FAMAE (''Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército'', "Factories and Workshops of the Army") is a

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

an state-owned firearms manufacturer. Its products are used by the

Chilean armed forces The Chilean Armed Forces () is the unified military organization comprising the Chilean Army, Air Force, and Navy. The President of Chile is the commander-in-chief of the military, and formulates policy through the Minister of Defence. In recent ...

and the ''

Carabineros The was an armed carabiniers force of Spain under both the monarchy and the Second Spanish Republic, Second Republic. The formal mission of this paramilitary gendarmerie was to patrol the coasts and borders of the country, operating against ...

'' police force. The company produces the FAMAE CT-30 carbine, the

FAMAE SAF The FAMAE SAF is a submachine gun produced and manufactured by FAMAE (''Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército'') since 1993. Since 1999, Taurus have produced the SAF under license in .40 S&W for Brazilian law enforcement. Semi-automatic-only v ...

submachine gun A submachine gun (SMG) is a magazine (firearms), magazine-fed automatic firearm, automatic carbine designed to fire handgun cartridges. The term "submachine gun" was coined by John T. Thompson, the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun, to descri ...

, the '' FAMAE FD-200''

sniper rifle A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long range shooting, long-range rifle. Requirements include high accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment, and optics, for anti-personnel weapon, anti-personnel, anti-materiel rifle, anti-materiel and sur ...

, the '' SLM MLRS'', and the

FAMAE revolver The FAMAE FT-2000 is a double-action Double action (or double-action) refers to one of two systems in firearms where the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. * Double-action only (DAO) firearms trigger: The trigger both cocks and release ...

, among other types of weaponry.

History

FAMAE began on October 8, 1811, when Francisco Ramon Vicuña was mandated to commission an arms factory. The name has changed a number of times over the years: - In 1817, the factory was renamed the Arsenal de Artillería. - In 1822, the factory was renamed the Fábrica de Armas de la Nación. - In 1923, the factory was renamed the Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército. - In 1930, the factory was renamed the Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército de Chile. - In 1953, the factory was renamed the Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército de Chile FAMAE. In the 1960s, FAMAE began to export its products to other countries. The company's products are now used by the armed forces of over 20 countries. In recent years, FAMAE has focused on research and development. Among its projects are the licensed versions of the Swiss-designed SIG SG 510-4 rifle, and SIG SG 542 rifle;

submachine gun (also known as "Famas"), and '' Rayo MLRS'' and its related development the '' SLM MLRS''. FAMAE is responsible for modifying and maintaining the tanks, aircraft and other military devices that are used by the Chilean Army. FAMAE specializes in

research Research is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to ...

projects and weapon system modernization.

FAMAE projects

* Projects to supply weapons for tanks and armored units. * Draft carts and arms supplies for mechanized infantry battalions. * Projects for modernization of shells for light artillery units. * Projects for provision, integration, and modernization of weapons systems, tanks, weaponry, and auxiliary trolleys for larger units that make up the infantry, armor, artillery and engineering. The development of defense engineering projects also includes the SETAC Simulation System "Training System for Tactical Commanders", which consists of a computerized tactical training simulator that is in use in major Latin American armies.

References

External links

FAMAE
{{Automotive industry in Chile Chilean Army 1811 establishments in the Captaincy General of Chile Military vehicle manufacturers Defence companies of Chile Firearm manufacturers of Chile