8/17/2010

After a lengthy testing and evaluation period, which included news of cancellations and a response from the manufacturer, United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has approved full rate production of the FN SCAR family of rifles, which includes the MK 16 rifle, the MK 17 rifle and the MK 13 grenade launcher.

This news comes months after SOCOM supposedly announced the cancellation of the MK 16 portion of its program. The SCAR MK 16 is the 5.56 mm-chambered version of the rifle.

The decision to replace the current special forces rifle was reached in 2004 and was the first of its kind since the M16 trials in the 1960s; the announcement today represents the culmination of that decision, during which time FN was selected as the manufacturing firm and their SCAR line of rifles underwent thorough testing in a number of harsh environments, with a collective total of more than 2 million rounds put through the test rifles—the most extensive trial in U.S. small arms history.

The FN SCAR platform was chosen, aside from ruggedness, for its modularity, ergonomics and ease of maintenance. Offering up the MK 16 in 5.56 mm and the MK 17 in 7.62 mm, the family of rifles had not only different calibers, but three different interchangable barrel lengths of 13, 16 and 20 inches for each rifle, as well, allowing it to be deployed in a variety of combat roles. In addition to the rifles, the MK 13 grenade launcher is able to be fitted to either rifle or used as a stand-alone arm, giving the system flexability which few others offered.

To see what the American Rifleman staff thought of the FN SCAR, read Glenn Gilbert's full review, "FN's SCAR: A Cut Above."