FAMAC

FAMAC
File:FAMAS F1 G 2.png A FAMAC F1 (top) and FAMAC G2 (bottom)
Type	Bullpup Assault Rifle
Place of origin	Notreceau
Service history
In service	1981–present
Used by	Notreceau
Production history
Designed	1967-1980
Manufacturer	MAC
Unit cost	F1 $1500, G1 $3000, G2 $3400, G3 $3600
Produced	F1 1974-1994, G2 1992-2010, G3 2010-Present
No. built	500,000
Variants	F1, G2, G3, FAMAC SIGI, FAMAC Civil, FAMAC Commando, FAMAC TE
Specifications
Weight	3.61kg
Length	757mm
Cartridge	7.5x43mm
Action	Lever-delayed blowback
Rate of fire	900-1000 rounds/min (F1) 1000-1100 rounds/min (G2/G3)
Muzzle velocity	840m/s
Effective firing range	300 meters (F1), 420 meters (G2) 500 meters (G3)
Maximum firing range	3,200 meters
Feed system	25 and 30 round magazines
Sights	Iron, Rear aperture fitted with tritium night inserts, front post Issued with a 2.5x or 4x magnified optic

The FAMAC (Fusil d'Assault de la Manufacture d'Armes de Châtouge, in English "Assault Rifle from the Châtouge Weapon Factory") is a bullpup style assault rifle designed and manufactured in Notreceau by MAC. The FAMAC entered development in 1967 but was repeatedly delayed as a result of the war with Transnapistan and was not officially approved for service until 1981. The FAMAC competed with the FCMAC M77 to replace the MAC 47, and after winning the contract, was adopted as the service rifle of all Notreceauen forces. Since entering service in 1981 the rifle has been modernized three and still serves as the primary service weapon for all branches of the Notreceauen military.

History

Following combat experience in the Les Terreurs conflicts and the Fourth Peninsular War against Temuair in the 1960s, the DDRD (Department of Defense Research and Development) determined that the large caliber and low ammunition count of the MAC 47 were creating a significant combat drawback for Notreceauen troops in the field compared to the rebels in Overseas Notreceau who were equipped with a series of intermediate caliber assault rifles. In order to address this deficiency the DDRD decided to move forward with plans to adopt an intermediate-caliber automatic assault rifle to serve as the service weapon for Notreceauen troops.

Originally the DDRD floated the idea of contracting a foreign supplier to build and provide rifles for the Notreceauen military, but this idea received significant backlash from members of the Department of the Army as well as Marshal Nathan Favreau who ultimately declined to seek a foreigner supplier. In response the DDRD visited with plant engineers at MAC and put forward a request for the development of a domestic assault rifle chambered in 7.5x43mm ultimately leading to the creation and adoption of the FAMAC.

The FAMAC project began in 1967 under the direction of General Thomas Lévesque, and the first prototype being completed in 1971 with Notreceauen testing beginning in 1972. Following a two year field combat testing cycle in which the FAMAC was deployed with the 10th Parachute Division and experienced combat in Lieuaban, the FAMAC was approved for general production and adopted as the primary service rifle of the Notreceauen military in 1974. The first batch of orders for the rifle were delivered in October of that year and were used to equip line units along the Aisling border.

After adoption the FAMAC F1 replaced both the ageing MAC 47 rifle and the MAP 49 submachine gun. Approximately 700,000 FAMAC F1 rifles assault rifles were produced by MAC for service in the Notreceauen military and export customers. While the FAMAC was a capable rifle and viewed as a substantial improvement over the MAC 47 early model F1 variants did have several crucial issues. The original magazine designed for the FAMAC was intended as a single-use disposable magazine, however because of the situation on the Aisling border and numerous foreign deployment missions soldiers often had to reuse magazines resulting in jams that required immediate clearing of the rifle by hand. Likewise the plastic furniture of the rifle was prone to breaking under adverse conditions. MAC designed a more durable and reusable magazine in 1979.

The F1 was followed by the G1 version in 1979 that included several minor improvements and upgrades over the original design including an enlarged trigger guard for operation with gloves and redesigned furniture and grips. Ultimately the G1 was not adopted, dying in the prototype stage due to funding concerns.

FAMAC G2

The FAMAC G2 was developed in 1990 as part of a small arms modernization program instituted by the DDRD to address the issues of the F1 rifle. The G2 variant employed tighter barrel rifling in order to more accurately fire older surplus ammunition and account for the increased performance of newer ammunition entering service at the same time. The G2 also featured many of the proposed upgrades offered in the G1 model including the enlarged trigger guard, hand guards made from reinforced fiberglass to replace the F1's plastic and a top handguard mounted rail that was issued with the VALOME X4 four times magnification optic. The Notreceauen Army, Navy and Air force purchased the G2 model in 1993 and issued it throughout their respective services. The Notreceauen National Defense Force opted to keep their F1 models and would continue to use them until adopting both the G2 and G3 variants in 2010.

Design

The FAMAC utilizes a lever-delayed blowback action in a bullpup configuration wherein the ammunition is fed from behind the trigger. The FAMAC's action is a direct development of the MAP 54 GPMG's action which in turn resulted from the various blowback prototype rifles developed in the 1950s under the guidance of the DDRD.

The FAMAC F1's furniture was constructed out of plastic, however the G2 and G3 both utilize reinforced fiberglass furniture providing greater reliability and sturdier construction. The fire selector is located within the trigger guard and allows for three fire modes (safe: right position, single: central position, and automatic: left position.) A secondary fire selector is located behind the magazine well which controls the type of automatic fire (three-round burst or fully-automatic). Beginning with the G2 the FAMAC features an integrated handguard with top mounted rail system for the attachment of optics. The handguard on the F1, G2 and G3 also features an integrated folding bipod.

Alidade sights for direct firing rifle grenades from the FAMAC F1.

The FAMAC F1 was issued with disposable 25 round magazines however later developments in the F1s life cycle saw the issuing of 25 round magazines that were purpose designed for reuse. Beginning with the G2 the newer models of the FAMAC can accept both the old 25 round and new 30 round magazines. All variants of the FAMAC are capable of firing a variety of Notreceauen rifle grenades including the GFI 40 anti infantry grenade and the GFB 58 anti armor grenade. The FAMAC features two alidades for aiming rifle grenades in both direct and in-direct fire. During in-direct fire of rifle grenades the grenade enforcement ring is moved forward or upward on the barrel to adjust the volume of gas released during firing which, in conjunction with the firing angle (45° or 75°) of the rifle, determines the range the grenade will travel.

Beginning with the G2 the FAMAC can also support the Dispositif de lancement de grenades indépendant 40 (DLGI 40/Independent Grenade Launching Device 40mm) under-barrel grenade launcher which is mounted under the handguard.

The FAMAC is chambered in the proprietary 7.5x43mm round in brass casings. The FAMAC F1 utilized a chrome-lined barrel with 1 turn in 12 inch (1:12 inch) rifling. Beginning with the FAMAC G2 the chrome-lined barrel was manufactured with 1 turn in 9 inch (1:9 inch) rifling. The muzzle velocity when fired from the FAMAC F1 is 820m/s (2690ft/s) and 835m/s (2739ft/s) when fired from the G2 with 100 grain loads. Hot, cold, and various other types of ammunition loads including enhanced penetrators, tracers, standard ball, and etc. exist and are usable within the FAMAC system.

Variants

FAMAC F1: First production variant. Phased into reserve units of the National Army, still in heavy use with National Defense Force Units.

FAMAC G2: Upgraded version introduced in 1990 that replaced the F1 in service with the Army, Navy and Airforce in 1993 and the F1 as the standard service rifle with the National Defense Force in 2010. Features fiberglass furniture that replaced the plastic furniture of the F1, an integrated weapons rail mounted on top of the hand guard, and new proprietary 30 round magazines. The G2 also features an enlarged trigger guard for use with gloves, a tighter 1:9 inch rifling on the barrel and came standard issued with a 4x magnification optic.

FAMAC G3:

FAMAC SIGI: Version of the FAMAC G2, G3 and TE, specially adapted to function with the Système Intégré de Gestion d'Infanterie (Integrated Infantry Management System) combat system. The SIGI features a man-machine interface that feeds combat information and live video directly into the broader Lien de Bataille system as well as the individual soldiers personal heads-up-display. The integrated sight features light intensifying and features both a day and night imager. This system allows for blind firing from cover, while the sight itself features a 4x magnification with added eye relief for ease of use. Slated to replace all other FAMAC variants as integration of the SIGI continues.

FAMAC TE: Tireur d'élite (Sniper). Version of the G2 and G3 modified with a longer barrel and enhanced rifling to yield greater accuracy at range. Designed to be used as either a spotter weapon or designated marksman rifle with enhanced range ammunition.

FAMAC Civil: Civilian variant of the F1 produced with no capability for automatic fire and available in a variety of intermediate calibers.

FAMAC Commando: Shortened version of the F1, G2 and G3. Issued to special forces units for use in close quarters combat.

Operators

• Notreceau
  • Notreceauen Military: Versions of the FAMAC G2 and G3 in service with all branches of the military. F1 variants in use with reserve and gendarme units.