FN Herstal recently unveiled this new member of its illustrious family of machine guns. It joins the FN M2HB-QCB .50 (12.7x99mm NATO) calibre heavy machine gun, the FN MAG 7.62 NATO calibre medium/general purpose machine gun, and the FN MINIMI 5.56 and 7.62mm NATO calibre light machine guns. Standardized by dozens of armed forces including many NATO members and allies, they have totally dominated the NATO calibre machine gun market for decades.

The FN EVOLYS, chambered in 5.56x45mm or 7.62x51mm calibre, is for mobile infantry or SF units, designed to bridge the gap between the rifle and the light machine gun. It has been undergoing trials with several armed forces, who appreciated its greatly reduced weight, ease of handling, long one-piece top rail allowing in-line mounting of optics, its reliability, and above all the intensive firepower of a belt-fed weapon. Feedback identified two features that users suggested should be modified – and FN Herstal has incorporated them:

• Buttstock: A M4 type buttstock with ergonomics familiar to many users, with adjustable length of pull (6 positions) and interchangeable cheek rest (2 heights).
• Bipod: The optional bipod has been given stronger aluminium legs and a reinforced attachment interface providing a more stable and robust support.

The FN EVOLYS with these new features will be displayed on the FN Herstal’s booth at Eurosatory 2024 to be held in Paris from 17 to 21 June. Come and see it, booth F95, hall 6, on the Belgian pavilion.

SADJ was invited to visit the FNH UK facility in Kent, U.K., during the Shrivenham Close Combat Symposium. We were able to visit after testing the company’s Evolys machine gun. The visit worked out well and we were able to see the entire operation. FNH UK was the company that was formed and purchased long-time FN Herstal licensee Manroy Ltd., who supplied the M2HB and the L7A1/A2 MAG58 variants to the U.K. military. The facility was moved to this new location and has been expanding capability ever since.

More info: www.fnhuk.com

We received a factory tour, and then proceeded to a deep dive on the FN Evolys, which we fired at Shrivenham. FN Herstal has a long history with reliable machine guns; the MAG58 in its various guises – US M240, Swedish KSP-58, British L7/L8 – and the Minimi which started life chambered in 7.62x51mm and has come full circle. The Minimi became the M249, then the MK46, and the MK48, now the the MK3 from Herstal. So, this long experience with lighter weight machine guns has led to the Evolys UltraLight Machine Gun. Our test was in 5.56x45mm and the system is available in 7.62x51mm NATO, as well.

FNH UK has been making the FN 509 pistol slide (above) for the U.S. market to the tune of about 2,000 per month, while assembling the FN SCAR P, as well.

The plates and parts for both the MAG58/L7 general purpose machine gun and the M2HB/M2QCB are all made on location in the U.K., above. The op rods, pistons, and breaches are also CNC machined on location. The receivers are cold riveted, and the tolerances are tight – the fixtures used are extraordinarily well made.

Machining of the FN Herstal M2 Quick Change Barrel machine gun barrels is done in-house in the U.K., among other processes. The FN QCB is an M2A2-type, with the guide slot in the barrel and a replaceable guide pin in the barrel support – very effective.

EVOLYS

The Evolys is a gas-operated, rotating bolt, short stroke piston belt fed machine gun system. The most unique feature is the extremely fast and accessible patented side-opening feed system that holds the belt at a 45-degree angle. The receiver has a one-piece optic rail and M-LOK receiver features. All of the controls are ambidextrous.

The Evolys in 5.56mm is 33.46 inches long (850mm) collapsed, and with stock extended 37.7 inches (950mm). The barrel is 14 inches long (355mm). It weighs 12.12 lbs. (5.5kg) with a rate of fire approximately 750 rpm.

The Evolys in 7.62mm is 36.42 inches long (925mm) collapsed, and with stock extended 40.35 inches (1025mm). The barrel is 16 inches long (406mm). It weighs 13.67 lbs. (6.2kg) with a rate of fire approximately 750 rpm.

The short stroke piston system might, at first, resemble the Minimi. But the resemblance applies only to the bolt/op-rod and fixed firing pin. The side shuttle feed system requires new geometry for the operating rod. When firing, we found it very smooth to operate.

FN Herstal chose the Finnish made Ase Utra Dual 556-BL MG suppressor for the Evolys program. This is a light-weight, robust, reliable machine gun suppressor that has been tested by SOCOM in the United States and is frequently a contender for belt fed contracts. This requires the Evolys system to use the Ase Utra Borelock birdcage flash hider, as shown.

 More info: www.aseutra.fi