FAL
Summary
| Country | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
| Category | Assault rifle |
| Manufacturer | Fabrique Nationale Belge |
Technical specifications
| FAL | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 650 - 700 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 7.62 x 51 mm OTAN |
| Magazine | 20 rounds |
| Length | 1100 mm (43.3 in) |
| Weight | 4.45 kg (9.8 lb) |
| Range | 450 m (1476 ft) |
Description
The Fusil Automatique Léger (FAL) is a battle rifle developed in Belgium by Dieudonné Saive and manufactured by FN Herstal since 1953. Initial prototypes in 1946 were chambered for the 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge. Following British interest, FN developed versions for the .280 British cartridge, including an experimental bullpup model. After NATO's decision to standardize on the 7.62×51mm cartridge, the FAL was redesigned for the new caliber. Although the U.S. ultimately adopted the M14, many other NATO and allied countries selected the FAL, making it one of the most widely used rifles during the Cold War, and earning it the designation "the right arm of the free world."
The FAL is a gas-operated, short-stroke piston system located above the barrel, and it employs a tilting breechblock locking mechanism. A user-adjustable gas regulator allows tuning for varying environmental conditions and ammunition characteristics. A gas plug enables complete bypass of the piston system for firing rifle grenades. Magazine capacities typically range from 5 to 30 rounds, with 20-round magazines being common. The design features a two-piece receiver hinged between the trigger guard and magazine well for field stripping. Recoil spring placement differs between fixed and folding stock models. Heavy barrel variants were produced, often with bipods, intended for automatic fire as light support weapons. While the adjustable gas system contributes to manageable recoil in semi-automatic fire, full-automatic firing from light barrel versions is noted as challenging due to recoil.
The FAL was manufactured in both semi-automatic and select-fire configurations. Key variants include:
-
the heavy-barreled FALO (Fusil Automatique Lourd), known as the LAR 50.41/50.42, C2A1 (Canada)
-
L2A1 (Australia)
-
folding-stock paratrooper variants designated 50.61, 50.62, 50.63, and 50.64
Beyond FN production, numerous national variants were produced under license or as copies, such as the Commonwealth inch-dimensioned L1A1/C1, metric R1 (South Africa), and StG 58 (Austria). Modern civilian-market copies like the DSA SA58 are also produced, sometimes featuring updated materials and configurations. Experimental prototypes, including the .280 British variants and the FN Universal Carbine, predate the standardized FAL.
The FAL was deployed in conflicts across the globe throughout the latter half of the 20th century and beyond. Its widespread adoption by Western nations placed it in opposition to Kalashnikov-pattern rifles used by Eastern Bloc aligned forces in numerous proxy conflicts. Notable uses include the Falklands War by both Argentine and British forces, the Rhodesian Bush War, and by Israeli forces in Middle Eastern wars. Israeli experience highlighted issues with sand and dust ingress in desert environments, contributing to its eventual replacement. Despite this, its general robustness and global presence saw it used by diverse forces in conflicts for decades.
With production by FN and under license in fifteen other countries, over seven million FAL rifles have been produced and adopted by more than 90 nations, making it one of the most widely used military rifles in history. Significant users included many NATO member states, Commonwealth nations adopting the L1A1 derivative, and numerous countries in South America, Africa, and the Middle East. Countries like Argentina, Brazil, Israel, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, and Venezuela undertook license production. Its peak service era was during the Cold War, although it remains in limited service or reserve in some nations, and continues to appear in contemporary conflicts used by both state and non-state actors.