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France Legacy KNDS
FAMAS
A bullpup assault rifle developed by state manufacturer MAS (now part of KNDS France) and nicknamed 'le clairon' for its distinctive carrying-handle silhouette. It served as the standard French Army infantry rifle for decades before being progressively replaced by the HK416F.
In service since 1978 · 8 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
400
m range
1,000
rpm
960
m/s
25
rds
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
French export-licensed
CIEEMG inter-ministerial approval; broadly export-oriented.
Channel: DGA / direct commercial
Fielded & proven
Established · 8 operators
In service since 1978. Status: legacy · ~400,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 400 m |
|---|---|
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 1,000 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 960 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 5.56x45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 5.6 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 25 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 0.76 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 4 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
Munition
Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.
| Caliber Bore diameter the round is fired from. | 6 mm |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 400,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 8 |
Specifications compiled from public KNDS and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the KNDS FAMAS require? +
The KNDS FAMAS requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the KNDS FAMAS? +
The KNDS FAMAS's primary weapon is the 5.56x45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle.
What is the KNDS FAMAS used for? +
The KNDS FAMAS is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the KNDS FAMAS? +
The KNDS FAMAS is operated by 8 countries.
How much does the KNDS FAMAS cost? +
KNDS FAMAS: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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