IMBEL MD-2 and MD-3 (Brazil)Caliber: 5.56x45 mm (.223 Remington) The MD-2 assault rifle was developed by IMBEL (Industria de Materiel Belico do Brazil). Development began circa 1982, first prototype, named MD-1, appeared in 1983 and final version, named MD-2, came out circa 1985 and later was adopted by Brasilian military. MD-2 started as a simply scaled down FN FAL rifle (manufactured in Brazil under license as IMBEL LAR), but during the design time the FAL locking system (tilting block) was replaced by M16-type rotating bolt. The receiver design is, however, still very similar to FAL. MD-2 is a gas operated, selective fire assault rifle, with rotating bolt locking. Trigger group is mounted into the pistol grip unit, which is hinged to the receiver and folds down and forward for disassembly and maintenance. MD-2 featured side-folding metallic butt stock, MD-3 rifle is similar to the MD-2 but has fixed plastic butt stock. MD-2 uses any M16 style magazines.
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Valmet Rk. 62 / 76 / 95 (Finland)The data shown for Rk.62 only. In the 1950's the Finnish military recognized the need for the new military assault rifle. Instead of "invention of the wheel", finns decided to adopt and modify some of existing designs, and the proven "gun of the big neighbor", the famous Soviet AK-47 was almost a natural choice, since the Finland had fairy good relations with the USSR since WW2. Finland bought the license for original AK-47 design (with milled receiver), and first prototypes of the future Finnish assault rifle, named Rk.60, were submitted for military testing in 1960. The Rk.60, being internally almost a copy of the AK-47, showed some external differences. It had tubular metallic butt stock, plastic hand-guard that did not covered the gas tube, plastic pistol grip. The Rk.60 lacked the trigger guard and has three prong flash hider at the muzzle. The original sights were replaced with hooded post front sight atop of the gas chamber, the tangent rear sight was replaced by an aperture sight, mounted at the rear of the receiver cover. Both front and night sights had folding "night sights", with the white dots. After the testing and following modifications, that include new, slightly redesigned hand guards and restoration of the trigger guard, the rifle was adopted as the Rk.62, and, until now, is in Finnish military service. During the following years, the state-owned Valmet company, the manufacturer of the Rk.62, designed some further modifications, some of which were adopted for Finnish military service and acquired by Finnish Army, and some being manufactured for export only. The export versions were manufactured in original 7.62x39mm chambering or in .223 Remington (5.56mm NATO), select-fire or semi-auto only. Some semi-auto variants, named Valmet 78, were manufactured in 7.62x51mm (.308Win). Of the military versions, most interesting are Rk.76 and Rk.95TP. The Rk.76 is a modification of the original Rk.62, but with the stamped steel receiver instead of the milled one. This dramatically decreased the weight of the gun. Other changes were four different types of the butt-stocks available: the 76W featured wooden fixed butt stock, the 76P featured plastic fixed butt stock, 76T featured tubular fixed butt stock (like the Rk.62) and 76TP featured tubular side-folding butt-stock. Another change from Rk.62 was hand-guard, that was more Ak-47-style than of Rk.62. The Rk.95TP is the latest variation of the Finnish military rifles. It featured old-style milled receiver, but new, side-folding skeleton-type butt stock (Galil type), new muzzle flash hider and new hand guards. The trigger guard is enlarged to enable shooting in gloves during the cold Finnish winters. It should be noted that Rk.95TP is referred as Sako Rk.75, not the Valmet Rk.95, because the Sako company (involved in production of the Rk.62 and further modifications almost from the start) was merged with the Valmet company under the name Sako. The Rk.95TP was received by Finnish Army in small quantities (only one batch manufactured). The semi-auto version of the Rk.95 is used for civilian training and practical shooting (under IPSC rules), as well as sold for export. The Rk.95 may be equipped with Finnish-made Reflex sound suppressor. In general, all Sako / Valmet Rk.62 family weapons are first class quality firearms that designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions of the Nordic Europe. It is also should be noted that early Israeli made Galil assault rifles were made on machinery and by documentation, bought from Valmet.
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Valmet M82 (Finland)Caliber: 5.56 NATO (.223rem) Based on AK/AM internal design, but chambered in 5.56NATO. Frame made from polymer.
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GALIL AR (Israel)Caliber: 5.56 NATO (.223rem) This Israeli made rifle is, basically, recreation of Kalashnikovs' design for standard NATO 5.56mm cartridge. Main differences (except load type): folding stock, bolt handle, hand-guard and longer barrel, ambidextrous safety switch. Also, Galil features milled steel receiver, like old AK's (AKM and AK-74 have stamped steel receivers). Shortened version of the Galil, named Galil SAR, has barrel length of
345 mm and no bipods
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IMI Tavor TAR-21 (Israel)
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Type 89 assault rifle (Japan)Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO Type 89 rifle was developed by HOWA Machinery Co., Japan, for National Defense Forces of Japan. Type 89 rifle is a select-fire, gas-operated, rotating bolt firearm. The gas action and bolt group is somewhat similar to USA-designed AR-18 rifle, previously manufactured by HOWA under license from Armalite Co (USA). Type 89 rifle has receiver made from stamped steel, polymer furniture and flip-up aperture rear sights. It also has lightweight folding bipods. Type 89 rifle may fire rifle grenades.
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SAR-80 (Singapore)Caliber: 5.56x45 mm (.223 Remington) During 1970s Singapore Army used US-designed M16A1 assault rifles. In 1976, a company called CIS (Charter Industries of Singapore , now ST Kinetics), began to develop its own assault rifle with aim to supply these rifles for Singapore military and for foreign countries. To save the time CIS invited some engineers from British company Sterling Armament, who used to manufacture US-designed Armalite AR-18 assault rifle, so new Singapore rifle heavily borrowed from original AR-18 design. First prototypes came out in 1978 and the final design was approved by Singapore military in 1984 under the name of SAR-80. This rifle was used to some extent by Singapore Army and also was exported to some countries, including Croatia. SAR-80 is a gas operated, selective fire weapon of simple construction. It uses short stroke gas piston that pushes the massive bolt carrier with rotating bolt. The bolt carrier rides on two guide rods. Each rod has a recoil spring around it, gas piston rod has its own return spring. The receiver is made from steel stampings. Pistol grip, hand guards and butt stock are made from plastic. SAR-80 uses M16-style magazines. Gas drive has gas regulator that can be cut off completely to safely launch rifle grenades from the muzzle.
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Singapore Technologies Kinetic SAR-21 (Singapore)
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Vektor R-5 (South Africa)Caliber: 5.56 NATO (.223rem) Basically a copy of the Israeli Galil rifle. Most of the technical data is the same. Only difference uncovered is the addition of a spring loaded firing pin.
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Vektor CR-21 (South Africa)Caliber: 5.56 NATO (.223rem) Internally, this rifle is a the old' good AK-47, or, to be more precise - the Galil. The CR-21 has the same "old AK" style machined steel receiver, trigger and bolt group. Fire selector is a Galil-styled, ambidextrous, and located at the rear part of the gun. Safety switch is button-style, and located in the trigger guard. The receiver is fully enclosed in polymer butt stock, unlike the other latest bull-pup designs, where receivers are integral parts of the stock (or vice versa :). On the top of the receiver there is a rails for quick interchangeable scopes. Standard scope is 1X (no magnification) with light gathering device and illuminated reticle (no batteries required).
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Daewoo K2 (MAX 2) (South Korea)Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO (.223 Rem) Daewoo K1 and K2 are primary infantry weapons of the South Korean Army. These rifles replaced in service old M16A1 rifles. Technically, Daewoo K2 is a select-fire, gas driven, rotating bolt firearm. The bolt/bolt carrier assembly of the K2 is very similar to one of the M16, but with one main difference: in the place of the gas expansion chamber of the M16, K2 bolt carrier has a cut slot. In this slot is inserted the rear part of the gas rod, with gas piston attached to the forward part of the gas rod. Also, K2 does not have the recoil buffer, that could be found in almost any M16/AR15 type weapons. The receiver is of folding design (upper and lower receiver are connected via 2 steel pins, like the M16 or FN FNC receivers). Charging handle is installed on the right side of the bolt carrier. The polymer butt stock is folding (to the right side of the weapon). Gas system has 4 positions switch - one position is for rifle grenades firing (gas port is closed completely), other 3 positions - for operations in normal conditions, in adverse conditions and in extreme heat. The K1 is a cut-down, shortened version of the K2 with telescopic stock and shorter barrel. Civilian, semi-auto version of the K2 is manufactured in two calibers: 5.56x45mm (.223) and 77.62x39mm, and is named DR-200 or DR-300, respectively.
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Designed by
Johnny
Salaza,
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