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{{Short description|Battle rifle}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = FAL
| image              = File:FN-FAL belgian.jpeg
| caption            = A standard FAL (50.00 model) produced by FN
| type               = [[Battle rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->| service            = 1953–present
| wars               = See ''[[#Conflicts|Conflicts]]''
<!-- Production history -->| designer           = [[Dieudonné Saive]]
| number             = 7,000,000<ref name=":4" />
| spec_label         = FAL 50
| length             = {{cvt|1090|mm|in}}
| width              = 
| height             = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| action             = [[Gas-operated reloading|Short-stroke gas piston]],  [[Closed bolt|closed]] [[Tilting bolt|tilting breechblock]]<ref name="bishop1998" />
| image_size         = 330
| origin             = Belgium
| is_ranged          = yes
<!-- Service history -->| used_by            = 90+ countries (See ''[[#Users|Users]]'')
| design_date        = 1947–53
| manufacturer       = * [[FN Herstal]]
* [[IMBEL]]
* [[Fabricaciones Militares]]
* [[Rifle Factory Ishapore]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCollum |first1=Ian |title=India's FAL: The 1A1 Inch/Metric Hybrid |url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/indias-fal-the-1a1-inch-metric-hybrid/ |website=forgottenweapons.com |date=5 February 2025 |publisher=Forgotten Weapons |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref>
| production_date    = 1953–1988 (FN Herstal)<br />
1953–present (licensed manufacturers)
| variants           = See ''[[#Variants|Variants]]''
<!-- General specifications -->| weight             = {{cvt|4.25|kg|lb|}}
| part_length        = {{cvt|533|mm|1}}
| cartridge          = [[7.62×51mm NATO]]<br />[[.280 British]]<ref name="bishop1998">Bishop, Chris. ''Guns in Combat''. Chartwell Books, Inc (1998). {{ISBN|0-7858-0844-2}}. {{page needed|date=January 2019}}</ref>
| rate               = 650–700 rounds/min
| velocity           = {{cvt|840|m/s|1}}
| range              = 
| max_range          = 1000 meters
| feed               = 20- or 30-round detachable [[Magazine (firearms)#Box|box magazine]], 50-round [[drum magazine]].
| sights             = {{plainlist}}
* ramped aperture rear sight (adjustable from 200 to 600&nbsp;m/yd in 100&nbsp;m/yd increments)
* post front sight
{{endplainlist}}
}}

The '''FAL''' ({{langx|fr|Fusil Automatique Léger}}, English: Light Automatic Rifle) is a [[battle rifle]] designed in Belgium by [[Dieudonné Saive]] and manufactured by [[FN Herstal]] and others since 1953.

During the [[Cold War]] the FAL was adopted by many countries of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO), with the notable exception of the United States. It is one of the most widely used rifles in history, having been used by more than 90 countries.<ref name="hogg2002">{{cite book |author-last1=Hogg |author-first1=Ian |editor1-link=Ian V. Hogg |year=2002 |title=Jane's Guns Recognition Guide |edition=1st |location=Glasgow |publisher=HarperCollins |pages=290 |url=https://archive.org/details/janesgunsrecogni00unse |isbn=000712760X}}</ref> It received the title "the right arm of the free world" from its adoption by many countries that identified as part of the [[free world]].<ref name="arifman">{{cite web|url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/the-fn-fal-right-arm-of-the-free-world/|title=The FN FAL: Right Arm Of The Free World|publisher=American Rifleman|access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref> It is chambered in [[7.62×51mm NATO]], although originally designed for the [[Intermediate cartridge|intermediate]] [[.280 British]].

A license-built version of the FAL was produced and adopted by the [[United Kingdom]] and throughout the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] as the [[L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle]].

== History ==
[[File:Patrol Kenya.jpg|thumb|A [[British Army]] patrol crossing a stream during the [[Mau Mau rebellion]], the front soldier carrying an X8E1 (Belgian-made 7.62mm FN FAL)]]

In 1946, the first FAL prototype was completed. It was designed to fire the intermediate [[7.92×33mm Kurz]] cartridge developed and used by the forces of [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] during [[World War II]] with the [[Sturmgewehr 44]] [[assault rifle]]. After testing this prototype in 1948, the [[British Army]] urged FN to build additional prototypes, including one in [[bullpup]] configuration, chambered for their new [[.280 British]] (7×43mm) caliber intermediate cartridge.<ref name="FN FAL Belgium">{{cite web|url=http://world.guns.ru/assault/as24f-e.htm|title=FN FAL (Belgium)|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117172148/http://world.guns.ru/assault/as24f-e.htm|archive-date=17 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> After evaluating the single bullpup prototype, FN decided to return instead to their original, conventional design for future production.<ref name="FN FAL Belgium" />{{Why|date=October 2021}}

In 1950, the United Kingdom presented the redesigned FN rifle and the British [[EM-2 rifle|EM-2]], both in .280 British calibre, to the United States for comparison testing against the favoured [[United States Army]] design of the time—Earle Harvey's T25.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.powmadeak47.com/rifle/t25.html|title=Earl Harvey's T-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325165934/http://www.powmadeak47.com/rifle/t25.html |archive-date= 25 March 2012|work=powmadeak47.com}}</ref> It was hoped that a common cartridge and rifle could be [[Standardization|standardized]] for issue to the armies of all NATO member countries. After this testing was completed, U.S. Army officials suggested that FN should redesign their rifle to fire the U.S. prototype ".30 Light Rifle" cartridge. FN decided to hedge their bets with the U.S., and in 1951 even made a deal that the U.S. could produce FALs royalty-free, given that the UK appeared to be favouring their own EM-2. This decision appeared to be correct when the British Army decided to adopt the EM-2 (as Rifle No.9 Mk1) and the .280 British cartridge.<ref name="FN FAL Belgium" />

This decision was later rescinded after the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] lost the 1951 General Election and [[Winston Churchill]] returned as Prime Minister. It is believed{{by whom|date=December 2014}} that there was a [[quid pro quo]] agreement between Churchill and U.S. President [[Harry Truman]] in 1952 that the British accept the .30 Light Rifle cartridge as NATO standard in return for the U.S. acceptance of the FN FAL as NATO standard.<ref>{{cite web|date=5 October 2014|title=The FN FAL Was Almost America's Battle Rifle|url=https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-fn-fal-was-almost-americas-battle-rifle-5186bdbda998|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506202808/https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-fn-fal-was-almost-americas-battle-rifle-5186bdbda998|archive-date=6 May 2018|access-date=28 April 2019|website=War is Boring}}</ref> The .30 Light Rifle cartridge was later standardized as the 7.62&nbsp;mm NATO. However, the U.S. insisted on continued rifle tests. The FAL chambered for the .30 Light Rifle went up against the redesigned T25 (now redesignated as the T47), and an [[M1 Garand]] variant, the T44. Eventually, the T44 won, becoming the [[M14 rifle|M14]]. However, in the meantime, most other NATO countries were evaluating and selecting the FAL.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Formally introduced by its designer [[Dieudonné Saive]] in 1951, and produced two years later, the FAL has been described as the "Right Arm of the Free World".{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=5}} The FAL battle rifle has its [[Warsaw Pact]] counterpart in the [[AKM]], each being fielded by dozens of countries and produced in many of them. A few, such as Israel and South Africa, manufactured and issued both designs at various times.

== Design details ==
[[File:Dutch Marine with FN FAL and Rifle Grenade 1964.jpg|thumb|right|Dutch Marine with FN FAL fitted with a rifle grenade.]]

The FAL operates by means of a [[gas-operated]] [[Firearm action|action]] very similar to that of the Soviet [[SVT-40]]. The gas system is driven by a short-stroke, spring-loaded piston housed above the [[Gun barrel|barrel]], and the locking mechanism is what is known as a ''tilting breechblock''. To lock, it drops down into a solid shoulder of metal in the heavy [[Receiver (firearms)|receiver]] much like the [[Bolt (firearm)|bolts]] of the Soviet [[SKS]] [[carbine]] and French [[MAS-49]] series of semi-automatic rifles. The gas system is fitted with a gas regulator behind the front sight base, allowing adjustment of the gas system in response to environmental conditions. The piston system can be bypassed completely, using the gas plug, to allow for the firing of [[rifle grenade]]s and manual operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/1457/tuning-the-fals-gas-system/|title=Tuning the FAL's Gas System|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112160722/http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/1457/tuning-the-fals-gas-system/|archive-date=12 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The FAL's magazine capacity ranges from five to 30 rounds, with most magazines holding 20 rounds. In fixed [[Stock (firearms)|stock]] versions of the FAL, the [[recoil]] spring is housed in the stock, while in folding-stock versions it is housed in the receiver cover, necessitating a slightly different receiver cover, recoil spring, and bolt carrier, and a modified lower receiver for the stock.<ref name="popeneker">Popeneker, Maxim & Williams, Anthony (2005). ''Assault Rifle''. The Crowood Press Ltd. {{ISBN|1-86126-700-2}}.</ref>

[[File:FAL PARA Folded Stock Right.jpg|thumb|right|Short barrel FAL Para with folding stock]]
For field stripping, the FAL can be opened. During opening the rifle rotates around a two-piece pivot lock and pin assembly located between the trigger guard and magazine well to give access to the action and piston system. This opening method causes a suboptimal iron sight line as the rear sight element is mounted on the lower receiver and the front sight element of the sight line is mounted on the upper receiver/barrel and hence are fixed to two different movable subassemblies. The sight radius for the FAL 50.00 and FAL 50.41 models is {{cvt|553|mm|1}} and for the 50.61 and FAL 50.63 models {{cvt|549|mm|in|1}}.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

FAL rifles have also been manufactured in both light and heavy-barrel configurations, with the heavy barrel intended for automatic fire as a section or squad light support weapon. Most heavy barrel FALs are equipped with [[bipod]]s, although some light barrel models were equipped with bipods, such as the Austrian StG 58 and the German G1, and a bipod was later made available as an accessory.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Among other 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifles at the time, the FAL had relatively light recoil, due to the user-adjustable gas system being able to be tuned via a regulator in fore-end of the rifle, which allowed for excess gas which would simply increase recoil to bleed off. The regulator is an adjustable gas port opening that adjusts the rifle to function reliably with various propellant and projectile specific pressure behavior, making the FAL not ammunition specific. In fully automatic mode, however, the shooter receives considerable abuse from recoil, and the weapon climbs off-target quickly, making automatic fire only of marginal effectiveness.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Small arms visual encyclopedia|last=J.|first=Dougherty, Martin|publisher=Amber Books|year=2011|isbn=978-1-907446-98-6|location=London|pages=222|oclc=751804871}}</ref> Many military forces using the FAL eventually eliminated full-automatic firearms training in the light-barrel FAL.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

== Variants ==
{{Original research section|date=October 2021}}
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2021}}

=== FN production variants ===
Depending on the variant and the country of adoption, the FAL was issued as either [[semi-automatic rifle|semi-automatic]] only or [[selective fire|select-fire]] (capable of both semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes).{{cn|date=November 2023}}

==== LAR 50.41 & 50.42 (FAL HBAR & FALO) ====
Also known as FALO as an abbreviation from the French ''Fusil Automatique Lourd'', it had a heavy barrel for sustained fire with a 30-round magazine as a [[squad automatic weapon]];
Known in Canada as the C2A1, it was their primary squad automatic weapon until it was phased out during the 1980s in favor of the [[FN Minimi|C9]], which has better accuracy and higher ammunition capacity than the C2. In the Australian Army, as the L2A1, it was their primary squad automatic weapon in the 1960s. However it was generally disliked and replaced by the F89 Minimi in the late 1980s. The L2A1 or 'heavy barrel' FAL was used by several Commonwealth nations and was found to frequently experience a failure to feed after firing two rounds from a full magazine when in automatic mode.
The 50.41 is fitted with a synthetic buttstock, while the 50.42's buttstock is made from wood.

==== FAL 50.61 (FAL Type 3 PARA) ====
{{stack|float=right|[[File:Un FN FAL version Para.jpg|thumb|FAL 50.61 variant.]]}}

Folding-stock, standard 533&nbsp;mm (21.0&nbsp;in) barrel length.

==== FAL 50.62 (FAL Type 3 Para 18) ====
[[File:FN FAL PARA Right Side.jpg|thumb|right|FAL Para]]
Folding-stock, shorter 457&nbsp;mm (18 inch) barrel, [[paratrooper]] version.

==== FAL 50.63 (FAL Type 2 Para 16) ====
Folding-stock, shorter 440&nbsp;mm (17.35 inch) barrel, paratrooper version, folding charging handle. This shorter version was requested by Belgian paratroopers. The upper receiver was not cut for a carry handle and the charging handle on the 50.63 was a folding model similar to the L1A1 rifle. The shorter length and folding stock allowed the rifle to fit through the doorway of their [[C-119 Flying Boxcar]] when worn horizontally across the chest with the stock folded.

==== FAL 50.64 (FAL Para 3) ====
Folding-stock, standard 533&nbsp;mm (21.0&nbsp;in) barrel length, '[[Hiduminium]]' aluminium alloy lower receiver made it lighter than the 50.61, which was heavier than 50.00.

==== Early prototypes ====
* The FN Universal Carbine (1947) was an early FAL prototype chambered for the [[7.92×33mm Kurz]] round. The 7.92mm Kurz round was used as a placeholder for the future mid-range cartridges being developed by Britain and the United States at the time.
* FAL .280 Experimental Automatic Carbine, Long Model (1951): A FAL variant chambered for the experimental [[.280 British]] (7×43mm) round. It was designed for a competition at [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]] in the US. Although the British [[bullpup]] design [[EM-2 rifle]] did well, American observers protested that the small-bore .280-caliber round lacked the power and range of a medium-bore .30-caliber round. British observers in return claimed the experimental American .30-caliber T65 round (7.62×51mm) was too powerful to control in automatic fire. Britain was forced to abandon the .280 round and adopt the American-designed .30-caliber T65 as the [[7.62×51mm NATO]] cartridge. The EM-2 could not be rechambered for the longer and more powerful cartridge and the Americans did not yet have a working service rifle of their own. Britain and Canada adopted the Belgian 7.62mm FN FAL instead as the L1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR).
* FAL .280 Experimental Automatic Carbine, Short Model (1951): A bullpup-frame version of the FAL chambered in .280 British designed to compete with the British EM-1 and EM-2 bullpup rifles. It also was demonstrated at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds tests, but was never put into full production.

=== Sturmgewehr 58 ===
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = ''Sturmgewehr'' 58
| image              = STG-58.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = StG 58 with DSA Type I receiver
| origin             = Belgium <br /> Austria
| type               = [[Battle rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = Yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 1958–1985
| used_by            = Austria<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2236|title=The StG58: Austria's Select Fire FAL|website=www.smallarmsreview.com|access-date=2019-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224001717/https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2236|archive-date=2019-02-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
| wars               = <!-- Production history -->
| designer           = [[Dieudonné Saive]]
| design_date        = 1956
| manufacturer       = [[Fabrique Nationale de Herstal]] and [[Steyr-Daimler-Puch]]
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 
| number             = 
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = {{convert|4.45|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} to {{convert|5.15|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|1100|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{convert|533|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
| height             = 
| width              = 
| diameter           = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[7.62×51mm NATO]]
| action             = [[Gas-operated reloading|Gas-operated]], tilting breechblock
| velocity           = {{convert|823|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| range              = {{convert|800|m|yd|abbr=on}}
| feed               = 20-round detachable [[Magazine (firearm)|magazine]]
| sights             = [[Iron sight]]s
}}

The '''''Sturmgewehr'' 58''' (''StG'' 58) is a [[selective fire]] battle rifle. The first 20,000 were manufactured by FN Herstal Belgium, but later the StG 58 was manufactured under licence by [[Steyr-Daimler-Puch]] (now [[Steyr Mannlicher]]), and was formerly the standard rifle of the [[Austrian Armed Forces|''Österreichisches Bundesheer'']] (Austrian Federal Army). It is essentially a user-customized version of the FAL and is still in use, mainly as a drill weapon, or for ceremonial purposes in the ''[[Gardebataillon]]'' (Guard Battalion) of the Austrian forces.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} It was selected in a 1958 competition, beating the Spanish [[CETME rifle|CETME]] and American [[Armalite AR-10]].

Most StG 58s featured a folding bipod, and differ from the FAL by using a plastic [[stock (firearms)|stock]] rather than wood in order to reduce weight in the later production rifles (although some of the early FN-built production rifles did come with wooden stocks). The rifle can be distinguished from its Belgian and Argentine counterparts by its combination [[flash suppressor]] and [[grenade launcher]]. The foregrip was a two-part steel pressing.

Steyr-built StG 58s had a hammer forged barrel. Some StG 58s had modifications made to the fire mode selector so that the fully automatic option was removed, leaving the selector with only safe and single-shot positions. The StG 58 was replaced by the [[Steyr AUG]] (designated StG 77) in 1977, although the StG 58 served with many units as the primary service rifle through the mid-1980s.<ref>{{cite book | title=War Reserve Stock: Strategic Assets and Military Readiness in Modern Warfare | date=24 June 2024 | publisher=One Billion Knowledgeable | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nEgQEQAAQBAJ&dq=StG+58++rifle+through+the+1980s&pg=PT93 }}</ref>

=== Olin-Winchester FAL ===
A semi-automatic, twin-barrel variant chambered in the 5.56mm "Duplex" round during [[Project SALVO]]. This weapon was designed by Stefan Kenneth Janson who previously designed the [[EM-2 rifle]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}

=== DSA SA58 FAL ===
American company DSA (David Selvaggio Arms) manufactures a copy of the FAL called the DSA SA58 from 1997,<ref name="ao">https://athlonoutdoors.com/article/ds-arms-stg58-austrian-fal/</ref><Ref>https://sadefensejournal.com/the-ds-arms-fal/</ref> made with the same Steyr-Daimler-Puch production line equipment as the StG-58.<ref name="ao"/> It comes with a 406&nbsp;mm (16&nbsp;in), 457&nbsp;mm (18&nbsp;in) or 533&nbsp;mm (21&nbsp;in) barrel, an [[Hiduminium|aluminum-alloy]] lower receiver, and improved [[Glass-filled polymer|Glass-filled]] [[Nylon]] furniture. Civilian clients are limited only to semi-automatic configuration, but military and law enforcement clients can procure select-fire configuration that is capable of firing in full auto with [[cyclic rate]] of fire of around 650–750 rounds per minute. The SA58 FAL can use any metric-measurement FAL magazines, which come in 5, 10-, 20-, or 30-round capacities.

The following were made by DSA:

* The SA58 OSW (Operational Specialist Weapon){{sfnp|Cashner|2013|p=77}} is an assault-carbine variant of the paratrooper model of the FAL. It has a side-folding Enhanced PARA polymer stock, shorter 279&nbsp;mm (11 inch) or 330&nbsp;mm (13 inch) barrel and an optional full-auto setting.
* The SA58 CTC (Compact Tactical Carbine) is a [[carbine]] variant. It has a side-folding Enhanced PARA polymer stock, shorter 413&nbsp;mm (16.25 inch) barrel and an optional full-auto setting. Overall Length: 927&nbsp;mm (36.5 inches) Weight: 3.74&nbsp;kg (8.25&nbsp;lbs).
* The SA58 SPR (Special Purpose Rifle){{sfnp|Cashner|2013|p=77}} is a semi-automatic only variant formerly submitted to the U.S. Army SASS rifle trials.<Ref name="sadjfal">https://sadefensejournal.com/the-ds-arms-fal/</ref> It features a 19-inch fluted barrel, 10-round magazine and an upgraded speed trigger.
* The SA58 DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) is a semi-automatic variant that has a 16.25 inch fluted heavy barrel.
* The SA58 Pistol is a semi-automatic variant that features an 8-inch barrel. Only for the U.S. civilian market.
* The Kommando, a carbine-based version.<ref>https://www.recoilweb.com/dsa-kommando-fal-the-scars-distinguished-uncle-but-wearing-short-shorts-186923.html</ref>

Early versions of the DSA FAL included a 4140 billet upper receiver, machined from a 19-pound block of 4140 steel, and a lower receiver milled from a block of 7075 T6 aircraft grade aluminum.<ref name="GunsMagAug02">GunsMagazine.com, August 2002</ref> The barrels were provided by Badger and were double stress relieved, cryogenically treated, and had an 11 degree target crown. These barrels featured broach cut rifling, were lapped by hand, and made from 4140 carbon steel. Barrel twist was 1:11. Rifles produced during the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]] from 1994 to 2004 included integrally machined muzzle brakes that served to reduce muzzle rise and recoil.<ref name="GunsMagAug02"/> Further more, these muzzle brakes added additional length to barrels to achieve the 16.5 inches that would otherwise have been considered [[short-barreled rifle]]s under the [[National Firearms Act]]. As such, DSA FAL barrels that were effectively ~14 inches, could be legally considered 16.5 inches due to the integral muzzle brakes. 

DSA has produced at least one "titanium FAL" with a 16-inch barrel as a concept. Multiple steel parts including the receiver and muzzle device were replaced with titanium ones. Other changes include the dust cover, charging handle, and trigger housing being converted from steel to aluminum. This allowed weight savings of over one kilogram compared to a standard FAL with a 21-inch barrel. A standard 21-inch barrel FAL weighs roughly 4.5 kilograms (9 lbs. 12 oz.) while the titanium DSA prototype with a 16-inch barrel weighs 3.39 kilograms (7 lbs. 7 oz.). It is unlikely to ever be mass-produced due to the cost and difficulty of machining titanium.<ref>{{cite web | title=DSA's Unique Titanium FAL Project - Forgotten Weapons | date=28 May 2025 | url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/dsas-unique-titanium-fal-project/ }}</ref>

=== SC-2010 Hi-Power Modular Weapon System===
A [[Peru|Peruvian]] derivative of the FAL designed by the Diseños Casanave Corporation in 2010. Like the FAL, it uses standard 20-round box magazines with the same 7.62×51mm caliber ammo.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

== Military adoption ==
<!-- This section is linked from FN FAL -->
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
{{See also|L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle#Production and use}}
[[File:Soldadosargesperandodesembarco.jpg|thumb|right|Argentine soldiers armed with FAL during the Falklands War (1982).]]

The FAL has been used by over 90 countries, and some seven million have been produced.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Soft Security Threats & Europe|last=Aldis|first=Anne|publisher=Routledge|year=2005|pages=83}}</ref><ref name="hogg2002" /> The FAL was originally made by [[Fabrique Nationale de Herstal]] (FN) in Liège, Belgium, but it has also been made under license in fifteen countries.<ref name=Bourne>{{cite book|last=Bourne|first=Mike|title=Arming Conflict: The Proliferation of Small Arms|date=2007|pages=66–67|publisher=Palgrave-Macmillan|location=Basingstoke|isbn=978-0-230-01933-1}}</ref> As of August 2006, new examples were still being produced by at least four different manufacturers worldwide.<ref name="Survey">{{cite web|title=Multiplying the Sources: Licensed and Unlicensed Military Production|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-01-O-EN.pdf|location=Geneva
|publisher=[[Small Arms Survey]]|date=2007|access-date=21 September 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223193229/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-01-O-EN.pdf|archive-date=23 December 2016}}</ref>

A distinct sub-family was the Commonwealth inch-dimensioned versions that were manufactured in the United Kingdom and Australia (as the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle or SLR), and in Canada as the C1. The standard metric-dimensioned FAL was manufactured in South Africa (where it was known as the ''R1''), Brazil, Israel, Austria and Argentina. Both the SLR and FAL were also produced without license by India.<ref name="Survey-2">{{cite web|title=Legacies of War in the Company of Peace: Firearms in Nepal|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/NAVA-IB2-Legacies-of-War.pdf|location=Geneva|publisher=[[Small Arms Survey]]|date=May 2013|access-date=21 September 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708052928/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/NAVA-IB2-Legacies-of-War.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2014}}</ref><ref name=Small1>{{cite book|author=Graduate Institute of International Studies|title=Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied|date=2003|pages=97–113|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-925175-9}}</ref>

The Dutch company Armtech built the L1A1 SAS, a carbine variant of the L1A1 with a barrel length of 290&nbsp;mm (11.4 inches).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2600/2649.htm|title=Armtech FAL SAS|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518040911/http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2600/2649.htm|archive-date=18 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Argentina ===
[[File:Two Argentina soldiers with FN FAL.jpg|thumb|Argentine soldiers with FAL rifles.]]

Argentine FALs saw action during the [[Falklands War]], and in different peacekeeping operations such as in Cyprus and the former Yugoslavia. Argentine FALs are known to have been exported to Bolivia (in 1971),<ref name=":0">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=18}}</ref> Colombia,<ref name=":0" /> Croatia (during the [[wars in former Yugoslavia]] during the 1990s), Honduras,<ref name=":0" /> Peru,<ref name=":0" /> and Uruguay.<ref name=":0" />

=== Brazil ===
Along with the IA2, MD-2 and MD-3 assault rifles, Brazil produces the M964A1/Pelopes (Special Operations Platoon), with a 16.5" barrel, 3-point sling and a [[Picatinny rail]] with a [[tactical flashlight]] and sight.<ref>BASTOS, Carlos Stephani. [http://www.ecsbdefesa.com.br/defesa/fts/FAL.pdf FAL M964A1/Pelopes 7,62: Aproveitando melhor o que se tem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012151728/http://www.ecsbdefesa.com.br/defesa/fts/FAL.pdf |date=2016-10-12 }} (in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]). [[Federal University of Juiz de Fora]].</ref>

The Brazilian Army officially used the FAP (''Fuzil Automático Pesado'', or heavy automatic rifle) as its squad automatic weapon until 2013/2014, when the [[FN Minimi]] was adopted to replace it. The Marine Corps and Air Force also adopted the Minimi to replace the FAP.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.defesanet.com.br/armas/noticia/12737/FN-MINIMI-%E2%80%93-EB-aposenta-o-FAP-e-adota-a--FN-Mini-Mitrailleuse/|title=FN MINIMI – EB aposenta o FAP e adota a FN Mini Mitrailleuse|work=DefesaNet |date=2013-10-20|access-date=2016-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012225501/http://www.defesanet.com.br/armas/noticia/12737/FN-MINIMI-%E2%80%93-EB-aposenta-o-FAP-e-adota-a--FN-Mini-Mitrailleuse/|archive-date=2016-10-12|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Transposição do Rio Santa Maria - RS (9919223523).jpg|thumb|[[Brazilian Army]] conscripts using the FAL in [[Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul|Santa Maria]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]].]]

IMBEL also produced a semi-automatic version of the FAL for [[Springfield Armory, Inc.]] (not to be confused with the [[Springfield Armory|US military Springfield Armory]]), which was marketed in the US as the SAR-48 (standard model)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thearmorylife.com/full-auto-fal-the-select-fire-springfield-sar-48/ | title=Full-Auto FAL: The Select-Fire Springfield SAR-48 | date=30 December 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514034816/https://www.thearmorylife.com/full-auto-fal-the-select-fire-springfield-sar-48/|archive-date=May 14, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2530 | title=The FN-FAL Rifle | date=December 2001|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922153650/http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2530|archive-date=September 22, 2021 }}</ref> and SAR-4800 (made after 1989 with some military features removed to comply with new legislation), starting in the mid-1980s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/springfields-sar-4800-fal-in-5-56mm/ | title=Springfield's SAR-4800 FAL…in 5.56mm | date=20 November 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202155246/https://www.forgottenweapons.com/springfields-sar-4800-fal-in-5-56mm/|archive-date=December 2, 2022 }}</ref> IMBEL-made receivers have been much in demand among American gunsmiths building FALs from "parts kits".

IMBEL in 2014 offered the FAL in 9 versions:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imbel.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=31&lang=en|title=Fuzil 7,62 M964 (FAL)|author=Administrator|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402151503/http://www.imbel.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=31&lang=en|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

* M964, the standard length semi-auto and full auto.
* M964 MD1, short barrel semi-auto and full auto.
* M964 MD2, standard length semi-auto only.
* M964 MD3, short barrel semi-auto only.
* M964A1, folding stock standard barrel semi-auto and full auto.
* M964A1 MD1, folding stock short barrel semi-auto and full auto.
* M964A1 MD2, folding stock standard barrel semi-auto only.
* M964A1 MD3, folding stock short barrel semi-auto only.
* M964A1/Pelopes, short barrel semi-auto and full auto with Picatinny rail.

=== Germany ===
[[File:West German FN FAL.jpg|thumb|upright|Two West German [[Fahnenjunker|cadets]] on a joint exercise in 1960. [[West Germany]] used the FN FAL designated as G1.]]

The first German FALs were from an order placed in late 1955 or early 1956, for several thousand FN FAL so-called "Canada" models with wood furniture and the prong flash hider. These weapons were intended for the ''[[German Federal Police|Bundesgrenzschutz]]'' (border guard) and not the newly formed ''[[Bundeswehr]]'' (army), which at the time used M1 Garands and M1/M2 carbines. In November 1956, however, [[West Germany]] ordered 100,000 additional FALs, designated the G1, for the army. FN made the rifles between April 1957 and May 1958. The G1 user modifications included light metal handguards and an integral folding bipod, similarly to the Austrian version.<ref name=":9">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=16}}</ref> Neither Germany nor Austria adopted the heavy-barreled FAL, instead using the [[MG 3 machine gun|MG3]] (the modernized [[MG 42|MG42]] in 7.62×51mm NATO) as its [[General-purpose machine gun|general purpose machine gun]] (GPMG).<ref name=":9" />

The Germans were satisfied with the FAL and wished to produce it under license.<ref name=":9" /> The Belgians, however, refused. Being subject to two German occupations in the space of two generations ([[German occupation of Belgium during World War I|1914–1918]] and [[German occupation of Belgium during World War II|1940–1945]]), the Belgians insisted on the Germans purchasing only FN-made FALs.<ref name=":9" /> Under the German occupation during World War II, FN was taken over by the major German arms manufacturer ''[[Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken]]'' (DWM), its directors arrested, and the assembly lines run by [[German occupation of Belgium during World War II#Deportation and forced labour|slave labour]] after only 10% of the Belgian factory workers showed up when ordered to do so.<ref name=":9" />

Based on political and economical considerations, but also national pride,<ref name=":10">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=17}}</ref> the Germans aimed at a weapon they could produce domestically and turned their sights to the Spanish [[CETME rifle|CETME Modelo 58]] rifle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Europe|url=http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/weapons/index.php/tour-by-region/europe/europe/firearm-379/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427012535/http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/weapons/index.php/tour-by-region/europe/europe/firearm-379/index.html|archive-date=2017-04-27|access-date=2017-06-26|website=web.prm.ox.ac.uk}}</ref> Working with the Germans, the Spanish adopted the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, and a slightly modified version of the CETME went on to be manufactured in [[West Germany]] by [[Heckler & Koch]] (H&K) as the [[Heckler & Koch G3|G3]] rifle, beginning production in 1959. The G3 would become the second most popular battle rifle in the Free World, "used by some 50 nations and license-manufactured in a dozen".<ref name=":10" /> Without the G3, the FAL may have completely dominated the militaries of the West during the Cold War.<ref name=":10" />

The G1 featured a pressed metal handguard identical to the ones used on the Austrian Stg. 58, as well as the Dutch and Greek FALs, this being slightly slimmer than the standard wood or plastic handguards, and featuring horizontal lines running almost their entire length. G1s were also fitted with a unique removable prong flash hider, adding another external distinction. Of note is the fact that the G1 was the first FAL variant with the 3&nbsp;mm lower sights specifically requested by Germany, previous versions having the taller Commonwealth-type sights also seen on Israeli models. The German FAL had access to high quality Hensoldt Optische Werk F-series scopes with Zeiss-equivalent optics; having 4x magnification, with a 24&nbsp;mm (0.94&nbsp;in) objective lens.<ref>{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=29}}</ref>

The majority of the German G1 rifles were sold as surplus to the [[Turkish Land Forces|Turkish Army]] in the mid-1960's, and some G1s found their way to [[Rhodesia]] and [[Portuguese Colonial War|Portugal]].<ref name=":10" />{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=43}}<ref name=":11" />

=== Israel ===
[[File:Israeli Heavy Barrel FAL, note the hinged buttplate.jpg|thumb|Israeli Heavy Barrel FAL. Note the hinged butt plate.]]

After the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Forces]] (IDF) had to overcome several [[Military logistics|logistics problems]] which were a result of the wide variety of old firearms that were in service, such as the German [[Karabiner 98k|Mauser Kar 98k]] and some British [[Lee–Enfield]] rifles. In 1955 the IDF adopted the [[Israel Military Industries|IMI]]-produced [[Uzi]] submachine gun and the FN FAL in order to standardize their infantry armament;<ref name=":1">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=21}}</ref> with the FAL being designated ''Rov've Mitta'enn'' or ''Romat'' (רומ"ט),<ref name=":1" /> abbreviation of "Self-Loading Rifle". IMI licensed the FAL in 1955.<ref>https://gundigest.com/military-firearms/the-top-5-most-common-fal-rifles</ref>

The FAL version ordered by the IDF came in two basic variants, both regular and heavy-barrel (squad automatic rifle/ light machine gun), and were chambered in 7.62mm NATO. The Israeli heavy barrel FAL (or FALO) was designated the ''Makle'a Kal'', or ''Makleon'',<ref name=":1" /> having a standard handguard improved with a perforated metal sleeve around the heavy barrel, and a wooden handguard with a heat shield.<ref name=":2">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=67}}</ref> The folding bipod being directly attached to the barrel.<ref name=":2" /> The Israeli Makleon was fed by a 20-round magazine.<ref name=":3">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=66}}</ref>

[[File:Operation Inferno. XXI.jpg|thumb|Paratroopers fighting on the outskirts of the town of [[Karameh]] during [[Battle of Karameh|Operation Inferno]], 21 March 1968. A paratrooper with a [[Light machine gun|Makleon]] is in position while a [[Rifle grenade|rifle-grenadier]] is to his right.]]

Analysing the Israeli campaign of 1956 in the Sinai, during the [[Suez Crisis]], [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] [[S.L.A. Marshall|SLA Marshall]] noted of the Makleon:<blockquote>By Israeli training practice, when the light machine guns are used as fire base to cover the forward movement of the rest of the section, they should not operate at more than two hundred yards' [183m] maximum range from the target. To cut that distance by half is considered better. In the attack, LMGs are rated as highly expendable items and are shoved far front. When the section rushes the enemy position under cover of the LMG fire, one rifleman stays behind to protect the gunners.<ref name=":5" /></blockquote>Marshall also notes the advantage of both rifle and LMG ammunition being interchangeable, with the squad carrying sixty 20-round magazines, with 1,200 rounds in total.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Marshall|first=S. L. A.|title=Sinai victory : command decisions in history's shortest war : Israel's hundred-hour conquest of Egypt east of Suez, autumn, 1956|publisher=Battery Press|year=1958|isbn=0-89839-085-0|location=Nashville|pages=241|oclc=13515139}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=48}}</ref>

The Israeli FALs were originally produced as selective-fire rifles, though later light-barrel rifle versions were altered to semi-automatic fire only.<ref name=":1" /> The first rifles were Belgian-made, with Israel later licence-producing the weapons and its magazines.<ref name=":1" /> The Israeli models are recognizable by a distinctive handguard with a forward perforated sheet metal section. Israeli-made magazines were made in the same FN standard of steel, finished with durable black enamel paint, and bearing two Hebrew characters stamped into the metal on one side.<ref>{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=24}}</ref>

The IDF always emphasized the used of rifle grenades, integrating its usage into their doctrine of night assaults.<ref name=":6" /> Approaching enemy positions within rifle-grenade range, initiating the assault with a volley of grenades onto the enemy positions intended to stun and suppress the defenders, while being immediately followed by the infantry assault while the enemy was shaken.<ref name=":6" />

<blockquote>Israel's infantry prefers the rifle-fired antitank grenade to the bazooka for shock effect on a group or bunker. At night, if the section should run into an ambush, the grenadier fires, and all the others rush straight in, not firing.<ref name=":5" /></blockquote>

[[File:IDF Paratroopers FN rifles 1965-06-05.jpg|thumb|[[Paratroopers Brigade|IDF Paratroopers]] with FN FAL rifles during a training march, 5 June 1965.]]

Initially, Israel manufactured a copy of the [[ENERGA anti-tank rifle grenade|Energa]] [[rifle grenade]], that would be surpassed by more recent designs still in production.<ref name=":7">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=49}}</ref> Of particular note is the [[BT/AT 52]],<ref name=":7" /> an IMI version of the BT rifle grenade derived from the earlier MA/AT 52 model. It can be fired both from 5.56mm and 7.62mm weapons, which share the same-diameter muzzle device, with a maximum range of 300&nbsp;m (328yd) from 7.62mm guns. The BT/AT 52 is often seen in photographs with the FAL.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bukvoed.livejournal.com/274610.html?thread=2172850 |title=Images of Israeli use of rifle grenades from 1956 onwards|date = 24 October 2014| access-date = 22 April 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923155340/https://bukvoed.livejournal.com/274610.html?thread=2172850|archive-date=September 23, 2020}}</ref>

The Israeli FAL first saw action in relatively small quantities during the [[Suez Crisis]] of 1956, being the standard-issue rifle in the [[Six-Day War]] in June 1967, the [[War of Attrition]] of 1967–1970. During the [[Yom Kippur War]] of October 1973, the FAL was still in front-line service as the standard Israeli rifle, though increasing criticism eventually led to the phasing-out of the weapon. Israeli forces were primarily mechanized in nature; the long, heavy FAL slowed deployment drills, and proved exceedingly difficult to maneuver within the confines of a vehicle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://samilitaryhistory.org/6/06junnl.html |url-status=live |title=Newsletter – June 2006 |publisher=South African Military History Society |access-date=15 January 2025 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509100608/http://samilitaryhistory.org/6/06junnl.html|archive-date=9 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="Performer1">Bodinson, Holt, "Century's Golani Sporter: The Israeli-designed AK Hybrid is a Solid Performer", ''[[Guns (magazine)|Guns]]'', July 2007</ref> Additionally, Israeli forces experienced occasional jamming of the FAL due to heavy sand and dust ingress endemic to Middle Eastern desert warfare.<ref name=":8"/>

With the soldiers traveling in open-topped halftracks in fast-paced operations, with tank tracks filling the air with clouds of dust filled with fine grit, soldiers would jump from the half-tracks to hit the sand, finding the rifles filthy at the moment of contact.<ref name=":8">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|p=50}}</ref> In such lightning-fast mobile warfare, the men would hardly have time to eat, sleep or clean their rifles.<ref name=":8" /><ref name="Performer1" /> Though the IDF evaluated a few modified FAL rifles with 'sand clearance' slots in the bolt carrier and receiver (which were already part of the Commonwealth L1A1/C1A1 design), malfunction rates did not significantly improve.<ref name="Magazine1">"Weapons Wizard Israeli Galili", ''[[Soldier of Fortune (magazine)|Soldier of Fortune]]'', March 1982</ref>  The Israeli FAL was eventually replaced from 1972 onwards<ref name=":1" /> by the [[M16 rifle|M16]] and in 1974 by the [[IMI Galil|Galil]].<ref name="Performer1" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name="Magazine1" /> The FAL remained in production in Israel into the 1980s.<ref name=":0" />

=== Portugal ===
During the colonial war in Angola, [[Portuguese Guinea|Guinea]] and Mozambique (the [[Portuguese Colonial War|Ultramar War]]), the FAL was used by the Portuguese alongside the [[Heckler & Koch G3|HK G3]] and the [[ArmaLite AR-10|AR10]]. In Portuguese service, the FN FAL was designated ''Espingarda Automática 7,62&nbsp;mm FN m/962''. Those were Belgian-made FN FAL and German G1 rifles, and they became favoured by special forces units such as the ''Caçadores Especiais'' ("Special Hunters/Rangers").<ref name=":11">{{harvnb|Cashner|2013|pp=46–47}}</ref>

=== Rhodesia ===
Like most British dependencies in the postwar era, [[Southern Rhodesia]] adopted the Commonwealth pattern [[L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle|L1A1 SLR]] by the early 1960s.{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=15}} Southern Rhodesia contributed small military contingents to aid British counter-insurgency operations during the [[Malayan Emergency]] and the [[Aden Emergency]], and adopted the L1A1 as its standard infantry rifle around that time.<ref name="COIN">{{cite book|title=Counterinsurgency in Modern Warfare|last=Wood|first=JRT|date=2008|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84603-281-3|editor1-last=Malkasian|editor1-first=Carter|location=Oxford|pages=[https://archive.org/details/counterinsurgenc00dani/page/189 189–342]|editor2-last=Marston|editor2-first=Daniel|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/counterinsurgenc00dani/page/189}}</ref> As a result of its participation in those conflicts, the [[Rhodesian Security Forces]] inherited the British emphasis on long-range marksmanship and the use of riflemen in small units as the primary cornerstone of major counter-insurgency campaigns.{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=35}} The standard small unit of the security forces, which included the Southern Rhodesian Army as well as various paramilitary police and internal security  divisions, was the stick; this consisted of four riflemen, each armed with SLRs, and a machine gunner carrying an [[FN MAG]].{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=42}} The United Kingdom continued to export L1A1s to Southern Rhodesia until that country issued a [[Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence|unilateral declaration of independence]] as [[Rhodesia]] in 1965.{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=15}} Rhodesia subsequently became subject to a British arms embargo and the SLRs were largely relegated to reserve army and police units.<ref name="Fireforce">{{cite book |last=Chris Cocks|title=Fireforce: One Man's War in the Rhodesian Light Infantry|edition=July 1, 2001|pages=139–141 |publisher=Covos Day|isbn= 1-919874-32-1|date=2002-04-03}}</ref>

During the [[Rhodesian Bush War]], the Rhodesian Security Forces turned to a sympathetic [[South Africa]] as a major supplier of arms. South Africa already manufactured a metric-pattern FAL under licence as the R1, and transferred a number of these rifles to Rhodesia.{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=43}} Rhodesia also acquired FAL variants illicitly on the international black market, including original FN rifles from Belgium<ref name="Impasse">{{cite book|title=A matter of weeks rather than months: The Impasse between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith: Sanctions, Aborted Settlements and War 1965–1969|last=Wood|first=J R T|date=April 2008|location=Victoria, British Columbia|publisher=Trafford Publishing|isbn=978-1-4251-4807-2|page=191}}</ref> and G1s from West Germany.{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=43}} Many of the FAL derivatives in Rhodesian service were fitted with custom muzzle brakes to reduce recoil on fully automatic fire.<ref name="Fireforce" />

The heavy Rhodesian emphasis on individual marksmanship and the ballistic qualities of the 7.62×51mm round often allowed outnumbered Rhodesian patrols to fight their way through larger groups of insurgents from the [[Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army]] (ZANLA) or [[Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army]] (ZIPRA), both of which were equipped primarily with Kalashnikov-pattern automatic rifles such as the [[AK-47]] and [[AKM]].{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=46}} Rhodesian troops were trained to fire directly into the insurgents' cover whenever an ambush was encountered, shooting their FALs in bursts that were deliberately aimed low and graduating their fire upwards.{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=46}} Their 7.62×51mm ammunition could penetrate thick bush and tree trunks more readily than the [[7.62×39mm]] cartridge used in the AK-47, and was more successful at killing the enemy combatants in cover.{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=46}}

Following [[1980 Southern Rhodesian general election|general elections in 1980]] which brought the former insurgent leadership to power, the country finally achieved internationally recognised independence as [[Zimbabwe]], and the Rhodesian Security Forces were amalgamated with ZANLA and ZIPRA.<ref name="zimstudy">{{citation |last=Nelson |first=Harold |title=Zimbabwe: a country study |publisher=The American University (Washington, D.C.) |year=1983 |isbn=0-16-001598-7}}</ref> As the Zimbabwean government had inherited vast stockpiles of 7.62×51mm ammunition from the Rhodesian era, it initially ordered the insurgents' small arms to be placed into reserve storage and confirmed the FAL as the standard service rifle of the new [[Zimbabwe Defence Forces]] (ZDF).<ref name="zimstudy" /> However, a successful sabotage action carried out against the preexisting stockpiles of 7.62×51mm ammunition, possibly by disgruntled Rhodesian service members or South African special forces, negated this factor.<ref name="zimstudy" /> The ZDF responded by bringing the insurgent weapons out of storage to complement the FAL, and gradually phased out the weapon type in favour of Kalashnikov rifles to simplify maintenance and logistics.<ref name="zimstudy" />

=== South Africa ===
The FAL was produced under licence<ref name="worldpolicy2000" /> in South Africa by [[Lyttleton Engineering Works]], where it is known as the R1. After a competition between the German [[Heckler & Koch G3|G3]] rifle, the Armalite [[AR-10]], and the FN FAL, the [[South African Defence Force]] adopted three main variants of the FAL: a rifle with the designation R1, a "lightweight" variant of the FN FAL 50.64 with folding butt, fabricated locally under the designation R2, and a model designed for police use not capable of automatic fire under the designation R3.<ref>Ezell, 1988, p. 328</ref> 200,000 were destroyed in UN-sponsored "Operation Mouflon" in 2001.

A number of other variants of the R1 were built, the R1 HB, which had a heavy barrel and bipod, the R1 Sniper, which could be fitted with a scope and the R1 Para Carbine, which used a Single Point IR sight and had a shorter barrel.<ref>Small Arms Illustrated, 2010</ref> R1 was standard issue in the SADF until the introduction of the [[Vektor R4|R4]] in the early 1980s. Still used by the SANDF as a designated marksman rifle.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} The first South African-produced rifle, serial numbered 200001, was presented to the then Prime Minister, [[Hendrik Verwoerd]], by Armscor and is now on view at the [[South African National Museum of Military History]] in [[Johannesburg]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the FN-F.A.L. Rifle in South Africa|url=http://www.saaaca.org.za/?page_id=916|website=Southern African Arms and Ammunition Collectors Association|access-date=23 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123141639/http://www.saaaca.org.za/?page_id=916|archive-date=23 November 2015}}</ref>

=== Syria ===
[[File:Al-Siddiq Battalions FN FAL eastern Ghouta.png|thumb|A fighter of the Siddiq Battalions fires a scoped FN FAL at [[Syrian Armed Forces]] in the town of [[Otaybah, Syria|Otaybah]], eastern [[Ghouta]], 2013.]]

Syria adopted the FN FAL in 1956. 12,000 rifles were bought in 1957.{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=7}} The Syrian state produced 7.62×51mm cartridges{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=7}} and is reported to have acquired FALs from other sources. During the [[Syrian Civil War]], FALs from various sources, including Israel, were used by governmental forces, rebels, [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL) and [[People's Protection Units|Kurdish forces]].{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=7}} The [[Syrian Arab Army]] and loyalist paramilitary forces used it as a designated marksman rifle.<ref name="104th Brigade">{{cite news|title=La 104ème brigade de la Garde républicaine syrienne, troupe d'élite et étendard du régime de Damas|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/la-104eme-brigade-de-la-garde-republicaine-troupe-elite-regime-damas-combats-alep-ghouta-deir-ezzor-bachar-al-assad-issam-zahreddine-etat-islamique-arm%C3%A9e-syrienne-artillerie-druze-daech-forces-speciales|date=20 March 2017|language=fr|work=[[France-Soir]]|access-date=4 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019004114/http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/la-104eme-brigade-de-la-garde-republicaine-troupe-elite-regime-damas-combats-alep-ghouta-deir-ezzor-bachar-al-assad-issam-zahreddine-etat-islamique-arm%C3%A9e-syrienne-artillerie-druze-daech-forces-speciales|archive-date=19 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of 2012, the use of [[.308 Winchester]] cartridges may have caused these FALs to malfunction, thus reducing the popularity of the weapon.{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=23}}

=== United States ===
{{Main|T48 rifle}}

[[File:Century Arms FN FAL.jpg|thumb|[[Century International Arms|Century Arms]] FAL rifle built from an [[L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle|L1A1]] parts kit.]]

Following World War II and the establishment of the NATO alliance, there was pressure to adopt a standard rifle, alliance-wide. The FAL was originally designed to handle intermediate cartridges, but in an attempt to secure US favor for the rifle, the FAL was redesigned to use the newly developed 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The US tested several variants of the FAL to replace the M1 Garand. These rifles were tested against the T44, essentially an updated version of the basic Garand design.<ref name="STE">Stevens, R. Blake, ''The FAL Rifle'', Collector Grade Publications, {{ISBN|0-88935-168-6}}, {{ISBN|978-0-88935-168-4}} (1993)</ref> Despite the T44 and T48 performing similarly in trials,<ref name="STE" /> the T44 was, for several reasons, selected and the US formally adopted the T44 as the [[M14 rifle|M14 service rifle]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

During the late 1980s and 1990s, many countries decommissioned the FAL from their armories and sold them ''en masse'' to United States importers as surplus. The rifles were imported to the United States as fully automatic guns. Once in the U.S., the FALs were "de-militarized" (upper receiver destroyed) to eliminate the rifles' character as an automatic rifle, as stipulated by the [[Gun Control Act of 1968]]. GCA 68 currently prohibits the importation of foreign-made full-automatic rifles prior to the enactment of the Gun Control Act. Semiautomatic versions of the same firearm were legal to import until the Semiautomatic Assault Rifle Ban of 1989.

Thousands of the resulting "parts kits" were sold at generally low prices ($90 – $250) to hobbyists. The hobbyists rebuilt the parts kits to legal and functional semi-automatic rifles on new semi-automatic upper receivers. FAL rifles are still commercially available from a few domestic firms in semi-auto configuration: Enterprise Arms, DSArms, and [[Century International Arms]]. Century Arms created a semi-automatic version L1A1 with an [[IMBEL]] upper receiver and surplus British [[Royal Small Arms Factory|Enfield]] inch-pattern parts, while DSArms used Steyr-style metric-pattern FAL designs. This standard-metric difference means the Century Arms and DSArms firearms are not made from fully interchangeable batches of parts.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

=== Venezuela ===
Venezuela placed an order for 5,000 FN-made FAL rifles in 1954, in the 7×49.15mm Optimum 2 caliber.<ref name=":0" /> This [[.280 British#Variants|7×49mm]], also known as 7&nbsp;mm Liviano or 7&nbsp;mm Venezuelan, is essentially a [[7×57mm]] round shortened to intermediate length and closer to being a true intermediate round than the 7.62×51mm NATO.<ref name=":0" /> This unusual caliber was jointly developed by Venezuelan and Belgian engineers motivated by a global move towards intermediate calibers. The Venezuelans, who had been exclusively using the 7×57mm round in their light and medium weapons since the turn of the 20th century, felt it was a perfect platform on which to base a calibre tailored to the particular rigours of the Venezuelan terrain. Eventually the plan was dropped despite having ordered millions of rounds and thousands of weapons on this caliber. As the Cold War escalated, the military command felt it necessary to align with NATO on geopolitical grounds despite not being a member, resulting in the adoption of the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The 5,000 rifles of the first batch were rebarrelled to 7.62×51mm.<ref name=":0" />

When marching victoriously into Havana in 1959, Fidel Castro was carrying an FN-made Venezuelan FAL in 7&nbsp;mm Liviano.<ref name=":3" />

Until recently, the FAL was the main service rifle of the Venezuelan army, made under license by [[CAVIM]].<ref name="CAVIM">{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/asmp/library/articles/PIR_Winter_2007_Recurrent.pdf|title=A Recurrent Latin American Nightmare|access-date=2010-04-01|publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]]|author=Pablo Dreyfus|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613045713/http://fas.org/asmp/library/articles/PIR_Winter_2007_Recurrent.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-13|url-status=live}}</ref> Venezuela has bought 100,000 [[AK-103]] assault rifles from Russia in order to replace the old FALs.<ref name="CAVIM" /> Although the full shipment arrived by the end of 2006, the FAL will remain in service with the Venezuelan Reserve Forces and the Territorial Guard.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

== Users ==
{{See also|L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle#Users}}

[[File:FN FAL and L1A1 users worldwide.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Map of current and former operators of the FAL.{{Legend|#cc0000|Current operators}}{{Legend|#777777|Former operators}}]]
[[File:Indonesian Navy sailor firing shot line from KRI Sultan Hasanuddin (366) to FGS Ludwigshafen am Rhein (F264) in Mediterranean Sea, May 2020.jpg|thumb|An [[Indonesian Navy]] sailor firing shot line from the [[KRI Sultan Hasanuddin|KRI ''Sultan Hasanuddin'' (366)]], which was part of the [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|UNIFIL]] Maritime Task Force, to [[German corvette Ludwigshafen am Rhein|FGS ''Ludwigshafen am Rhein'' (F264)]] in [[Mediterranean Sea]], May 2020]]
{{CSS image crop |Image = Army Ranger Wing (ARW) ACMAT VLRA 2.jpg |bSize = 600 |cWidth = 150 |cHeight = 250 |oTop = 290 |oLeft = 95 |Location = right |Description = An Irish soldier armed with a heavily upgraded FAL, used as a sniper support weapon.}}

=== Current Users ===
* {{flag|Angola}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=903}}
* {{flag|Argentina}}: Produced under license. It is the regular rifle of the Argentine Armed Forces, and is used by the Army and Air Force, and as a secondary rifle in the Navy. The '''FAL M5''' modernized variant was intended to be widely fielded, though the project stalled; some of the delivered units are in use.<ref name="worldpolicy2000">{{Cite web |last1=Berrigan |first1=Frida |last2=Ciarrocca |first2=Michelle |date=November 2000 |title=Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry |url=https://worldpolicy.org/2009/11/13/report-profiling-the-small-arms-industry-world-policy-institute-research-project/ |publisher=World Policy Institute |access-date=2018-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823105944/https://worldpolicy.org/2009/11/13/report-profiling-the-small-arms-industry-world-policy-institute-research-project/ |archive-date=2018-08-23 |url-status=live }}</ref> The modernization program was restarted and three new variants were designed, all based on components manufactured by American gunmaker DSArms.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=La necesaria modernización del FAL: Evolución del kit FAMCa y las variantes para tirador destacado. |url=https://www.zona-militar.com/2020/08/26/la-necesaria-modernizacion-del-fal-evolucion-del-kit-famca-y-las-variantes-para-tirador-destacado/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818043525/https://www.zona-militar.com/2020/08/26/la-necesaria-modernizacion-del-fal-evolucion-del-kit-famca-y-las-variantes-para-tirador-destacado/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2023-08-18 |access-date=2023-08-18 }}</ref> These are the '''FAMA''' (Fusil Argentino Modelo Asalto), a compact version intended mainly for paratrooper use; the '''FAMCa''' (Fusil Argentino Modelo Carabina), intended for general use; and the '''FAMTD''' (Fusil Argentino Modelo Tirador Destacado), intended for marksmen, and available in a light or heavy barrel configuration. Reportedly,<ref name=":15" /> only the FAMCa has seen significant adoption, mainly in special forces units and quick reaction forces, though sources claim delivery of rifles has stopped.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Actualidad y futuro de las miras de combate en el Ejército Argentino |url=https://www.zona-militar.com/2023/08/16/actualidad-y-futuro-de-las-miras-de-combate-en-el-ejercito-argentino/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818044223/https://www.zona-militar.com/2023/08/16/actualidad-y-futuro-de-las-miras-de-combate-en-el-ejercito-argentino/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2023-08-18 |access-date=2023-08-18 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Australia}}: Used as the ceremonial drill weapon by the [[Australia's Federation Guard]].
* {{flag|Bahrain}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=903}}
* {{flag|Bangladesh}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=904}} Withdrawn from service. In reserve.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
* {{flag|Barbados}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=904}}
* {{flag|Belize}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=904}}
* {{flag|Bolivia}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=904}}
* {{flag|Brazil}}: Produced under license between 1959 and 1984.<ref name="worldpolicy2000" />{{dead|date=December 2024}} Now being replaced by [[IMBEL IA2]].
* {{flag|Burundi}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=905}}
* {{flag|Cambodia}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=905}}
* {{flag|Cameroon}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=905}}
* [[File:Kurdish YPG Fighter (25551205403).jpg|thumb|A [[Kurdish nationalism|Kurdish]] [[People's Protection Units|YPG]] fighter with scoped FAL, 2016.]]{{flag|Central African Republic}}<ref name="SAS 2005">{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2005/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2005-Chapter-11-EN.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808103917/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2005/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2005-Chapter-11-EN.pdf |archive-date=2014-08-08 |chapter=The Central African Republic: A Case Study of Small Arms and Conflict|title=Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2005|author=Small Arms Survey|page=313|isbn=978-0-19-928085-8|ref={{harvid|Small Arms Survey 2005}}|access-date=2018-08-29|url-status=dead|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html |title=Small Arms Survey 2005 |access-date=2018-08-29 |archive-date=2018-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830004838/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{flag|Chad}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=905}}
* {{flag|Colombia}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=906}}
* {{flag|Congo-Brazzaville}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=906}}
* {{flaglist|Congo-Kinshasa}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=906}}
* {{flag|Costa Rica}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=906}}
* {{flag|Cyprus}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=906}}
* {{flag|Djibouti}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=907}}
* {{flag|Dominican Republic}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=907}}
* {{flag|Ecuador}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=907}}
* {{flag|Egypt|1972}}: FN FALs were used by [[Unit 777]] during the [[Egyptian raid on Larnaca International Airport|raid on Larnaca International Airport]]<ref name="Arabs2">{{cite book|title=Arab Armies of the Middle East Wars (2)|series=Men-at-Arms 128|first= Sam |last=Katz |date=24 Mar 1988|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-0-85045-800-8|page=8}}</ref>
* {{flag|Eswatini}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=915}}
* {{flag|Gambia}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=908}}
* {{flag|Ghana}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=908}}
* {{flag|Guyana}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=908}}
* {{flag|Honduras}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=909}}
* {{Flag|Indonesia}}: Used by [[Indonesian Marine Corps|KKO]], now used aboard naval vessels for [[line thrower]]s.<ref>{{cite web|date=12 July 2021|title=Di Laut Mediterania Kri Sultan Iskandar Muda Latihan Bersama Kapal Perang Jerman|url=https://koarmada2.tnial.mil.id/2021/07/12/di-laut-mediterania-kri-sultan-iskandar-muda-latihan-bersama-kapal-perang-jerman/|access-date=21 September 2021|website=koarmada2.tnial.mil.id|language=ID|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801050409/https://koarmada2.tnial.mil.id/2021/07/12/di-laut-mediterania-kri-sultan-iskandar-muda-latihan-bersama-kapal-perang-jerman/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=27 May 2020|title=Asah Profesionalisme, KRI Sultan Hasanuddin-366 Laksanakan Latihan Mailbag Transfer|url=https://tni.mil.id/view-178330-asah-profesionalisme-kri-sultan-hasanuddin-366-laksanakan-latihan-mailbag-transfer.html|access-date=21 September 2021|website=tni.mil.id|language=ID}}</ref>
* {{flag|Iraq}}: [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|Iraqi insurgents]]{{sfn|Small Arms Survey 2012|p=320}}
* {{flag|Ireland}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=909}} Used as the service rifle of the [[Irish Defence Forces]] from 1961 until 1989 when it was replaced by the [[Steyr AUG]]. However, it remained in use with the Irish reserve forces until the early 2000s. In 2011, the Irish Army re-introduced an upgraded and modified version of the FN FAL as a sniper support weapon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/snipers-equipped-with-recordbreaking-rifle-2927099.html|title=Irish Independent Article|access-date=2011-11-06|first=Don|last=Lavery|date=2011-11-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108223837/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/snipers-equipped-with-recordbreaking-rifle-2927099.html|archive-date=2011-11-08|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Irish Naval Service]] still use the FN FAL for line throwing. In January 2021, the Irish Defence Forces stated they were looking for a replacement sniper support weapon.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moss|first=Matthew|date=2 February 2021|title=Irish Defence Force Seeks New Designated Marksman Rifle|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/02/02/1095504/|access-date=|website=The Firearm Blog|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006035417/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/02/02/1095504/|archive-date=October 6, 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Israel}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=909}} FN-made and locally made under license by Israel Military Industries in FAL and FALO versions. Known locally as the Romat.<ref name=":1" />
* {{flag|Ivory Coast}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Identifier les sources d'approvisionnement: Les munitions de petit calibre en Côte d'Ivoire|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR21-CotedIvoire-FR.pdf|first=Holger|last=Anders|date=June 2014|publisher=[[Small Arms Survey]] and [[United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire]]|isbn=978-2-940-548-05-7|page=15|language=fr|access-date=2018-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009093415/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR21-CotedIvoire-FR.pdf|archive-date=2018-10-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Jamaica}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=910}}
* {{flag|Kenya}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=910}}
* {{flag|Kuwait}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=910}}
* {{flag|Lesotho}}<ref name="Beyond Blue Helmets">{{cite book|title=Beyond Blue Helmets: Promoting Weapons and Ammunition Management in Non-UN Peace Operations|first=Eric G. |last=Berman|publisher=[[Small Arms Survey]]/MPOME |date=March 2019|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-MPOME-Report-WAM-Non-UN-Peace-Ops.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603103636/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-MPOME-Report-WAM-Non-UN-Peace-Ops.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2019|page=43}}</ref>
* {{flag|Liberia}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=911}}
* {{flag|Libya}}<ref name="SAS 26">{{cite book|title=Web Trafficking: Analysing the Online Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Libya|first1=N.R.|last1=Jenzen-Jones|first2=Ian|last2=McCollum|date=April 2017|series=Working Paper No. 26|editor=[[Small Arms Survey]]|pages=77, 79|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/F-Working-papers/SAS-SANA-WP26-Libya-web-trafficking.pdf|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009093426/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/F-Working-papers/SAS-SANA-WP26-Libya-web-trafficking.pdf|archive-date=2018-10-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Malaysia}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=911}}
* {{flag|Malta}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=911}}
* {{flag|Mexico}}: Produced under license.<ref name="worldpolicy2000" />
* {{flag|Morocco}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=912}}
* {{flag|Mozambique}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=912}}
* {{flag|Myanmar}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=912}} Used surplus ex-German G1s<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The military rifle cartridges of Burma/Myanmar|first=Paul|last=Scarlata|magazine=[[Shotgun News]]|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+military+rifle+cartridges+of+Burma%2FMyanmar.-a0288876068|date=May 2012|access-date=2018-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128075329/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+military+rifle+cartridges+of+Burma%2FMyanmar.-a0288876068|archive-date=2018-11-28|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|Nepal}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=912}}
* {{flag|Nigeria}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=913}} Licensed by DICON (Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria) in Nigeria as the ''NR-1''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/portal/issueareas/producers/Producers_pdf/2007_Production.pdf |title=Licensed and unlicensed production of FN Herstal products, to August 2006 |publisher=Small Arms Survey |access-date=2010-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705100331/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/portal/issueareas/producers/Producers_pdf/2007_Production.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-9464.html|title=Nigeria – Arms Procurement and Defense Industries|access-date=2010-04-10|date=June 1991|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207111406/http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-9464.html|archive-date=2008-12-07|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2004/0407/24_2910.html|title=DOSSIER – The Question of Arms in Africa|access-date=2010-04-10|publisher=Agenzia Fides|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318112305/http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2004/0407/24_2910.html|archive-date=2009-03-18}}</ref>
* {{flaglist|Niger}}<ref name="Tessières">{{Cite report|language = en|title = At the Crossroads of Sahelian Conflicts: Insecurity, Terrorism, and Arms Trafficking in Niger|author = Savannah de Tessières|isbn = 978-2-940548-48-4|publisher = [[Small Arms Survey]]|url = http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf|date = January 2018|page = 58|ref = {{harvid|de Tessières 2018 (Small Arms Survey)}}|access-date = 2018-06-05|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184751/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf|archive-date = 2018-06-12|url-status = dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Oman}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=913}}
* {{flag|Pakistan}}: Used by the [[Pakistan Army]]. In service with small numbers used during the Cold War.<ref name="FALSAP">{{cite web|url=http://www.mg0815.com/FALinfo.htm |title=The History of the FAL/LAR |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930182159/http://www.mg0815.com/FALinfo.htm |archive-date=2013-09-30 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Palestine}}: Used by [[Palestinian National Security Forces|Unit 101]] of the [[Palestinian Authority|Palestinian authority]] as a sniper rifle platform.
* {{flag|Panama}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=913}}
* {{flaglist|Papua New Guinea}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=913}}
* {{flag|Paraguay}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=913}}
* {{flag|Peru}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=913}}
* {{flag|Philippines}}: A few units of FALs were used by the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines|AFP]] and [[Philippine National Police|Police]] during the 1970s, went into the hands of the [[Moro National Liberation Front|MNLF]] rebels as seen during the [[Zamboanga City crisis|2013 siege of Zamboanga City]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Situation In Zamboanga. FN FAL Identification Needed.|date=24 September 2013|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/09/24/situation-zamboanga-fn-fal-identification-needed/|publisher=The Firearm Blog|access-date=2 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104021538/http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/09/24/situation-zamboanga-fn-fal-identification-needed/|archive-date=4 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|Qatar}}{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=21}}
* {{flag|Rwanda}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=914}}
* {{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=914}}
* {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}<ref name="FALSAP" />
* {{flag|Somalia}}<ref name="SAS 2012 10">{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-10-EN.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907124249/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-10-EN.pdf |archive-date=2012-09-07 |chapter=Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia|title=Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=2012|author=Small Arms Survey|page=338|isbn=978-0-521-19714-4|ref={{harvid|Small Arms Survey 2012}}|access-date=2018-08-30 |url-status=dead|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html |title=Small Arms Survey 2012 |access-date=2018-08-30 |archive-date=2018-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002411/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{flag|Suriname}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=915}}
* {{flagicon|Syrian opposition}} [[Syria]]{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=916}}
* {{flag|Tanzania}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=916}}
* {{flag|Thailand}}: Used by [[Royal Thai Police]] since the 1960s, designated "Rifle Type 05" (1962).<ref name="FALSAP" />
* {{flag|Togo}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=916}}
* {{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=916}}
* {{flag|Tunisia}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=916}} Used by [[Tunisian National Guard]].{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
* {{flag|Uganda}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=917}}
* {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=917}}
* {{UKR}}: An unknown quantity, seen in the hands of Ukrainian forces during the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name="ukrfal">{{Cite web |last=Trinko| first=Miroslave|title=Die ukrainischen Soldaten begannen, automatische FN FAL-Gewehre zu verwenden, eine der bekanntesten und am weitesten verbreiteten Waffen der Welt. |url=https://gagadget.com/de/175124-die-ukrainischen-soldaten-begannen-automatische-fn-fal-gewehre-zu-verwenden-eine-der-bekanntesten-und-am-weitesten-verbre/ |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=gagadget.com |language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008092122/https://gagadget.com/de/175124-die-ukrainischen-soldaten-begannen-automatische-fn-fal-gewehre-zu-verwenden-eine-der-bekanntesten-und-am-weitesten-verbre/|archive-date=8 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian military received FN FAL PARA rifles |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-military-received-fn-fal-para-rifles/ |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230131031307/https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-military-received-fn-fal-para-rifles/|archive-date= 31 January 2023}}</ref>
* {{flag|Uruguay}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=917}}
* {{flag|Venezuela}}: Produced under license.<ref name="worldpolicy2000" />
* {{flag|Yemen}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=917}}
* {{flag|Zambia}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=918}}
* {{flag|Zimbabwe}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=918}}

==== Non-state users ====
* {{flagicon image|Flagge FDLR.svg}} [[Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda]]<ref name = 'FDLR'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Highlights-EN.pdf|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Chapter-07-EN.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020102103/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Chapter-07-EN.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-20 |chapter=Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA|title=Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=2015|author=Small Arms Survey|ref={{harvid|Small Arms Survey 2015}}|page=202|access-date=2018-08-29|url-status=dead|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Highlights-EN.pdf |title=Small Arms Survey 2015 |access-date=2018-08-29 |archive-date=2018-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128065841/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Highlights-EN.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Bandera_FLQ.svg}} [[Front de libération du Québec]]: Stolen from Canadian armories.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.independance-quebec.com/flq/chronologie.php/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209005504/http://www.independance-quebec.com/flq/chronologie.php#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url | url-status=dead | archive-date=2009-02-09 | title=Site historique du Front de libération du Québec (FLQ): L'échec du FLQ {{!}} L'indépendance du Québec - La souveraineté du Québec | access-date=2025-06-09 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://lesfusiliersmont-royal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/14-Grenade14_web.pdf |title=Le vol d'armes chez les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, le 30 janvier 1964 |language=fr |trans-title=The theft of weapons from the Fusiliers Mont-Royal, January 30, 1964 |first=Robert |last=Côté |magazine=La Grenade |trans-magazine=The Grenade |date=December 2014 |issue=14 |pages=19–23 |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Syria-flag 1932-58 1961-63.svg}} [[Free Syrian Army]]{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=7}}
* {{flaglist|Islamic State}}{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=7}}
** [[Maute Group]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Maute guns recovered from Lake Lanao|url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2017/11/13/1758613/maute-guns-recovered-lake-lanao/|access-date=November 20, 2020|work=PhilStar Global|date=November 13, 2017}}</ref>
* [[File:Flag of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.svg|23px|border]] [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front]]{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
* [[Lord's Resistance Army]]<ref name ='SAS 2006 11'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2006.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2006/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2006-Chapter-11-EN.pdf|chapter=Fuelling Fear: The Lord's Resistance Army and Small Arms|title=Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2006|author=Small Arms Survey|page=283|isbn=978-0-19-929848-8|access-date=2018-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830005010/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2006.html|archive-date=2018-08-30|url-status=dead|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|People's Protection Units Flag.svg}} [[People's Defense Units]]: Captured from the Islamic State<ref>{{cite report |title=Islamic State Weapons in Kobane |url=https://www.conflictarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Islamic_State_Weapons_in_Kobane.pdf |website=[[Conflict Armament Research]] |publisher=Conflict Armament Research Ltd. |location=London |pages=6, 10 |date=April 2015}}</ref>
* [[File:Provisional Irish Republican Army Badge.svg|20px]] [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]]: Used stolen [[Irish Army]] FALs and British L1A1 rifles,<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=The Rifles of the IRA {{!}} Magill |url=https://magill.ie/archive/rifles-ira |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=magill.ie|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023175255/https://magill.ie/archive/rifles-ira|archive-date=October 23, 2022}}</ref> a number were seized during a raid on the apartment of IRA members in Amsterdam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside The Ira - Weapons & Technology {{!}} The Ira & Sinn Fein {{!}} FRONTLINE |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ira/inside/weapons.html |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=www.pbs.org|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128083007/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ira/inside/weapons.html|archive-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref>
* [[File:Emblem of the Rapid Support Forces.png|23px]] [[Rapid Support Forces]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.militantwire.com/p/arsenal-of-the-rapid-support-forces | title=Arsenal of the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan |website=Militant Wire |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
* [[Vanguarda Armada Revolucionária Palmares|Vanguarda Armada Revolucionaria Palmares]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-01-28 |title=1970: Oban afirma ter desbaratado a VAR-Palmares |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/banco-de-dados/2020/01/1970-oban-afirma-ter-desbaratado-a-var-palmares.shtml |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt-BR}}</ref>
* ex-Libyan FALs can be traced to [[Algeria]], [[Chad]], [[Egypt]], [[Lebanon]], [[Niger]], [[Syria]] and [[Tunisia]]{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones |McCollum|2017|p=49}}

=== Former users ===
* {{flag|Australia}}: Adopted the L1A1 in 1959 as the in-service rifle and the L2A2 with a heavy barrel as a Light Automatic Support Weapon by the Australian Defence Force. Withdrawn from service following the introduction of the Steyr AUG F88.
* {{flag|Austria}}: Produced under license. StG 58 variants were used by the [[Austrian Armed Forces]] from 1958 until 1977.<ref name=":16">{{Cite book |last1=Hufnagl |first1=Wolfdieter |title=Jagdkommando: Sondereinheiten des österreichenischen Bundesheeres |last2=Benz |first2=Martin |date=2001 |publisher=Motorbuch-Verl |isbn=978-3-613-02079-5 |edition=2. Aufl |location=Stuttgart}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite book |title=Die Bewaffnung des österreichischen Bundesheeres: 1918 - 1990 |date=1990 |publisher=Weishaupt |isbn=978-3-900310-53-0 |editor-last=Urrisk-Obertyński |editor-first=Rolf M. |edition=1. Aufl |location=Graz}}</ref> Replaced by [[Steyr AUG|Steyr AUG (STG 77)]].<ref name="worldpolicy2000" /><ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" /> 
* {{flag|Belgium}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=904}} Used by the [[Belgian Army]] from 1956 until 1995. Replaced by [[FN FNC]].{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
* {{flag|Botswana}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=904}} Being replaced as of 2017 with the [[SAR 21]].<ref name="NMAA">{{cite web|first1=Jeremy |last1=Binnie|first2=Erwan|last2= de Cherisey|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622123315/http://www.janes.com/images/assets/520/71520/New-model_African_armies.pdf|title= New-model African armies|publisher= Jane's|date= 2017|archive-date= 22 June 2017|url=http://www.janes.com/images/assets/520/71520/New-model_African_armies.pdf}}</ref>
* {{flag|Canada}}: The FN FAL was the first semi-automatic rifle adopted by the Canadian Army, seeing service as the FN C1A1 (“C1”) and FN C2A1 (“C2”) (a heavy barrel, selectable semi-/fully- automatic variant with folding, bi-pod forestock), between 1955 and 1990. Canada was the first NATO country to adopt the FN FAL. The C1 and C2 were manufactured in Canada under licence from Fabrique Nationale by [[Lakeview, Mississauga#Small Arms Limited, Long Branch Arsenal|Canadian Arsenals Limited]] (Toronto, Ont.).  Between 80,000 and 90,000 were produced, of which 72,470 were contracted to the Canadian [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of National Defence]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FN C1 Self-Loading Rifle |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/fn-c1-self-loading-rifle |website=The Canadian Encyclopedia |publisher=Anthony Wilson-Smith |access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref>
* {{flag|Chile}}{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=905}}
* {{flag|Croatia}}: 70,000 FAL and FALO rifles supplied by Argentina during the [[Croatian War of Independence]],<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Defensa.com |date=2013-07-31 |title=Lo que Croacia se llevó de la Argentina - Noticias Defensa Documentos |url=https://www.defensa.com/reportajes/que-croacia-se-llevo-argentina |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Defensa.com |language=es|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209150348/https://www.defensa.com/reportajes/que-croacia-se-llevo-argentina|archive-date=December 9, 2022}}</ref> often called "''Falovka''".{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}
* {{flag|Cuba}}: Used during the [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]].<ref name="Cuba">{{cite book|title=The Bay of Pigs: Cuba 1961|series = Elite 166|first=Alejandro |last=de Quesada |date=10 Jan 2009|isbn=978-1-84603-323-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EE-1CwAAQBAJ|pages= 60–61}}</ref>
* {{flag|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}}: Used in unknown quantities by [[Special Operations Unit (Serbia)]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
* {{flag|Israel}}: Produced under license as the 'lightened' ROMAT M1953. Used by the [[Israeli Army]] from 1955 until 1972. Officially replaced by [[IMI Galil]] and [[M16 rifle|M16]].<ref name="worldpolicy2000" />
* {{flag|Katanga}}<ref name="Katanga">{{cite book|title=Modern African Wars (4): The Congo 1960–2002|series=Men-at-Arms 492|first=Peter |last=Abbott |date=20 February 2014|isbn=978-1-78200-076-1|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|page=14}}</ref>
* {{flag|Lebanon}}: Adopted in 1956 as the standard rifle of the [[Lebanese army]]<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Military rifle cartridges of Lebanon Part 2: from independence to Hezbollah. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Military+rifle+cartridges+of+Lebanon+Part+2:+from+independence+to...-a0203540052 |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424165621/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Military+rifle+cartridges+of+Lebanon+Part+2%3A+from+independence+to...-a0203540052|archive-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref>{{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=20}}
* {{flag|Luxembourg}}:{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=910}} Used Belgian FALs from 1957 to 1996, replaced by [[Steyr AUG]].{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
* {{flag|Netherlands}}: The [[Royal Netherlands Army]] adopted the rifle with a bipod and in semi-automatic form, in 1961. In service it was called ''Het licht automatisch geweer'', but usually known as the 'FAL'. The rifles had unique sights (hooded at the front) and the German style sheet metal front handguard. A sniper version, ''Geweer Lange Afstand'', was also used standard with a scope of Dutch origin produced by the [[Artillerie Inrichtingen]], and without the bipod.<ref>{{cite web |author=Arthur van Beveren |date=16 April 2024 |title=Materieel van toen: FAL, Uzi en Diemaco |url=https://magazines.defensie.nl/materieelgezien/2024/03/materieel-van-toen-fal-uzi-en-diemaco |website=Materieelgezien |publisher=Defensie.nl |language=Dutch}}</ref> The scope was designated ''Kijker Richt Recht AI 62''. The heavy-barrel FAL 50.42 version was also adopted later as a squad automatic weapon as the ''Het zwaar automatisch geweer''.<ref>Ezell, 1988, p. 276</ref>
* {{flag|Portugal}}: In 1960, the Army issued quantities of light-barrel FN and West German G1 FAL rifles to several of its elite commando forces, including the ''Companhias de Caçadores Especiais'' (Special Hunter [Ranger] companies).<ref>Afonso, Aniceto and Gomes, Carlos de Matos, Guerra Colonial (2000), {{ISBN|972-46-1192-2}}, pp. 183–184, 358-359</ref>  The latter often expressed a preference for the lighter FAL over the Portuguese-manufactured version of the [[Heckler & Koch G3]] rifle when on ambush or patrol.<ref>Afonso, Aniceto and Gomes, Carlos de Matos, Guerra Colonial (2000), {{ISBN|972-46-1192-2}}, pp. 358–359</ref>
* {{flag|Rhodesia}}: Bought as surplus from Germany and South Africa, because of trade embargo in the country in the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+military+rifle+cartridges+of+Rhodesia+Zimbabwe%3A+from+Cecil+Rhodes...-a0234316416 |title=The military rifle cartridges of Rhodesia Zimbabwe: from Cecil Rhodes to Robert Mugabe. |access-date=14 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113191848/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+military+rifle+cartridges+of+Rhodesia+Zimbabwe%3A+from+Cecil+Rhodes...-a0234316416 |archive-date=13 November 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flag|South Africa}}:<ref name="worldpolicy2000" /> Kept in reserve{{sfn|Jones|Ness|2010|page=135}}
* {{flag|Turkey}}: Used by [[Turkish Land Forces]] as ''G1'' between 1960s – 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://world.guns.ru/assault/be/fn-fal-e.html|title=Modern Firearms|date=27 October 2010|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111125148/http://world.guns.ru/assault/be/fn-fal-e.html|archive-date=11 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}: Used some Belgian-made FN FALs.{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=15}}
* {{flag|West Germany}}: Used initially by the Border Guard as the G1. Also by [[German Army]] from 1956 until the early 1960s. Replaced by the [[Heckler & Koch G3]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://world.guns.ru/assault/as24f-e.htm|title=Современное стрелковое оружие мира - Автоматы и штурмовые винтовки|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117172148/http://world.guns.ru/assault/as24f-e.htm|archive-date=17 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Conflicts ==
In the more than 70 years of use worldwide, the FAL has seen use in conflicts all over the world. During the [[Falklands War]], the FN FAL was used by both sides. The FAL was used by the Argentine armed forces and the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR), a semi-automatic only version of the FAL, was used by the armed forces of the UK and other Commonwealth nations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Ten Combat Rifles|url=http://military.discovery.com/tv-shows/combat-countdown/top-10-combat-rifles.htm|publisher=Military Channel|access-date=12 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127212217/http://military.discovery.com/tv-shows/combat-countdown/top-10-combat-rifles.htm|archive-date=27 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 1950s ===
* [[Mau Mau rebellion]] (1952–1960)<ref name="Encyclopedie">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Contre les Mau Mau|language=fr |encyclopedia=Encyclopédie des armes : Les forces armées du monde|publisher=Atlas|year=1986|pages=2764–2766|volume=XII|number=139. Armes d'infanterie d'après–guerre}}</ref> British FN-made prototypes{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=15}}
* [[Cuban Revolution]] (1953–1959){{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=66}}
* [[Calderonista invasion of Costa Rica]] (1955)
* [[First Sudanese Civil War]] (1955–1972)
* [[Vietnam War]] (1955–1975)
* [[Basque conflict]] (1959–2011)

=== 1960s ===
* [[Congo Crisis]] (1960–1965){{sfn|Cashner|2013|pp=41-42}}
* [[Guatemalan Civil War]] (1960–1996)
* [[Portuguese Colonial War]] (1961–1974){{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=46}}
* [[Aden Emergency]] (1963–1967)
* [[Rhodesian Bush War]] (1964–1979)<ref name="mcnab2002">{{cite book |last=McNab |first=Chris |title=20th Century Military Uniforms |year=2002 |edition=2nd |publisher=Grange Books |location=Kent |isbn=1-84013-476-3|page=196}}</ref>{{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=43}}
* [[Eritrean War of Independence]] (1961–1991)
* [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]] (1961)<ref name="bishop1998" />
* [[Colombian conflict]] (1964–present)
* [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1965|Second Indo-Pakistani War]] (1965)<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-10-12 |title=The rifle that won the war in 1965 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/the-rifle-that-won-the-war-in-1965/articleshow/49327325.cms |access-date=2025-08-02 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
* [[Communist insurgency in Thailand]] (1965–1983)
* [[Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–1989)|Communist insurgency in Malaysia]] (1968-1989)
* [[Araguaia Guerrilla War]] (1966–1975)<ref>{{Cite web |title=A GUERRILHA DO ARAGUAIA: A LUTA ARMADA NO CAMPO E SUAS CONSEQUÊNCIAS HISTÓRICAS - Brasil Escola |url=https://monografias.brasilescola.uol.com.br/sociologia/a-guerrilha-araguaia-luta-armada-no-campo-suas-consequencias-historicas.htm |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Monografias Brasil Escola |language=pt-br|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023140218/https://monografias.brasilescola.uol.com.br/sociologia/a-guerrilha-araguaia-luta-armada-no-campo-suas-consequencias-historicas.htm|archive-date=October 23, 2022}}</ref>
* [[South African Border War]] (1966–1990){{sfn|McNab|2002|p=204}}
* [[Six-Day War]] (1967){{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=47}}{{sfn|McNab|2002|p=140}}
* [[War of Attrition]] (1967–1970)
* [[Nigerian Civil War]] (1967–1970){{sfn|McNab|2002|p=185}}
* [[Moro conflict]] (1969–2019)<ref name="Philippines">{{cite book|chapter= Captured and Counted: Illicit Weapons in Mexico and the Philippines |chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2013/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2013-Chapter-12-EN.pdf|title=Small Arms Survey 2013: Everyday Dangers|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2013.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824225557/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2013.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 2013|date=2013|first=Matt|last= Schroeder|isbn=978-1-107-04196-7|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|page=303}}</ref>
* [[The Troubles]]<ref name=":12" /> (late 1960s–1998)

=== 1970s ===
[[File:Sempreatentos...aoperigo!.jpg|thumb|FAL-armed Portuguese soldiers [[Portuguese Colonial War|in Angola]].]]

* [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] (1971)<ref>{{cite news|date=29 December 2017 |title=Arms for freedom|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/bangladesh-liberation-war-1971-muktijuddho-guerrilla-fighter-arms-freedom-1511812|access-date=2019-08-31|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201135249/http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/bangladesh-liberation-war-1971-muktijuddho-guerrilla-fighter-arms-freedom-1511812|archive-date=February 1, 2018}}</ref>
** [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
* [[Yom Kippur War]] (1973){{sfn|Cashner|2013|p=47}}
* [[Turkish Invasion of Cyprus|Cyprus Peace Operation (Invasion of Cyprus) (1974)]]
* [[Ethiopian Civil War]] (1974–1991)
*[[Operation Independence]] (1975–1977)
* [[Lebanese Civil War]] (1975–1990)<ref name=":13" /><ref>Jureidini, McLaurin, and Price, ''Military operations in selected Lebanese built-up areas'' (1979), Appendix A, table A-8.</ref><ref>Jenzen-Jones & Spleeters, ''Identifying & Tracing the FN Herstal FAL Rifle: Documenting signs of diversion in Syria and beyond'' (2015), pp. 20-21.</ref>
* [[Western Sahara War]] (1975–1991)<ref>{{cite thesis|language=es|first=M'Beirik Ahmed|last=Abdalahe|title=El Nacionalismo Saharaui, de Zemla a la Organización de la Unidad Africana|date=October 2015|type=PhD|editor-first=Juan Manuel|editor-last=Santana Pérez|publisher={{ill |Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria|es}}|url=https://acceda.ulpgc.es/bitstream/10553/21618/4/0733650_00000_0000.pdf|page=335|access-date=2018-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419000219/https://acceda.ulpgc.es/bitstream/10553/21618/4/0733650_00000_0000.pdf|archive-date=2018-04-19|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Angolan Civil War]] (1975–2002)<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Callan's Mercenaries Are Defeated in Northern Angola|title=Mercenaries in Asymmetric Conflicts|first=Scott|last=Fitzsimmons|date=November 2012|isbn=978-1-107-02691-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sZfGYsrEIBEC|page=155|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|doi=10.1017/CBO9781139208727.005}}</ref>
* [[Egyptian–Libyan War]] (1977)
* [[Shaba II]] (1978)<ref name="Congo">{{cite magazine|title=Les armes de Kolwezi|first=Jacques|last=Sicard|pages=25–30|magazine=[[La Gazette des armes]]|language=fr|url=http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/gazette-des-armes/numero-111-novembre-1982/page-28-29-texte-integral|issue=111|date=November 1982|access-date=2018-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019075744/http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/gazette-des-armes/numero-111-novembre-1982/page-28-29-texte-integral|archive-date=2018-10-19|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Uganda–Tanzania War]] (1978–1979)
* [[Nicaraguan Revolution]] (1978–1990)
* [[Salvadoran Civil War]] (1979–1992){{sfn|Cashner|2013|pp= 66-68}}

=== 1980s ===
[[File:Eastern Caribbean FAL.JPEG|thumb|Members of the [[Caribbean Peace Force|Eastern Caribbean Defense Force]] in [[United States invasion of Grenada|Operation Urgent Fury]] are armed with FN FAL rifles.]]

* [[Iran–Iraq War|Iran-Iraq War]] (1980–1988)
* [[Ugandan Bush War]] (1980–1986)
* [[Internal conflict in Peru]] (1980-present)
* [[Falklands War]] (1982)<ref name="bishop1998" />
* [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] (1983–2005)
* [[Thai–Laotian Border War]] (1987–1988)
* [[Bougainville conflict]] (1988–1998)<ref name="a">{{cite AV media |people=Dom Rotheroe (Director)|title=[[The Coconut Revolution]] |date=2001|type=Documentary|publisher=Stampede|time=16:47}}</ref>
* [[1989 attack on La Tablada barracks]]

=== 1990s ===
* [[Gulf War]] (1990–1991)<ref name="gulf">{{cite book|title=Armies of the Gulf War|series=Elite 45 |first=Gordon L.|last=Rottman|date=1993|isbn=978-1-85532-277-6|publisher=Osprey Publishing|page=58}}</ref>
* [[Rwandan Civil War]] (1990–1994)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gettyimages.no/detail/news-photo/rwandan-government-soldier-checks-the-identity-papers-of-a-news-photo/1153136345 | title=A Rwandan government soldier checks the identity papers of a passer | date=July 2019 }}</ref>
* [[Croatian War of Independence]] (1991–1995)<ref name=":14" />
* [[Burundian Civil War]] (1993–2005)<ref name='SAS 2007 6'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2007.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-06-EN.pdf|chapter=Armed Violence in Burundi: Conflict and Post-Conflict Bujumbura|title=The Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=2007|author=Small Arms Survey|page=204|isbn=978-0-521-88039-8|access-date=2018-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827001033/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2007.html|archive-date=2018-08-27|url-status=live|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}</ref>
*[[Cenepa War]] (1995)
* [[First Congo War]] (1996–1997){{sfn|Small Arms Survey 2005|p=318}}

=== 2000s ===
* [[War on terror]] (2001–2021)
* [[Kivu conflict]] (2004–2009, 2012–2013, 2015–present){{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
* [[Insurgency in Paraguay]] (2005–present)
* [[Mexican drug war|Mexican Drug War (2006–present)]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/mexican-drug-war-fighters/|title=Mexican Drug War Fighters|last=admin|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306171814/http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/mexican-drug-war-fighters/|archive-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref>
* [[2008–2013 Cambodian–Thai border crisis]]
* [[Boko Haram insurgency]] (2009–present)<ref name="Tessières" />

=== 2010s ===
* [[2010 Rio de Janeiro security crisis|Rio de Janeiro security crisis (2010)]]<ref name="a" />
* [[Militias-Comando Vermelho conflict|Militias-Comando Vermelho conflict (2010–present)]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-04 |title=Recent images of Rio's drug war - |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/10/04/recent-images-rios-drug-war/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=The Firearm Blog |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213084249/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/10/04/recent-images-rios-drug-war/|archive-date=February 13, 2023}}</ref>
* [[First Libyan Civil War]] (2011)<ref name="worldcrunch">{{cite web|work=World Crunch.com.com |url=http://www.worldcrunch.com/close-mustafa-abud-al-jeleil-leader-libyan-rebels |title=Up Close With Mustafa Abud Al-Jeleil, Leader Of Libyan Rebels |access-date=2011-03-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403053606/http://www.worldcrunch.com/close-mustafa-abud-al-jeleil-leader-libyan-rebels |archive-date=2011-04-03 }}</ref><ref name="aljazeera">{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/07/2011755223504921.html|title=Gaddafi forces 'intercept arms from Qatar'|date=2011-07-05|access-date=2011-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818104444/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/07/2011755223504921.html|archive-date=2011-08-18|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Syrian civil war|Syrian Civil War]] (2011–2024){{sfn|Jenzen-Jones|Spleeters|2015|p=7}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-30 |title=Syrian Rebel with Israeli FAL Rifle - |url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/05/30/syrian-rebel-with-israeli-fal-rifle/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=The Firearm Blog |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022232046/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/05/30/syrian-rebel-with-israeli-fal-rifle/|archive-date=October 22, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013)]]<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Aryn |last=Baker |title=A Nightmare Returns |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=20 January 2014|pages=31}}</ref>
* [[South Sudanese Civil War]] (2013–2020){{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
* [[Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)]]{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
* [[Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen]] (2015–present){{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

=== 2020s ===
* [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022–present)]]<ref name="ukrfal"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian military received FN FAL PARA rifles |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-military-received-fn-fal-para-rifles/ |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130054926/https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-military-received-fn-fal-para-rifles/|archive-date=January 30, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Gaza war|Gaza war (2023–present)]]
* [[Sudanese civil war (2023–present)]]

== See also ==
* [[Armalite AR-16]], an American 7.62 battle rifle
* [[FN CAL]], an unsuccessful FN 5.56mm NATO assault rifle that externally resembles the FAL
* [[FN Model 1949|FN-49]], predecessor to the FAL
* [[Heckler & Koch G3]], a German 7.62 battle rifle designed in the 1950s
* [[Howa Type 64]]
* [[IMBEL IA2]]
* [[IMBEL MD97]]
* [[KAL1 general purpose infantry rifle]], an Australian bullpup conversion
* [[List of 7.62×51mm NATO firearms]]
* [[List of battle rifles]]
* [[ParaFAL]]

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== General and cited references ===
* Afonso, Aniceto and Gomes, Carlos de Matos (2000). ''Guerra Colonial''.
* {{cite book |last=Cashner |first=Bob |title=The FN FAL Battle Rifle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=faCjCwAAQBAJ |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-78096-903-9}}
*{{cite book| last1 = Chanoff| first1 = David| last2 = Doan Van Toai| title = Vietnam, A Portrait of its People at War| publisher = Taurus & Co| location = London | year = 1996| isbn = 1-86064-076-1}}
*{{cite book| last = Ezell| first = Clinton| title = Small Arms of the World | publisher = Stackpole Books | year = 1983}}
* {{cite book| last = Hellenic Army General Staff / Army History Directorate | title = The Armament of Greek Army 1868–2000 | trans-title = Οπλισμός Ελληνικού Στρατού 1868–2000 | language = el | location = Athens, Greece | year = 2000}}

* {{Cite book |last1=Jenzen-Jones |first1=N. R. |last2=Spleeters |first2=Damien |date=August 2015 |title=Identifying & Tracing the FN Herstal FAL Rifle: Documenting Signs of Diversion in Syria and Beyond |url=http://armamentresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ARES-Field-Guide-No.-1-Identifying-Tracing-the-FN-Herstal-FAL-Rifle.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320155013/http://armamentresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ARES-Field-Guide-No.-1-Identifying-Tracing-the-FN-Herstal-FAL-Rifle.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-20 |url-status=live |location=Churchlands, West Australia |publisher=[[Armament Research Services]] Pty. Ltd. |isbn=978-0-9924624-6-8 |page=7}}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Jones |editor1-first=Richard D |editor2-last=Ness |editor2-first=Leland S |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010-2011 |date=2010 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=978-0-7106-2908-1 |language=en}}
* Pikula, Maj. Sam. ''The Armalite AR-10'', 1998.
* {{cite book| last = Sazanidis| first = Christos| year = 1995| title = Arms of the Greeks| trans-title = Τα όπλα των Ελλήνων| language = el| publisher = Maiandros (Μαίανδρος)| location = Thessaloniki, Greece| isbn = 978-960-90213-0-2}}
* {{cite book | last = Stevens | first = R. Blake | title = The FAL Rifle Classic Edition | publisher = Collector Grade Publications| location = Cobourg, Ontario, Canada | year = 1993 | isbn = 0-88935-168-6}}

* {{cite book| last = Stevens| first = R. Blake| title = More on the Fabled FAL: A Companion to the FAL Rifle| publisher = Collector Grade Publications| location = Cobourg, Ontario, Canada
| year = 2011| isbn = 978-0-88935-534-7}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [http://modernfirearms.net/en/assault-rifles/belgium-assault-rifles/fn-fal-eng/ Additional information, including pictures at Modern Firearms]
* [http://www.rawles.to/FAL_FAQ.html The FN/FAL & L1A1 FAQ]
* [https://www.reddit.com/r/ForgottenWeapons/comments/1jwzake/r1_commando_carbine/ Reconnaissance Commando ultrashort R1 Carbine]

; Video
* {{YouTube|sOxntuXpfdM|Video of operation}} {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.nazarian.no/wep.asp?id=399&group_id=5&country_id=72&lang=0&p=8 FN FAL "Paratrooper" Model Presentation (MPEG)]

{{FN Herstal firearms}}

[[Category:7.62×51mm NATO battle rifles]]
[[Category:7.62×51mm NATO semi-automatic rifles]]
[[Category:FN Herstal firearms|FAL]]
[[Category:Rifles of Belgium]]
[[Category:Rifles of the Cold War]]
[[Category:Short stroke piston firearms]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1953]]