FX-05 Xiuhcoatl

FX-05 Xiuhcoatl
Second-generation FX-05 assault rifle.
TypeAssault rifle
Carbine
Place of originMexico
Service history
In service2008–present
Used byMexican Armed Forces
WarsMexican Drug War
Production history
Designed2005
ManufacturerDirección General de Industria Militar del Ejército
Unit cost10,000 Pesos ($USD 520 - 2019)[1]
Produced2005–present
No. built44,000 (2005)[2]
111,000 (2014)[2]
121,000 (by 2018)[3]
VariantsAssault rifle
Carbine
Short Carbine
Sharpshooter
Specifications
Mass4.05 kg (8.9 lb) (Assault rifle)
3.85 kg (8.5 lb) kg (Carbine)
LengthAssault Rifle: 1,000 mm (39.4 in) stock extended / 740 mm (29.1 in) stock folded
Carbine: 760 mm (29.9 in) stock extended / 500 mm (19.7 in) mm stock folded
Barrel length460 mm (18.1 in)
273 mm (10.7 in)
Width56 mm (2.2 in)

Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire720-850 rounds/min
Carbine: 760-900 rounds/min[4]
Muzzle velocity956 m/s (3,136 ft/s)
Effective firing range200–600 m approx with sight adjustment
Feed system30-round detachable box magazine
SightsIron sights
Picatinny rail for mounting aiming optics on receiver[5]
Removable integrated optical sight/carry handle

The FX-05 Xiuhcoatl ("Fire Serpent",[6] literally "Turquoise-Serpent" in Classical Nahuatl,[6]) is a Mexican assault rifle, designed and built by the Dirección General de Industria Militar del Ejército (General Directorate of Military Industry of the Army) through the Fabricas Militares (Military Factory).[7][8] The rifle was officially presented in the military parade on September 16, 2006, in the hands of the Special Forces Airmobile Group, GAFE (Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales).[8]

The design was coordinated by the Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Desarrollo Tecnológico de la Industria Militar or CIADTIM (Center of Applied Research and Technology Development Military Industry) and SEDENA and all of its parts are built in Mexico.[9] According to the director of the DGIM, Otilio Ramírez Serrano, by July 2019 approximately 155,000 rifles have been produced.[10]

The FX-05 is distributed among the Mexican Armed Forces, and the military industry is aiming to produce 30,000 per year.[11]

  1. ^ "Military working on 10 weapons projects, including automatic pistol". 2 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Mexico's 2014 plans include new assault rifles and more DN-XI trucks". Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 6 Jul 2014.
  3. ^ "Mexican Army develops a remote controlled weapons station and rifle-mounted grenade launcher | Centro de Estudios GRL Mosconi". Archived from the original on 2017-01-23.
  4. ^ "Fusil FX-05 Xiuhcoatl: el brazo armado del Ejército mexicano" (in Spanish). 2008-01-23. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  5. ^ James Dunnigan (March 2007). "Theft Resistant Assault Rifle". bahia de Banderas news. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  6. ^ a b "The case of the copycat fire serpent". Archived from the original on 2020-05-27.
  7. ^ Defence Industry Bulletin - October 2014 (#3), Page 3.
  8. ^ a b Daniel Watters. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 2006". Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  9. ^ "Fusil Xiuhcóatl 2005: The New Mexican Fx05 Military Rifle". February 2007.
  10. ^ (July 2019). Mexico has already produced 155,000 FX and has 5 New Configurations on the Way Archived 2020-01-14 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish). (Mexico). Retrieved 14 January 2020
  11. ^ (December 2019). The National Guard and Gun Control, this is how the Year passed in Mexico Archived 2019-12-26 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish). (Mexico). Retrieved 14 January 2020