SIG MMG 338 Program Series

NATO Standardizes FN’s 5.7x28mm Caliber

(McLean, VA – March 1, 2021) FN America, LLC is pleased to announce that the FN-designed 5.7x28mm caliber has been standardized by NATO. The caliber was designed in the late 1980s for use with the FN P90® and FN Five-seveN® pistol. With almost three decades of trusted use, the FN 5.7x28mm continues to leverage the groundbreaking design to improve range, accuracy and terminal performance from small arms. As NATO adds the FN 5.7x28mm to their standard small caliber ammunition portfolio, FN proudly continues its long legacy of small arm innovation as it enhances service to civilians, law enforcement, and militaries across the globe.

In a continuous effort to promote interchangeability of all small caliber ammunition used by allied armed forces, NATO has recently finalized the standardization process of the FN®-designed 5.7x28mm caliber by approving the standardization agreement (STANAG) 4509.

The 5.7x28mm caliber is now integrated into the Multi-Caliber Manual Of Proof and Inspection (AEP-97) and joins the standardized NATO small caliber ammunition portfolio, along with the 9x19mm NATO, the 5.56x45mm NATO, the 7.62x51mm NATO and the 12.7x99mm NATO (also widely known as the .50 caliber).

As a NATO standardized caliber, the 5.7x28mm provides armies with the guarantee of interchangeability between ammunition from different manufacturers and operational efficiency in weapons of this caliber.

Coming after the FN®-designed 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm calibers which were standardized by NATO in 1957 and 1981 respectively, this new NATO standardization confirms FN Herstal’s leading position as a designer and manufacturer of small caliber weapon-ammunition systems. It also reinforces the company’s strategy and dedication to provide modern-day armed forces and security forces all across the world with the best performing and efficient small caliber ammunition concepts and designs.

To learn more about FN’s 5.7-chambered firearms or other FN products, please visit www.fnamerica.com.

10 Responses to “NATO Standardizes FN’s 5.7x28mm Caliber”

  1. Jeb says:

    Who is still using this round…or either weapon that utilizes it? Having shot multiple types of many rounds through both platforms, and first hand experience with terminal ballistics on critters…it’s a non starter for me. Congrats, FN.

    • Alpha2 says:

      Over the past year the round had seen a renewed popularity it seems with several manufacturers from Ruger to Keltec and some smaller companies debuting new firearms for the 5.7 round.

      • SR says:

        Guess someone had some insider knowledge that the round was going to be accepted by NATO and therefore, push out products for export

        • SSD says:

          Considering FN developed the round for NATO decades ago, it was theirs to “push out.”

        • Gyrfalcon says:

          Which export market? The round is banned for commercial use in Europe, like every military purpose round. We do not have 5.56×45 NATO either, we only have .223 Remington. Same for the 7.62 as .308 Winchester, and 12.7×99mm NATO as .50BMG

    • Cuz says:

      “Either weapon that uses it….both platforms”. The fact that you think there’s only two firearms sold that are chambered in 5.7 kinda discredits anything else you have to say about it.

    • liege says:

      I would tend to agree with you given the ammo available in USA. However, as originally intended with the right ammo, the FN 5.7 pistol is superior to most any standard pistol/ammo across the board. You likely aren’t/weren’t using any of the real ammunition originally designed for these weapons, which never really saw the light of day in conus. IME 5.7 pistol is unmatched combo in terms of effective range, armor penetration, terminal ballistics not to mention incredibly low recoil and high capacity in a standard, non-extended pistol mag (20 rd). Now the P90 is another bird altogether: strange mag + wpn ergonomics, etc. that i wouldnt want to use anywhere but a range, but that thing is smooth and accurate, you can dump a whole mag ( 50 rounds) in the same target if you want to on full auto with almost no barrel rise . If you want to compare 5.7 pistol to something, HK 4.6×30 is really one of the only rounds that is comparable and the MP7 PDW is a bit larger.

    • Yawnz says:

      Considering it was never meant to be used on critters…I’m not sure what results you were expecting.

      As for who still uses it, for what it’s worth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_P90#Users

  2. Ed says:

    Just waiting on that clone HK MP7 chambered for 5.7! Hurry up!!! 🙂

  3. Nattydreadbushdoc says:

    Not to glorify what Nadal Hassan did during his Fort Hood shooting in anyway, hope he rots in prison. I actually wish they would hang him. However, the terminal ballistics of commercially available 5.7 ammunition fired through a 5n7 handgun can be assessed by reading some of the after action on that incident. That is the weapon and ammunition combination he used.