Special Operations Assault Rifle

• Name — Special Operations Assault Rifle (SOAR) • Origin — United States • Type — Assault rifle • Is Ranged — Yes • Service — 2004–present • Used By — See Users • Wars — * Papua Conflict • Communist Insurgencies • Islamic Insurgencies • 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 • Feed — Various STANAG magazines • Sights — Iron sights or various optics

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. 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. The SOAR also uses a heavy machine gun barrel for increased reliability in sustained firing, rifled in either 1:7 or 1:9 right-hand twist.

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. Known upgrades are known as the 10.5 Mk2, 10.5 Mk2-2 and the 11 Mk2.

SOAR-P (Piston) is the earlier piston variants of SOAR incorporated a short-stroke piston operating system with fully adjustable gas piston system. It's available in 10.5", 11.5", 14.5", 16", and 18" barrels.

• Illustration — An Indonesian Marine soldier firing SOAR IAR in a Live-Fire Range during exercise CARAT 2024. SOAR IAR (Infantry Assault Rifle) is the improvement version of piston variant, with 14.5-inch barrel assault rifle, 5.56x45mm cartridge, Short Stroke Piston operating system, and rate reducing system in full-auto mode in order to make full-auto fire controllable. It features M-LOK attachment system as part of the weapon's Mission Adaptable Handguard System (MAHS).

SOAR CQB (Close Quarter Battle) is 10-inch barrel assault carbine, with 5.56x45mm cartridge, short stroke piston system and rate reducing system, designated for CQB and counterterrorism operations.

SOAR SCW (Sub Compact Weapon) is a 7.5-inch barrel compact assault rifle using rate reduction system meant as the close gap between the 9x19mm submachine-gun that have low penetration and the 5.56x45mm personal defense weapon that have uncontrollably issue in full-auto fire mode during CQC or CQB operations, without needing to develop new rounds but using the existing 5.56×45mm caliber rounds. Piston variants • Specifications — SOAR IAR — SOAR CQB — SOAR SCW • Caliber — 5.56×45 mm • Barrel length — 14.5 in/ 36.8 cm, 16 in/ 40.6 cm — 10.5 in/ 26.7 cm, 11.5 in — 7.5 in/ 19.5 cm • Rate of fire — Fully Adjustable 550–850rpm • Mode of Fire — Safe, Semi, Reduced Full-Auto • Weight — 8 lbs/ 3.6 kg w/o magazine, LPVO — 7.5 lbs/ 3.40 kg — 6.825 lbs/ 3.096 kg w/o magazine • Muzzle Velocity — 2,800 ft/sec, 853 m/sec M855 — 2,303 ft/sec, 702 m/sec M855 • Capacity — 20, 30, 40, 60 round magazine — 20, 30, 40 round magazine • Length of Stock Retracted — 32 in/ 81.28 cm — 28 in/ 71.1 cm — 24 in/ 60.9 cm • Length of Stock Extended — 35.5 in/ 90.17 cm — 31 in/ 78.7 cm — 27.25 in/ 69.22 cm • Stock Position — 3 point adjustable

• Peru • Philippines: Philippine Army Special Operations Command, PNP Special Action Force, Lapu-Lapu City SWAT. • Indonesia: SOAR IAR used by the Marine Corps. SOAR SCW used by Kostrad Raider Infantry Battalion of the Indonesian Army. • Malaysia: Limited use by Special Actions Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police • Thailand: Limited use by Naval Special Warfare Command (Thailand) and Arintaraj 26 • United States: Limited use with some SWAT teams • Vietnam: Limited use by Military Marksman Demonstration Team.