[IDEX 2025] Black Box For Small Arms - The FN SmartCore
At events like IDEX, we often focus on the new, shiny firearms that governments are considering, while the essential non-shooting equipment tends to get overlooked. One critical aspect many ignore is tracking the number of rounds fired from a weapon. Keeping an accurate round count of a firearm is vital for several reasons, especially concerning performance, maintenance, and overall service life. Each gun has a defined lifespan corresponding to the number of rounds it can fire before it wears out. Armorers and maintainers can better understand their weapon's condition and anticipate any required maintenance by maintaining a precise record of how many rounds have been fired.
First revealed in 2012, the FN SmartCore serves as a black box for weapons, collecting important data for maintenance management. This system can reduce operational costs by improving the weapon's service life, optimizing maintenance operations, and enhancing the operational availability of the weapon fleet.
FN SmartCore and FN SAM contribute to reduced operational costs through improved weapon service life and optimized maintenance operations. Currently available for the FN SmartCore, SCAR, MINIMI, M2, and M240, the system can also be integrated into non-FN weapons.
The FN SmartCore is a battery-free system designed to measure round counts and collect accurate metrics throughout a weapon’s life. It can distinguish between live rounds, blanks, and other shocks, such as drops or firing from under-barrel grenade launchers. The system measures cyclic and effective firing rates and is integrated into the rifle's trigger group, generating its own power.
Importantly, it does not emit any detectable forms of energy or transmit data to external sources. The SmartCore utilizes short-range, undetectable wireless communication that can be activated upon request, eliminating any unwanted electromagnetic signature.
The FN SmartCore shot counter employs fully automated software to provide precise information about the firearm. The firearm's electronic logbook tracks maintenance history and other user-defined information. This includes the number of shots fired (with distinctions between blank, live, and dry firing), the individual to whom it is issued, and its operational condition.
This unique and comprehensive solution is dedicated to military and security forces. It enhances weapons' operational availability, reduces life cycle costs, provides accurate and up-to-date information regarding weapons' in-and-out movements, and ensures shared information through a network.
Having managed an arms room, I had weapons from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror, with no way of knowing how many rounds had been fired from them. A system like the FN SmartCore would provide armorers and small arms repair personnel with the necessary data to ensure our weapons are fully mission-capable, ultimately increasing unit lethality.
Lynndon Schooler is an open-source weapons intelligence professional with a background as an infantryman in the US Army. His experience includes working as a gunsmith and production manager in firearm manufacturing, as well as serving as an armorer, consultant, and instructor in nonstandard weapons. His articles have been published in Small Arms Review and the Small Arms Defence Journal. https://www.instagram.com/lynndons
More by Lynndon Schooler
![[IDEX 2025] New P24 Pistols From Slovakia Are Coming To The US](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2025/03/11/08251/idex-2025-new-p24-pistols-from-slovakia-are-coming-to-the-us.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2025] Sharps Bros Grip Modules for Springfield Echelon Pistols](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2025/01/24/23301/shot-2025-sharps-bros-grip-modules-for-springfield-echelon-pistols.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2025] Smith & Wesson M&P9 Metal HD Spec Series V Pistol](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2025/01/22/12351/shot-2025-smith-wesson-m-p9-metal-hd-spec-series-v-pistol.jpg?size=350x220)
Comments
Join the conversation
If they can make this a platform agnostic system, i can see it taking off in the sport shooting world as well. How many rounds *have* you put through your competition rifle in the past year?