The shoulder-carried FLY-K, a 51mm "toe mortar,"  weighs less than 10 pounds. It fires smokeless,  flashless rounds out to 650 meters.

STEP ON IT

The folks from FNH also brought with them a tamer tube weapon - a compact, 51mm "toe mortar."
Manufactured by Titanite S.A., the FLY-K-TN8111 (where do they get these designations?) weighs in just shy of 10 pounds. Its maximum range is 650 meters.

The FLY-K is designed to take out point targets, such as machine-gun positions and snipers. Under most battlefield conditions, the system can be fired without giving away its position. It has a very low acoustic signature - less than 52 decibels at 100 meters - and fires smokeless, flashless ammo.

In addition to high-explosive ammunition, several other types of mortar rounds are available for this shoulder-carried weapon. Two of the more interesting types are an infrared illuminating round and a percussion round that functions under water.

The system's big brother, an electronically fired 12-round system, is dubbed the FLY-K-TN8464. This 220-pound unit, effective out to 800 meters, is an area-protection system that can be hauled around in the back of a small, open military vehicle, mounted on a light armored vehicle, set up on a beach or used to cover some other likely avenue of enemy approach. A 12-round salvo with high-explosive fragmentation ammo is sufficient to saturate an area of 130 meters by 80 meters with 6,960 preformed fragments, its manufacturer points out. This larger system was not demonstrated during the Shoot-out.

Our evaluators liked the shoulder-carried FLY-K. "A great weapon," said one. He noted that the rather small base plate for the system settled quickly in the soft sand on the Blackwater range. ""Might want to consider a slightly broader base adapter for use in desert/soft soil," he noted.

Other comments about the system pointed out that it "could be useful if the system is fired in rapid succession, as in close combat situations. Overall, a great weapon. My only concern is about night sighting."

Said another: "Very interesting to be able to carry as effective a weapon as this in so small and simple a package." He went on, however, to succinctly allude to the fact that this might not be the right time to try to generate U.S. interest in the system: "Unfortunately," he concluded, "it is French."

The F2000 assault rifle, from FN, which fires 5.56  ammo and 40mm grenades, carries a standard 1.6  optical sight on a Picatinny rail.

WATCH THE VIDEO:    See the F2000 in action.       Streaming Video        Click here to download free streaming video player.

FN's P90 subgun, is a prennial favorite with  evaluators. The P90 carries a clear, 50-round  magazine atop the weapon

WATCH THE VIDEO:    See the P90 in action.       Streaming Video        Click here to download free streaming video player.

COMPLETE LINEUP

In addition to the HIWS and FLY-K, the FNH team also brought along the company's traditional crowd-pleasers, including the P90 subgun and FiveseveN pistol, both of which fire the 5.7-by-28mm round, and the F2000 tactical weapon system, which packs 30 rounds of 5.56-by-45mm and a 40mm grenade. The 5.7-by-28mm ammo is available in several varieties.

The basic SS190 round carries a pair of metal inserts - a steel penetrator that's backed by an aluminum core that is heavier than the forward tip. When this round strikes soft body tissue, it begins to tumble after penetrating about two inches. This action reduces prospects of overpenetration and causes quick incapacitation of the targeted individual.

All three weapons have been covered in previous AFJ reports (August 2001, August 2002); however, it is noteworthy that they continued to generate considerable interest among this year's evaluators, including those who had previously fired the weapons.

Typical of the comments received about the P90 was the observation that the weapon's "size, feel and amount of firepower are very impressive." Noted another: "Extremely easy to shoot. Well engineered, great to use in a team environment since the casings eject downwards. Fast acquisition of target; extremely low recoil."

On the negative side, one evaluator found the P90 "weirdly shaped and unergonomic; heavy trigger action on full auto."

The FiveseveN pistol also netted kudos: "Very light recoil; easy to shoot fast and accurately." The same evaluator went on to note, however, "I am not convinced that terminal ballistic performance is adequate. Seems like too small a caliber, especially when the trend is toward larger handgun calibers (witness the resurgence of interest in .45s among special operations and law enforcement)."

The F2000, which carries both 5.56 ammo and a 40mm grenade, garnered equally favorable comments. An evaluator was particularly impressed by its "fully functional fire-control system - a neat idea to have an integral laser-ranging capability." He was not enamored by its "very heavy double-action trigger and oddly shaped stock," although he admitted that he is "not sure what can be done to improve this, given the high elevation required to hit [targets with grenades] at 270 meters."

Similarly, FN's Mk48 Mod 0 Lightweight Machine Gun garnered praise from our evaluators. "Tremendous firepower in a compact package," said one, noting that the 7.62-by-51mm (NATO) system "feels like a big squad automatic weapon [SAW]."

"A nice, light SAW," commented another. "Good weapon-to-shooter fit. Easy to use; fast to reload; a weapon to have in your arsenal."

FAMILIAR LOOK

The Mk48 wasn't the only 7.62mm light machine gun waiting for our evaluators. An M60E4/M43 Mod. 0, from U.S. Ordnance Inc., of Reno, Nev., looked very familiar to our evaluators but, as they say, looks can be deceiving. Although the gun's major components are interchangeable with other M60 configurations, the E4 model sports major improvements over those more-familiar guns.

The E4 features Stellite-lined, thick-walled barrels, giving it boasting rights to sustained-fire capabilities in all barrel types (short, long and assault versions). Depending on barrel type, E4 models weigh from 21.3 pounds to 23.1 pounds. The guns have a cyclic rate of fire of 500 to 650 rounds per minute, and a maximum effective range of 1,100 meters.

The manufacturer stakes claim to barrels that will withstand the wear caused by more than 15,000 rounds; a barrel-changing handle negates the need for a heat mitten during that operation. Also, the forward grip is larger than that of a standard M60, providing additional heat protection for the gunner. U.S. Navy SEALs are numbered among U.S. Ordnance's E4 customers.

AFJ's shooters covered most of the E4's other attributes in their evaluations. "Good recoil for a machine gun," wrote one. "Nice handling; easy to shoot. I like being able to load it with the bolt in either the forward or the rear position."

"A dramatic improvement over the M60s I remember shooting in the Marine Corps," noted another. "Better reliability, ergonomics and recoil control."

"The front handle on the weapon is a great feature that not only adds stability but also reduces push from recoil and helps keep the weapon on target," said another. "Trigger is good - allows control of bursts. The feed tray configuration is easier on loading. One of the best features is that the piston does not clog with carbon and jam, as the old M60 does. Its weight and its length reduction make it easier for airborne forces to take on jumps."

"This is a magnificent modernization of the M60," another wrote. "They have transformed an old Chevy truck into a Corvette!" This evaluator added a question that was on the minds of more than a few of his colleagues: "Is it possible for this gun to ever jam?"

AFJ posed a similar question to the U.S. Ordnance folks, who replied by linking together 8½ (100-round) belts of ammo and inviting an evaluator to see for himself. One minute and 45 seconds and a pile of brass later, he had pumped 850 rounds through the E4 with a single pull of the trigger.