Thursday, July 21, 2011

Beretta AR70/90 Italy

Beretta AR70/90
The Beretta AR70/90 is a gas operated self loading assault rifle chambered for the 5.56mm cartridge, and is the standard issue service rifle of the Italian Armed Forces. The weapon also features grenade sights, and is designed to be fitted with a rifle grenade. The AR series comes in many variants such as the AR90 which features a wire folding stock, for use by paratroopers.

The Beretta AR70/90 is a moderately weighty weapon, scaling at approx. 4 kilos in standard configuration, but still manufactured according to 1980s standards, i.e. with limited use of polymers (plastic parts), resorting to stainless steel whenever possible (a Beretta staple). A precise, solid and reliable weapon, with three firing positions (full auto, 3-burst and single shot) and a safe, it sports a carrying handle not unlike that seen on classic Vietnam-era M16, a long, bulky barrel and a hollow stock. It is usually fitted with a standard ACOG optics unit or a red dot pointer.

As of late 2010 the AR70/90 is in the process of being replaced by the new Beretta ARX 160, a totally new project which sees a great leap forward in soldier-to-weapon interfacing, several major developments in sighting and firepower such as the integrated (and also detachable) grenade launcher GLX-160, and the "Future Soldier Program" integration. The replacement should be completed by 2014 according to Beretta delivering capabilities.

Variants

Version Caliber Length Barrel length Mass Effective range Rate of fire
AR70/223 5.56x45mm M193 995 mm 450 mm 3.8 kg 400 m 650 rpm
AR70/90, SC70/90 5.56x45mm NATO 998 (756) mm 450 mm 4.07 kg 500 m 670 rpm
SCP70/90 5.56x45mm NATO 908 (663) mm 360 mm 3.8 kg 350 m 670 rpm


Beretta AR70/90
Type Assault rifle
Place of origin Italy
Service history
Used by Italy, Burkina Faso, Jordan, Lesotho, Malaysia
Morocco, Nigeria, Paraguay, Zimbabwe
Wars War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Production history
Designer Beretta
Designed 1972 (AR70/90 .223)
1985 (AR70/90)
Manufacturer Beretta
Specifications
Weight 3.99 kg (8.8 lb) (varies slightly)
Length 998 mm (39.3 in) (varies slightly)

Cartridge 5.56x45mm NATO
Caliber 5.56
Action Gas-operated
Rate of fire 650RPM (varies slightly)
Muzzle velocity 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s)
Effective range 500 m (1,600 ft)
Feed system 30 round STANAG Magazine,
100-round C-Mag drum magazine
Sights Iron/grenade sights

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