By Matthew Cox
Staff writer
Originally published July 21, 2006
Congressmen on Capitol Hill took a break from lawmaking recently to shoot the U.S. military's newest special operations weapon.
Fourteen members of the House and Senate attended the July 13 event to familiarize themselves with the Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle or SCAR.
U.S. Special Operations Command awarded a Nov. 5, 2004, contract to FN Herstal, based in Belgium, to develop the SCAR for its elite forces.
FN Manufacturing, located in South Carolina, will produce the SCAR system, and is scheduled to begin delivering the first of 1,800 SCAR systems to USSOCOM in January.
Lawmakers received a briefing from FNH USA officials and then had the chance to shoot the 5.56mm carbine version of the weapon, known as SCAR Light. There is also a 7.62mm version of the weapon, known as SCAR Heavy.
"It was cool," said Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., describing the event, which was held at the U.S. Capital Police shooting range, located in the basement of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Wilson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, hosted the event since FN Manufacturing is located in his Congressional district.
"I have had a long-term relationship with the company," Wilson said in a recent telephone interview. He said he put the event together to give members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees a chance to become familiar with the weapon that special operations forces will one day take into battle.
"It was very reassuring to me to know the capabilities that they have," Wilson said.
FN also makes the M249 squad automatic weapon and the M240 series machine gun for the Army and Marine Corps. It makes M16A4s for the Army and the GAU21, a fast-firing .50 caliber machine gun that mounts on the tail ramp of Marine CH-53 helicopters.
Previous storiesCompetition sought for new Army rifle (April 24)
Marine officers, staff NCOs to be issued M4s (June 25)
Special report: Too late, XM8 (June 1)
Army Times Editorial: Field the best weapon (Feb. 26)
The 416: Delta Force has them, why not you? (Feb. 19)
Expand small-arms search, Army told (Nov. 21, 2005)
Multimedia
 The H&K 416 in action |
 A demonstration of the SCAR |
 A tour of the XM8 |
