Editing FAMAS (section)

==History==
The first French bullpup rifles were developed between 1946 and 1950 at the AME (''Atelier Mécanique de Mulhouse'') and MAS, testing rounds such as [[.30 US Carbine]], [[7.92×33mm Kurz]], 7.65×38mm (Made by ''Cartoucherie de Valence'') and some other intermediate calibres.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Since France was engaged in the [[First Indochina War]] at the time, and was also the second-largest contributor to [[NATO]], the research budgets for new types of weapons were limited and priority was given to the modernisation and production of existing service weapons. Nevertheless, approximately forty different [[7.62×51mm NATO]] calibre prototype rifles were developed between 1952 and 1962, most notably the [[FA-MAS Type 62]]. However, the United States' adoption of the [[M16 rifle]] and [[5.56×45mm]] cartridge caused the French to rethink their approach, and consequently, the Type 62 was not adopted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottenweapons.com/lorem-ipsum/rifles/french-mas-type-1955 |title=French MAS Type 1955 |publisher=Forgotten Weapons |access-date=30 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617074513/http://www.forgottenweapons.com/lorem-ipsum/rifles/french-mas-type-1955 |archive-date=17 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottenweapons.com/lorem-ipsum/rifles/french-mas-type-62 |title=French MAS Type 62 |publisher=Forgotten Weapons |access-date=30 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617074519/http://www.forgottenweapons.com/lorem-ipsum/rifles/french-mas-type-62 |archive-date=17 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/3000/3005.htm |title=FA-MAS Type 62 |publisher=Securityarms.com |access-date=30 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716031951/http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/3000/3005.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 1960s, MAS began to manufacture under licence the [[Heckler & Koch G3]] [[battle rifle]] and later on the [[Heckler & Koch HK33]] [[assault rifle]] as temporary substitutes.{{cn|date=March 2025}} At the same time, the French embraced the idea of developing a new 5.56&nbsp;mm automatic rifle. However, adopting the German-designed HK33 was considered unsatisfactory for many members of the French high command. General [[Marcel Bigeard]] was also against the idea of relying on foreign weapons; while visiting the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne, he asked the engineers to develop a homemade French 5.56&nbsp;mm automatic rifle, which subsequently led to the creation and adoption of the FAMAS.

The FAMAS project began in 1967 under the direction of General Paul Tellié (1919-2014) and the first prototype was completed in 1971, with French military evaluation of the rifle beginning in 1972.<ref name="modernfirearms"/> When production problems delayed the general issue of the new rifles, and with the 1978 [[Battle of Kolwezi]] showing an immediate need for a more modern weapon to be comparable with the assault rifles of enemy forces, the [[French Army]] began searching for an emergency temporary rifle until the FAMAS came into full production.

While the Heckler & Koch HK33 was considered, with a batch of 1,200 examples tested, it was ultimately turned down in favour of the [[SIG SG 540]], made under licence by [[Manurhin]] (''Manufacture de Machines du Haut Rhin'') as a temporary resort until enough domestically built FAMAS were produced to issue to French forces. In late 1978, the French military accepted the FAMAS as their standard-issue rifle, the FAMAS F1.

=== Service ===
The FAMAS first saw service in [[Chad]] during [[Operation Manta]] and again in desert operations during Operation [[Desert Storm]] and in other various missions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet Heckler & Koch's HK416: The Rifle You Need To Know About|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-heckler-kochs-hk416-rifle-you-need-know-about-48057|website=National Interest|date=19 March 2019}}</ref> Officially, operational conditions proved the weapon to be reliable and trustworthy under combat conditions. The FAMAS is affectionately known by French-speaking troops as ''le Clairon'' ("the [[Bugle]]") because of its shape.<ref name="FAMAS">{{Cite web|last=Eger|first=Chris|title=FAMAS BULLPUP ASSAULT RIFLES: LE 'BUGLE' (VIDEO)|url=https://www.guns.com/news/2014/03/26/famas-bullpup-assault-rifles-le-bugle-video|website=Guns.com}}</ref>

[[Senegal]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] received a small number of FAMAS F1 rifles from France,{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} though it was unknown when they received them. [[Djibouti]] uses this weapon in its military and the gendarmerie<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.force-publique.net/sources/Annuaire/Djibouti-gb.html |title=Djibouti-gb |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111121716/https://www.force-publique.net/sources/Annuaire/Djibouti-gb.html |archive-date=11 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> as the standard infantry weapon. The [[Philippines]] also received a limited number and is used by the [[Philippine National Police]] [[Special Action Force]].<ref name="Article">{{cite web|url=http://www.riflesnguns.com/node/649 |title=Famas F-1 |access-date=10 December 2008 |publisher=Rifles n Guns |date=2 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222055838/http://www.riflesnguns.com/node/649 |archive-date=22 February 2007}}</ref>

=== Replacement ===
[[File:Legionnaires.jpg|thumb|Legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment during a patrol with the new standard-issue assault rifle of the French Armed Forces, the HK416F]]

In 2017, the French armed forces began retiring the FAMAS in favour of the German-made [[Heckler & Koch HK416|HK416]].

When the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne (MAS) factory closed in 2002, no more domestic rifles could be made. The last batch of newly produced FAMAS, built in 2002, saw more than a decade of heavy service by 2016. As of 2014, the French armed forces currently use an estimated 400,000 FAMAS F1 and G2 rifles still stored in their arsenal.<ref>[http://www.janes.com/article/38273/france-launches-famas-replacement-tender France launches FAMAS replacement tender] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524022855/http://www.janes.com/article/38273/france-launches-famas-replacement-tender |date=24 May 2014 }} – IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, 22 May 2014</ref> The military also ceased manufacture of special steel-case ammunition for the FAMAS.<ref name="secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr" /> Because the FAMAS did not function properly with [[NATO]] standard brass-cased ammunition (chamber fluting can allow the F1 to use brass cases but only G2 rifles can use common STANAG magazines),<ref name="secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr" /> and coupled with concern over the age of existing weapons, the French military sought a replacement for the FAMAS.  

In May 2014, the French [[Ministry of Armed Forces (France)|Ministry of Armed Forces]] announced a European Union-wide tender for a minimum of 90,000 rifles and carbines to be issued across the entire French armed forces.<ref>{{Cite web|title = France Launches Program to Replace FAMAS Rifle - The Firearm Blog|url = http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/05/20/france-launches-program-replace-famas-rifle/|website = The Firearm Blog|date = 20 May 2014|access-date = 2016-01-30|language = en-US|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150717180033/http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/05/20/france-launches-program-replace-famas-rifle/|archive-date = 17 July 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> In August 2016, the Ministry selected Heckler and Koch's [[HK416]] to replace the FAMAS as the new general-issue service rifle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/08/30/breaking-next-french-infantry-rifle-german-heckler-koch-reportedly-wins-french-aif-rifle-competition/|title=BREAKING: The Next French Infantry Rifle Is German - Heckler & Koch Reportedly WINS French AIF Rifle Competition - The Firearm Blog|date=30 August 2016|access-date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913094959/http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/08/30/breaking-next-french-infantry-rifle-german-heckler-koch-reportedly-wins-french-aif-rifle-competition/|archive-date=13 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="janes.com">http://www.janes.com/article/64230/french-army-selects-hk416-to-replace-famas {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003135923/http://www.janes.com/article/64230/french-army-selects-hk416-to-replace-famas |date=3 October 2016 }} French Army selects HK416 to replace FAMAS. Nicholas de Larrinaga. London. IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 30 September 2016</ref> Under the contract, the new rifle was designated as the HK416F, with 'F' standing for French version.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/communaute-defense/la-dga-attribue-le-marche-de-l-arme-individuelle-future-aif |title=La DGA attribue le marché de l'Arme Individuelle Future (AIF) |access-date=13 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014062548/http://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/communaute-defense/la-dga-attribue-le-marche-de-l-arme-individuelle-future-aif |archive-date=14 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> 16,000 rifles will be annually purchased until a final total of 90,000 to 102,000 rifles are delivered. The new rifles are expected to remain in active French service for at least 30 years.<ref name="janes.com"/><ref>[http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/09/14/breaking-heckler-koch-confirmed-winner-french-aif-rifle-contract-fn-appeal-french-decision/ BREAKING: Heckler & Koch CONFIRMED Winner of French AIF Rifle Contract; FN to Appeal French Decision] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918105644/http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/09/14/breaking-heckler-koch-confirmed-winner-french-aif-rifle-contract-fn-appeal-french-decision/ |date=18 September 2016 }} - Thefirearmblog.com, 14 September 2016</ref>

The FAMAS will be issued to the [[National Guard (France)|French National Guard]] and domestic police units, and will continue to serve in reserve and non-combat units until 2028, when a phaseout of the FAMAS with the HK416 can occur.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://fieldjournals.com/2017/01/30/famas-to-equip-new-84000-man-national-guard-stay-in-service-until-2028/ |title=FAMAS to Equip New 84,000 Man National Guard, Stay in Service Until 2028 &#124; FieldJournals |access-date=12 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012100127/https://fieldjournals.com/2017/01/30/famas-to-equip-new-84000-man-national-guard-stay-in-service-until-2028/ |archive-date=12 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>