Editing FN CAL (section)

{{Short description|Belgian assault rifle}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = FN CAL
| image              = FN CAL close1.JPG
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = FN CAL on display at the [[National Firearms Museum]], [[United States]].
| origin             = Belgium
| type               = [[Assault rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = Yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 
| used_by            = See ''[[#Users|Users]]''
| wars               = [[Vietnam War]]<br>[[Communist insurgency in Thailand]] <br>[[Colombian conflict]]<br />[[Nicaraguan Revolution]]<br />[[Myanmar conflict]]<br />[[The Troubles]]<br />[[Lebanese Civil War]]<br />[[Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995)]]<br>[[2014 Gaza War]]
<!-- Production history -->| designer           = Ernest Vervier
| design_date        = 1963–66
| manufacturer       = [[FN Herstal]]
| production_date    = 1966–1975
| number             = Approx. 30,000
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = 3.35 kg (7.385 lbs)
| length             = 980 mm (38.58 in)
| part_length        = {{cvt|467|mm|in}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://weaponsystems.net/system/179-FN+CAL |title=FN CAL. |publisher=Weaponsystems.net. |access-date=13 February 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305005225/https://weaponsystems.net/system/179-FN+CAL|archive-date=March 5, 2023}}</ref>
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->| cartridge          = [[5.56×45mm NATO]]
| action             = [[Gas-operated reloading|Gas-operated]], [[rotating bolt]]
| rate               = 850 rounds/min
| velocity           = 
| range              = 
| max_range          = 
| feed               = 20-, 25-, or 30-round detachable [[box magazine]]
| sights             = [[Iron sight]]s
| unit_cost          = (FY2022) $820
}}

The '''CAL''' (''Carabine Automatique Légère'', ''Light Automatic Carbine'') is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] assault rifle that was manufactured by [[Fabrique Nationale]]. It was the first 5.56&nbsp;mm rifle produced by the [[Fabrique Nationale]]. It resembled the company's highly successful [[FN FAL]], but was an original design. Unlike the FAL, it was a market failure, although its development led to the more successful [[FN FNC]].