Shrike
Summary
| Country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Light machine gun |
| Manufacturer | Ares |
Technical specifications
| Shrike | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 625 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 5.56 x 45 mm OTAN |
| Magazine | 30 - 100 rounds |
| Length | 1016 mm (40.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) |
| Range | 200 m (656 ft) |
Description
The Ares Defense Shrike 5.56 is an air-cooled, dual-feed light machine gun or rifle chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, designed for semi or full-automatic fire. Designed by Geoffrey Herring, its name is derived from the carnivorous passerine bird, Shrike. It is marketed as either a complete weapon or as an upper receiver kit intended as a performance upgrade for existing AR-15 and M16 type service rifles and carbines.
This firearm utilizes a gas-piston operating system with a short-stroke impinging design, and a quick-change barrel with fixed headspace. It also features a MIL-STD-1913 rail for mounting accessories. Feeding is versatile, supporting standard 30-round STANAG magazines, 100-round Beta C-Mag drum magazines, and M27-linked SAW ammunition supplied from 100- or 200-round soft pouches, as well as 200-round hard plastic SAW ammunition containers. Weighing 7.5 lbs as a complete weapon, it is presented as lighter than comparable squad automatic weapons like the M249 or Heckler & Koch MG4. The design shows apparent influence from other weapon systems, including the Stoner 63.
Several prototypes and production variants exist:
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EXP-1: The initial proof-of-concept prototype, incorporating a modified M249 handguard, a unique firing mechanism, and a quick-detach barrel latch based on the Stoner 63 design.
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EXP-2: An improved prototype introducing a new Picatinny rail handguard, an enhanced firing mechanism utilizing some M16 components, and a new barrel latch system similar to that found on the M60 machine gun.
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03A: The production model, featuring a distinct compact side-mounted gas system and a significantly modified firing mechanism compared to previous prototypes. Early production runs of the 03A had a circular handguard, while later versions feature a Picatinny rail handguard; certain components, including the barrel latch, resemble those on the EXP-1.
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ARES-16SPW receiver: Specifically designed for the Shrike, and is identical to the mil-spec M16 receiver except for a cut-away magazine well intended to reduce size. This limits feeding to M249 box magazines with linked ammunition but results in a smaller vertical profile.
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Ares AAR: Described as a Lightweight Infantry Automatic Rifle for squad support, equipped with a quick-change barrel, telescoping stock, MIL-STD-1913 optics mount, and a rail interface handguard. It feeds from 30- and 100-round magazines and can be reconfigured for dual-feed operation via an optional belt-feed module.
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Ares AAR/C: An Ultra-Compact Infantry Automatic Rifle variant featuring a quick-change barrel and side-folding stock, along with a MIL-STD-1913 optics mount and rail interface handguard, feeding from 30- and 100-round magazines. Its compact design is emphasized for portability and maneuverability, and it can be fitted with multiple Picatinny rails for mounting various accessories.