| FN 303 | |
|---|---|
 A FN 303 anti-riot gun. | |
| Type | Riot gun |
| Place of origin | Belgium |
| Service history | |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)[1] Iraq War[1] Libyan Revolution[2] 2013 Lahad Datu standoff |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | FN Herstal |
| Produced | 2003–present[3] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.3 kg (5.07 lb) |
| Length | 740 mm (29.1 in) |
| Barrel length | 250 mm (9.8 in) |
| Caliber | 17.3 mm (0.68 in) |
| Action | Compressed air |
| Muzzle velocity | 85 m/s (279 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 70 m (77 yd) |
| Feed system | 15-round detachable drummagazine |
| Sights | Front blade, rear notch |
TheFN 303 is asemi-automaticless-lethalriot gun designed and manufactured byFabrique Nationale de Herstal.
The FN 303 uses compressed air to fireprojectiles from a 15-round drum magazine. It is designed to incapacitate the target throughblunt trauma without causing critical injuries, and is most widely used forriot control and other kinds of combat where lethal weapons should be avoided.
The 303 can be fired from the shoulder using adjustableiron sights, or it can be mounted in an under-barrel configuration on mostassault rifles when its stock assembly is removed (in this configuration, it is designatedM303). It also comes with a top-mountedPicatinny rail that can fit most commercial weapon accessories, such astelescopic sights,laser sights andtactical lights. FN markets its own set of accessories for the launcher, including tactical vests, slings, carrying bags, and gas compressors. It is accurate at distances up to 35 metres (38 yd).
FN also produce a pistol variant, the FN 303-P, in the same caliber, using a seven-round magazine with a self-contained gas cartridge.[4]
The FN 303 is based on a project by the Monterey Bay Corporation designated the XM303. The development team consisted of designers and researchers from twopaintball related design and manufacturing firms, includingAirgun Designs. The prototype was named the UBTPS, Under Barrel Tactical Paintball System.[5]
The design could be attached to anM16 rifle[6] and was conceived as a less-than-lethal weapon system coupled with a lethal weapon system, providing a wide range of response capabilities that were immediately available. A stand-alone version was also developed.
The UBTPS also featured a rotating barrel magazine, allowing for a wide range of different projectiles to be available and selectable without the need to change magazines.
Also developed was abismuth-weighted projectile to provide the necessary mass, allowing the UTPBS to achieve the engagement range requirements.
The FN 303 fires a spherical, fin-stabilized projectile. According to FN, the fin-stabilized design provides greater accuracy than a standardpaintball round. The forward half of the sphere is a non-toxic granulatedbismuth shell designed to fragment on impact to prevent penetration damage. The rear half of the sphere contains one of several color-coded liquid payloads:
The mass of the projectile is 8.5 g (131 gr), providing a muzzle energy of 31 J (23 ft⋅lb).
In October 2004, inBoston,Massachusetts,Victoria Snelgrove was struck in the eye by an FN 303 round fired by a member of theBoston Police Department (BPD), leading to her death approximately 12 hours later.[7] Anautopsy found that the pellet opened a three-quarter-inch (1.9 cm) hole in the bone behind the eye, broke into nine pieces, and damaged the right side of her brain.[8] Subsequent tests by the BPD indicated that the FN 303's accuracy "decreased significantly" after about 300 firings.[9] This is circumstantially corroborated by testimony of the officer who fired the weapon, stating that he was aiming at a rioter throwing bottles and did not know that a bystander had been hit.[10] A $15 millionwrongful death lawsuit against the City of Boston andFN Herstal was settled in July 2006.[11] In 2007, the BPD destroyed their remaining FN 303s, stating they were more powerful and lethal than had been anticipated.[12]
During protests in front of theArcelor building inLuxembourg city on 11 May 2009, the weapon was used for the first time by local police. AnRTL cameraman was hit in the hand, breaking one finger.[13]
On 2 June 2013, duringGezi Park protests inAnkara,Turkey, a protester was wounded in the face by a "plastic bullet", later attributed to police use of the FN 303.[14]
DuringIndependence Day demonstrations in Finland on 6 December 2015, police used FN 303 against counter-protesters, with one receiving eye injuries from projectile fragments.[15][16][17][18]
A 2019 study found that the performance of the FN 303 was significantly worse outside of a laboratory setting. Operational conditions were simulated by inducing physiological and psychological stress, and measuring salivarycortisol; accuracy and reported ease of use were both lower than that of the control group.[19]
Argentina: Used by theBuenos Aires City Police.
Belgium:DSU counter-terrorism group,[20] Police de Liège (PAB), Antwerp local police.[21]
Bulgaria: In use with the Land Forces and the Military Police.[22]
Georgia: In service with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Used twice—once as a defensive weapon when protesters illegally entered a police station, and once during riots in November 2007.[23]
Finland: Used by thePolice of Finland. First use by the police against the far left antifa demonstrationVapaus pelissä on 6 December 2015, hitting one person in the eye.[24]
Japan: Used by someSpecial Investigation Teams, including that of theAichi Prefectural Police.
Libya: Purchased 2,000 launchers in 2009.[25]
Luxembourg:Unité Spéciale de la Police of theGrand Ducal Police.[26][27]
Netherlands: One launcher purchased by theGelderland Province for use by theirrangers to repel wolves inDe Hoge Veluwe National Park.[28]
Portugal: 200 launchers purchased in 2018 by thePolícia de Segurança Pública.[29]
Singapore: In use by the SingaporePolice Coast Guard's Special Task Squadron[30] and theSingapore Prison ServiceSPEAR specialist unit.[citation needed]
Thailand: Used by theProtection and Crowds Control Division under the Metropolitan Police Bureau,Royal Thai Police[31] in September 2021.[32]
Turkey:Çevik Kuvvet of theGeneral Directorate of Security.[33]
United States: Used by theU.S. Army,U.S. Navy,U.S. Marine Corps,U.S. Coast Guard, andU.S. Air Force.[1] Also used by theU.S. Customs and Border Protection,Alameda County Sheriff's Office,[34] and thePortland Police Bureau.[35]Police Forces: We used FN 303
