FN America unveils EVOLYS ultralight machine gun chambered in 6.5x43 mm Lightweight Intermediate Caliber.

In a tweet posted by FN Herstal UK on January 16, FN America unveils an additional variant of the unrivaled ultralight machine gun designed by the Belgian weapon manufacturer: the Evolys chambered in 6.5x43 mm Lightweight Intermediate Caliber Cartridge developed by the US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) in partnership with the US irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD).
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FN Evolys ultralight machinegun tested with 6.5x43 mm Lightweight Intermediate Caliber rounds (Picture source: FN America/FN Herstal UK)

The FN Evolys is a new type of machine gun that completes the existing range of FN machine guns, which are all combat proven and recognized as world references. The FN Evolys is an ultralight machine gun that is available in 5.56mm and 7.62mm calibers, and now also in 6.5x43 mm Lightweight Intermediate Caliber.

One of the main features of FN Evolys is the weight: using new design technology and the latest generation of material components, FN Herstal engineers were able to obtain a weight of 5.5 kg for the FN Evolys in 5.56mm caliber and 6.2 kg for the 7.62mm version. The new ultralight machine gun also combines belt-fed machine gun firepower with assault rifle ergonomics, which is an unprecedented benefit on the market today.

The FN Evolys is fitted with an ambidextrous fire selector that has a semi-auto position to engage point targets like with a rifle, while the full-auto position allows suppressive fire like with a machine gun. The FN Evolys ultralight machine gun has a rate of fire of approximately 750 rounds per minute. The new FN machine gun has an effective firing range of 800 m in 5.56mm caliber and 1,000 m in 7.62mm caliber.

The FN Evolys is fitted with a buttstock adjustable in length and height, similar to the FN SCAR assault rifle’s one. The buttstock is fully independent of the weapon system. In the future, additional types of buttstocks could be introduced to meet customer requirements.

The top of the FN Evolys is equipped with a one-piece long top rail for in-line optical sight, such as day and night sights and magnifiers. The FN Evolys also features an M-Lock receiver and a lower Picatinny rail. The weapon can be fitted with a bipod to increase comfort and stability when firing.

Belgian company FN Herstal unveiled its new ultralight machine gun at DSEI 2021 defense exhibition in London. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

6.5x43 mm Lightweight Intermediate Caliber

The 6.5x43 mm is a relatively new cartridge and is similar in size to the 6.5 Creedmoor but with a slightly shorter overall length. It is often used for target shooting and hunting. The 6.5x43 mm cartridge is designed to work well with a wide range of bullet types, making it a versatile option for many different shooting applications.