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FN Herstal launches its new FN EVOLYS ultralight machine gun 5.56 or 7.62mm caliber

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Belgium-based designer and manufacturer of small caliber weapons, associated weapon systems and ammunition FN Herstal announces on May 6, 2021, the entry of a brand-new machine gun with unique features, the FN EVOLYS™. With this new addition to FN Herstal’s product portfolio, the Company definitely intends to write a new chapter in the history of machine guns.
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New FN Herstal ultralight machine gun FN EVOLYS available in 5.56mm and 7.62mm calibers (Picture source FN Herstal)

Earlier today, FN Herstal has unveiled to the Defense and Security markets a completely new machine gun – the FN EVOLYS™ – during a global digital product launch event. It is with great satisfaction and pride that the Company succeeded in combining its universally recognized expertise in the field of machine gun design, development and manufacture; its innovative spirit and current unmet market requirements to bring life to a new machine gun. The FN EVOLYS™ features an incredibly innovative and open architecture together with unique characteristics.

The FN EVOLYS™ is a radically different, ultralight weapon that combines the firing capabilities of a belt-fed machine gun with ergonomics and balance similar to an assault rifle. This is exactly what is needed and expected by users for current and future operations.

The FN EVOLYS™ has been developed in two calibers, 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO.

FN Herstal launches its new FN EVOLYS ultralight machine gun 5.56 or 7.62mm calibers 925 002

FN EVOLYS™ 5.56, here shown with optional bipod (Source FN Herstal)

A true, ultralight machine gun…


The FN EVOLYS™, with a weight between 5.5 and 6.2 kilos depending on the caliber, is much lighter than current reference machine guns. This reduced weight enables the user to move across difficult terrain quickly and to engage with a high volume of fire when needed with no difficulty.

Its reduced weight and excellent balance also mean that the weapon can be fired from any position. Transitioning from one firing position to another is made easy by the design of the sling attachment interface.

… featuring assault rifle characteristics

The FN EVOLYS™ ultralight machine gun fires like a machine gun, and handles like an assault rifle.

The ambidextrous fire selector has a semi-auto position to engage point targets as with a rifle while the full auto position allows suppressive fire as with a machine gun.

The buttstock is adjustable in length and height. Whatever his size, or the equipment he is wearing, the user can always find a comfortable shooting position.

FN Herstal launches its new FN EVOLYS ultralight machine gun 5.56 or 7.62mm calibers 925 003


Reliable, extremely comfortable and stable when firing

The latest-generation materials and technologies used on the FN EVOLYS™, combined with FN Herstal’s long-standing expertise and innovative spirit, ensure that the reduction of weight has not compromised the vital factors of reliability, user safety and long life of parts.

The hydraulic buffer gives a steady rate of fire and reduces recoil.

The FN EVOLYS™ was designed from the start to fire intensively with a sound suppressor and therefore showed no reduction in performance when fitted with a suppressor, no excessive fouling, and no debris projected towards the user, even for left-handers.

Innovative and unique architecture

Another big innovation in the FN EVOLYS™ is the patented lateral feed mechanism, which has allowed the design to include several major improvements requested by users:

Q The one-piece long top rail enables mounting a combination of various in-line optical sights such as day and night sights together, or magnifiers for instance, without removing the iron sights.

Q Easy, instinctive and fast access to all controls by left or right-handed shooters for improved handling in the field

Q All actions can be done with just one hand, including engaging the belt.

Q Cartridges are automatically repositioned when the feed cover is closed if the belt is not correctly placed on the feed tray. This avoids a failure to feed the first round, which is a great reassurance for the user.

Q The last link is automatically ejected, clearing the way for a faster and more reliable to reload.

FN Herstal launches its new FN EVOLYS ultralight machine gun 5.56 or 7.62mm caliber | Defense News May 2021 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2021 | Archive News year (armyrecognition.com)
FN Herstal’s New Ultralight Machine Gun: EVOLYS


FN EVOLYS


For a few weeks, the Belgian company FN Herstal have been promoting an event called: “A New Chapter Begins“. As you know, the company already provides an extensive range of firearms for use in the ground role, or mounted on vehicles, ships and aircraft from 5.56mm cal to .50 cal machine guns.

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From the images and the teaser video it was evident that we were dealing with a new type of machine gun, and as the pre-recorded (Corona safe) press conference started this was confirmed.

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The EVOLYS
After a long presentation and interviews with various people in the design process, the viewers were finally able to see the first real pictures of FN Herstal’s new EVOLYS, an Ultralight Machine Gun.

The operation principle is gas operated, firing from an open bolt and using a short stroke piston. The FN EVOLYS was presented as an ultralight machine gun that fires like a machine gun but handles like an assault rifle.

To highlight the weight reduction the EVOLYS was shown with a carbon fiber bipod.
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The EVOLYS looks like an FN SCAR on steroids.
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All actions can be done with just one hand, including engaging the belt.

The use of various Polymers and Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) was said to be a huge part of the weight reduction. One of the interviews was made in front of a 3D printing machine, which looked like it was from HP.

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The ambidextrous fire selector has a semi-auto position to engage point targets as with a rifle while the full auto position allows suppressive fire as with a machine gun.
The buttstock is adjustable in length and height. Whatever his size, or the equipment he is wearing, the user can always find a comfortable shooting position.

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The selector.
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After about 15 minutes into the press conference, we get to see the very first pictures of the new firearm.
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There was also plenty of “live” shooting in the presentation. Yes, they shot all of that belt and the recoil looked very mild due to the weapons hydraulic buffer. Impressive to say the least.
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They also demonstrated shooting on the move and in various positions, from standing, kneeling to prone.
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FN means that the reduced weight enables the user to move across difficult terrain quickly and to engage with a high volume of fire when needed. Anyone who ever ran with a machine gun nods and understands.
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This was to demonstrate that all the gasses are pushed away from the shooter. The EVOLYS is designed to work suppressed as well.
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The FN EVOLYS will be made in two main versions. One in 5.56x45mm NATO with a weight of 5.5 kilograms. The other is the 7.62x51mm NATO with a weight of 6 kilograms. This is certainly quite a large weight reduction from the FN Minimi which weighs more than 7 kg.
 
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You can change the belt with either your left or right hand only.
FN Herstal EVOLYS

The FN EVOLYS trademark was registered very recently, and elements of the design have been patented over the last few years.
The FN machine guns have been exported around the world for many decades.
FN EVOLYS

FN EVOLYS™ 5.56, here shown with optional bipod
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FN EVOLYS™ 7.62, here shown with optional night and day sights, bipod and front grip
You can find more information here: https://www.fnherstal.com/en
The event can be found here: https://www.events.fnherstal.com/en
Eric B
Eric B
Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics and sound suppressors. TCCC Certified medic.

FN Herstal's New Ultralight Machine Gun: EVOLYS -The Firearm Blog

 
FN EVOLYS machine gun (Belgium)



The FN EVOLYS machine gun is the latest development of the famous Belgian company FN Herstal from Liege. Introduced in May of 2021, the FN EVOLYS machine gun is initially available in two versions, chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. This machine gun is very light for a belt-fed weapon, in 5.56mm being almost 2 kg lighter than an FN Minimi / M249. In 7.62x51mm, it is almost 2 times lighter than an FN MAG / M240, or about a kilogram lighter than a Russian PKM, although the latter has a noticeably longer barrel. Light weight is achieved by making the receiver from aluminum alloys and using modern plastics.



FN EVOLYS machine gun
FN EVOLYS 7.62 machine gun


The FN EVOLYS machine gun is a gas-operated, belt-fed weapon. It uses a short-stroke gas system, with a gas piston running below the barrel, and rotary bolt locking. The gas block features a manual gas regulator. Barrels can be easily replaced by the operator in the field. Gun fires from the open bolt and can deliver single shots of full-automatic fire. Safety/fire selector levers are ambidextrous. Unlike most modern machine guns, the FN EVOLYS machine gun features a fixed top cover with a long, uninterrupted Picatinny rail. The belt feed unit is mounted on the left side of the receiver, and the belt feed cover opens to the left and forward, with the feed tray inclined down at about 45 degrees. The feed mechanism is designed to be loaded by simply placing the belt on the tray, and then closing the feed cover. When the feed cover is closed, its paws automatically position the first round in the belt for the feed to the chamber. Additional levers are built into the feed unit to automatically eject the last two links of the fully expended belt, thus further speeding up combat reloads. The firing system is unusual as it combines open bolt firing with a separate hammer, mounted “upside-down” inside the receiver. This ensures protection from accidental discharges or “runaway gun” malfunctions, as even if the bolt inadvertently slams forward, the gun cannot fire unless the hammer is released by pulling the trigger.



FN EVOLYS machine gun
FN EVOLYS 5.56 machine gun




FN EVOLYS machine gun
FN EVOLYS 7.62 machine gun


The FN EVOLYS machine gun is optimized for a “light machine gun/ squad automatic” role and features a side-folding, adjustable shoulder stock, similar in design to the one used on the FN SCAR rifle, and a lightweight folding bipod. Ammunition can be fed from soft pouches with 50 (7.62mm) or 100 and 200 (5.56mm) rounds capacities, or from loose belts. Pouches can be attached to the bottom of the gun. Equipped with folding iron sights mounted on Picatinny rail, the FN EVOLYS machine gun also can mount all types of modern sighting equipment for day and night use. It also can be equipped with a quick detach sound suppressor.



FN EVOLYS machine gun
FN EVOLYS machine gun, patent diagram


FN EVOLYS 5.56FN EVOLYS 7.62
Caliber5.56×45 mm7.62×51 mm
Length, mm9501025
Barrel length, mm355406
Weight empty, kg5.56.2
Rate of fire, rounds per minute750750
Feed and capacityBeltbelt


FN EVOLYS machine gun (Belgium) (modernfirearms.net)
 

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