FAMAS 🇫🇷 The assault rifle that convinced no one

FAMAS Bullpup assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO

Introduction 00:00
Technical description 03:18

FAMAS stands for Fusil d’Assaut de la Manufacture d’Armes de St-Etienne (Assault Rifle by St-Etienne Arms Factory – a member of the French govt. owned GIAT Industries concern). Development of this rifle began in 1967, under the leadership of the Paul Tellie, a French arms designer. First FAMAS prototype had been built in 1971. French military began to test this rifle in 1972-73, but, in the meantime, France adopted a Swiss-designed SIG SG-540 5.56mm assault rifle as an intermediate solution. FAMAS rifle was adopted by the French in 1978 and since then became a standard French Army shoulder fired small arm, known among the French soldiers as “Le Clairon” (the bulge). According to the Janes Infantry Weapons 2000, the total number of FAMAS F1 rifles built is estimated at 400 000, and the production of the F1 variant has been completed before 2000. It is still used by the French army and was exported in small numbers to some countries like the Senegal or United Arab Emirates. Since then, the GIAT Industries developed an improved version of the F1, known as the G1. This rifle featured an enlarged trigger guard, that covered a whole hand, and a slightly improved plastic handguards. G1 was an intermediate design, and was consequently replaced by the latest production model, the FAMAS G2, which appeared circa 1994. This rifle has the G1-style enlarged trigger guard but can accept only STANAG type (M16-compatible) magazines. It was adopted and purchased by the French Navy in the 1995, but French army never get down to adopt it, so overall production was fairly small, about 10-15 thousand total. FAMAS F1 rifles began to receive midlife update (Picatinny rails, new bipods, forward grips etc.) in around 2010, but in 2014 all upgrade work has been cancelled in favour of purchasing entirely new rifles of foreign make. Since 2016 well-worn and aged FAMAS inventory is gradually replaced in French service with German-made HK416F rifles, although this process could take more than few years to complete.

FAMAS rifles also served as a testbed for small arms part of the FELIN program (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés, Integrated Infantryman Equipment and Communications). Several thousands of FAMAS F1 rifles were upgraded between 2010 and 2014 to accept electonic equipment of the FELIN system. Among other upgrades, it included new forward grip with supporting bracket at the bottom and the keypad at the top rear, with several buttons that are used to operate and control onboard electronics.