ST Kinetics (CIS) SAR-21

History

Singapore made several attempts in the 1980s to produce a domestic assault rifle worthy of its army, but the SAR-80 and SR-88 have more or less failed in long attempts. Domestic assault rifles can reduce procurement costs when purchasing the number of standard weapons required by each army. It is also wise to shed long-term foreign dependence when it comes to purchasing military equipment. Design work on another new replacement began in 1996, under the Chartered Industries Singapore (CIS) brand. The design process was focused on creating a new automatic weapon, and the recently popular "bullpup" configuration was chosen, built around a proven pneumatic, rotary bolt action mechanism and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge.

Singapore already has decades of experience operating the US AR-15 and M16 (locally produced as "M16S1"), which will influence much of the internal design of the new weapon. The resulting product appeared in 1999 and was incorporated into the Singapore Army's inventory shortly after as "SAR-21" ("Singapore Assault Rifle 21").

Serial production followed, which continues to this day. In 2000, the CIS was renamed "ST Kinetics", so the weapon is now marketed and produced under the new brand label.

The SAR-21 is undoubtedly an impressive looking automatic rifle. As a weapon in a "bull" configuration, most of the internal working parts are located in the shoulder rest, allowing the use of a full-length rifled barrel in a more compact form compared to traditional assault rifle designs such as the M16 and AKM.

As a result, the pistol grip has been moved to the center of the design, promoting a more balanced grip, especially when the shoulder rest is close to the body and the seconds hand is mounted on the front. The internal function setup at the rear also places the magazine in the magazine behind the pistol grip. This leaves the front end unimpeded, making the product better suited to the needs of urban warfare while maintaining mid-range capability. The pistol grip is further integrated into the lower case via the handguard.

The magazine is transparent, allowing the operator to quickly check the ammo count without removing the magazine. Mounting points on the receiver allow optics to be attached according to standard practice (1.5x standard optical magnification is published).

In addition, a laser spot sight is also standard to aid in accurate shooting at close range, especially in low light conditions. The SAR-21 is constructed of heavy-duty polymer plastic, with critical working components constructed of steel.

This provides a low overall weight with the reliability expected from a military-grade firearm. Along the stock is a firing mode selector.

However, the dramatic change from the traditional rifle configuration to the bullpup configuration is not without its critics. Most bullpup rifles prefer right-hand shooting, which is common in the SAR-21 design, which has the ejection port on the right side of the fuselage. Additionally, the rear magazine well requires a more complicated reloading process when changing magazines.

The rear position of the fire selector is also an issue for soldiers who need to easily select fire within range (e.g. close to the pistol grip). Since most of the gun's inner workings are carried by the rear of the gun, this adds considerable weight to the rear and can affect firing accuracy.

As expected, the move was met with some resistance from Singaporean soldiers who are used to the grip and action of their trusty M16S1.

The SAR-21 assault rifle has a barrel length of 32 inches and a barrel length of 20 inches. Total weight is 8.4 lbs. The rate of fire was specified at 650 rounds per minute and the muzzle velocity was 3,180 feet per second. The effective range is up to 800 meters under ideal conditions. The SAR-21 fires 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges from a 30-round curved detachable magazine and also supports the M16 STANAG type.

Aiming is via a standard 1.5x optical mount, while retaining the adjustable iron safety sight.

The base SAR-21 is the standard infantry assault rifle system. There is also the SAR-21 LMG, a light machine gun version with a heavier 20-inch barrel and a heavy-duty collapsible bipod, as well as a foregrip that allows the weapon to operate as a SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon), with two legs Racks help put out the fire. The heavier barrel also facilitates longer shots before overheating becomes an issue, while also facilitating the use of ranges beyond standard assault rifles. The SAR-21 "Sharpshooter" is a Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) version with a 3.0x scope as standard.

This version is issued to class snipers for accurate repeat fire at ranges outside of the basic assault rifle system. The SAR-21 LWC is a "light carbine" with a shorter barrel assembly and support for Picatinny rail accessories and scopes. The SAR-21 GL is equipped with a 40mm single-shot grenade launcher with an integrated sight, effectively extending the standard infantry's tactical range. The SAR-21 "P-Rail" provides standardized support for Picatinny rail optics on top of the receiver, replacing the standard 1.5x scope.

The SAR-21 MMS is a heavily modified "assault carbine" form designed to accommodate multiple accessories via an extended Picatinny rail mounting system. The shortened barrel allows for a more compact overall length, ideal for elements such as special forces or commandos that need to operate in tight spaces.

The SAR-21 has been developed into an improved version - "SAR-21A" based on the operational experience of the first systems. The new production model debuted in 2010 with a thumb-based ambidextrous fire selector, expanded support for standard Picatinny rail equipment, and improved interior functionality.

The SAR-21 has not yet had much export success as the only other operator of note is the Brunei Army.

Specification

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Dimensions

Performance

Changes