{{Infobox weapon |name=Rifle, 5.56 MM, SAR 80 | image= SAR 80 rifle.JPG | image_size = 300 |caption=The SAR 80 assault rifle |origin= Singapore |type=Assault rifle <!-- Type selection --> |is_ranged=YES <!-- Service history --> |used_by=See ''Users'' |wars=Sri Lankan Civil War<br/>Yugoslav Wars<br/>Somali Civil War<ref name ='SAS 2012 10'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2012/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2012-Chapter-10-EN.pdf|chapter=Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia|title=Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2012|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|page=338|isbn=978-0-521-19714-4|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002411/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2012.html|archive-date=2018-08-31|url-status=dead}}</ref><br/>Kivu conflict |designer=Frank Waters |design_date=1976-1984 |prod_design_date= |service=1984-present |manufacturer=Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now ST Kinetics) |unit_cost= |production_date= |number=20,000 for Singapore, unknown number of exports |variants=Standard, Grenade launcher <!-- General specifications --> |spec_label= |weight={{convert|3.7|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (empty and without accessories) |length={{convert|970|mm|in}}, {{convert|738|mm|in}} with butt folded |part_length={{convert|459|mm|0}} <!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> |cartridge=5.56×45mm NATO |action=Gas-operated, rotating bolt |rate=600 round/min |velocity= |range= |max_range= |feed=Various STANAG magazines |sights=Iron sights }}
The '''SAR 80''' (Sterling Assault Rifle 80)<ref>{{Cite web | title=CIS SAR-80 – The Armourers Bench | url=https://armourersbench.com/2020/02/09/cis-sar-80/ | access-date=2025-11-10 | website=armourersbench.com}}</ref> is an assault rifle from Singapore.
==History== In the late 1960s, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) adopted the AR-15 as their main service rifle.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} Due to difficulties in obtaining the rifles from the United States, the Singaporean government purchased a license to domestically manufacture the M16 rifle, which was then designated the M16S1.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/attachments/2017/08/08/st_20170808_nsgraphic08new_3333382.pdf | title=National service through the years | website=straitstimes.com.sg}}</ref> It was introduced in 1967.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Colt IAR for Singapore – MILMAG | url=https://milmag.pl/en/colt-iar-for-singapore/ | access-date=2025-11-10 | website=milmag.pl}}</ref> Despite this restriction, around 10,000 M16S1s were reportedly sold to Manila without meeting approval from Washington DC.<ref name="gz">https://web.archive.org/web/20120319145629/http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-7.html</ref> Other sales were made to Thailand, which was allowed to proceed with reluctance from DC due to pressure from Thai officials due to concerns on whether Bangkok can assure Washington DC that those M16s won't be sold to another country without permission.<ref name="gz"/>
The domestic rifle requirements were not sufficient to allow Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now Singapore Technologies Kinetics) to economically maintain operations at its rifle factory.<ref name="FNM16">{{Cite web | title=Insightful Look at Singapore's CIS SAR-80: The Anglo-Asian A - Firearms News | url=https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/singapores-sar80-angloasian-ar18/523366 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514020846/https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/singapores-sar80-angloasian-ar18/523366 | access-date=2025-11-10 | archive-date=2025-05-14}}</ref> Export sales of the M16S1 were not a viable option. Due to the requirements of the license agreement, CIS had to request permission from Colt and the US State Department to allow any export sale, which they rarely granted.<ref name="FNM16"/> The only time Singapore received permissions is for export sales to Thailand in 1972.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20120319144818/http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-6.html</ref>
==Development== In the early 1970s, Sterling Armaments Company engineers had developed their own 5.56 mm rifle design, the Light Automatic Rifle (LAR), but this had been shelved when Sterling acquired a manufacturing licence for the US-designed Armalite AR-18 assault rifle. While Sterling could not legally sublicense the AR-18, their AR-18 derived Sterling Assault Rifle (SAR) was available.<ref>The Sterling Years: Small Arms and the Men, James Edmiston, {{ISBN|1848844379}}</ref><ref>Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, 4th Edition, by Ian V. Hogg and John Weeks, {{ISBN|0-910676-28-3}}, Ca 1981</ref>
This was based on a refined version of the Light Automatic Rifle, fitted with an AR-18 trigger group. Sterling licensed the SAR design to CIS, who put it into production as the SAR 80.
The successor to this weapon is the SR-88.
==Users== [[File:Postroj 30. razvojne skupine v Kočevski reki.jpg|thumb|Slovenian Territorial Defence equipped with the SAR 80.]] <!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->
*{{flag|Central African Republic}}: Seen in the hands of Central African Gendarmerie.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Central African Republic and Small Arms: A Regional Tinderbox|first1=Eric G.|last1= Berman |first2=Louisa N. |last2=Lombard|date= December 2008|publisher=Small Arms Survey|isbn=978-2-8288-0103-8|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/D-Book-series/book-07-CAR/SAS-Central-African-Republic-and-Small-Arms.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802224632/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/D-Book-series/book-07-CAR/SAS-Central-African-Republic-and-Small-Arms.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 2, 2014|pages=82, 94}}</ref> *{{flag|Croatia}}: Croatian Army.<ref name ="Yugo">{{cite book|title=The Yugoslav Wars (1): Slovenia & Croatia 1991–95|url=https://archive.org/details/yugoslavwarsslov01thom|url-access=limited|series=Elite 138|first1= K |last1=Mikulan|first2= Nigel |last2=Thomas|date=12 Apr 2006|isbn=9781841769639 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |page=[https://archive.org/details/yugoslavwarsslov01thom/page/n50 49]}}</ref><ref name="popenker">{{cite web |first=Max R. |last=Popenker|url=http://world.guns.ru/assault/as55-e.htm |title= SAR-80 (Singapore) |website=Modern Firearms |access-date=2006-06-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619185702/http://world.guns.ru/assault/as55-e.htm |archive-date=2006-06-19 }}</ref> *{{flag|DR Congo}} Some used by Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda in Democratic Republic of Congo<ref name="FDLR" /> *{{flag|Papua New Guinea}}: Papua New Guinea Defence Force.<ref name=Alpers>{{cite book|last=Alpers|first=Philip|editor1-last=Karp|editor1-first=Aaron|title=The Politics of Destroying Surplus Small Arms: Inconspicuous Disarmament|date=2010|pages=168–169|publisher=Routledge Books|location=Abingdon-on-Thames|isbn=978-0-415-49461-8}}</ref> *{{flag|Singapore}}:20,00 rifles delivered to logistic units to supplement M16 and AR-15 rifles already in use. Replaced by the SAR 21 in the mid 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forgotten Forces Living History Association - SAR 80 |url=https://sites.google.com/site/londonlivinghistory/impressions/singapore-armed-forces/weapons/sar-80 |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=sites.google.com |language=en-US}}</ref> *{{flag|Slovenia}}: Slovenian Army.<ref name="Chivers">{{cite news|url=http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/somali-pirate-gun-locker-an-oddball-assault-rifle-at-sea/#|title=Somali Pirate Gun Locker: An Oddball Assault Rifle, at Sea|last=C. J.|first=CHIVERS|date=January 25, 2012|work=The New York Times|accessdate=23 March 2013}}</ref><ref>https://www.forgottenweapons.com/slovenian-sar80-sterling-out-simplifies-the-ar-180/</ref> *{{flag|Somalia}}: Somalia received SAR 80s during the 1980s.<ref name="Chivers"/> Most seen in the Middle East, heavily modified by various forces fighting in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://silahreport.com/2019/08/03/sr-podcast-no-3-turkish-glockalikes-singaporean-rifles-in-yemen-and-the-sudanese-defense-industry/|title = SR Podcast No.3- Turkish Glockalikes, Singaporean Rifles in Yemen, and the Sudanese Defense Industry|date = 3 August 2019}}</ref> 20,000 from Charted Industries of Singapore 1982-83 <ref name="SmallArmsToday88somalia">{{cite book| last = Ezell| first = Edward| author-link = Edward C. Ezell| title = Small Arms Today| publisher = Stackpole Books| volume = 2nd| edition = | date = 1988 | pages = 325| language = English | isbn = 0811722805| jfm =}}</ref> *{{flag|Sri Lanka}}<ref>{{cite book |last= Smith | first= Chris | title= In the Shadow of a Cease-fire: The Impacts of Small Arms Availability and Misuse in Sri Lanka | publisher= Small Arms Survey |date=October 2003 |url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP11-Sri-Lanka.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112185613/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/B-Occasional-papers/SAS-OP11-Sri-Lanka.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 12, 2011 }}</ref> * {{flag|Zaire}}<ref name = 'FDLR'>{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Highlights-EN.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701142546/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Highlights-EN.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 1, 2015|chapter-url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2015/eng/Small-Arms-Survey-2015-Chapter-07-EN.pdf|chapter=Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA|title=Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2015|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|ref={{harvid|Small Arms Survey 2015}}|page=201}}</ref>
===Non state users=== * {{flag|Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}<ref name="SmallArmsToday88srilanka">{{cite book| last = Ezell| first = Edward| author-link = Edward C. Ezell| title = Small Arms Today| publisher = Stackpole Books| volume = 2nd| edition = | date = 1988 | pages = 337| language = English | isbn = 0811722805| jfm =}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/1700/1792.htm Sterling Assault Rifle] *[https://www.forgottenweapons.com/semiauto-sar-80-sterling-assault-rifle-at-the-range/ Semiauto SAR-80 “Sterling Assault Rifle” at the Range]
{{Sterling Armaments Company Ltd}} {{Singapore-designed weapons}} {{AR-16 derivatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:SAR-80}} Category:5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles Category:Assault rifles of Singapore
Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1984