Is it time for the venerable FN Minimi machinegun and its derivatives to be retired? The FN Herstal group itself would seem to think so: on May 6th, 2021, the Belgian company held a fully on-line presentation event to introduce the global markets to the evolution of their squad automatic weapon concepts: the EVOLYS light machinegun.

Available in two variants dubbed the FN EVOLYS 5.56mm and the FN EVOLYS 7.62mm respectively, FN's new light machinegun owes a lot to the Belgian company's decades-long experience with the SCAR series of assault annd battle rifles, both in terms of design – chiefly the receiver and the six-position retractable stock – and working system.

FN's new EVOLYS light machinegun is an open-bolt design, with an anti-bounce safety system for good measure, but features a short-stroke gas piston operating system and a hydraulic recoil buffer that keeps the cyclic rate stable on both variants and in all conditions: the rate of fire is 750 rounds per minute in all calibers.

The FN EVOLYS light machinegun is manufactured largely out of lightweight alloys and polymer addictive manufacturing (read: state-of-the-art, cutting-edge industrial-grade 3D printing), as shown in the presentation video.

The goal was to make the FN EVOLYS approximately 30% lighter than most competitors, and it was achieved: the EVOLYS 5.56x45mm NATO model weighs 5,5 kilograms (12,1 lbs), while the EVOLYS 7.62x51mm NATO tops 6,2 kilograms (13.6 lbs).

That's approximately one kilogram less than both the FN Minimi and most of its competitors currently available on the market; FN Herstal wanted the EVOLYS to be an ultra-lightweight machinegun that would handle like an assault rifle, highly mobile and well manageable in both point and support fire even on harsh terrains. The combination of low weight and manageable rate of fire make all those goals finally reachable.

In order to maximize maneuverability and controllability, the new FN EVOLYS light machinegun also features a three-position ambidextrous manual safety and fire selector with semi-auto and full-auto positions, and a redesigned feeding tray and cocking handle to allow for one-handed operation: the FN EVOLYS can be reloaded, and any potential malfunction can be cleared, without having to be laid down or for the operator to change position.

The FN EVOLYS light machinegun feeds through NATO standard M13 and M17 disintegrating belts and is compatible with the same ammo pouches used by the FN Minimi/M249 and all its variants (MAXIMI, Mk.46, Mk.48, etc.). The controls configuration and the adjustable cheek riser make the new FN EVOLYS a completely ambidextrous weapon, ensuring that any operator will find a comfortable position to shoot it.