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Special Operations Assault Rifle (SOAR)
SOAR of the Special Actions Unit (Malaysia)
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	2004–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Papua Conflict[1] 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
Caliber	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[2][3]
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.^[4]

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.

The SOAR also uses a heavy machine gun barrel for increased reliability in sustained firing, rifled in either 1:7 or 1:9 right-hand twist.^[3]

Variants

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

Piston variants

SOAR-P

SOAR-P (Piston) is the earlier piston variants of SOAR incorporated a short-stroke piston operating system with fully adjustable gas piston system.^[6][7] It's available in 10.5", 11.5", 14.5", 16", and 18" barrels.^[7][8]

SOAR IAR

SOAR IAR (Infantry Assault Rifle) is the improvement version of piston variant, with 14.5-inch barrel assault rifle, 5.56x45mm cartridge, Short Stroke Piston operating system, and rate reducing system in full-auto mode in order to make full-auto fire controllable. It features M-LOK attachment system as part of the weapon's Mission Adaptable Handguard System (MAHS).^[7][10]

SOAR CQB

SOAR CQB (Close Quarter Battle) is 10-inch barrel assault carbine, with 5.56x45mm cartridge, short stroke piston system and rate reducing system, designated for CQB and counterterrorism operations.^[7][11]

SOAR SCW

SOAR SCW (Sub Compact Weapon) is a 7.5-inch barrel compact assault rifle using rate reduction system meant as the close gap between the 9x19mm submachine-gun that have low penetration and the 5.56x45mm personal defense weapon that have uncontrollably issue in full-auto fire mode during CQC or CQB operations, without needing to develop new rounds but using the existing 5.56×45mm caliber rounds.^[7][12]

Piston variants

Specifications	SOAR IAR[10]	SOAR CQB[11]	SOAR SCW[12]
Caliber	5.56×45 mm
Barrel length	14.5 in/ 36.8 cm, 16 in/ 40.6 cm	10.5 in/ 26.7 cm, 11.5 in	7.5 in/ 19.5 cm
Rate of fire	Fully Adjustable 550–850rpm
Mode of Fire	Safe, Semi, Reduced Full-Auto
Weight	8 lbs/ 3.6 kg w/o magazine, LPVO	7.5 lbs/ 3.40 kg	6.825 lbs/ 3.096 kg w/o magazine
Muzzle Velocity	2,800 ft/sec, 853 m/sec M855		2,303 ft/sec, 702 m/sec M855
Capacity	20, 30, 40, 60 round magazine	20, 30, 40 round magazine
Length of Stock Retracted	32 in/ 81.28 cm	28 in/ 71.1 cm	24 in/ 60.9 cm
Length of Stock Extended	35.5 in/ 90.17 cm	31 in/ 78.7 cm	27.25 in/ 69.22 cm
Stock Position	3 point adjustable

Users

• Peru^[13]
• Philippines: Philippine Army Special Operations Command, PNP Special Action Force,^[13] Lapu-Lapu City SWAT.^[14]
• Indonesia: SOAR IAR^[1][15] used by the Marine Corps.^[16][17] SOAR SCW^[18] used by Kostrad Raider Infantry Battalion of the Indonesian Army.^[19]
• Malaysia: Limited use by Special Actions Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police^[13]
• Thailand: Limited use by Naval Special Warfare Command (Thailand) and Arintaraj 26^[13]
• United States: Limited use with some SWAT teams^[13]
• Vietnam: Limited use by Military Marksman Demonstration Team.^[20]

References

External links

• Official Page Archived 2018-05-01 at the Wayback Machine
• Defense Review