FNC

The FN FNC (French: Fabrique Nationale Carabine) assault rifle/Carbine developed by FN Herstal between 1975–1977. Design of the FNC originated from the FN CAL rifle, a conventional layout 5.56 calibre service rifle by design. Having the original prototype being rush produced, the FNC suffered from many mechanical failures, it was withdrawn from the NATO standardization trial at an early stage. An updated prototype was developed during 1981–1982 and took part in a trial hosted by the Swedish Military, which achieved satisfactory feed backs from the both the Swedes and Belgian Army. FNC operates on a gas-operated, rotating bolt mechanism with a long stroke gas piston. Designed to feed from 30-round STANAG magazines, the FNC fires at a rate of 700 rounds per minute, able to reach an effective firing range of up to 400 metres. FNC's fire selector can switch the rifle into semi-automatic, 3-round burst and fully automatic mode of fire. Optical scopes can be mounted on the FNC's receiver mount adapters, FNC's muzzle features a flash suppressor that can mount 22mm rifle grenades and able to fix bayonet, the barrel can also fit a bipod for mounted firing of the weapon. Stock of the FNC can also be folded to the right side. In 1989 the FNC is finally accepted into service of Belgium Army as a standard service rifle, FNC features a shorter barrel carbine variant and a semi-automatic only law enforcement variant. A modified version of the FNC named Ak5 was developed after the trial by the Swedish arms company Bofors Ordnance, which entered service with the Swedish Army. 10,000 units of FNC was also sold to Indonesia where PT Pindad refurbished the FNC for tropical combats, designated as Pindad SS1 and Pindad SS2.