In October 2025, FN announced it was ending production of the iconic SCAR, a rifle made famous by its use by Special Operations Forces during the Global War on Terror. This left the firearms community wondering what FN would replace the SCAR with; maybe a new rifle for a military contract?
Turns out, news of the SCAR’s death was greatly exaggerated. On January 15, 2026, FN announced the next generation of the SCAR.
Related: Why the Mk16 SCAR-L failed with US Army Special Forces
No, that’s literally what they’ve called it. It’s not the SCAR-2, SCAR Mk2, or even SCAR-NG.
“The next generation of the SCAR is the culmination of decades of development, proving what can be accomplished when our team is never satisfied,” said Dan Hines, Vice President of Commercial Products for FN America, in a press release. “We combined input from consumer feedback and technical analysis of every SCAR component to create the ultimate in performance, shooter experience, and adaptability, all at a similar price to the current SCAR.”
So, what’s new? Perhaps the biggest news with the next-gen SCAR is that the rifle is now suppressor-permitted. The SCAR has always been suppressor-ready with its adjustable gas block. After all, SOCOM required that the SCAR be able to accept a suppressor. However, using a suppressor on a legacy civilian SCAR voided its FN warranty.
Now, FN has paired the next-gen SCAR with quick-detach (QD) suppressors. These quiet cans are a timely release to the civilian market with the reduction of the tax stamp for suppressors from $200 to $0. Yes, you have to do paperwork to “pay” a $0 tax. Make it make sense.
The other big issue with the legacy SCAR was its recoil. With a massive bolt carrier slamming back and forth, the SCAR was infamous for eating optics and turning them into paperweights. Despite FN’s assertion to TFB TV that recoil impulse damaging optics is an urban legend and that high-quality optics will be fine when mounted on a SCAR, YouTuber Brass Facts broke a Trijicon VCOG with a SCAR 17.
Yup, the ruggedized Low Power Variable Optic issued to Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children (the U.S. Marine Corps) experienced a lens rotation after 660 rounds of .308 that rendered the bullet drop compensating reticle useless.
Regardless of their official reason, FN touts that the next-gen SCAR features “significantly lower recoil, resulting in a softer shooting experience and faster follow-up shots.” This is accomplished with a lighter, hydraulically buffered two-piece bolt carrier that serves as the rifle’s shock absorber.
Additionally, the next-gen SCAR’s charging handle is non-reciprocating, like on the legacy SCAR’s NRCH variant. It’s worth noting that the controversial reciprocating charging handle on the original SCAR was mandated by SOCOM.
Other minor improvements include the ability to accept AR-pattern pistol grips, a standard M-LOK handguard, and an improved stock with QD sling swivel sockets that retain the iconic UGG boot profile.
On that note, FN has retained the features that made the SCAR popular, including a chrome-lined, cold hammer-forged barrel and a lifespan of 16,000 rounds without failure of any major components. The three variants that were retired—the 16S, 17S, and 20S—return with the next-gen SCAR; calibers include 5.56x45mm, 7.62x51mm, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .300 Blackout, with colors available in flat dark earth, black, and gray. MSRP is the same as the legacy SCAR’s, ranging from $3,799 to $4,499.
Meet the new SCAR, same as the old SCAR.
