Firearms / Assault rifles / CIS SAR-21

CIS SAR-21

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Assault rifle

  • ORIGIN
    Singapore

  • NICKNAMES
    -

  • DESIGNED
    1996 - 1999

  • DESIGNER
    Ordenance Development and Engineering (ODE)

  • PRODUCTION
    1999 - present

  • PRODUCERS
    Singapore - CIS (now ST Kinetics)

  • QUANTITY
    Unknown

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Limited costs
    Rugged and reliable
    Heavy and average ergonomics
    Right handed use only

Introduction

The SAR-21 is an assault rifle of Singaporean origin. It was developed in the late 1990's by the Chartered Industries of Singapore (now ST Kinetics) to replace the aging M16A1 in Singaporean service. The SAR-21 is a reliable weapon with limited costs. It suffers from several limited drawbacks, such as being a right handed weapon only and a hard to reach fire selector switch.

Design

The SAR-21 is a modern bullpup assault rifle. It is gas operated and features a long stroke gas piston and a rotating bolt. The furniture is all made out of plastic with the barrel and internal mechanism being made out of metal. The integrated 1.5x optical sight doubles as carrying handle. A visible and IR laser are fitted in the handguard. There are no iron sights. Proprietary plastic translucent magazines were developed for use with the SAR-21, although STANAG magazines can also be used. Later models feature Picatinny rails for mounting optics and accessories.

Firepower

The SAR-21 fires the 5.56x45mm round from a 30 round magazine. It is available with a rifling for either M193 or NATO ammunition. It is a select-fire weapon with a cyclic rate of fire of 450 to 650 rpm. The weight of the weapon and limited rate of fire make the weapon controllable during automatic fire. The maximum effective range is about 400 meters.

Users

The SAR-21 is the standard assault rifle of the Singapore armed forces. It has also been exported in limited quantities to various nations, mostly in Asia.

Variants

SAR-21 LWC

The SAR-21 Lightweight Carbine is the latest and most compact variant in the SAR-21 family. It has a much shorter barrel, a short and slim handguard and is fitted with an aiming device.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt, closed bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire450 - 650 rpm
Barrel length0.34 m
Rifling6 grooves, 178 (NATO) or 305 (M193) mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity?
StockFixed
Length640 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.0 kg empty
SightsVarious sights can be fitted on Picatinny rail
Remarks-

SAR-21 MMS

The SAR-21 MMS is a version of the SAR-21 with a Modular Mounting System and a shorter barrel. The MMS consists of a top Picatinny rail as used on the SAR-21 P-rail, but also includes a triple rail assembly instead of the forearm. The integrated visible and IR laser are removed, but can be added on the accessory rails.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt, closed bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire450 - 650 rpm
Barrel length458 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 (NATO) or 305 (M193) mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity?
StockFixed
Length755 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.5 kg empty
SightsVarious sights can be fitted on Picatinny rail
Remarks-

SAR-21

The SAR-21 is the first and most produced version of the SAR-21 family of assault rifles. The SAR-21 has an integrated 1.5x optical sight, a full size barrel and a smooth handguard that features a visible and IR laser. A sharpshooters version is also available. This has a 3x optical sight instead of the 1.5x optical sight. Otherwise it is completely similar.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt, closed bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire450 - 650 rpm
Barrel length508 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 (NATO) or 305 (M193) mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity945 m/s (NATO), 970 m/s (M193)
StockFixed
Length805 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.82 kg empty
Sights1.5x optical sight
Remarks-

SAR-21 P-rail

The SAR-21 P-rail is a version of the SAR-21 with a Picatinny accessory rail on top of the weapon instead of the integrated 1.5x optical sight. The charging handle extends to the left side of the weapon instead of upwards. Unlike the SAR-21 MMS it does not feature additional rails and has a full size barrel.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt, closed bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire450 - 650 rpm
Barrel length508 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 (NATO) or 305 (M193) mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity945 m/s (NATO), 970 m/s (M193)
StockFixed
Length805 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.6 kg empty
SightsVarious sights can be fitted on Picatinny rail
Remarks-

SAR-21 GL

The SAR-21 GL is the grenade launching version of the SAR-21. A variety of mounts for either the 40GL and M203 have been observed. It is believed that a version of the M203A1 has become the standard.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt, closed bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire450 - 650 rpm
Barrel length508 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 (NATO) or 305 (M193) mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity945 m/s (NATO), 970 m/s (M193)
StockFixed
Length805 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight5.3 kg empty
Sights1.5x optical sight
Remarkswith M203 grenade launcher

SAR-21 LMG

The SAR-21 LMG is a light machine gun version of the SAR-21. It is similar to the SAR-21, but differs in firing from the open bolt position and in having a forward grip and heavier barrel. The barrel is slightly longer, much heavier and features a fixed foldable bipod. The barrel is not of a quick change design.

TypeLight support weapon
Caliber5.56x45mm M193 or NATO
Magazine30 rounds
OperationGas operated, long stroke gas piston, rotating bolt, open bolt
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire450 - 650 rpm
Barrel length513 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 (NATO) or 305 (M193) mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity945 m/s (NATO), 970 m/s (M193)
StockFixed
Length810 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight5 kg empty
Sights1.5x optical sight
Remarksfixed folding bipod

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