Fusil FX-05 Xiuhcoatl (Fire Snake)

History of Fusil FX-05 Xiuhcoatl (Fire Snake)

In order to increase the stock of standard HK G3A3 series assault rifles, the Mexican authorities have focused on the HK G36 system. The original G3 appeared in 1959 and has served extensively in numerous countries and in countless conflicts. The system is based on the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge and fires with delayed recoil through a barrel with a 20-round detachable magazine. A 50-round drum can be rolled for squad automatic weapons.

On the other hand, the G36 represents a more modern solution from the same German company Heckler & Koch. Introduced in 1997, it fires a 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge using a pneumatic/rotary bolt breech and is available with a 30-round box magazine or 100-round "C-Mag" drum compatible.

The Mexican government and Heckler & Koch have agreed on a locally produced version of the G36, with the factory licensed directly in Mexico.

At some point, the Mexican authorities determined that it would make more financial sense in the long run to design, develop and produce a domestic assault rifle system. As a result, the HK G36 program failed and work began on a modern replacement for the obsolete HK G3 model. The result was the FX-05, which was made entirely from local sources.

It represents a major shift for the Mexican military and security forces, which had relied on imported foreign weapons for decades before the arrival of the homegrown FX-05. The FX-05 then entered service in 2008 and has so far played a major role in the Mexican drug war.

FX-05 is manufactured by Direccion General de Industria Militar del Ejercito (DCIME).

The FX-05 is a conventional assault weapon design with a very clean and modern design. Lightweight polymers are used with metal components to keep the overall weight of the weapon as manageable as possible while providing a reasonable firing platform. The frame is a large, sturdy engineered piece that includes the receiver and integrated front end around the bottom of the barrel assembly. The stock is semi-hollowed out, can be folded over the receiver for a more compact approach, and comes with rubber pads.

The pistol grip is well integrated with the large trigger guard and can be operated with gloves. The magazine feeder is mounted directly in front of the trigger assembly and supports a 30-round curved magazine of 5.56x45mm NATO rounds. Firing is gas-operated using a rotating bolt, allowing a cyclic rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute.

The muzzle velocity is 3,136 feet per second. A selector switch on the side of the receiver allows for semi-automatic single, triple or fully automatic fire, as well as safety mode. Iron adjustable sights are standard, although optics are often used - the standard optics also double as a carry handle on top of the receiver.

Like other modern automatic weapons in its class, the FX-05 makes extensive use of Picatinny rails to mount accessories, including standard sights, night vision goggles, laser sights, flashlights, and more. Rails can be seen along the full length of the top of the receiver and along the sides of the foreguard/handguard. There are cooling slots above the handguard around the barrel. There is also a slotted muzzle brake. The barrel itself is cold forged, and a distinguishing feature of the FX-05 is the use of polygonal rifling instead of the generally accepted plain grooved rifling.

Note support for off-stage single-shot grenade launchers (temporary HK AG36).

To the discerning observer, the FX-05 certainly bears a visual resemblance to the HK G36 rifle, which was almost licensed by the Mexican Army. In fact, the similarities are so great that representatives of Heckler & Koch flew to Mexico to check the FX-05 for patent infringement. HK officials are happy to think that the FX-05 simply mimics the exterior of their G36 product, with the internal working parts being unique to the Mexican FX-05.

It is worth noting, however, that a "second generation" FX-05 has emerged, with an overhauled receiver. Hong Kong officials did not match the look of their G36 receiver to the original FX-05 series model.

In any case, no trials were conducted, and the FX-05 is still growing in the Mexican Army's inventory.

To date, approximately 50,000 FX-05 prototypes have been produced. A companion single-shot grenade launcher is currently in development and will be able to use "smart" grenade ammunition. The FX-05 has evolved beyond a simple assault rifle and is now the leader of the firearm family.

As such, the FX-05 is available in a shortened carbine form, a light machine gun for squad automatic weapon roles, and a "sniper" system that allows repeated firing in designated marksman roles.

FX-05 is nicknamed "Xiuhcoatl", which means "turquoise snake" or "fire snake".

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