Fusil Automático Doble (FAD)

The FAD (Spanish: Fusil Automático Doble, English: Double Automatic Rifle) is a Peruvian bullpup-type battle rifle designed by Peruvian arms designer Salomón Braga Lozo and manufactured by SIMA Electrónica.[1] It is a compact weapon that offers little weight, volume, and recoil, while at the same time allowing for high precision, range, and accuracy, allowing it to be used by tank tripulants and infantry.

Fusil Automático Doble
A standard FAD made by SIMA Electronic
TypeBattle rifle
Place of origin Peru
Service history
In service2008–present
Used by Peru
WarsInternal conflict in Peru
Production history
DesignerSalomón Braga Lozo
Designed2008
ManufacturerSIMA Electrónica
Produced2008–present
No. built2090
Variants
Specifications
Mass3,6 kg (7,94 lbs)
Length814 mm
Barrel length45 cm
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
40x46
ActionBlowback reload, Closed bolt
Rate of fire550 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity860 m/s (2,821.5 ft/s)

Due to its simplicity and light weight, it is used in the Peruvian Army as a secondary weapon. The country was originally intending on purchasing 580,000 AN-94 assault rifles to replace the HK33 already in service, but ended up settling on the FAD due to its price.[2]

History and development

The weapon, designed by Salomón Braga Lozo in 2008, began production the same year by the manufacturer SIMA Electrónica, a subsidiary of SIMA (Servicio Industrial de la Marina), a branch of the Peruvian Navy, located in the port of Callao.[1] It is Peru's first rifle, and is still in service to this day. Each unit costs about 800 to 1200 USD, allowing for mass manufacturing. It is intended to be phased out by a successor, the FAD-V2.[3][4]

Since its only been manufactured for use in Peru alone, the weapon has only seen action in Peru's internal conflict, mostly in the VRAEM region of the Peruvian jungle. Otherwise, the rifle only sees use in military bases or national parades.

The weapon is featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.[5]

Description
FAD-V2 with a different design in which the grenade launcher is attached to the weapon.

The FAD is made from stamped sheet steel and polymer, incorporating a modern and radical grip, but lacks a full trigger guard, utilizing the cocking handle of its 40mm grenade launcher to prevent any accidental trigger contact. At the top of the handguard there is the sight of the grenade launcher and an M1913 rail to mount various optical sights, allowing the attachment of different sights, such as night vision, or the EOTech holographic, among others. The magazine is inserted from below with a slight tilt to the left, the ejection is carried out on the right side, and the bushings are ejected directly downwards, which allows the FAD to be used by right and left handed users without the need for modifications. The mechanisms are activated by direct recoil of the bolt. It has a fire selector and can fire in semi-automatic and automatic mode.[6]

Characteristics
  • The weapon features a bullpup configuration. By being a light weapon and easy to maneuver, it allows for an easy use in vehicles, such as a tank's hatch, making it more useful than other rifles or handguns.
  • Features a STANAG (4179) charger of 30 5.56 x 45 NATO cartridges, tilted at 12º.
  • Ejection port at 45º, which allows the ejection of the bushings without hindering the user.
  • Fire rate of 550 shots / minute, with an effective range of 600 m.
  • 40mm grenade launcher with pump action incorporated into the weapon (FAD-V2).
  • Manually adjustable standard sight
  • A Picatinny rail for the installation of telescopic sights.
  • Advanced materials replacing steel such as polymers and duralumin reduced the weight of the weapon from the former 4.8 kg to about 3.6 kg.

References
  1. "FAD Assault Rifle - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games". www.imfdb.org.
  2. gunm.ru/sima-electr%C3%B3nica-fad-2008-10/
  3. Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.
  4. Jones, Richard (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 893. ISBN 978-0710628695.
  5. Peru21, Redacción (November 24, 2011). "Arma peruana en Modern Warfare 3". Peru21.
  6. Johnstone, Gary Paul & Nelson, Thomas B. The World's Assault Rifles, capítulo 43. En Google Books.
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