ST Kinetics SAR-21
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.82 kg
- Introduced
- 1999
About
What it is, and why it matters
The ST Kinetics SAR-21 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by ST Engineering Land Systems (ST Kinetics) since 1999. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 20.0-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3820g (134.7 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The polymer frame construction reduces weight while providing a textured, ergonomic grip surface designed for secure handling in all conditions. Safety features include manual safety selector, firing pin block, reflecting modern design standards that prioritize safe handling and operation. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform. With over 58 years of firearms manufacturing experience, ST Engineering Land Systems (ST Kinetics) brings established expertise in metallurgy, machining, and quality control to every product in their lineup, ensuring each firearm meets the standards expected by today's demanding market of knowledgeable shooters and professionals.
The SAR-21 was Singapore's bid to develop a world-class indigenous assault rifle for the 21st century, replacing a succession of foreign and locally produced conventional rifles. Its integrated optics and laser aiming module were ahead of their time in the late 1990s, presaging the modern trend toward standard-issue optics on infantry rifles. The rifle's design prioritizes reliability in the hot, humid tropical climate of Southeast Asia.
The SAR-21 was designed specifically for the smaller stature of Southeast Asian soldiers, with ergonomic considerations for tropical environments. The integrated 1.5x scope is a fixed part of the standard model, providing improved target acquisition without adding external optics. The rifle features cheek-level spent case ejection to prevent brass from striking left-handed shooters, though it only ejects to the right side. The SAR-21 is compatible with M203 and CIS 40GL grenade launchers. Multiple variants have been developed including the P (Picatinny rail replacing the fixed scope), RIS (full rail interface system), and LMG (light machine gun with heavy barrel and bipod). The next-generation NG SAR was unveiled in 2024 as an eventual replacement.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- ST Engineering Land Systems
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Singapore
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1999
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Overall length
- 805 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.82 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.44 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated rotating bolt
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 945 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1787 J
- Effective range
- 460 m
- Maximum range
- 800 m
- Rate of fire
- 650 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Bullpup configuration
Integrated 1.5x optical scope- Laser aiming module
Select fire
Stanag magazine compatible
Chrome lined barrel
Grenade launcher compatible
Backup iron sights
Cheek level ejection
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 3.82 kg | 3.60 kg | Heavier than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 156 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 805 mm | 920 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 157 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 508 mm | 449 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the ST Kinetics SAR-21
How much does the ST Kinetics SAR-21 weigh?
The ST Kinetics SAR-21 weighs 3.82 kg (8.42 lb) empty and 4.44 kg (9.79 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the ST Kinetics SAR-21?
The ST Kinetics SAR-21 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the ST Kinetics SAR-21 hold?
The ST Kinetics SAR-21 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the ST Kinetics SAR-21?
The ST Kinetics SAR-21 is 805 mm (31.7 in) long overall, with a 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the ST Kinetics SAR-21?
The ST Kinetics SAR-21 is made by ST Engineering Land Systems (Singapore).
When was the ST Kinetics SAR-21 introduced?
The ST Kinetics SAR-21 was introduced in 1999.
How does the ST Kinetics SAR-21 operate?
The ST Kinetics SAR-21 uses a gas operated rotating bolt action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Singapore Armed Forces
- 1999
- Brunei Armed Forces
- Brunei
- Sri Lanka Army
- Sri Lanka
- Indonesian Marine Corps
- Indonesia
Provenance
Confidence in this record
88%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/st-kinetics-sar-21' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "st-kinetics-sar-21", "name": "ST Kinetics SAR-21", "manufacturer": { "id": "st-kinetics", "name": "ST Engineering Land Systems", "countryCode": "SG", "foundedYear": 1967, "website": "https://www.stengg.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": "Singapore defense contractor specializing in armored vehicles and ground combat systems. Historically produced small arms including the Ultimax 100 light machine gun and SAR 21 bullpup rifle.", "status": "active", "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": true, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "updatedAt": "2026-09-15 07:19:19", "version": "60b09a84aaed1bb6ff46e4d8f29b675171e7f36c2772f1aafc8dcf4bf0262e2e" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "SG", "year_introduced": 1999, "barrel_length_mm": 508, "weight_empty_g": 3820, "action_type": "gas_operated_rotating_bolt"}