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Meet Special Operations Forces’ New Machine Gun

Jan 19, 2022

Special operations photo illus. by US Navy — 100427-N-3289C-272 ROTA, Spain (April 27, 2010) Lance Cpl. Drew Van Hook, assigned to Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST), Company Europe, at Naval Station Rota, Spain, instructs a Moroccan maritime interdiction operations team on basic close quarter battle training in preparation for Exercise Phoenix Express 2010. The goals of the exercise are to increase participating countries knowledge and experience with FAST unit core capabilities and highlight common safety and security concerns in the maritime environment such as illegal immigration, criminal activity, narcotics trafficking, and weapons trafficking. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Paul Cage/Released)

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Units of the French Special Operations Command will be the first military force to adopt the latest FN ENVOLYS machine gun. The weapon was developed by the Belgian firearms manufacturer FN Herstal.

The EVOLYS is notable in that it was developed to be capable of having a suppressor permanently fitted without impacting the weapon’s performance.

The EVOLYS was unveiled in the two most widely used NATO calibers — 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm NATO — last May, while variants in additional calibers are currently in development.

The compact weapon combines the belt-fed machine gun firepower with assault rifle ergonomics and, depending on variation, weighs either 5.5 or 6.2 kilograms — far lighter than current light machine guns. In fact, this weapon was produced using new techniques in 3D printing as well as advanced polymers. Both factors reduce the weapon’s weight, which is reported to be upwards of thirty percent lighter than the FN Minimi.

Various optical sights can be mounted in-line, while the iron sights can also remain present. It offers ambidextrous controls, while all actions, including belt engagement, can be done with just one hand, according to nationalinterest.org.

The select-fire machine gun also provides for semi-automatic fire for point target engagement and fully automatic suppressive fire.

The French units are expected to begin receiving the weapon by early May of this year.