| Special Operations Assault Rifle (SOAR) | |
| Origin: | United States |
| Type: | Assault rifle |
| Is Ranged: | Yes |
| Service: | 2004-present |
| Used By: | See Users |
| Wars: | Guerrilla Operations in the Philippines |
| Designer: | Ferdinand and Francis Sy |
| Design Date: | 1998 |
| Manufacturer: | FERFRANS |
| Production Date: | 2004-present |
| Variants: | Variants |
| 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: | 550-680 round/min[1] [2] |
| Feed: | 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.
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]
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]
Philippine Army Special Operations Command, PNP Special Action Force,[5] Lapu-Lapu City SWAT.[6]
Ferfrans SOAR SCW Variants currently being used by KOSTRAD Raider Infantry Battalion fitted with Trijicon MRO as its standard optical sights
Limited use by Special Actions Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police[5]
Limited use by Naval Special Warfare Command (Thailand) and Arintaraj 26[5]
Limited use with some SWAT teams[5]
Limited use by Military Marksman Demonstration Team.
Peru
Philippines
Indonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
United States