FARA 83
| Company type | Assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Industry | Firearms |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Argentina |
| Products | FARA 83 assault rifle |
The FARA 83 (; "Fusil Automático República Argentina") or FAA 81 () represents an assault rifle developed domestically for the Argentine Army during the 1980s. It stands as one of South America's earliest homegrown assault rifle designs.
Development
Initiated in the early 1980s amid the National Reorganization Process, the FAA project was undertaken by the DGFM (General Government Directorate for Military Procurements) with the goal of replacing the FMAP FAL, an Argentine-produced version of the FN FAL. The initial prototype was finalized in 1981, followed by production commencing in 1984 and continuing through to 1990.
Economic challenges in the late 1980s under President Carlos Menem significantly constrained the manufacturing of advanced weaponry. This situation resulted in the termination of programs such as the Condor I and II, FARA 83, and SAIA 90, alongside the shutdown of important military factories like TAMSE (manufacturer of the Tanque Argentino Mediano) and Astillero Domecq Garcia. After producing 1,193 units, manufacturing ceased but briefly restarted in 1990. Nonetheless, the Argentine Armed Forces predominantly continue to operate with the FAL as their main armament, while the FARA 83 serves a supplementary role.
Main characteristics
Modeled after the Beretta AR70 (1982 version), the FARA-83 incorporates a folding stock and utilizes tritium-illuminated sights to enhance targeting in low visibility conditions. It employs a specialized 30-round magazine derived from the early Beretta AR70 design and supports both semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes.
In popular culture
The FARA 83 is featured in the first-person shooter title Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, accessible through the Season 2 battle pass at tier 15.