Beretta AR70/90

Beretta AR70/90

Italian soldiers of San Marco Regiment with the Beretta SC70/90 rifle (Rome, 2007)
Type Assault rifle
Place of origin Italy
Service history
In service 1972–1990 (AR70/90 .223)
1990–present (AR70/90)
Used by See Users
Wars War in Afghanistan, Iraq War
Production history
Designer Beretta
Designed 1972 (AR70/.223)
1985 (AR70/90)
Manufacturer Beretta
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight 3.99 kg (8.80 lb) (varies slightly)
Length 998 mm (39.3 in) (varies slightly)

Cartridge 5.56×45mm NATO
Caliber 5.56mm
Action Gas-operated
Rate of fire 650 RPM (varies slightly)
Muzzle velocity 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s)
Effective firing range 500 m (1,600 ft)
Feed system 30-round STANAG Magazine
100-round C-Mag drum magazine
Sights Iron/grenade sights

The Beretta AR70/90 is a gas operated self-loading assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge, and is the standard issue service rifle of the Italian Armed Forces. The weapon is also designed to be fitted with a rifle grenade, and has grenade sights. The AR series comes in many variants such as the AR90, with a wire folding stock, for use by paratroopers. Because the rifle is so reliable, the Alpini mountain troops nicknamed it Excalibur.

History

The Beretta AR70/90 assault rifle was developed in the 1980s when the Italian Government decided that its military and law enforcement agencies needed a new standard service weapon. It was made to be compatible with other NATO weapons by the adoption of standard 5.56mm STANAG loaders, whereas the AR70/90's predecessor, the BM59, derived from the U.S. M1 Garand, was chambered in 7.62 (.308), another NATO caliber which today is considered suitable mostly for sniper or machine gun use. There is a semi-auto version of the AR-70/90 called the AR 70/90S which lacks a flash hider and bayonet mount.

Description

The AR-70/90 is manufactured according to 1980s standards, i.e. with limited use of polymer plastic parts and using stainless steel whenever possible (a Beretta staple). It weighs approximately 4 kg in standard configuration. It has three firing positions (full auto, three-round burst, and semi-auto) and a safe, and has a carrying handle not unlike the Vietnam-era M16, a long, bulky barrel, and a hollow stock. It is usually fitted with an ACOG or a red dot optic.

Future

As of late 2010 the AR70/90 is supplemented in service 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.

Variants

Version Caliber Length Barrel length Mass Effective range Rate of fire
AR70/223 5.56×45mm M193 995 mm 450 mm 3.8 kg 400 m 650 rpm
AR70/90, SC70/90 5.56×45mm NATO 998 (756) mm 450 mm 4.07 kg 500 m 670 rpm
SCP70/90 5.56×45mm NATO 908 (663) mm 360 mm 3.8 kg 350 m 670 rpm

Users

Italian soldier of the Folgore Brigade armed with an SC70/90 rifle.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  2. http://codigosanluis.com/portal/node/13877
  3. Giorgio Beretta. "Italia: ecco le armi esportate da Berlusconi a dittatori e regimi autoritari". ControllArmi. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  4. Alvaro Diaz. "Las Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras comenzarán el 2014 con nueva cúpula militar. El país busca en Israel asistencia técnica para repotenciar los F-5". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  5. http://i.imgur.com/mE2Cd5k.jpg
  6. 1 2 3 "Modern Firearms". Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  7. http://www.unimondo.org/Guide/Guerra-e-Pace/Armi-leggere/Gli-affari-della-Beretta-coi-regimi-repressivi-e-il-Codice-Gheddafi-148444
  8. http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/66IR3ood73grgZSS_a.c2A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTcxMDtweW9mZj0wO3E9NzU7dz0xMDcz/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/fc2bd64580e1630a2d0f6a706700ea09.jpg

External links

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