Special Operations Assault Rifle

Special Operations Assault Rifle (SOAR)
Special Operations Assault Rifle (SOAR)
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	United States; Philippines
Service history
In service	2004-present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Guerrilla Operations in the Philippines Communist Insurgencies; Islamic Insurgencies;
Production history
Designer	Ferdinand and Francis Sy
Designed	1998
Manufacturer	FERFRANS
Produced	2004-present
Variants	Variants
Specifications
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Calibre	5.56 mm (.223 in)
Action	SOAR: Gas-operated, rotating bolt (direct impingement); SOAR-P: Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	550-680 round/min
Feed system	Various STANAG magazines
Sights	Iron sights or various optics

The Special Operations Assault Rifle (SOAR) is an assault rifle manufactured by FERFRANS and designed as an improvement of the M4 carbine.

Details

The SOAR is a selective fire 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle firing from either a closed rotating bolt (direct impingement) for the standard SOAR model, or in a short-stroke piston rotating bolt for the SOAR-P variant.^[3]

It differs from the typical M4 due to FERFRANS' preference to better control on full-automatic mode. Among the features include a patented Delayed Sear Activation System that reduces its cyclic rate of fire in full-auto to just around 550 to 680 rpm, reducing muzzle climb and improving control-ability. It also uses a heavy machine gun barrel for increased reliability in sustained firing, rifled in either 1:7 or 1:9 right-hand twist.^[2]

Variants

The SOAR is available in both the standard SOAR or the piston-driven SOAR-P.

Barrel length options for the SOAR are in 10.5", 11.5", 14.5", 16", 18", and 20" lengths.^[2]

Known upgrades are known as the 10.5 Mk2, 10.5 Mk2-2 and the 11 Mk2.^[4]

Users

Peru^[5]
Philippines: Philippine Army Special Operations Command, PNP Special Action Force,^[5] Lapu-Lapu City SWAT^[6]
Malaysia: Limited use by Special Actions Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police^[5]
Thailand: Limited use by Naval Special Warfare Command (Thailand) and Arintaraj 26^[5]
United States: Limited use with some SWAT teams^[5]
Vietnam: Limited use by Military Marksman Demonstration Team.