SAR 21

SAR 21

The SAR 21 with the attached Round Corner Firing (RCF) module
Type Bullpup assault rifle
Place of origin Singapore
Service history
In service 1999–present[1]
Used by See Users
Production history
Designer Tuck Wah Chee and Felix Tsai of Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now ST Kinetics)[2]
Designed 1996[1]
Manufacturer • CIS: 1999–2000[1]
• ST Kinetics: 2000–present[1]
Produced 1999–present[1]
Variants See variants
Specifications
Weight • SAR 21: 3.82 kg (8.42 lb)[1]
• SAR 21 GL/M203: 5.3 kg (12 lb)
• SAR 21 P-Rail: 3.6 kg (7.9 lb)
• SAR 21 MMS: 3.5 kg (7.7 lb)
• SAR 21 Light Weight Carbine 3 kg (6.6 lb)
Length 805 mm (31.7 in) (SAR 21, SAR 21 40 GL/M203, SAR 21 P-Rail)
680 mm (26.8 in) (SAR 21 MMS)
640 mm (25.2 in) (SAR 21 Light Weight Carbine)
Barrel length 508 mm (20.0 in)[1]
Cartridge 5.56×45mm NATO[1]
Caliber 5.56 mm (0.22 in)[1]
Barrels Single barrel 1:12" and 1:7" twist options [3]
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire 450–650 rounds/min[1]
Muzzle velocity 970 m/s (3,182 ft/s) (M193)
945 m/s (3,100.4 ft/s) (SS109)
Effective firing range 460 m (M193)
800 m (SS109)
Feed system 30-round detachable box magazine; proprietary or STANAG magazines[3]
Sights 1.5x or 3x optical sight; back-up iron sights

The SAR 21 ("Singapore Assault Rifle - 21st Century") is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured in Singapore. First revealed and subsequently adopted by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1999, it was designed and developed over a four-year period and was intended to replace the locally license-built M16S1[3] by the Singaporean Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Singapore Army and the Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now ST Kinetics).[4] Many of its design features are directly intended to counter the weaknesses of the M16S1 as encountered operationally by some infantrymen.[1]

The rifle is being sold for export use aside from domestic use.[5] In the United States, it is being marketed by ST Kinetics via its American subsidiary, VT Systems.[6]

History and development

Since the mid-80s, the SAF had an outstanding requirement to come up with a replacement for their M16S1 as most of these had been in use since 1973. In 1994, a proposal by SAF was submitted to the MINDEF for options to either procure newer weapons (thought was given to purchase the M16A2) or to develop its own indigenous rifle.[7] On 19 November 2002, a patent was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Tuck Wah Chee and Felix Tsai with the patent number 6,481,144 B1.[2]

MINDEF officials, after consultations with the SAF, decided against buying weapons off the shelf as it would require soldiers to adjust to the new weapon, choosing instead to develop a weapon, designed and made specifically for ease of use by the conscript soldiers of the SAF, who are mostly of slighter physiques. Coupled with the rising costs of maintaining the M16S1s in SAF's armory, this made it even more justifiable to develop a low-maintenance weapon.[1]

Design

A Singaporean soldier gives an overview of the SAR-21 rifle to a group of US Army soldiers at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt.

The SAR 21 is made of a rugged, high impact polymer, most of the manufacturing is done utilising CNC machines, with ultrasonic welding for the steel-reinforced receiver halves and the gun barrel being cold hammer forged. It uses a modified Stoner operating system, boasting higher reliability and lower recoil. The translucent magazine allows precise assessment of current ammo load.[7]

The SAR 21 is also the first production assault rifle of its class to incorporate a built-in Laser Aiming Device (LAD)[4] (powered by a single "AA-size" battery) as standard. It has a 5 position switch which can emit a visible beam at high or low power. It can also be set to "steady on" or "momentary on" which is triggered with the use of a pressure switch activated with the user's left thumb.[8] The rifle incorporates various patented safety features, such as a Kevlar cheek plate and overpressure vent that protects the shooter in the event of a chamber explosion or catastrophic failure.[3][9] It also has an integral 1.5x optical scope that is built into its carrying handle (A 3.0x version is also available). The scope aids in target acquisition, particularly under low light conditions. The scope is factory-zeroed, and requires minimal further zeroing to suit different users.[3][4] This minimizes non-training range time.[1]

Externally, the SAR 21 along with the Israeli IMI Tavor TAR-21 and the South African Vektor CR-21 (all minus the foregrip) as with most other bullpup designs bears only a superficial appearance/resemblance to the Austrian Steyr AUG, although the advent of the bolt action bullpup Thorneycroft carbine in 1901[10] preceded the Steyr AUG (in production since 1978) by almost eighty years.[11]

Design issues

Early users of the weapon in the Singapore Armed Forces experienced many problems due to their unfamiliarity with the bullpup design. Their criticisms (usually in comparison with the M16S1 rifles they were already trained with) include:

Some of these criticisms were addressed with design modifications to the later production models. New weapon handling procedures were also introduced.

The Kevlar plating on the left side of the weapon butt (where a right-handed user's face would typically be) is effective in protecting the user from any internal chamber explosion by directing the resulting force to the right. However, that resultant force would also seriously injure anyone unfortunate enough to be on the right side of the weapon. In the case of a user firing from his left shoulder, this could cause severe injury to his face. As a result, all left-handed SAF soldiers are taught to fire from their right shoulder as a safety measure. The SAR 21 was designed with a small in-built brass deflector to eject spent bullet casings forward, thus reducing the chances of the spent casings hitting a left-handed user's face. This means the rifle is not completely ambidextrous but may, in a pinch, be fired from the left shoulder.[1]

However, ST Kinetics has taken these criticisms into consideration and had improved the SAR-21 design with the upcoming SAR 21A. The prototype was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow 2010 and production began in 2012.

Operation

A Singaporean soldier takes aim with the SAR-21. Note the emitted red laser beam.

Like the M16 rifle, the bolt locks open on an empty magazine. When the magazine is exhausted, it is removed by depressing the AK-style lever. Clearing the weapon is accomplished by removing the magazine, pulling the charging handle to the rear, and observing the chamber. After loading a magazine into the housing, the weapon is made "ready" by cocking the weapon, and engaging the FN MAG-type safety button forward of the trigger guard. The position of the fire selector button (SEMI or AUTO) on the stock may also be adjusted.[1]

The on/off switch for the LAD is located on the left handguard; when holding the weapon at ready, the left thumb rests naturally on it. With sluggish operation due to fouling, the gas regulator setting may be increased by turning it with a coin, screwdriver, or any other thin flat object. Alternatively, the gas regulator can be unlatched and turned by hand with aid of the knurled surface.[1]

Variants

SAR 21 Light Machine Gun (LMG)
Fitted with an open bolt, it has a heavy 513 mm (20.2 in) barrel with an integral folding bipod and a foregrip.[1]
SAR 21 Sharpshooter
Same as the basic SAR 21, but has 3.0x optical sight instead of standard 1.5x sight. The sight picture is composed of luminous black paint, allowing easier target engagement at night without use of the LAD.[3]
SAR 21 Grenade Launcher (GL)
Attached with a CIS 40 GL or M203 grenade launcher.[3][8] Several sub-variants/prototypes incorporate different targeting modules (or mounted on p-rails) for grenade target acquisition. Known sights to have been used include aiming quadrants, various optical sights and laser fire control systems.[3]
SAR 21 P-rail
Has a Picatinny rail in place of its integral optical sight.[8] Charging handle is moved to the left hand side of the weapon (Interchangeable with right side).[3][8]
SAR 21 Modular Mounting System (MMS)
Has integral optical sight and LAD removed to allow a wide variety of add-on tactical accessories, such as vertical assault grips, tactical lights and reflex sights. Charging handle is moved to the left hand side of the weapon.[8] Similar to P-rail model with exception of shorter barrel.[3][8] Variants consist of a standard and carbine-based barrels.[13]
SAR 21 Lightweight Carbine
A lightweight SAR 21 variant was revealed during the Asian Defence Exhibition held in conjunction with 2006 Asian Aerospace. The variant boasts an ultra-short barrel and shorter handguards. A Picatinny rail is used as well.[3]
RCF module
The Round Corner Firing (RCF) module, similar in concept to the Israeli CornerShot, can be attached to any of the above SAR 21 variants for conducting operations in an urban environment.[14]
SAR 21A
The prototype was unveiled at the Singapore Air show 2010, this updated variant boasts sturdier thumb selector for ambidextrous control, an unloaded weight of 3.2 kg (7 lb 0.9 oz), a full built-in Picatinny rail along its length and a higher rate of firing at 900 RPM. In production as of 2012.[15]

Users

See also

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Richard J, 2008.
  2. 1 2 "United States Patent Chee et a.". Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "SAR 21 Product Brochure" (PDF). ST Engineering. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "Factsheet - Singapore Assault Rifle 21". Singaporean Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "Infantry Article Index". 19 November 1999. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Call to arms in Singapore yields explosive results". Fairfax Digital. 3 August 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 Charles Q Cutshaw (31 May 2000). "Singapore is rearing SAR 21 bullpup rifle for home and export requirement". Jane's International Defence Review: Land Forces News. Archived from the original on 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Singapore Technologies Kinetics SAR-21 assault rifle (Singapore)". Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "SAR 21". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  10. ↑ Skennerton, Ian (2007). The Lee-Enfield Story. Arms & Militaria Press. p. 89. ISBN 0-949749-82-6.
  11. ↑ Hogg, Ian (2002). Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Jane's Recognition Guides. Jane's Information Group and Collins Press. ISBN 978-0-00-712760-3.
  12. ↑ David Crane (16 March 2004). "SAR-21 Bullpup Assault Rifle: World's Best Combat Bullpup?". Defense Review. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  13. ↑ http://www.stengg.com/download/pdf/sba/land-systems/sar21.pdf
  14. ↑ "Factsheet: Urban Operations". MINDEF. 25 July 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  15. ↑ "New Assault Rifle from ST Kinetics - The Firearm Blog". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  16. ↑ Mahmud, Hadi DP (20 February 2008). "RBTS and STK ink MoU deal for vehicle upkeep". The Brunei Times. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  17. ↑ Daniel Watters. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 2007". GunZone.Com. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Weapon". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "Factsheet - Singapore Assault Rifle 21". MINDEF. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  20. ↑ "straitstimes.com New Sri Lanka president Maithripala Sirisena renews troop deployment orders".
Bibliography
  • Richard Jones; Andrew White (2008). Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. HarperCollins. p. 316. ISBN 978-0-00-726645-6. 
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