FN FNC

During the second half of the 20th century, many armies around the world tried to modernize their weaponry and switch to self-loading or automatic rifles in 5.56×45 mm NATO caliber. The Belgian company Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal (FN) responded to this challenge by developing the FN FNC rifle, which was designed to be a reliable, affordable and simple assault rifle suitable for wide deployment.

The development of the FN FNC began in the 1970s as a replacement for the FN FAL rifle, which, although rugged and powerful, was heavy and less suitable for the new standardised NATO ammunition. The FN FNC design was based on the FN CAL prototype, but was not successful due to high production costs and technical problems. Therefore, FN developers created a new design that combined proven elements from the AK-47 and M16 rifles to create a reliable and effective weapon.

The FN FNC was officially introduced in 1979 and quickly became the standard infantry weapon of the Belgian army. It was offered in two basic versions - the standard (with a long barrel) and the carbine (with a shorter barrel). The weapon uses a gas mechanism with a rotary bolt, which gives it high reliability even in harsh conditions. The piston system is inspired by the Russian AK-47, while the overall ergonomics and controls are reminiscent of the American M16.

The FN FNC has a folding stock, making it a compact weapon suitable for airborne units and special operations. The weapon's body is made of pressed steel and aluminium alloys, ensuring a good balance between strength and light weight. The weapon is equipped with a manual firing mode selector that allows firing single shots, bursts or fully automatic mode.
The FN FNC has been widely exported and has served in several armies around the world, including Indonesia, where it was licensed under the designation Pindad SS1. Its reliability and ease of maintenance have made it popular not only among regular armies but also among various special forces.

The FN FNC rifle has an overall length of 997 mm (standard version) and weighs approximately 4 kg without ammunition. It is compatible with standard NATO 30-round magazines and allows the attachment of an M203 grenade launcher. Due to its robustness and affordability, the FN FNC proved to be one of the important assault rifles of its time. Although it was gradually replaced by the more modern FN SCAR in the Belgian army, it is still in active use in some parts of the world.