enhanced Battle Rifle.
At 7.9 pounds with a standard barrel, the MK-17 is 4.5 pounds lighter than the MK-14.
The MK-17 won’t be able to fire both calibers until early next year, when the weapons are outfitted with what is called a “common receiver,” according to FNH Marketing Director Gabe Bailey….
…(read more at NBC)…
Defense Tech has some reaqlly good input on this weapon, to which I post just a bit of the personal opinion here:
….From personal experience, I just gotta say these weapons rock. I fired the SCAR Heavy and Light at FNHs range near Fredericksburg, Va., several months ago and fell particularly in love with the SCAR Heavy. The gas/piston system has a great thunk-thunk mechanical feel to it and the 7.62 caliber heavy packs a heck of a punch. The SCAR Light is easy to fire, very adjustable, and the barrels are easy to interchange — creating basically a whole new weapon for each variation.
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FNH says the Mk-16 and Mk-17 are the first assault rifles to be procured through a full and open competition since the M4/M16 carbines in the 1960s. Both FNH weapons are impressive and well see how the operational tests and initial fielding go. I bet operators who get a chance to test them wont want to give them up. I didnt.
…(read more)…
