FN Herstal – 125 years of excellence

FN Herstal – 125 years of excellence
© TR Equipement
The FN SCAR
assault rifle – here
in its FN SCAR-L
short-barrel close
quarters combat
configuration
– was initially
developed to meet
the most stringent
requirements
of demanding
customers in the
special forces
world
On July 3, 1889, a company was
established in the town of Herstal in
Belgium to manufacture 150,000 Mauser
rifles for the Belgian government. From
the seed planted that day grew the
world’s leading developer of small arms –
FN Herstal. Throughout the 20th century
the company flourished as it developed
a series of world-leading weapons and
ammunition, and in the 21st century has
continued to add to its reputation for
innovation and reliability.
Having been established as a rifle
factory as Fabrique Nationale d’Armes
de Guerre, FN added a cartridge factory
in 1898, and began gathering expertise
in the production of ammunition. Shortly
after, the factory struck up a cooperation
with the renowned US firearms designer
John M. Browning, and between the two
they developed a series of world-beating
weapons.
Browning’s first pistols were produced
before World War I, and it is thought that
a 1910 model was the weapon that was
used to assassinate Archduke Franz
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Ferdinand, an act that precipitated the
conflict. However, it was the BAR rifle of the
1920s that first marked out FN as a leading
gun manufacturer on the world scale. In
1935 the influential 9mm Hi Power pistol
entered production, having been designed
by Browning before he died in 1926, in
collaboration with the Belgian Dieudonné J.
Saive. The pistol is still widely used around
the world today.
In the post-World War II era FN continued
to develop important weapons and
ammunition. The FN FAL rifle of the 1950s
became one of the most widely used in the
world, while the first NATO-standard round
– in 7.62mm calibre – was developed
by FN. In the 1970s the company also
developed NATO’s standard 5.56mm
SS109 round.
The year 1970 saw changes for the
company as it altered its name to Fabrique
Nationale Herstal and, more importantly,
it acquired the Browning Arms Company,
enabling the company greater access
to the US market and marking a major
milestone in its global expansion. Before
long new equipment was being sold to
the US military, initially in the form of the
FN MAG (M240) 7.62mm machine gun
and followed up in the 1980s by the FN
MINIMI (M249) 5.56mm weapon. In the
early 2000s the FN SCAR assault rifle was
developed to meet a US specification,
and has subsequently become a popular
weapon with many forces.
In the late 1970s FN Herstal also began
to broaden its activities to include weapon
mounting systems, and self-contained gun
pods for aerial use. This opened up a new
business line that has expanded to now
include remote weapon stations.
After 125 years of existence, and nearly
a century as one of the world’s leading
firearms companies, FN Herstal today
has grown in both size and reputation to
become one of the most trusted names in
defence equipment. Although the weapons
and technologies may have changed,
since the early years, the company
remains committed to providing the best
weapons in the world, supported by the
best service capabilities.
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Herstal Group
FN MINIMI 5.56
Mk3 light machine
gun. The weapon
can be fed from
a 200-round
box or, as here,
an ammunition
pouch of either
100- or 200-round
capacity. Standard
M16 30-round
magazines can
also be used
With a workforce of around 2,500 and
owned by the Walloon Region, the Herstal
Group covers the operations of two
divisions. Products for the civilian hunting,
shooting and outdoor markets are handled
under the Browning and Winchester
Firearms* brands, while the defence and
law enforcement markets are covered by
FN Herstal products. While the products
are marketed under separate brands,
there are significant synergies between
the two sides of the house to drive forward
innovations that can benefit both.
In previous times the Herstal Group had
diversified outside its normal boundaries
for additional business, including
manufacturing in the motorcycle, auto and
aero engine business. However, in recent
times it has adopted a different strategy of
broadening its activities within the firearms
field. This more focused diversification
has driven the development of integrated
weapon systems and, more recently,
the integration of electronic systems to
improve weapon efficiency and capability.
This focus has been supported through
targeted acquisitions. In 2011 the Finnish
electro-optics specialist Noptel was added
to the FN Herstal stable, bringing with it
expertise in laser range-finding equipment.
The Herstal Group’s overall turnover was
€639 million in 2013.
Global company
While the Herstal Group is rooted in its
A ramp-mounted
FN M3M heavy
machine gun
can provide
suppressive fire,
including when
arriving at or
departing a hot
landing zone.
Development of
pintles and pods,
and later of remote
weapon stations,
is indicative of
FN Herstal’s
move into
complementary
technologies to
support the core
firearms business
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home in the greater Liège area in Belgium,
it has become a global company through
the opening of facilities and offices in
other parts of the world. In the US, FN
Herstal has both production and sales/
marketing subsidiaries, while Browning
International has a large sales and
distribution organisation. Browning also
has a production facility in Portugal and
participates in the Miroku factory in Japan.
FN Herstal also has liaison offices in Dubai
and Singapore.
Through its long history the Herstal Group
has amassed an unrivalled knowledge of
firearms, but it is committed to investing
heavily to maintain that position. A healthy
internal research and development
budget drives innovations from within,
but the company also partners with
many key organisations, including
local industries with high technology
skills, and with Belgian universities and
research centres.
State-of-the-art production
Production is undertaken using state-ofthe-art tools for barrel and component
manufacturing to ensure efficient
production and high quality. New
techniques for surface and heat treatment
are explored to further enhance both the
products themselves and the processes
by which they are made. A new test centre
has been implemented to centralize all
testing operations, and provide customers
with an ultra-modern and technological
environment while attending tests. A
new show room has been created for
FN Herstal that mirrors the excellence of
the company’s products.
At the same time, the company takes
its social responsibilities seriously. New
products and processes have been
developed that maximise recycling while
reducing overall ecological footprint. The
Group’s employees benefit from stringent
health and safety regulations, and also
from the Group’s desire to develop and
invest in its human capital. Recognising
the long history of the company, the Ars
Mechanica Foundation has recently been
established to preserve and protect the
company’s heritage.
* Registered trademark of Olin Corporation
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Small arms
From handguns to heavy machine guns,
FN Herstal has been a world-leader in
small arms design and manufacture
for many decades. The success of the
company’s early machine gun and pistol
designs laid a solid foundation upon which
it has developed a series of weapons to
maintain its leading position in the small
arms marketplace.
Today FN Herstal offers a range of
weapons that has been exported around
the world to many users in the defence and
security sectors. The spectrum of products
spans from small-calibre pistols to .50 cal
machine guns, covering all potential
requirements with families of weapons
that provide numerous options to match
operational needs.
Pistols and Submachine Guns
Two pistols are produced by FN Herstal,
extended rail for mounting
sights, image intensifiers,
tactical lights and other
accessories.
the HP 9x19mm
and FN Five-seveN.
The HP is the current
successor of the classic Browning
Hi Power that entered production in
1935, and is still a favoured weapon of
many security forces. The FN FiveseveN was developed in the 1990s as
part of a new personal defence weapon
system built around a company-designed
5.7x28mm cartridge.
While the FN Five-seveN is the pistol
component of the 5.7mm family,
FN Herstal also created the FN P90 submachine gun to use the same ammunition.
Extremely compact, the FN P90 is ideal for
close-quarters work, and is available in a
standard version, or a tactical version with
Assault rifles
FN Herstal has two offerings
in the assault rifle category,
the FN F2000 and the
FN SCAR. Chambered
for the NATO 5.56x45mm
round, the FN F2000 is of
bullpup design to retain full
barrel length while keeping the weapon
itself extremely short. Like many of FN
Herstal’s products, the FN F2000 is
designed for ambidextrous operation,
and can accept a number of accessories
mounted on the top rail or handgrip rail.
An important add-on is a 40mm grenade
launcher that replaces the handgrip. The
launcher has been designed so that it can
FN Five-seveN
Mk2 pistol. The
weapon has a
high-capacity
magazine for 20
rounds, and is
equipped with
a Picatinny rail
for mounting
accessories
FN SCAR family
Designed to meet the demands of
the most discerning special forces
customers, the FN SCAR assault rifle
family was developed to provide variants
with two calibres (the FN SCAR-L
in 5.56x45mm and FN SCAR-H in
7.62x51mm), and with two barrel length
options for each calibre. The barrels
can be quickly interchanged to suit
the particular needs of the operational
situation, and maintain the previously
established weapon zeroing. The long
barrel is intended for general-purpose
use, while the short barrel can be fitted
for close-quarters combat.
Portability and adaptability were key
aspects considered when designing the
FN SCAR, and the weapon has folding
and adjustable buttstock, ambidextrous
operation, simple field stripping,
adjustable cheek piece, and Picatinny
rails for accepting a wide variety of
sighting systems and other accessories.
Flip-up mechanical sights are provided
as a back-up.
Complementing the FN SCAR is the
FN40GL 40mm grenade launcher
that can be adapted for use with all
assault rifle versions. With a trigger
module fitted, the grenade launcher is
mounted over the rifle’s magazine so
that its trigger function can be operated
without changing hand position. A
stand-alone FN40GL version is also
available.
Building on the success of the FN SCAR
assault rifles, FN Herstal has also
developed a precision rifle version.
Chambered for the 7.62x51mm round,
the FN SCAR-H PR retains the buttstock
of the assault rifle, but has a 20-inch
free-floating barrel and two-stage trigger
module for greater accuracy at ranges of
up to 800 metres. The FN SCAR-H TPR
version has a new sniper-style buttstock
and cheek piece with greater degrees
of adjustment.
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The FN SCAR
is a versatile
weapon that has
different barrellength options.
The short barrel
keeps the weapon
compact for close
quarters combat
such as might be
encountered in
urban scenarios,
while the standard
barrel is fitted for
longer distances
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be fired without the user having to move
their hand from the normal rifle grip.
FN SCAR is yet another success story for
FN Herstal. This weapon was developed
initially for US Special Forces, and
encompasses a family of weapons that can
be adapted with a variety of accessories.
The company has also recently expanded
the family with a precision rifle variant.
Proven widely in combat, the FN SCAR
has become extremely popular, especially
among elite units.
Machine Guns
FN Herstal offers a range of machine
gun options that cover tasks from
light support weapon to fixed-platform
heavy duties. The lightest of them is
the FN MINIMI 5.56mm weapon, first
produced in 1981. Later a 7.62mm
version was introduced to complement
the widely used FN MAG weapon.
At the high end of the range are the
FN M2HB-QCB and FN M3 family of
.50-calibre guns.
FN machine guns
The FN FCU is
seen mounted
on an FN SCAR
in closequarter combat
configuration
with a grenade
launcher. The
FN FCU greatly
improves the
accuracy with
which grenades
can be fired
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FN MINIMI is a family of light weapons
that was initially chambered for the
NATO 5.56x45mm round, fed from belt,
box or pouch, or even from a standard
M16 magazine. Now in its third major
incarnation, the versatile FN MINIMI 5.56
incorporates numerous modifications
resulting from operational feedback, with
the accent placed on better ergonomics
and mobility, and improved accessory
integration.
In the beginning of the 2000s, a
7.62x51mm version of the FN MINIMI
was introduced to offer greater firepower,
combined with the ability to be fired
from all positions. Like the 5.56 version,
it has been upgraded recently to reflect
modern operational needs. FN Herstal
offers a comprehensive upgrade service
for bringing existing FN MINIMIs up to
current standards.
To complement its range of
weapons, FN Herstal introduced
the FN Armatronics concept to
combine advanced electronics with
the company’s weapons to enhance
operational effectiveness and efficiency.
In the early 2000s FN Herstal began
working with Noptel in Finland to
develop a fire control system, later
designated as FN FCU, and in 2011
acquired the company outright.
The FN FCU was developed to provide
accurate aiming for the 40mm grenade
launchers that are often attached to
assault rifles. It comes in two versions,
the FN FCU-850N and the FN FCU-1.5M
that has an eye-safe and undetectable
laser. Using a laser rangefinder and
clinometer, the FN FCU has a compact
ballistic computer to work out the
trajectory, in turn generating a moving
red reticle aimpoint in the sight.
FN MINIMI 7.62
Mk3. The weapon
here is fitted
with an optional
foldable pistol
grip, and optional
heatshield over
the barrel. The
bipod support has
three adjustable
positions, while
the ergonomic
buttstock has
five length and
four cheek rest
positions
FN Herstal garnered a reputation for
producing world-leading machine guns
in the form of the Browning .30 and .50
weapons, and continues to be a pioneer
of machine gun design. Its weapons
have been selected by numerous forces
around the world, including those of the
US.
FN Armatronics
FN Herstal designed the FN MAG
and is the original manufacturer.
With over 200,000 units supplied to
over 90 countries since it entered
service in 1958 and manufactured
under FN license in a dozen countries
worldwide, the FN MAG is still a
leading reference in the field of
7.62x51mm NATO general-purpose
machine guns in terms of accuracy,
reliability and durability. It is the
perfect choice for use on tripods and
vehicles. The FN MAG is in service
alongside the FN MINIMI, each weapon
complementing the other in terms of
their individual advantages.
In terms of heavy weapons, the
company manufactures the Browning
M2HB .50 calibre gun, one of the
most successful heavy machine
guns of all time. An innovative quickchange barrel was developed to allow
the gun to maintain fire over a long
period with only a short interruption.
A second .50-calibre weapon, the
FN M3, is also manufactured, offering
a high rate of fire of 1,100 rounds
per minute. This gun is used in
pintle-, pod- and coaxial-mounted
applications.
Another FN Armatronics product is
the FN SmartCore, a shot counter
and weapon analysis system that
is packaged into the handgrip of a
weapon. The sealed system has a 10year power supply, and gathered data
can be downloaded to a computer for
analysis. The FN SmartCore records the
number of shots (blanks and live), rates
of fire and firing cycles. This information
can be transmitted through personal
communications in real-time into a
battle management system.
Coupled with armourer software, the
system also records any repairs and
alterations to the weapon, and allows
armourers to streamline logistics and
maintenance requirements, and so
assist fleet wear management.
Pursuing development initiated with
the introduction of the FN FCU and FN
SmartCore, FN Herstal is introducing in
2014 additional solutions that integrate
modern technologies with weapons to
provide enhanced combat, logistical
and communication capabilities.
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Less lethal
While for most of its existence FN Herstal
has been involved with traditional lethal
weapons, for both law enforcement and
military purposes, the company identified a
void in the market in the early 2000s for a
less lethal capability. This was targeted at
police and other public security forces who
required a capability that lay between the
baton and standard firearm.
Security personnel
enter a room with
the FN 303 less
lethal projectile
launcher at the
ready. A more
lethal back-up is
provided by an FN
9mm handgun
Accordingly, FN Herstal developed a
family of projectiles that would administer
sufficient force to suit the user’s needs,
but with a far reduced risk of serious injury
or death. Known as FN 303, the projectile
was designed to provide sufficient impact
to shatter a car window, yet when used
against a suspect would offer little risk of
skin penetration. Furthermore, the projectile
required no propellant and generates no
noise, heat or flame when fired.
To fire the new projectile FN Herstal
designed the compressed air-powered
FN 303 launcher. Styled in a similar fashion
to a compact close-quarters assault rifle,
the FN 303 incorporates a sight and is
highly accurate at ranges of up to 50
metres. A rotary magazine holds the
projectiles, allowing rapid fire in multitarget scenarios. To complement the
larger launcher, the pistol-like FN 303 P
firing the same projectiles, was also
developed. This launcher is easier to
carry, and can be used in a confined space
such as a small room or prison cell.
With the FN 303 products FN Herstal has
become a key player in the less lethal
market, and has sold its system to many
military, law enforcement and special units
around the world.
Ammunition
FN Herstal has a legacy in ammunition
design and manufacture that reaches
back to 1898, when the first cartridge
factory was established. Along the way it
has developed cartridges that have been
adopted as ‘NATO-standard’ and have
become among the most prevalent in use
around the world.
In the 1950s FN Herstal developed the
7.62x51mm round that was adopted for
NATO’s general-purpose machine guns
under the SS77 designation. Development
of the round was conducted in a short
time, and it was selected after rigorous
tests that compared it with its competitors.
The round is still in mass production
today with ball, tracer, armour-piercing and
blank options.
Two decades later FN Herstal developed
the official light rifle calibre round for NATO.
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Drawing on the .223 Remington round
used by the US Army, FN Herstal produced
the SS109 5.56x45mm round that was
officially adopted by NATO in 1981. This
is used in many assault rifles and light
support weapons.
Subsequently, in the 1990s FN Herstal also
developed the 5.7x28mm calibre round for
pistols and sub-machine guns available
in a number of variants such as ball,
tracer, subsonic, soft, frangible and blank.
The 5.7 round with the SS190 bullet was
recommended by NATO as the new calibre
for personal defence weapons.
In addition to these three calibres of
ammunition, FN Herstal also offers
9x19mm rounds for pistols and submachine guns, and a range of .50
(12.7mm) calibre rounds for heavy
machine guns and sniper rifles. The .50-cal
range includes armour-piercing, armourpiercing/incendiary and armour-piercing/
explosive/incendiary options.
FN Herstal ensures that its ammunition
is produced to the highest quality. As the
only company in the world that designs
and develops both weapons and the
ammunition they use, the company can
ensure that they function together as a
complete system.
High levels of
quality control
ensure that
FN Herstal
ammunition,
such as these .50
rounds, is safe
and reliable
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Integrated weapon systems
This
AgustaWestland
AW101 carries
an FN HMP400
gun pod on the
starboard side,
with an FN RMP
pod to port. The
latter combines a
self-contained gun
with 70mm rocket
launching tubes
beneath
In 1978 FN Herstal embarked on a new
product line that would grow to be a huge
success. Rather than just produce the
weapons, the company began to integrate
them on pintles, or in pods, for application
to a wide range of aircraft and helicopters,
military and security vehicles, and on naval
vessels.
Integrating such systems requires a
deep understanding of the nature of the
weapons themselves, and their effects on
their immediate surroundings. FN Herstal
was ideally placed to engineer the
mountings, ammunition feeds and spentcase disposal systems. These took into
account the requirements of the operator
and the environment in which the weapon
was intended to be used.
In some cases, such as external pods,
the weapon had to be self-contained,
whereas in other applications, such as a
helicopter door gun, the system had to
be designed to be easy to operate yet not
interfere with the aircraft’s own systems, or
unnecessarily obstruct the doorway.
FN Herstal has been highly successful
since entering this market, and over 4,000
aircraft and helicopters have been outfitted
with the company’s integrated weapon
systems. This activity remains an important
part of FN Herstal’s business, and a
range of integrated systems is offered.
Furthermore, experience in the sector has
allowed the company to take the next step
to develop remote weapon stations.
Airborne pods
that could be adapted to a number of
applications, including pintle mounts,
podded systems and axial/coaxial
mounts. The FN M3 is at home on land
or sea, and in the air.
At the heart of the M3’s capabilities is
its high rate of fire of 1,100 rounds per
minute. Compared to earlier heavy
machine guns, this enables the weapon
to put down a concentrated weight
of fire in a short time, reducing the
time required on target. It has either
left- or right-side feeding, increasing
its adaptability, and can be fitted with
a range of sighting systems. Maximum
range is 6,500 metres, with effective
range at 2,500 metres.
In the air domain FN Herstal supplies
a range of pintle- and pod-mounted
systems. For use with both helicopters and
fixed-wing light attack aircraft the company
developed a self-contained FN HMP pod.
The self-contained unit is carried from
NATO-standard 14-inch lugs, and comes
in a number of variants. All mount the
FN M3 machine gun
To build on the success of the FN
M2HB-QCB FN Herstal designed and
developed a new .50-calibre weapon
in the form of the FN M3. The gun
was created as the basis of a family
FN M3Ms are
seen on the
Medium Door
Pintle mounts of
a Sikorsky S-70
Black Hawk.
The ability of the
weapon to be
fed from either
side increases its
flexibility
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The pintle-mounted version is known
as the FN M3M, and in its door/
window mounted version is armed
with 300 or 600 rounds, all of which
can be expended in a single burst in
an emergency situation. It also forms
part of the FN MVP (Medium Vehicle
Pintle) system, which is fed from quickchange 300-round ammunition boxes.
The FN M3P is intended primarily for
pod, fixed open-air and axial/coaxial
installations, and the FN M3R for remote
weapon stations.
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FN M3P .50-calibre heavy machine gun as
standard.
FN HMP250 LCC is a version with a
250-round capacity, while the FN HMP400
carries 400 rounds. It comes in the LC
sub-variant, with a collector for links only,
and the LCC that additionally collects
cases. A further version is the FN RMP,
which combines the FN M3M with 250
rounds and three launch tubes for 70mm
rockets.
Partnering its podded weapons,
FN Herstal offers analog armament
management systems for installation in
aircraft and helicopters. Current innovative
development includes digital armament
management systems.
Pintle mounts
Airborne pintle systems have been
developed for mounting in the doors,
windows or rear loading ramps of
helicopters, or on external mounts.
The company works directly with the
helicopter manufacturer and/or end-user
to ensure high levels of integration, while
it also provides high-quality after-sales
support.
Pintle mounts for helicopters provide a fully
mechanical soft mount for the weapon
that absorbs recoil forces and provides
outstanding balance for greater accuracy.
The open-bolt firing mode of FN weapons
prevents cook-off, ensuring full safety
and reliability. Depending on whether the
user requires light or medium firepower,
FN Herstal offers the FN MAG 58M 7.62mm
gun or the FN M3M .50-calibre weapon.
Both are equipped with twin spade grip
handles.
Based on the same recoil-absorbing soft
mount developed for airborne uses, FN
Herstal also offers a range of pintle mounts
for vehicles and boats. Weapons that can
be fitted include the 7.62mm FN MAG
58M, and FN M2HB-QCB and FN M3M
50-calibre guns. These weapons have been
adapted to the vehicle application through
various modifications, such as a telescopic
shoulder brace and flash suppressor for
the FN M3M, anti-aircraft sights and quickrelease attachments so that the weapons
can be quickly removed and stowed.
Remote weapon systems
In the mid-2000s FN Herstal developed
its first remote weapon station, the
FN ARROWS project undertaken in
partnership with Rheinmetall Canada.
Both the Belgian and French armies
procured FN ARROWS through three
major programmes (MPPV, AIV and VBCI)
that saw over 400 remote weapon stations
supplied. Success with this programme
led to FN Herstal developing subsequent
RWSs on its own, designated as the
deFNder family.
FN’s Medium
Vehicle Pintle
mounts an FN
M3M .50-calibre
weapon. The
weapon is
lightweight and
compact, even
with a 300-round
box, and is easy to
maintain
Major contracts have also been secured
around the world for the deFNder Light
and deFNder Medium RWSs, involving
deliveries in excess of 1,000 units.
More recently, FN Herstal developed and
qualified the naval version of the deFNder
Medium that will be launched officially later
in 2014. The Sea deFNder is already under
contract with a NATO navy.
deFNder remote weapon stations
The remote weapon stations allow
under-armour firing from vehicles.
Manufactured from light but sturdy
aluminium, the deFNder family mounts
can be fitted to a wide range of carriers.
They can be outfitted with optional
equipment dependent on customer
choice, such as highly sophisticated
gyro-stabilisation, day and night infrared
sighting systems, target-tracking and
image stabilisation functions, ballistic
protection, higher capacity ammunition
boxes (up to 500 .50-calibre rounds),
and interfaces with sensors such as
BMS, SADLS, LWR and radar. The
deFNder RWS can also be used in
dismounted installations for defence of
critical infrastructure, bases or control
points.
Two baseline mounts are offered, the
deFNder Light for FN MINIMI 5.56 or 7.62
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machine guns, or the FN MAG 7.62 mm
weapon, and the deFNder Medium that
can also mount .50-calibre weapons
such as the FN M2HB-QCB and FN M3R,
as well as a 40mm grenade launcher.
Both RWSs provide 360° firing capability
in azimuth, and elevation traverse
ranging from +70° to -40° for the Medium
system, and +80° to -60° for the deFNder
Light. The latter can be armed with up
to 1,050 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition
in high-capacity boxes, while deFNder
Medium can be armed with up to 500
rounds of .50-calibre ammunition, or
1,000 7.62mm rounds.
Mounting a
.50-calibre FN
M3R machine
gun, this deFNder
Medium remote
weapon station is
installed in a VAB
vehicle
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FN Herstal – a preferred partner
The FN SCAR-H
precision rifle is
one example of
the FN Herstal
products that are
highly respected
around the world
With a strong, focused commitment
to long-term customer partnerships,
FN Herstal is an ideal partner. The company
brings with it an immaculate pedigree
and an undisputed global reputation
as a firearms and ammunition designer
and manufacturer. However, it has also
branched out into multi-disciplinary sectors
that draw on state-of-the-art technology
that are complementary to the company’s
core business. This is a key differentiator
in terms of systems integration for defence
and law enforcement requirements.
FN Herstal collaborates closely with both
the operational end-user and equipment
OEMs such as vehicle and helicopter
manufacturers to ensure the efficient
and ergonomic integration of its systems
and weapons within the context of the
operational platform. The company is also
engaged closely with lead integrators on a
number of Future Soldier programmes.
Quality assurance, control and improvement
are cornerstones of FN Herstal’s activities,
and the company holds AS/EN 9100
certification, the most advanced quality
management system standard for
aerospace and defence industries. The
company continues to drive innovation so
that it can meet customer requirements.
Substantial investment is made not only
FN has invested
in state-of-theart production
facilities to ensure
the best quality
possible, and can
provide advice
to companies
seeking to
establish or
modernise
plants to similar
standards
FN Herstal – committed to providing
the best weapons and best service
capabilities in the world
8
in research and development of weapons
and systems, but also in advanced
manufacturing and production techniques.
Technology transfer
That know-how is on offer for collaborative
partnerships through FN Herstal’s
technology transfer programme. Not only
does the company have unrivalled knowhow in weapons and ammunition, but it
also has the deep understanding of the
manufacturing process that comes from its
125 years in the business.
FN Herstal can assist with the creation
and establishment of firearms production
facilities from the initial design of
the building, to final production. The
company can offer consultation at any
point in the process, according to customer
requirements, with key expertise in areas
such as facility establishment, training, plant
and stock management, factory operation,
quality control and global maintenance
services. After-sales logistics and
maintenance services can be instigated,
tailored to meet customer needs.
FN Herstal, S.A.
Voie de Liège 33
B-4040 Herstal (Belgium)
info@fnherstal.com
www.fnherstal.com All trademarks, service brands, logos and brand names as well as
copyrights and images used here are trademarks or registered trademarks
or copyrights owned by FN HERSTAL, S.A. – except otherwise specified
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