SAR-80
Encyclopedia
The Singapore Assault Rifle 80 (SAR-80) is an indigenously built, conventional assault rifle
from Singapore
.
(SAF) adopted the AR-15
as their main service rifle. Due to difficulties in obtaining the rifles from the United States, the Singaporean government purchased a license to domestically manufacture the M16 rifle
, which was then designated the M16S1. However, the domestic rifle requirements were not sufficient to allow Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now Singapore Technologies Kinetics
) to economically maintain operations at its rifle factory. Export sales of the M16S1 were not a viable option. Due to the requirements of the license agreement, CIS had to request permission from Colt and the US State Department to allow any export sale, which they rarely granted.
In 1976, CIS began to develop its own assault rifle with the aim to supply these rifles for the SAF and for foreign countries. To save time, CIS invited some engineers from the British company Sterling Armaments Ltd
. In the early 1970s, Sterling engineers had developed their own 5.56 mm rifle design, the LAR
, but this had been shelved when Sterling acquired a manufacturing licence for the US-designed Armalite AR-18 assault rifle. While Sterling could not legally sublicense the AR-18, their LAR design was available. As a result, the new Singapore rifle design closely resembled the LAR with certain AR-18 elements.
The first prototypes came out in 1978 and the final design was approved by the SAF in 1984 under the name of SAR-80. This rifle was used to some extent by Singapore Army and was also exported to some countries, including Sri Lanka, Somalia and Croatia.
The successor to this weapon is the SR-88
.
) that this weapon is the standard assault rifle of the Singapore Army. On the contrary, it was not widely adopted and Singapore soldiers were never trained on the weapon.
Although consideration was given to replace the M16S1 with the SAR-80 due to its lower manufacturing costs and reliability, it was not well received because it was less user friendly and heavier. As a result, the M16S1 remained the mainstay of the Singapore Armed Forces till it was replaced by the SAR-21
in early 2000s. Only 20,000 SAR-80 were bought by Singapore, and most have been phased out in favour of the newer SAR-21
. As of 2000, an undisclosed number of SAR-80 are still being stored in Singapore Police
armouries and used in Army logistics units.
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
History and development
In the late 1960s, the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
(SAF) adopted the AR-15
AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
as their main service rifle. Due to difficulties in obtaining the rifles from the United States, the Singaporean government purchased a license to domestically manufacture the M16 rifle
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
, which was then designated the M16S1. However, the domestic rifle requirements were not sufficient to allow Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now Singapore Technologies Kinetics
Singapore Technologies Kinetics
ST Kinetics is the land systems and specialty vehicles arm of ST Engineering. In 2000, ST Engineering acquired the Chartered Industries of Singapore through ST Automotive, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, and the new company was named ST Kinetics...
) to economically maintain operations at its rifle factory. Export sales of the M16S1 were not a viable option. Due to the requirements of the license agreement, CIS had to request permission from Colt and the US State Department to allow any export sale, which they rarely granted.
In 1976, CIS began to develop its own assault rifle with the aim to supply these rifles for the SAF and for foreign countries. To save time, CIS invited some engineers from the British company Sterling Armaments Ltd
Sterling Armaments Company
Sterling Armaments Company was an arms manufacturer based in Dagenham, famous for manufacturing the L2A3 , AR18 and SAR-87 assault rifles and parts of Jaguar cars. The company went bankrupt in 1988....
. In the early 1970s, Sterling engineers had developed their own 5.56 mm rifle design, the LAR
Sterling SAR-87
The Sterling SAR-87 was a military assault rifle of the late Twentieth century. The Sterling Assault Rifle was jointly engineered by Sterling Armaments Company and Chartered Industries of Singapore in the early 1980s as an advanced version of the AR-18 for the export sales...
, but this had been shelved when Sterling acquired a manufacturing licence for the US-designed Armalite AR-18 assault rifle. While Sterling could not legally sublicense the AR-18, their LAR design was available. As a result, the new Singapore rifle design closely resembled the LAR with certain AR-18 elements.
The first prototypes came out in 1978 and the final design was approved by the SAF in 1984 under the name of SAR-80. This rifle was used to some extent by Singapore Army and was also exported to some countries, including Sri Lanka, Somalia and Croatia.
Design
The SAR-80 is a gas operated, selective fire weapon of simple construction. It uses short stroke gas piston that pushes the massive bolt carrier with rotating bolt. The bolt carrier rides on two guide rods. Each rod has a recoil spring around it, and the gas piston rod has its own return spring. The receiver is made from steel stampings. The pistol grip, handguards and buttstock are made from plastic. Ammo is fed using STANAG compatible magazines. The rifle has a gas regulator that can be turned off completely in order to safely launch rifle grenades from the muzzle.The successor to this weapon is the SR-88
SR-88
The SR-88 is an assault rifle designed and manufactured in Singapore by Chartered Industries of Singapore .-Development:...
.
Other issues
It has been mistakenly reported in many foreign articles (including Jane's Guns Recognition GuideJane's Information Group
Jane's Information Group is a publishing company specializing in transportation and military topics.-History:It was founded by Fred T...
) that this weapon is the standard assault rifle of the Singapore Army. On the contrary, it was not widely adopted and Singapore soldiers were never trained on the weapon.
Although consideration was given to replace the M16S1 with the SAR-80 due to its lower manufacturing costs and reliability, it was not well received because it was less user friendly and heavier. As a result, the M16S1 remained the mainstay of the Singapore Armed Forces till it was replaced by the SAR-21
SAR-21
The SAR 21 is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured in Singapore. First revealed and subsequently adopted by the Singapore Armed Forces in 1999, it was designed & developed over a four year period and was intended to replace the locally license-built M16S1 by the Singaporean Ministry...
in early 2000s. Only 20,000 SAR-80 were bought by Singapore, and most have been phased out in favour of the newer SAR-21
SAR-21
The SAR 21 is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured in Singapore. First revealed and subsequently adopted by the Singapore Armed Forces in 1999, it was designed & developed over a four year period and was intended to replace the locally license-built M16S1 by the Singaporean Ministry...
. As of 2000, an undisclosed number of SAR-80 are still being stored in Singapore Police
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
armouries and used in Army logistics units.
See also
- Sterling SAR-87Sterling SAR-87The Sterling SAR-87 was a military assault rifle of the late Twentieth century. The Sterling Assault Rifle was jointly engineered by Sterling Armaments Company and Chartered Industries of Singapore in the early 1980s as an advanced version of the AR-18 for the export sales...
- SA80SA80The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
- Leader Dynamics Series T2 MK5Leader Dynamics Series T2 MK5The Leader T2 MK5 Series weapons were chambered for the 5.56 mm cartridge and manufactured by Leader Dynamics of Smithfield, NSW, Australia. The Leader was the brainchild of weapons designer Charles St. George. What was unique about this endeavor was that Australia had never designed or...
- Heckler & Koch G36Heckler & Koch G36The Heckler & Koch G36 is a 5.56×45mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1990s by Heckler & Koch in Germany as a replacement for the 7.62mm G3 battle rifle. It was accepted into service with the Bundeswehr in 1997, replacing the G3...