1889-1950

Founded in Herstal, Belgium, the Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (FN) was launched by the region's most highly respected gunmakers from the Liege area that already had a five century old tradition of designing and manufacturing firearms. FN's first mission: to manufacture 150,000 Mauser rifles for the Belgian government.

A rifle is powerless without ammunition. And so, two years later, the FN cartridge factory was established in Belgium to manufacture ammunition for the Mauser rifle and to provide Belgium's military forces with the firepower they needed.

 

Mauser

Just before the turn of the century, in 1897, FN first partnered with John Moses BrowningBrowning continues to be regarded as one of the greatest firearms inventors in history. He is credited with designing the original 9mm High Power automatic handgun (known as the GP in French), of which one million have been manufactured by FN since 1935. Truly committed to his craft, JM Browning designed a series of well known and widely used pistols, from the Model 1900, through the Models 1910 and 10/22 to the High Power that was completed after his death.

In the 1920s the partnership between Browning and FN Herstal bore one of its signature firearms - the BAR™ automatic rifle. This was followed in the 1930s, by the legendary .50 cal (12.7mm) M2HB heavy machine gun, still widely used today. Mountable on either a tripod or a wide variety of vehicles, boats and ships, the M2HB continues to be regarded as one of the finest firearms ever made.

BAR

1950-1999

In the fifties, FN participated in the development of the 7.62x51mm cartridge, which became the first official NATO caliber. FN then designed, developed and manufactured what would become the most successful rifle in this caliber: the FN FAL™ light automatic rifle. Due to its great success with military customers worldwide and immense popularity with civilian users in the US, with two million units produced, this firearm became known as ‘right arm of the free world’. 

Partnering the FN FAL™’s success was the belt-fed FN MAG® General Purpose Machine Gun (U.S. M240 series). Since its launch, the FN MAG® has been adopted by over 90 countries and deployed under many different names. This includes the MAG58, M240, L7A2 and the C6, Ksp58. But whatever the name, every M240 has provided its bearer with the same reliability and firepower for which it continues to be renowned.

FN MAG

 

FN FAL

In the seventies, FN developed the 5.56x45mm SS109 round. This was also later adopted by NATO as its second official caliber in 1981 and deployed along with the FN MINIMI® light machine gun. The FN MINIMI® (U.S. M249) has since been deployed by military forces in over 70 countries across the globe, including most present day NATO armies.

Always innovating to meet market demand, in the 1980s FN developed a simple yet effective modification for the Browning .50 cal (12.7mm) M2HB heavy machine gun - a Quick Change Barrel (FN QCB™). This was launched on the firearm’s 50th anniversary, reflecting the durability of the original design. Along with complete QCB machine guns, FN supplied quick conversion kits to ensure the many thousands of M2HB machine guns already in service around the world could benefit from the enhancement. This is still the case today.

Drawing on its success in developing machine guns, FN started to integrate them on helicopters or subsonic aircraft as podded or pintle-mounted systems - featuring the 7.62x51mm FN MAG® or .50 cal FN M3™ (U.S. GAU-21). Over 3,000 carriers are now equipped with FN integrated airborne weapon systems that give them the firepower advantage in any scenario. Later developments included integration of machine guns on land and naval carriers as well.

FN RMP

 

 

FN MINIMI

In its continuing pursuit of pushing the boundaries in firearms innovation, FN Herstal (renamed following the founding of the Herstal Group in 1989) in the nineties introduced the 5.7x28mm cartridge, together with the FN P90® submachine gun and the  FN Five-seveN® handgun. This new caliber was later recommended by NATO as the PDW caliber, and is still in service in over 40 countries worldwide today.

FN P90

2000-2009

At the beginning of the 21st century, FN Herstal launched an ambidextrous and modular bullpup assault rifle: the FN F2000®. This is available in either Standard or Tactical version, with an underslung 40mm LV grenade launcher or a standard handguard.

Since the early 1990's, FN Herstal has been developing less lethal solutions for crowd control, policing and peacekeeping operations.
In 2003 the FN 303® less lethal launcher system was released. Launching specially designed projectiles, it provides military, law enforcement and special forces with a viable alternative to lethal force for neutralizing suspects with maximum effectiveness yet minimum risk.

Alongside these new products, FN Herstal co-designed and co-developed the ARROWS® remote weapon station. This station can be equipped with either an FN 7.62mm or a .50 cal machine gun, offering heavy firepower yet total protection for the gunner, who can operate it from within a vehicle protected from enemy fire.

In 2006, FN Herstal expanded its famous FN MINIMI® machine gun range. This is now available in 7.62x51mm caliber to meet the market demand for a lightweight machine gun that combines the mobility of the FN MINIMI® 5.56 with the range and firepower of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge.

FN F2000

FN 303

FN MINIMI

Mid 2008, FN Herstal introduced the FN SCAR® assault rifles. These are chambered for either the 5.56x45mm or 7.62x51mm caliber and the 40x46mm enhanced grenade launcher module (underbarrel or stand-alone use).


These have been adopted by the US Special Operations Forces under the following U.S. designations: MK16, MK17 and MK13 respectively.


Both the 5.56mm and 7.62mm platforms are available with a short (CQC) or standard barrel, both of which are quickly interchangeable. They feature a foldable buttstock adjustable in length and height. Today, the FN SCAR® is used by the most demanding combat units in the most challenging operations throughout the world.

Alongside the FN SCAR®FN Herstal developed a lightweight remote weapon station: the deFNder® Light. This is capable of housing three different FN Herstal infantry machine guns: the FN MINIMI® 5.56, the FN MINIMI® 7.62 or the FN MAG®. All of these can be mounted with unique elevation and depression angles to provide the gunner with the perfect trajectory. The deFNder® Light would prove to be just the first of many configurations of the deFNder® family of remote weapon stations.

At the end of 2009, FN Herstal unveiled two innovative products under the FN Armatronics™ line of products that integrate electronics into portable firearms. The FN FCU™ fire control unit, for precise aiming of 40mm grenades, was a joint development between FN Herstal and Noptel, a Finnish company specialising in optoelectronics. Noptel would become part of FN Herstal in 2011.

At the end of 2009, FN Herstal unveiled two innovative products under the FN Armatronics™ line of products that integrate electronics into portable firearms. The FN FCU™ fire control unit, for precise aiming of 40mm grenades, was a joint development between FN Herstal and Noptel, a Finnish company specialising in optoelectronics. Noptel would become part of FN Herstal in 2011.

FN SCAR

 

 

deFNder® Light

 

 

FN FCU

From 2010 until today

2010 proved to be an extraordinarily productive year for FN Herstal, with a large number of developments unveiled at the Eurosatory Trade Show, Paris. This included the Medium Vehicle Pintle (FN MVP™), a lightweight, compact weapon system designed for land or naval applications. The FN MVP™ houses the unique .50 cal FN M3M™ (GAU-21) machine gun, to provide an unparalleled firing rate of 1,100 rounds per minute. The deFNder® family continued its growth with the newly-developed medium weight remote weapon station, the deFNder®.

FN Herstal further expanded its less lethal product line, with the compact FN 303 P™ less lethal launcher. This consolidated its position at the forefront in the development of less lethal solutions. Military and law enforcement operators can now choose between a compact and shoulder-fired launcher, both of which can fire FN 303® less lethal projectiles, to pacify any situation with less risk to the target and the user.

In 2011, FN Herstal introduced the new FN SCAR®-H PR Precision Rifle, derived from the modern and modular FN SCAR® architecture. This rifle will be joined the following year by a Tactical variant, featuring a fixed sniper-type buttstock for precise adjustments in length and height.

In 2014, FN Herstal unveiled its FN e-novation™ line. This provides innovative, state-of-the art solutions integrating modern technology with state-of-the-art weapons to provide enhanced combat, logistical, maintenance, and communication capabilities. The former FN Armatronics™ products now form part of this range. On the weapons systems front, FN Herstal’s innovation continues.

FN Herstal unveiled the third member of the deFNder® RWS: the Sea deFNder®. A variant of the land deFNder® Medium, it is specifically designed for use by Navy and coastguard forces for gaining the upper hand in countering smuggling, piracy and other potentially volatile situations.

Since its inception in 1889, FN Herstal has developed and manufactured high quality and reliable firearms and weapon systems with a single goal in mind: exceeding the ever-evolving expectations of our customers and partners. Our commitment to this tradition finds expression in every new product we design, develop and manufacture.

deFNder® Medium

 

Sea deFNder®

 

 

Five-seveN

 

   
   

 

 

Source: http://www.fnherstal.com