FN EVOLYS
| FN EVOLYS | |
|---|---|
| Type | General purpose machine gun |
| Place of origin | Belgium |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | FN Herstal |
| Produced | Since 2021 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | ± 5.5 kg (5.56 mm) ± 6.2 kg (7.62 mm) |
| Length | Fully extended: 950mm (37.40") Fully retracted: 850mm (33.46") (5.56 mm) Fully extended: 1,025mm (40.35") Fully retracted: 925mm (36.42") (7.62 mm) |
| Barrel length | 355mm (14") (5.56 mm) 406mm (16") (7.62 mm) |
| Width | 133 mm (5.56 mm) 135 mm (7.62 mm) |
| Caliber | 5.56×45mm NATO 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action | Gas operated short-stroke piston, open bolt |
| Rate of fire | Cyclic rate: 750 RPM |
| Maximum firing range | 800 m (5.56 mm) 1000 m (7.62 mm) |
| Feed system | 100 or 200 round ammunition belt (5.56 mm) 50 round ammunition belt (7.62 mm) |
| References | [1][2] |
The FN EVOLYS is a general purpose machine gun designed by FN Herstal, chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition. It is produced since 2021. The EVOLYS was designed to be lighter and more ergonomic than other machine guns, such as the FN Minimi.
History
On 22 April 2021, FN Herstal created a teaser trailer, showcasing a new machine gun with the title "A New Chapter Begins".[3] On May 6, FN Herstal released a 20 minute promotional video, discussing the new design, including its technical aspects, and revealing its name: the EVOLYS.[4] In September 2021, the EVOLYS was first displayed to the public at the Defence and Security Equipment International trade show in London,[5] and it began to enter pre-production the same month.[6]
Design
The EVOLYS was designed from the ground up for use in urban warfare, which has become more common, and which holds specific requirements. Rather than taking the base of fire from a squad, the EVOLYS was designed to improve the amount of firepower that could be provided by a single soldier.[7] It is select fire, with the option between semi-automatic and fully automatic fire modes.[8] The EVOLYS uses a lateral feed mechanism with the belt at a 45° angle, and it is fully ambidextrous,[9] with all its controls accessible on both its sides, and it can be loaded with one hand.[10]
The firing operation is unusual as it uses an open bolt, firing with a separate hammer upside down inside the upper receiver. This prevents accidents and runaways as even if the bolt moves forward, it won't fire unless the hammer is released by a trigger pull.[11] A single accessory rail mounted on the top of the receiver allows for the mounting of various optics, allowing for better target acquisition.[12] Previous machine gun designs had to use multiple rails, which were not integral to the receiver, making the attachment and usage of optics more difficult.[7] Similarly, because of the increased use of suppressors, the EVOLYS was designed to be capable of having a suppressor permanently fitted, without it affecting the weapon's performance.[13]
The EVOLYS was constructed using 3D printing and polymers, which help to reduce its weight. At 5.5 kilograms (12 lb), the EVOLYS is up to 30% lighter than competing machine guns such as the FN Minimi.[5][14] The EVOLYS is chambered for 5.56×45mm and 7.62×51mm, with 6.5mm Creedmoor and .260 Remington variants in development for potential use by special forces.[6]
Users
France: French Special Forces[15][16]
United Kingdom: British Army for test purposes[15][16]
United States: United States Army for test purposes in Next Generation Squad Weapon Program[17][18]
See also
References
- ^ "FN EVOLYS 5.56" (PDF). FN Herstal.
- ^ "FN EVOLYS 7.62" (PDF). FN Herstal.
- ^ "FN HERSTAL: A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS". FN Herstal. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ B, Eric (2021-05-06). "FN Herstal's New Ultralight Machine Gun: EVOLYS". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "FN EVOLYS: THE NEW ULTRALIGHT MACHINE GUN BY FN HERSTAL". FN Herstal. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Moss, Matthew (2021-09-21). "FIRST LOOK: FN EVOLYS". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Events". FN Herstal. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06.
- ^ "FN EVOLYS: the new ultralight machine gun by FN Herstal". EDR Magazine. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The new FN EVOLYS ultralight machine gun for the first time at DSEI". Army Technology. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "FN Herstal unveils Evolys multipurpose machine gun". Shephard Media. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "FN EVOLYS". Modern Firearms. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "FN EVOLYS: the new ultralight machine gun by FN Herstal". Frag Out! Magazine. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Eger, Chris. "FN Debuts New, Ultralight, Evolys Machine Gun Series :". Guns.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "POTD: FN EVOLYS Ultralight Machine Gun". The Firearm Blog. 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Forkert, André (2022-01-06). "Ultraleichte Maschinengewehre: Französische Spezialkräfte erhalten FN EVOLYS". Soldat & Technik (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Boguslavsky, Eyal (2022-01-08). "French Special Forces are Equip with the New Light Machine Gun FN EVOLYS". Israel Defense. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "FN to produce two prototypes for the Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle program".
- ^ "FN Down-Selected to Produce Two Prototype Options for U.S. Army Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle Program". 16 July 2018.