SAR 21

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 in 1999, it was intended to replace the locally license-built M16A1. Many of its design features are directly intended to counter the weaknesses of the M16 as encountered operationally by some infantrymen.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 Kalashnikov/Stoner operating system, boasting higher reliability and lower recoil. The translucent magazine allows precise assessment of current ammo load.The SAR 21 is also the first production assault rifle of its class to incorporate a built-in Laser Aiming Device (LAD) (powered by a single AA battery) as standard. The rifle incorporates various patented safety features, such as a Kevlar cheek plate and overpressure vent that protects the shooter in the unlikely event of a chamber explosion or catastrophic failure. It also has an integral 1.5x optical scope that is built into its carrying handle. 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. This minimizes non-training range time.

SAR 21
Class Manportable
Type Rifles
Manufacturer Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics)
Origin Singapore

Origin

Country Name Origin Year
Singapore 1999

Deployment

Country Name Operational Year Retirement Year
Singapore View

Manufacturer(S)

ManufacturerName Production From Production To Quantity
Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) View

Design 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. 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.
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.

Combat History

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.

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.

Technical specifications

Weight - 3.82kg (8.42lb) (SAR 21)5.3kg (11.68lb) (SAR 21 40 GL/M203)3.6kg (7.94lb) (SAR 21 P-Rail)3.5kg (7.72lb) (SAR 21 MMS)3kg (6.61lb) (SAR Light Weight Carbine)

Length - 805mm (31.7in) (SAR 21, SAR 21 40 GL/M203, SAR 21 P-Rail)680mm (26.8in) (SAR 21 MMS)640mm (25.2in) (SAR 21 Light Weight Carbine)

Barrel length - 508mm (20in)

Cartridge - 5.56x45mm NATO

Action - Gas operated, rotating bolt

Rate of fire - 450-650 rounds/min

Muzzle velocity - 970m/s (3,182ft/s) (M193)945m/s (3,100ft/s) (SS109)

Effective range - 460 m (M193)800 m (SS109)

Feed system - 30-round box magazine; export models can use STANAG magazines[1]

Sights - 1.5x or 3x optical sight; back-up iron sights

Images

References

End notes