The FAA project started in the early 1980s, when the government was still controlled by the National Reorganization Process. The DGFM (General Government Directorate for Military Procurements, or Direccion General de Fabricaciones Militares) ordered a replacement be designed for the FMAP FSL, an FN FAL license-built in Argentina. The prototype was completed in 1981, but production didn't start until 1984, and continued until 1990.
By the late 1980s, under Carlos Menem's tenure as president, the country was undergoing economic difficulties. The economic crisis severely limited the production of modern weapons. This factor forced President Menem to cancel several projects, including the Condor I and Condor II, the FARA 83, and SAIA 90. He was also forced to close armament factories, including TAMSE (Tanque Argentino Mediano Sociedad del Estado), which was responsible for the TAM tanks and Domecq Garcia Shipyard (the only submarine-related shipyard). Production of the rifle ground to a halt after 1193 rifles had been completed, however, it was resumed in 1990; it is unknown how many rifles were made, but for the most part the Argentine Armed Forces are still armed with the FSL-FAL rifle, while the FARA 83 being a secondary weapon.
| FARA 83 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Argentina |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Argentina |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1981 |
| Manufacturer | Fabrica Militar de Armas Portatiles Domingo Matheu |
| Produced | 1984-1990 |
| Number built | ~1200 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.95 kg (8.71 lb) |
| Length | 1,000 mm (39.4 in) stock extended / 745 mm (29.3 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | 452 mm (17.8 in) |
| | |
| Cartridge | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 750 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 980 m/s (3,215 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 300-500 m |
| Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine |
