End of an Era: FN SCAR Discontinued

Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal has halted production of the FN SCAR family of rifles – a line that, for more than 15 years, stood among the world’s most recognizable combat weapons.

FN America confirmed the decision in a social media post, stating that the rifles were discontinued due to a lack of demand.

Initially developed in 2004 at the request of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the FN SCAR (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle) was designed to be a modular, reliable, and highly adaptable weapon for the modern battlefield.

The family included several variants: the SCAR‑L (Light), chambered for 5.56×45 NATO; the SCAR‑H (Heavy), chambered for 7.62×51 NATO; the SCAR‑SC (Subcompact) for close‑quarters engagements; and the precision‑oriented SCAR 20S sniper variant.

The militaries of the United States, France, Belgium, Poland, Ukraine, and other countries use the FN SCAR rifles. They proved themselves in combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and other theaters of military operations.

One of the SCAR’s key advantages was its modularity: a user could change the barrel length, caliber, stock, and mounted accessories without special tools.

This modularity enabled the weapon to be tailored for a wide range of missions, from close-quarters assault to precision sniper support.
The SCAR-L weighed approximately 3.3 kg and had a rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute. The SCAR-H, a heavier model chambered for a more powerful cartridge, offered an effective range of up to 800 meters.

During the 2010s, FN Herstal actively promoted the SCAR on the civilian market, especially in the United States, where the SCAR 17S gained popularity among sport shooters and collectors. However, over time, demand waned as competition from newer platforms grew.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces also use FN F2000 rifles.

In 2022, Ukraine received 10,000 rifles from Belgium, including SCAR-L and FNC models.