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Posted: 7/26/2007 11:20:12 AM EDT
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Happened to have a conversation with a gentleman bearing the rank of a Senior Master Seargant USAF, who's business card reads Pararescue FAM Supt. Weapons & Tactics HQ AFSOC / A3TW Hulbert AFB, FL There are other things on the card, his name, e-mail, DSN & Comm. Numbers, etc but I will not provide those here, however, I will state that this man (besides wearing very smartly, the uniform of a USAF troop, with proper rank and other insignia that identified him as a SMSgt, Pararescueman) had the look of a career serviceman at the pointy end of the spear. After 17 years and two branches of service, both Marines (0311) and AF (Cop), I have no doubt as to what to expect of the bearing and decorum of a Senior NCO in a combat arms MOS. He was in town, (Glendale AZ) for a Remington Armorers Course. Here is the scoop straight from his lips. The SCAR in both 5.56mm and 7.62mm is being adopted by the snake eating community. The contracts have been let, and the money has changed hands. This includes the AFSOC's Pararescuemen and Combat Controllers. Some units in SOCOM who have enjoyed success with the 6.8mm SPC will continue to use that system and caliber, but general issue will be the SCAR. This does not translate, at least at this time, and for the foreseeable future, to a general adoption of any other weapon system by the regular forces of the AF, Army, Marines, or Navy as he understood it. As he put it, "the big blue AF" does not have the money, and will continue with the M-16/M4. He seemed very happy at the selection of the SCAR, and the oppurtunity to employ that system in his line of work. Take it or leave it. |
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That's one high-level office symbol, and a SMSgt is about the right rank for it too. Your source rings true on that level. And the fact that SOCOM is "doing its own thing" in terms of equipment is not surprising. They've done that for a while. A coworker who had been with SOCOM in Somalia talked about the whole "joint force, joint equipment" game boiling down to a basic rule: when the mission requires something that is not standard issue, but a lot of SOCOM troops use it, then SOCOM gets it. Comm gear, aircraft, weapons, whatever. That's kind of the point of SOCOM-they are as "special" as their operations, and so they need "special" equipment. This probably doesn't mean that anyone else will adopt the SCAR, but it does keep SCAR alive. One more note, "big blue Air Force" doesn't have money for weapons training for the rank and file (at least not what I, as an Air Force SNCO would consider sufficient weapons training), so no, they don't have money to replace tens of thousands of M16s and M4s. And there is no reason to right now, because for the rank and file in the Air Force, these weapons do the job efficiently and effectively. |
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www.fnhusa.com/press/releases_consumer/detail.asp?id=18 FN HERSTAL SCAR AND EGLM RECEIVE APPROVAL TO PROCEED WITH INITIAL OPERATIONAL TEST & EVALUATION (IOT&E) McLEAN, Va. - FN Herstal announced today through FNH USA that the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) and Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module (EGLM) program has received approval from the United States Government (USG) to enter into the Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) phase. Scheduled to commence in July and be complete by mid-December, the IOT&E will consist of select US Military operators testing the weapons in simulated “real-world” mission scenarios. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected, with the ultimate and desired outcome having the weapons being designated “Operationally Effective” and “Operationally Suitable” for fielding to US Forces. This next step comes close on the heels of the SCAR and EGLM successfully passing their Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) acceptance testing conducted February through June of 2007. Going forward, as all timelines fall into place and the weapons test successfully, the SCAR and EGLM can be fielded, on a limited basis, to select US Military Forces by late fall of 2007. Plans to fully field the weapons are now developed and in place, with over $25M (procurement) budgeted in the FY2008 Presidential Budget and over $6M slated for FY2009. The SCAR system consists of two highly adaptable modular rifle platforms and a grenade launcher. Now US DoD type-designated as the MK 16 MOD 0 5.56mm Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle - Light (SCAR-L) and the MK 17 MOD 0 7.62mm Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle – Heavy (SCAR-H), both SCAR platforms are available with three different barrel lengths optimized for conducting operations in close-quarters combat, standard infantry and longer-range precision fire roles. All SCAR barrels can be easily interchanged by the operator in the field in just minutes to instantly meet the requirements of virtually any mission. The newly designated MK 13 MOD 0 40mm Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module (EGLM) quickly mounts to the underside of either SCAR platform, providing additional punch to the individual warfighter’s firepower and can be easily configured for use as a stand-alone weapon as well. “We at FN are extremely pleased with the USG’s approval to enter into IOT&E. The SCAR and EGLM program has been a monumental task that has received great input and dedication, not only from the FN team but also from the USG and US Military program representatives. The approval to enter into the IOT&E phase is the next step in the government's testing process and will determine if the systems are operationally suitable and effective. Successful completion of these events will result in the fielding of these weapons to the operational units,” noted Mark Cherpes, Vice President of Military Operations for FNH USA. “We feel that the SCAR is the most flexible, reliable and cost effective weapons system ever offered to America’s fighting men and women, and will give them a potent operational advantage in armed conflicts both present and future.” The selection of the SCAR in 2004 was the first assault rifle procured by the United States military through a full and open competition since the M4/M16 trials were held in the mid-1960s. Representing the leading edge of current modular assault rifle design, the SCAR development process has covered some 32 months thus far and is the result of a close and ongoing interaction between USSOCOM, SOF operators, combat developers, government program office personnel and the engineers and technicians of FN Herstal. Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the new SCAR weapons system is the most reliable, accurate, rugged, safe and ergonomic assault weapon ever to be carried into combat. FNH USA is the sales and marketing arm of FN Herstal, S. A., Belgium, whose corporate mission is to remain a global leader in the areas of defense, law enforcement and associated commercial markets, providing the highest quality products and the finest in training and logistical support. For further information on FNH USA and the new SCAR and EGLM, please visit www.fnhusa.com. FNH USA, LLC., P.O. Box 697, McLean, VA 22101, www.fnhusa.com |
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The OP's source seems to mesh-up with everything and everyone else we've been hearing. My guess is that the rifle will be good to go by late 2008 if not sooner. They've already had a lot of input, testing, and feedback on the SCAR. Furthermore, they've already gone through a couple of generations tweaking the design. It is a modular rifle that will fit very well with the SOCOM folks who have to operate far away from support units and with constantly changing missions. I look forward to the reports from Afghanistan of how the SCAR H handles in the harsh conditions. |
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Like the gun, but those sights must be the tallest height over-bore in all of gun-dom, w/ perhaps only FN's own P90 being taller. I can't adjust to the trendy new "flat dark earth" scheme. If FN sells them, I'll be looking at a dye & refinish job for that old-school charcoal/black effect. |
I want one in either black or green
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Those were the original prototypes. All successive T&E development mules have all been cast in FDE finish. |
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