FAMAS - WikiHQ

The FAMAS (French: Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne, <small>lit. </small>'Assault rifle from the Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory') is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured in France by MAS in 1978.

Beginning in 2017, the FAMAS was replaced in most frontline units in the French Army by the HK416F, and the FAMAS is expected to remain in limited service until 2028.

History

The first French bullpup rifles were developed between 1946 and 1950 at the AME () and MAS, testing rounds such as .30 US Carbine, 7.92×33mm Kurz, 7.65×38mm (Made by Cartoucherie de Valence) and some other intermediate calibres.

Since France was engaged in the First Indochina War at the time and was also the second-largest contributor to NATO, research budgets for new weapons were limited, and priority was given to the modernisation and production of existing service weapons.

Nevertheless, approximately forty different 7.62×51mm NATO calibre prototype rifles were developed between 1952 and 1962, most notably the FA-MAS Type 62. However, the United States' adoption of the M16 rifle and 5.56×45mm cartridge caused the French to rethink their approach, and consequently, the Type 62 was not adopted.

In the 1960s, MAS began to manufacture under licence the Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle and later on the Heckler & Koch HK33 assault rifle as temporary substitutes.

At the same time, the French embraced the idea of developing a new 5.56 mm automatic rifle. However, adopting the German-designed HK33 was considered unsatisfactory for many members of the French high command.

General Marcel Bigeard was also against the idea of relying on foreign weapons. While visiting the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne, he asked the engineers to develop a homemade French 5.56 mm automatic rifle, which subsequently led to the creation and adoption of the FAMAS.

The FAMAS project began in 1967 under the direction of General Paul Tellié (1919-2014) and the first prototype was completed in 1971, with French military evaluation of the rifle beginning in 1972.

Officially, operational conditions proved the weapon to be reliable and trustworthy under combat conditions. It is known affectionally by French troops as "The Bugle" () due to its distinctive shape.

Replacement

thumb|Legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment during a patrol with the new standard-issue assault rifle of the French Armed Forces, the HK416F

In 2017, the French armed forces began retiring the FAMAS in favour of the German-made HK-416.

When the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne (MAS) factory closed in 2002, no more domestic rifles could be made. The last batch of newly produced FAMAS, built in 2002, saw more than a decade of heavy service by 2016. As of 2014, the French armed forces currently use an estimated 400,000 FAMAS F1 and G2 rifles still stored in their arsenal. The military also ceased manufacture of special steel-case ammunition for the FAMAS. In August 2016, the Ministry selected Heckler and Koch's HK416 to replace the FAMAS as the new general-issue service rifle. Under the contract, the new rifle was designated as the HK416F, with 'F' standing for French version. 16,000 rifles will be annually purchased until a final total of 90,000 to 102,000 rifles are delivered. The new rifles are expected to remain in active French service for at least 30 years.

The FAMAS will be issued to the French National Guard and domestic police units, and will continue to serve in reserve and non-combat units until 2028, when a phaseout of the FAMAS with the HK416 can occur.

Design details

Action

thumb|A schematic of the lever-delayed blowback mechanism used in the FAMAS

The FAMAS is a bullpup assault rifle, where the ammunition feed is behind the trigger. The receiver housing is made of a special steel alloy, and the rifle furniture is made of fibreglass.

The FAMAS uses a lever-delayed blowback action, an action type also used in the French AA-52 machine gun derived from the prototypes built during Army Technical Department tests having taken place between the First and Second World Wars.

The FAMAS is known for its high rate of fire of around 900–1,100 rounds per minute.

Using incorrectly built ammunition also results in approximately two minor injuries for every million rounds fired from a FAMAS.

The FAMAS G2 uses M16-type, NATO-compatible 30-round STANAG magazines.

The ammunition specific lever-delayed blowback mechanism of the FAMAS F1 designed around French steel cased ammunition was slightly revised for reliably using 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition.

The FAMAS G2 features a larger trigger guard compared to the F1, a redesigned magwell and magazine catch accepting STANAG magazines, a small hand-guard protrusion (bump) on the front of fore-stock under the muzzle, a 1/9 inch rifling twist, instead of the 1/12 inch rifling twist of the F1.

The FAMAS G2 also included several other upgrades taken from the G1 model, such as an enlarged trigger guard and improved hand guards made from reinforced fiberglass instead of plastic, and also the ability to take standard brass cased ammunition as well as French made steel ammunition.

The French Navy purchased the FAMAS G2 in 1995 and issued it to their Fusiliers Marins and Commandos Marine. However, the French army refused to purchase the G2, preferring to rely on the FAMAS F1 as their primary rifle.

FAMAS Infantry

The FAMAS Infantry is an improvement of the FAMAS F1, obtained by retrofitting an accessory rail onto the top of the handguard. This allows mounting combat optics, most notably reflex sights or the 4×26.4 SCROME J4 telescopic sight.

FAMAS FÉLIN

The FAMAS FÉLIN was developed from the G2 as part of the Infantryman programme with integrated equipment and links (Félin). An improved version of the FAMAS F1 is integrated in the Félin system.

FAMAS Valorisé

A FAMAS F1 whose carry handle has been replaced by the new version intended for the FAMAS Félin, lowered and originally equipped with 2 Picatinny rails.

In addition, the bipod joint has been moved back about ten centimetres and each foot is now bent in 2 points forward, so that in the folded position they do not interfere with the ejection of empty cases.

FAMAS Commando

The FAMAS Commando was a short-barrelled version of the FAMAS G2 for international exports, with a barrel length of 285mm (11.2 in) without the integrated bipod. Prototypes of the weapon differ, with different iron sights and ergonomics.

The FAMAS Commando saw no international interest and only initial prototypes exist and solely kept by the French Ministry of the Interior.

Conflicts

The FAMAS has been used in the following conflicts:

Users

thumb|A Cameroonian soldier patrols with his FAMAS F1

thumb|FAMAS F1 used by Serbian Police Special Forces

thumb|A map with FAMAS users in blue

: G2 types bought in the 1990s for the Amphibious Commando Group.
: Special forces.
: Used by Cambodian troops during the coup in 1997.
: Presidential Guard and Army.
: Used by the GIGN and French Armed Forces since 1979, with over 700,000 rifles purchased. Began to be replaced by the Heckler & Koch HK416 starting in 2017. Also used by several law enforcement agencies.
: Komando Pasukan Katak (KOPASKA) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group.
Iraqi insurgents
: Alassane Ouattara's FRCI are said to have received some FAMAS in 2011 but that claim is disputed.
Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front
: Some captured by Russian troops in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
: On September 14-15, 2023, an unknown number of FAMAS were donated to the Suriname army to help them fight against illegal fishing and gold mining.
: FAMAS F1s used by the Syrian Arab Army, Islamic State and Kurds.
: 1,000 FAMAS delivered by France in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
: Provided by France as military assistance to Vanuatu Mobile Forces to replace their L1A1 Self-Loading Rifles in 2009. Reportedly used FAMAS F1s in 1994.