The new upgraded FN EVOLYS. Can you spot the changes?
Most of TFB’s readers won’t believe this, but FN Herstal has just announced that their new ultralight machine gun FN EVOLYS has been given a few modifications based on feedback. It’s as if the feedback commonly read in TFB’s comments section in EVOLYS articles had been incorporated into the new product. However, according to the press release, the feedback comes ”from in-depth testing by potential customers during their own evaluation”.
FN EVOLYS @ TFB:
FN EVOLYS® gets ergonomic changes based on user suggestions
(Herstal, Belgium) – June 2024. The FN EVOLYS® ultralight machine gun has been given some modified features based on feedback from in-depth testing by potential customers during their own evaluation.
FN Herstal recently unveiled this new member of its illustrious family of machine guns. It joins the FN® M2HB-QCB .50 (12.7x99mm NATO) calibre heavy machine gun, the FN MAG® 7.62 NATO calibre medium/general purpose machine gun, and the FN MINIMI® 5.56 and 7.62mm NATO calibre light machine guns. Standardized by dozens of armed forces including many NATO members and allies, they have totally dominated the NATO calibre machine gun market for decades.
The FN EVOLYS®, chambered in 5.56x45mm or 7.62x51mm calibre, is for mobile infantry or SF units, designed to bridge the gap between the rifle and the light machine gun. It has been undergoing trials with several armed forces, who appreciated its greatly reduced weight, ease of handling, long one-piece top rail allowing in-line mounting of optics, its reliability, and above all the intensive firepower of a belt-fed weapon. Feedback identified two features that users suggested should be modified – and FN Herstal has incorporated them:
The buttstock
A M4 type buttstock with ergonomics familiar to many users, with adjustable length of pull (6 positions) and interchangeable cheek rest (2 heights).
The bipod
The optional bipod has been given stronger aluminium legs and a reinforced attachment interface providing a more stable and robust support.
The FN EVOLYS® with these new features will be displayed on the FN Herstal’s booth at Eurosatory 2024 to be held in Paris from 17 to 21 June. Come and see it, booth F95, hall 6, on the Belgian pavilion.
To compare, here is the most recent (previous) image of the FN EVOLYS® ultralight machine gun, here shown in 7.62x51mm NATO cal.
The FN Herstal EVOLYS was first announced in 2021. What do you think about the Gen 2 upgrades?
Let us know what you think in the comments, and don’t stop developing the EVOLYS. I’m sure there are some R&D departments scouting for more ideas.
