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The Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) is a gas-operated (short-stroke gas piston)〔 self-loading rifle with a rotating bolt and its firing rate is 625 rounds/min.〔 It is constructed to be extremely modular, including barrel change to switch between calibres. The rifle was developed by FN Herstal (FNH) for the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition.〔Humphries, Michael. (FN's SCAR: A Cut Above ), ''American Rifleman'', July 2009.〕 This family of rifles consist of two main types. The SCAR-L, for "light", is chambered in the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and the SCAR-H, for "heavy", fires 7.62×51mm NATO. Both are available in ''Long Barrel'' and ''Close Quarters Combat'' variants. The FN SCAR systems completed low rate initial production testing in June 2007.〔(Defense Tech: Meet the SCAR )〕 After some delays, the first rifles began being issued to operational units in April 2009, and a battalion of the US 75th Ranger Regiment was the first large unit deployed into combat with 600 of the rifles in 2009.〔(75th Rangers will take SCAR to War ), Matthew Cox, Army Times, 12 May 2009〕 The US Special Operations Command later cancelled their purchase of the Mark 16 (or MK 16) SCAR-L and planned to remove the rifle from their inventory by 2013. However, they will continue to purchase the Mk 17 SCAR-H version, and also plan to purchase 5.56 mm conversion kits for the Mk 17, supplanting the loss of the Mk 16.〔http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2011SOFIC/Wed1015Rms24_25Carley.pdf〕 As of early 2015, the FN SCAR is in service in over 20 countries around the world.〔http://fnherstal.com/primary-menu/news/press-releases/2015/idex-2015.html〕 ==Overview== The SCAR is manufactured in two main versions; Light (SCAR-L, Mk 16 Mod 0) and Heavy (SCAR-H, Mk 17 Mod 0). The L version fires 5.56×45mm NATO using improved STANAG (M16) magazines. The H fires the more powerful 7.62×51mm NATO from a newly designed 20-round magazine. Different length barrels will be available for close quarters battle and for longer-range engagements. The initial solicitation indicated that the SCAR-H would also be chambered for the 7.62×39mm M43 Kalashnikov cartridge and 6.8×43mm Remington SPC cartridge. However, FN is not currently offering other calibers. The Mk 16 Mod 0 was intended to replace the M4A1, the Mk 18 CQBR and the Mk 12 SPR currently in SOCOM service, before SOCOM decided to cancel the order for the Mk 16 Mod 0 (see below). The Mk 17 Mod 0 will replace the M14 and Mk 11 sniper rifles. However, the weapon will only supplement other weapons while issuing remains at the operator's decision. The Mk 20 Sniper Support Rifle is based on the 7.62mm Mk 17 rifle. It includes a longer receiver, a beefed up barrel extension and barrel profile to reduce whip and improve accuracy, and an enhanced modular trigger that can be configured for single-stage or two-stage operation together with either a folding or a non-folding precision stock. The SCAR has two receivers: The lower is constructed of polymer, and the upper receiver is one piece and constructed of aluminum.〔(Cartridges and Firearm Identification, Advances in materials science and engineering ), p295, by Robert E. Walker, Publisher CRC Press, 2012, ISBN 9781466502062〕 The SCAR features an integral, uninterrupted Picatinny rail on the top of the aluminium receiver, two removable side rails and a bottom one that can mount any MIL-STD-1913 compliant accessories. It has a polymer lower receiver with an M16 compatible pistol grip, flared magazine well, and raised area around magazine and bolt release buttons. The front sight flips down for unobstructed use of optics and accessories. The rifle uses a 'tappet' type of closed gas system much like the M1 Carbine while the bolt carrier otherwise resembles the Stoner 63 or Heckler & Koch G36. The SCAR is built at the FN Manufacturing, LLC plant in Columbia, South Carolina, in the United States. Since 2008, FN Herstal has been offering semi-automatic versions of the SCAR rifles for commercial and law enforcement use. These are dubbed the 16S (Light) and 17S (Heavy), and are manufactured in Herstal, Belgium and imported by FNH USA, Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=SCAR Semi-auto )〕 FNH USA slightly modifies the rifles (supplying a U.S. made magazine and machining a pin in the magazine well) to be in compliance with U.S. Code before selling them. In July 2007, the US Army announced a limited competition between the M4 carbine, FN SCAR, HK416, and the previously-shelved HK XM8. Ten examples of each of the four competitors were involved. During the testing, 6,000 rounds apiece were fired from each of the carbines in an "extreme dust environment". The purpose of the shootoff was to assess future needs, not to select a replacement for the M4.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Army Agrees to M4 Sand Test Shoot-Off )〕 During the test, the SCAR suffered 226 stoppages. Since a percentage of each weapons' stoppages were caused by magazine failures, the FN SCAR, XM8 and HK 416 performed statistically similarly.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Newer carbines outperform M4 in dust test )〕 The FN SCAR ranked second to the XM8 with 127 stoppages, but with fewer stoppages compared to the M4 with 882 stoppages and the HK 416 with 233. This test was based on two previous systems assessments that were conducted using the M4 Carbine and M16 rifle at Aberdeen Proving Ground in 2006 and the summer of 2007 before the third limited competition in the fall of 2007. The 2006 test focused only on the M4 and M16. The Summer 2007 test had only the M4, but increased lubrication. Results from the second test resulted in a total of 307 stoppages for the M4 after lubrication was increased, but did not explain why the M4 suffered 882 stoppages with that same level of lubrication in the third test.〔〔(Defense Tech: ...And Here's the Rest of the M4 Story )〕 The SCAR was one of the weapons displayed to U.S. Army officials during an invitation-only Industry Day on 13 November 2008. The goal of the Industry Day was to review current carbine technology for any situation prior to writing formal requirements for a future replacement for the M4 carbine.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Army considers options in replacing the M4 – Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「FN SCAR」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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