What FN America does

FN America, LLC is a privately held Delaware limited liability company and the U.S. subsidiary of Belgian parent FN Herstal, manufacturing firearms for military, law enforcement, and commercial customers from its headquarters in McLean, Virginia and a production facility in Columbia, South Carolina established in 1981. The company employs between 251 and 500 people and reports a portfolio spanning striker-fired pistols (FN 509 series and FN 510/545/Reflex/309 variants), modular rifles (FN SCAR family and FN 15 AR-platform line), the proprietary 5.7x28mm cartridge and platform (FN PS90 and FN Five-seveN) adopted by 50+ NATO nations, machine guns (M240B, M240L, M2HB-QCB, MK 48, M249S), suppressors, ammunition, and accessories. Core technology centers on cold hammer-forged barrels with polished chambers and feed ramps, gas-operated and piston-driven action systems, titanium receiver integration (delivering 18% weight reduction on the M240L), hydraulically buffered bolt carriers, MIL-STD-1913 rail integration, and modular platforms with high parts commonality across calibers.

Revenue is generated through hardware sales across five streams: commercial firearms, ammunition, suppressors, accessories/parts, and military contracts. Commercial firearms carry MSRPs ranging from approximately $3,959 (SCAR 16S NRCH) to $10,584 (M249S). Go-to-market is multi-channel: a dedicated Military Sales division and a separate Law Enforcement Sales division handle enterprise and government customers; fnestore.com and a licensed FFL dealer network serve the consumer market; and major outdoor retail partners (Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Scheels, Sportsman's Warehouse, Gallery of Guns) extend reach. The firm holds U.S. Patent No. 10,352,654 on the FN 509 series and has secured multiple recent defense awards including a $9.9 million U.S. Army/Navy machine gun contract (March 2026), a $4.9 million U.S. Army M240L contract (July 2025), a $2 million Precision Grenadier System (MTL-30) development contract (October 2025), and a Defense Logistics Agency barrel contract (September 2025).

The business model is anchored by long-cycle, type-classified military programs (M240 family since 1988, M249 since 1988, SCAR since 2004 with USSOCOM) that create high switching costs and recurring replacement/spare-parts revenue, supplemented by a continuous stream of consumer product launches (FN Red Dot Optic in April 2026, Next-Gen SCAR in January 2026, FN 309 MRD in January 2026) that monetizes the brand through retail and direct e-commerce. FN America's operations are led by President and CEO Mark Cherpes, with CFO John C. Freiling supporting finance, and the company is wholly owned by FN Herstal, which retains strategic control over U.S. operations.

Name

FN America

Legal name

FN America, LLC

Website

https://fnamerica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

FN America, the U.S. subsidiary of Belgian FN Herstal, designs and manufactures firearms — pistols, rifles, machine guns, suppressors, and ammunition — for the U.S. military, law enforcement, and commercial markets from facilities in McLean, VA and Columbia, SC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firearms and Weapon Systems

NAICS

Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing (332992), Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing (332993)

SIC

Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Weapons Integration & Stores Management (IMABAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ammunition Manufacturing (Small-, Medium- & Large-Caliber) (IMABAHAG), Artillery, Mortar & Tank Munitions (IMABAHAH), Turrets, Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) & Armament Integration (IMABAJAI)

Keywords

• Firearms manufacturing
• Military weapon systems
• Law enforcement firearms
• 5.7x28mm ammunition
• Suppressor products

Headquarters

HQ city

Mclean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Firearms Hardware Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling pistols, rifles, machine guns, and shotguns. Products include FN Reflex, FN 502, FN 509, FN 510, FN 545, FN SCAR, FN 15, FN PS90, FN M249S series, and suppressed versions. Revenue from direct consumer e-commerce, dealer distribution, and enterprise government sales.
2. Ammunition Sales: FN DFNS SS200, FN GUNR SS201, FN SS197SR, FN SS198LF, and FN SS195LF 5.7x28mm ammunition products for the 5.7x28mm platform.
3. Suppressor Sales: Sales of FN QD556, FN QD762 suppressors, FN Catch 22 Ti, and FN Rush 9Ti suppressors for pistols and rifles.
4. Accessories and Parts: FN 15/AR-15 accessories, pistol accessories, rifle accessories, and parts through eStore.
5. Military Contracts: Government contracts for military weapons including M240 machine guns, M249 SAW, and development contracts for new weapon systems like the Precision Grenadier System.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FN America designs, develops, and manufactures firearms including pistols, rifles, machine guns, suppressors, ammunition, and accessories. The company serves U.S. military, federal and state law enforcement, and commercial civilian markets as the U.S. subsidiary of Belgian parent FN Herstal, operating a vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Columbia, South Carolina, with headquarters in McLean, Virginia.

Product overview

FN America is a firearms and weapon systems manufacturer with a diversified portfolio spanning pistols, rifles, machine guns, shotguns, suppressors, and ammunition. The company's core consumer/commercial products include the FN 509 series striker-fired pistols (adopted by LAPD), the FN Reflex micro-compact concealed carry pistol, the FN 502 rimfire pistol series, and the FN 510/545 big bore pistol series in 10mm and .45 ACP. The rifle lineup features the iconic FN SCAR modular rifle platform (now in next generation), the FN 15 AR-15 style rifle series, and the FN PS90 bullpup rifle in 5.7x28mm. FN also produces suppressors including the FN Rush 9Ti and FN Catch 22 Ti. For military and law enforcement, FN supplies the M240L, M240B, and M2HB-QCB machine guns, MK 48 and MK 46 MOD 1 weapons, MK 20 SSR sniper rifle, FN EVOLYS ultra-lightweight machine gun, and the MTL-30 30mm grenade launcher. The company also manufactures the proprietary 5.7x28mm ammunition system adopted by 50+ NATO countries. FN has a history of discontinued products including the FNS series pistols, FN SPR precision rifles, FN SLP shotguns, and various FN 15 tactical variants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FN SCAR Series: Gas-operated, semi-auto, modular rifles including SCAR 16S, 17S, 20S variants
• FN 509 Series
• FN 510 Series
• FN 545 Series
• FN 502 Series
• FN Reflex Series
• FN 15 Series
• FN M249S Series
• FN Five-seveN Series
• FNX Series
• FN High Power Series
• FN PS90 Series
• FN EVOLYS
• FN DFNS Ammunition
• FN GUNR Ammunition
• FN Rush Suppressors
• FN Catch 22 Suppressors

Products and services

• Pistols

Quantifiable outcome

• LAPD selected FN 509 MRD LE after 20,000-round endurance test with zero failures
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and foundational.

• U.S. Army (CPE STRI)coreTechnology or Integration · 30 January 2026FN participated in Soldier Touchpoint 12 evaluating Synthetic Training Environment - Live Training Systems (STE-LTS) Individual Kits (SLIK) alongside Cole Engineering Services and General Dynamics Mission Systems. FN demonstrated direct fire engagement systems for force-on-force training evaluation at Kilbee Ranch, Florida.
• U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2004USSOCOM selected FN SCAR (MK 16, MK 17, MK 13 EGLM) in 2004 to replace aging M4 carbines and M16 rifles. SCAR delivered to all branches of USSOCOM including Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Army Rangers, MARSOC, and Air Force Special Operations Command.
• Canadian ArmycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1954Canadian Army was the first to adopt the FN FAL in 1954, followed by approximately 100 other countries worldwide. The FAL earned the nickname 'The Right Arm of the Free World.'
• John Moses BrowningfoundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 1897FN partnered with John Moses Browning in 1897 for firearm manufacturing. Browning, the 'Father of Modern Firearms,' created the world's first commercially successful self-loading pistol (.32 ACP Model 1899) with FN. This 30-year partnership transformed FN and the firearms industry, with Browning visiting FN's Herstal facility 26 times to oversee production.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Knight's Armament Company: Knight's Armament is a direct competitor in U.S. military special operations and law enforcement firearms (SR-25, REPR, M110, suppressors) and serves the same USSOCOM procurement pipeline as FN's SCAR family. Both companies are private U.S. defense manufacturers focused on precision rifles and integration for elite customers.
• Glock: Glock is the dominant global striker-fired pistol manufacturer and a direct competitor to FN's FN 509/510/545 series in both law enforcement duty pistol programs and commercial concealed-carry markets. Glock's pistols are widely adopted by U.S. federal, state, and local agencies and compete directly with FN in pistol endurance testing and procurement.
• Smith & Wesson Brands: Smith & Wesson is a major U.S. firearms manufacturer directly comparable in commercial and law enforcement markets, with the M&P pistol series (a direct FN 509 competitor in law enforcement duty pistol evaluations), AR-platform rifles, and similar broad product breadth across pistols, rifles, and suppressors.
• Sturm, Ruger & Co. Ruger is a direct competitor in commercial and law enforcement firearms, with the Ruger American Rifle, SR9/Security-9, and AR-556 lines comparable to FN's FN 15, FN 509, and FN 502 product families. Both companies compete on price/performance positioning in the U.S. sporting, hunting, and law enforcement markets.
• Heckler & Koch (HK): Heckler & Koch is a direct competitor in military and law enforcement firearms, with the HK416/M27 (U.S. Marine Corps adoption), MP5, HK45, and VP9 product families directly comparable to FN's SCAR, M240, M249, and FNX/509 lines. Both companies serve U.S. military, federal/state agencies, and the commercial market with similar modular rifle and pistol platforms.
• Colt's Manufacturing Company: Colt is a historic U.S. military and commercial firearms manufacturer producing the M4/M16 family, M5, and other small arms directly comparable to FN's SCAR and FN 15 lines. Colt and FN both serve U.S. military primes and the commercial sporting market with overlapping rifle, carbine, and select-fire product categories.
• Winchester Ammunition (Olin Corporation): Winchester is a leading U.S. ammunition manufacturer and a direct competitor to FN's 5.7x28mm ammunition line across both military and commercial channels. Both companies supply small arms ammunition to U.S. military primes (DLA contracts) and the civilian sporting market, and both manufacture in the U.S. with comparable regulatory exposure.
• Sig Sauer: Sig Sauer is the most direct competitor to FN America, manufacturing pistols (P320/M17/M18 series, winner of the U.S. Army MHS contract), rifles (MCX, M7), and suppressors for military, law enforcement, and commercial markets. The two compete head-to-head on nearly every major U.S. military and federal law enforcement firearms RFP.
• Beretta: Beretta is a direct competitor in military and law enforcement sidearms (M9/92FS, M9A1, APX series), tactical shotguns (M4), and selected rifles. Beretta shares FN's profile of a centuries-old European firearms manufacturer serving U.S. military primes and commercial channels, and the two compete on similar government and commercial product categories.
• Remington Arms (Vista Outdoor): Remington Arms is a historic U.S. firearms manufacturer with overlapping commercial product categories (Remington 700, 870, R51) and serves similar hunting, sporting, and law enforcement channels as FN. Both companies operate U.S. manufacturing for firearms and ammunition and compete in the broader commercial market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fn_america
• YouTubeyoutube.com/fnamerica
• Facebookfacebook.com/fnamerica
• Instagraminstagram.com/fn_america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FN America