Editing FAMAS (section)

=== 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>