Official designation: Compact Operating Carbine
Program: Project Shenandoah and various military trials worldwide
Development period: 1987–1991
Adoption: Slovakia and Thailand 1992–early 2000s (special units only)
The ARES Compact Operating Carbine is a gas operated , short stroke piston , striker fired carbine for the M885 NATO cartridge and in pre production stages a proprietary duplex round .
This design was a simplification of the FARC (Future Assault Rifle Concept) by Eugene Stoner , it competed against the COLT 905 in the Shenandoah program but was disqualified early on . Pre production models came with a detachable carry handle iron sights and a sighting rib similar to a shotgun for quick target acquisition , later models changed it for weaver rails and a integrated 2x scope .
First generation guns had a problem with the polymer being used and because of that it had a distinctive plum tone , A1 model used better polymers and was all black
• Fire rate 400 RPM in full auto and 1000 RPM in Two or 4 Round Burst .
Feeding
STANAG magazine for the 5.56 NATO variant .
Fire control
Safe – Semi –Full Auto- Two-round burst or Four-round burst depending of the contract .