FN F2000

This article is about the weapon. For the motor racing series, see F2000 Championship Series. For the Formula 1 race car, see Ferrari F1-2000.
FN F2000

F2000 S of the Slovenian Army
Type Bullpup Service rifle
Place of origin Belgium
Service history
Used by See Users
Wars See Conflicts
Production history
Designed 1995–2001
Manufacturer FN Herstal
Produced 2001–present
Variants

See Variants

Specifications
Weight
  • 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) (F2000) [1]
  • 3.39 kg (7.5 lb) (F2000 Tactical) [2]
  • 3.65 kg (8.0 lb) (FS2000) [3]
  • 3.44 kg (7.6 lb) (FS2000 Tactical) [4]
Length
  • 688 mm (27.1 in) (F2000) [1]
  • 688 mm (27.1 in) (F2000 Tactical) [2]
  • 744 mm (29.3 in) (FS2000) [3]
  • 744 mm (29.3 in) (FS2000 Tactical) [4]
Barrel length
  • 400 mm (16 in) (F2000) [5]
  • 400 mm (16 in) (F2000 Tactical) [5]
  • 443 mm (17.4 in) (FS2000) [3]
  • 443 mm (17.4 in) (FS2000 Tactical) [3]
Width 81.3 mm (3.20 in) [3]
Height 259.1 mm (10.20 in) [3]
Cartridge 5.56×45mm NATO [5]
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt [5]
Rate of fire 850 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
Effective firing range 500 m (1,600 ft)
Feed system

Detachable box magazines; capacities:

Sights 1.6× magnified telescopic sight, notch back-up sight

The FN F2000 is a 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle, designed by FN Herstal in Belgium.[5] The F2000 made its debut in March 2001 at the IDEX defence exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

Design details

The F2000 is a modular weapon system; its principal component is a compact 5.56×45mm NATO-caliber assault rifle configured in a bullpup layout. The F2000 is a selective fire weapon operating from a closed bolt.

The rifle consists of two main assemblies: the barreled receiver group and the frame, coupled together by means of an axis pin located above the trigger guard. The barrel group has an integral MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail used to mount optical sights. The frame or lower receiver contains the trigger group, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly, return mechanism and magazine well. A removable handguard is installed in front of the trigger which completes and encloses the trigger guard.

Features

The F2000 is a gas operated, fully automatic and ambidextrous bullpup rifle. Both the safety system and trigger mechanism were adopted from the P90 personal defense weapon; the selector toggle is a rotating disc located below the trigger. The fire selector doubles as the weapon’s manual safety and secures the firearm against accidental discharge (the selector/safety disc has 3 settings: "S"—safe, "1"—semi-automatic mode, "A"—fully automatic fire). The "safe" setting disables the trigger. The hammers, group pins, and springs are steel while all other components are nylon injection molding. The shell of the rifle is made of composite materials.

The F2000 is fed from standard NATO box magazines (STANAG 4179) with a 30-round cartridge capacity using 5.56×45mm ammunition. The magazine catch/release button is installed symmetrically in the pistol grip, in front of the magazine; the magazine catch is operated by an oversized actuator useful when wearing NBC gloves. The F2000 is not configured from the factory to have a drop-free magazine system due to the friction from the removable dust gaskets. The magazine needs to be pulled out manually.

The rifle does not have a hold-open device; the bolt does not stay back after the last round is fired. The cocking handle is placed on the left side of the receiver, just above the handguard, and can be operated by left-handed shooters. There are no access points for the possible ingress of dirt or debris; the cocking handle slot is sealed.

The weapon’s primary sight is a telescopic sight with a fixed 1.6× magnification (the reticle also enables use in low-light conditions) contained in a plastic housing above the receiver (mounted on the MIL-STD-1913 rail), the secondary sight is a non-adjustable fixed notch and front blade, molded into the optical sight housing cover. The sight cover and sight module can be quickly removed to reveal the Picatinny rail.

The rifle’s chromed hammer-forged steel barrel is stated to retain accuracy after 20,000 normal (non-sustained) rounds. The barrel also features a flash suppressor with an angled cut at the tip which directs the muzzle blast upward, compensating for muzzle rise. The F2000 has an optional bayonet lug mounted near the muzzle, and an adjustable gas regulator with two settings: "normal" for standard ammunition meeting NATO specifications, and "adverse"—used to send an increased volume of gas into the system to ensure proper functioning when fouled or when using low pressure ammunition.

Operating mechanism

This selective fire weapon is a gas-operated design utilizing a short-stroke piston system driven by propellant gases diverted into the gas cylinder through a port in the barrel; it fires from a closed bolt position. The weapon is locked with a rotating bolt which features 6 radial locking lugs, a spring-powered extractor and ejector. The chamber, bolt, and ejector mechanism can be accessed by flipping up a hinged inspection cover in the receiver, behind the optical sight housing.

Partial disassembly (cartridge on bolt face).
Peruvian Marines armed with standard configuration F2000s in July 2010.
short-stroke gas piston

The F2000 uses a unique ejection system, ejecting spent cartridge casings forward and to the right side of the weapon—through a tube running above the barrel. This method of ejection provides for fully ambidextrous operation; the rifle can be used without any modification by both right and left-handed shooters. This ejection pattern was achieved by using a swiveling polymer tray, which intercepts the empty casing from the bolt face immediately after disengaging from the extractor. As the empty casing is extracted it is held while the rocker assembly tilts to lift it above and clear of the feed path as the next round is stripped from the magazine by the bolt head. The casing is fed into the tray located in a cavity in the receiver wall, which then pivots the cartridge case and directs it into a chute (above the barrel); the case is discarded from the tilting tray by being impacted by a pin on the moving bolt carrier upon its forward return. Only when the ejection tube contains more than five cases is the first of them ejected forward through a port just behind and to the right of the muzzle. This is continued; every fifth round fired, all five shells are ejected in a burst, until the magazine is empty. Thus a 30-round magazine will be ejected in six bursts of five shells.

This system is patent protected (patent number 5675924 dated 14 October 1997 by René Predazzer[6] and patent 6389725 from February 25, 2000, author – Charles Denuit).[7] The ambidexterity provided by forward ejection is its most obvious benefit, and removes many of the tactical and user difficulties (such as lack of ambidexterity, and gas and debris released in close proximity to the shooter’s face—see the IMI Tavor TAR-21) that bullpup designs usually create.

Grenade launcher

One of the modules developed for the F2000 system is a proprietary lightweight 40 mm under-slung GL1 grenade launcher (empty weight—1 kg) that uses standard low-velocity 40×46mm grenades.[8] The launcher is a single-shot breech-loaded reverse pump-action weapon with a barrel that slides forward for loading and unloading (like the M203 grenade launcher), locked by axial rotation of the barrel.[9]

The grenade launcher's trigger is installed directly under the F2000's trigger so that it can be manipulated without removing the shooting hand from the rifle’s pistol grip.[10] The double-action trigger lets the operator "try again" if the grenade's percussion type primer doesn't ignite. The breech release button is found on the left side of the launcher body, like on the M203. The grenade launcher comes with a basic flip-up ladder sight, but it was intended to be used with a specially designed optoelectronic fire control system designated FCS, developed in cooperation with the Finnish company Noptel.

The aiming module is installed in place of the standard optical sight and becomes the weapon’s primary sight when mounted, but its main purpose is to accurately determine and indicate the range of a grenade target. The module is powered by a 9 V battery pack, installed in the stock, behind the magazine well. The power pack is also intended to power any other tactical accessories or systems that could be introduced. The FCS integrates a low-power laser rangefinder (precise to within ± 1 m), a day-time aiming channel with an electronically projected reticle, a measured range display reading and a diode elevation adjustment indicator.

The fire control system calculates a firing solution manifested by the barrel’s angle of elevation using target range information from the laser rangefinder (the rangefinder is activated by pushing a button on the pistol grip, below the trigger), corrected manually by the shooter through a push-button interface (add/subtract buttons) on the FCS top cover to take account for head or tail winds that could affect the desired range. The F2000 FCS also contains software with the ballistic properties of up to six types of 40 mm grenades and can be reprogrammed to take advantage of future munition improvements. Batteries for the FCS are located in the bottom of the buttstock.

After obtaining a range measurement, the distance to the target is displayed on a liquid crystal screen and the elevation diode flashes red. Once a correct elevation has been achieved by tilting the rifle, the diode changes color to green indicating the weapon is ready to fire

Variants

F2000 Tactical

The F2000 Tactical.

The F2000 Tactical railed variant is similar to the standard model, but it lacks the optical sight, and comes instead with an extended top receiver MIL-STD-1913 rail with flip-up iron sights[11] allowing for picatinny rail accessories to be fitted.

F2000 Tactical TR

The F2000 Tactical TR variant is similar to the F2000 Tactical model, but includes a triple rail handguard for add-on accessories.

FS2000

Intended for markets where fully automatic firearms aren't legal for civilian ownership, the FS2000 is a semi-automatic version of the F2000 that first became available in June 2006. The FS2000 Tactical model is equipped with an extended barrel with a permanently attached muzzle brake and a 1:7 in right hand twist rifling rate; the bayonet lug was not included on the FS2000 rifles. The lower hand guard can be removed in the same manner as the F2000 to accept the same variety of accessories. It comes with a Picatinny rail optic rail along with backup iron sights. The rear flip-up National Match-sized aperture is adjustable for windage, while the removable front sight is adjustable for elevation.[12] A small number of the early models featured a stepped barrel contour as well as a demilled bayonet lug.[12] Measurements on the stepped barrel's rifling were as long as the non-stepped barrel, revealing that the stepped barrel is not simply a shorter F2000 military barrel with an extended muzzle brake.[12]

A variant of the FS2000, called the FS2000 Standard, is equipped with the factory F2000 1.6× magnification optic and sight cover.[13] It does not contain the grenade launcher computer.

F2000 S

A version of the F2000 Tactical modified for the Slovenian Army. It incorporates an elevated upper Picatinny rail that also doubles as a carrying handle.

Gallery

Conflicts

The FN F2000 has been used in the following conflicts:

Users

Non-State Actors

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "FN F2000 Rifles – F2000". FNH USA. 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "FN F2000 Rifles – F2000 Tactical". FNH USA. 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "FN FS2000 Carbines – FS2000". FNH USA. 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  4. 1 2 "FN FS2000 Carbines – FS2000 Tactical". FNH USA. 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "FN F2000 Rifles". FNH USA. 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  6. ↑ Predazzer, Rene. "Ejection device for firearm". Google Patent Search. Google.
  7. ↑ Denuit, Charles. "Fire arm with forward ejection or ejection brought to the fore-part of the fire arm". Google Patent Search. Google.
  8. ↑ GL1 40 mm LV, FNHerstal.com
  9. ↑ Pictured: FN F2000 Standard with Grenade Launcher
  10. ↑ F2000 pictured with standard trigger and GL1 grenade launcher with flip up sights
  11. ↑ "Official FNH USA FN F2000 Tactical". Fabrique Nationale USA. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  12. 1 2 3 "The FN FS 2000 is the civilian-legal, semi-automatic version of the F2000 that first became available in June 2006 manufactured by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN Herstal)". Guns Lot. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  13. ↑ Michael O. Humphries. "FNH USA FS2000 Standard". American Rifleman. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  14. ↑ Libyan rebels show FN F2000 assault rifle with grenade launcher
  15. ↑ "Special Forces: Tout Sauf des Rambo". La Libre Belgique. March 25, 2006. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  16. ↑ Belgium Land Component
  17. 1 2 3 "Belgian bullpup: FN Herstal FS2000: its appearance is wild, its engineering impressive. And you can have a semi-auto version, if you can find one!". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  18. ↑ Žabec, Krešimir (2008-09-14). "Specijalci neće ‘fantomsku pušku’". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  19. ↑ "If looks could kill: India Today – Latest Breaking News from India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  20. ↑ http://www.expatica.com/be/news/belgian-news/belgium-probes-arms-sales-to-kadhafi-regime_131541.html
  21. ↑ "DIY Weapons of the Libyan Rebels". The Atlantic. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "Pakistan Army".
  23. ↑ Wilk (REMOV), Remigiusz. "Nowe gromy GROM".
  24. ↑ "GROM Utility and Equipment". Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  25. ↑ Kemp, Ian (2009). "A New 5.56mm Generation or a Changing of the Guard?" (PDF). Asian Military Review. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
  26. ↑ Daniel Watters. "The 5.56×45mm: 2006". Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  27. ↑ "FN Herstal Awarded Major Contract for F2000 Assault Rifles". Army Technology. 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  28. ↑ "Podcevni bombomet 40 mm LG1". Slovenskavojska.si. Archived from the original on September 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  29. ↑ "Avtomatska puška 5,56mm FN F 2000 S". Slovenskavojska.si. Archived from the original on September 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  30. ↑ Damien Spleeters. "Des armes wallonnes à Gaza". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  31. ↑ Thomas Martienssen. "A rifle's journey from Belgium to Gaza". BBC. Retrieved 8 December 2015.

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