IMI Galil assault rifle (Israel)

Galil ARM 5.56mm. The only differences from the Galil AR are the folding bipod andcarrying handle

Same rifle, with bipods unfolded. Insert shows the left-side fire selector /safety switch with Hebrew markings.

Galil AR 7.62mm. Note the longer barrel and deeper magazine

Galil SAR 5.56mm with shorter barrel (with older type brownish color wooden forearm)

Galil MAR 5.56mm, or Micro-Galil. The most modern Galil derivative.

The experience, gained by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during the Six-days war of 1967, showed the deficiencies of the FN FAL rifles, which were the main armament of the IDF infantry. The FAL rifles were too sensitive to fine sand and dust of Arab deserts, and too long and bulky to carry and maneuver. On the other hand, the same war showed the advantages of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles, used by Arab infantry with great success. After the end of this war IDF decided to develop a new assault rifle, which will eventually replace the FN FAL battle rifles and some of the UZI submachine guns. It was also decided that the new assault rifle should be built around the new American low-impulse cartridge, known as 5.56x45 mm. During the late 1960s the IDF tested two rival designs, one of the Uziel Gal, and the other of the Israel Galili. The latter design, based on the Finnish Valmet Rk.62 assault rifle (a license-built AK-47 clone), eventually won the competition and was selected as a new IDF assault rifle in the 1973, but its actual adoption was delayed by the next Israeli-Arab Yom Kippur war of the 1973. The machinery and documentation package was bought from Valmet and transferred tothe state owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) company. There are some rumors that the first production Galil rifles were built on the Valmet-made receivers.The basic Galil rifle later evolved into several configurations, including the full-size 5.56mm AR and ARM assault rifles, compact 5.56mm SAR rifle for the tank and vehicle crews, 7.62mm NATO AR selective fire and 7.62mm NATO semi-automatic Galatz sniper rifle, 5.56mm MAR subcompact assault rifle, also known as Micro-Galil, and some othermodifications, like the unsuccessful .30 Carbine Magal police rifle.

While being a successful weapon, the Galil was not widely issued to the IDF during its lifetime, because during the late 1960s and early 1970s Israel received large shipments of the US M16 and CAR-15 assault rifles at the very low prices. M16 rifles became the major armament of the IDF, with the Galils mostly issued to the Armored corps, Artillery corps and some units of the Israeli Air Forces. The Galil rifles were exported to the various South American, African and Asian countries. Estonia also received some Galil rifles in the early 2000s. The slightly modified Galil rifle is manufactured by the South African Vektor company, a division of the DENEL. Those models included the R-4 (Galil AR), R-5(Galil SAR) and R-6 (Galil MAR) assault rifles, and are used by the South African Military. Another offspring of the Galil is the Croatian APS-95assault rifle. The semi-automatic only versions of the both 5.56mm and7.62mm Galil AR rifles were widely sold to both domestic and foreign civilian and law enforcement markets.

In general, the Galil rifles are fine weapons,but somewhat heavy and expensive to manufacture.

Technical description.

Basically, the Galil assault rifle can be described as a modified Kalashnikov AK-47 design, and a detailed description of its functioning can be found in respective article at this site. The key differences between the Galil and the AK-47are as follows. The Galil featured a machined steel receivers of the original AK-47 rifles, but of slightly different shape. The AK-47-style safety - selectors witch at the right side of the gun is complemented by the additional smaller switch at the left side of the receiver, above the pistol handle. The cocking handle is bent upward, so it can be operated with either hand. The sights of the Galil featured a front hooded post, mounted on the gas block, with the rear diopter sight, mounted on the receiver top cover. Rear sight is of the flip-up type, with settings for 300 and 500 meters. Additional folding night sights with luminous inserts can be raised into position, which allows to aim the gun in the low light conditions at the ranges of up to 100 meters. The barrel and the flashhider can be used to launch the rifle grenades from the barrel, using the blancor live cartridges (depending on the rifle grenade type). The Galil ARM also features a folding detachable bipods and a carrying handle. The bipod base incorporates a bottle opener and a wire cutter. The standard folding buttstock is patterned after FN FAL Para, folds to the right to save the space. Some of the late production Micro-Galil (MAR) rifles also are fitted with the Picatinny-type rail, which allows to mount various sighting devices. Standard AR and ARM rifles can be fitted with scope mounting rail on the left side of the receiver. All 5.56mm Galil rifles are fed using proprietary 35 or 50 rounds curved box magazines with AK-47 style locking. M16-type magazines can be used via the special adapter. 7.62mm Galil rifles are fed using proprietary 25 rounds box magazines. Civilian semi-automatic Galil variants sometimes are fitted with10 rounds magazines to comply with local firearms laws.

Galil ACE assault rifles (Israel)

5.56mm Galil ACE models 21, 22 and 23 rifles (from top to bottom)

image: Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Ltd.

7.62x39 Galil ACE model 32 rifle

image: Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Ltd.

7.62x51 Galil ACE model 52 rifle

image: Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Ltd.

Data for Galil ACE 20 21 22 rifles

Data for Galil ACE 31 32 rifles

Data for Galil ACE 52 53 rifles

The Galil ACE rifles are the new generation of the famous Israeli Galil assault rifles. The Galil ACE represents full product line of military rifles in world's three most popular calibers (5.56x45 NATO, 7.62x39 M43 and 7.62x51 NATO) made in full spectrum of configurations, from compact carbine and up to long barreled marksman rifle. All Galil ACE rifles feature same basic design, based on combat-proven Galil action, and feature same array of ergonomic enhancements, including ambidextrous controls, adjustable telescoping buttstocks, comfortable pistol grips, integral Picatinny rails etc. The 5.56mm version of the Galil ACE assault rifle is adopted by Colombian army, and is manufactured under the Israeli license by Colombian government-owned factory Indumil.

The Galil ACE rifle is gas operated, select-fire weapon. It uses long-stroke gas operated action with gas piston located above the barrel. Locking is achieved by rotating bolt with dual locking lugs. The receiver is machined from steel, with polymer magazine housing / pistol grip unit attached below. The detachable stamped steel receiver cover houses an integral Picatinny rail and rear sight base. The charging handle is located on the left side of the receiver and is attached directly to the bolt carrier. To provide maximum protection from dust and dirt at all times, the charging handle slot is covered with spring-loaded dust cover which opens and closes after each shot automatically. The safety / fire mode seelctor is duplicated at both sides of the weapon, and has better shape when copmared to predecessors. Feed is from detachable box magazines; the NATO caliber versions (in 5.56 and 7.62mm) use standard Galil magazines with 35- and 25-round capcaity, respectively. The 7.62x39 versions use standard AK magazines with 30-round capacity. Standard sighting equipment includes protected front post (adjustable for zeroing) and protected flip-up type rear diopter sight. A wide array of modern optical sights can be installed on the integral Picatinny rail. All Galil ACE rifles (except for sub-compact ACE 21 and ACE 31 carbines) also feature a bayonet lug on the barrel.

Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle (Israel)

Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle(standard version)

Image: IWI Ltd.

Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle (standard version), fitted with 40mm M203 grenade launcher and grenade launching sight

Image: IWI Ltd.

Tavor CTAR 21 assault rifle (compact version)

Image: IWI Ltd.

Tavor MTAR 21 assaultrifle (micro version)

Image: IWI Ltd.

Tavor TAR-21 partially disassembled

Image: Dean Roxby (Canada)

The development of the new assault rifle, that should eventually replace in service the ageing M16A1, CAR-15 and IMI Galil assault rifles, began in Israel in the 1991. The new rifle was developed by the Israel Military Industries (IMI, now privatized as IWI - Israeli Weapons Industries Ltd) company, in close cooperation with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). This new rifle received the name of "Tavor" and the designation of TAR-21 (Tavor Assault Rifle, for 21st century). The new rifle first appeared on public in the1998,and it had been tested by the IDF during 1999-2002. Initial issue of Tavor rifles to IDF showed some teething problems, but by now the Tavoris already in widespread use by IDF, and it seems that many earlier problems are worked out. It is also in limited use with Special Operation forces of India and Georgia.

In general,the TAR-21 represents the mainstream of the present assault rifle developments. It shares all the "modern"features, already tried and proved successful by previous designs, like the bullpup layout, polymer housing, optical sights as a prime sightinge quipment,modular design with several different configurations (from very short submachine gun and up to standard assault rifle and a para-sniper accurized rifle with heavy barrel). So far it seen not much real action, and it is hard to judge if it is really a success, and only time will show that.

The IWI also developed and manufactures a civilian, semi-automatic only version of the Tavor rifle, which looks much like the Tavor Micro rifle but with longer barrel. This version has already been exported to several European countries and Canada.

The Tavor TAR-21 is a gas operated, selective fire, magazine fed assault rifle of bullpup configuration. It is available in several configurations,which differ in the barrel lengths and accessories. The basic configurationis the TAR-21 assault rifle with the 460mm (18.1 in) barrel. Next are the compact assault rifle, called CTAR-21, with the barrel 380 mm (15 in) long, and themicro assault rifle, with the barrel of only 330 mm (13 in) long,called MTAR-21. The latter rifle also featured a redesigned front part of the housing, with charging handle placed further back on receiver,for a more comfortable hold of the short weapon. Micro-Tavor also can be converted to 9mm pistol ammunition (9x19) with installation of the caliber conversion kit, which includes a new barrel, bolt group and a magazine adapter.

TAR-21 utilizes a now-common long piston stroke, rotating bolt action, with the gas piston rigidly attached to the bolt carrier. Gas cylinder is located above the barrel and is completely enclosed by the gun housing. The rotating bolt is similar to one found in the M16 rifle and has seven lugs. The ejection ports are made on both sides of the weapon, and the right or the left side ejection can be selected by installing the bolt with the ejector mounted on the right or on the left,respectively(and, of cause, this change requires the gun to be partially disassembled). The bolt carrier rides on the single guide rod, with the return spring unit located above it, behind and inside the hollow gas piston rod. The charging handle is located at the front left side of the gun and does not reciprocate when gun is fired. The charging handle slots are cut on the both sides of the gun housing,so it can be installed on either side of the weapon, as required. The trigger unit is more or less conventional, with the ambidextrous fire mode selector /safety switch located above the pistol grip.

The TAR-21 has no separate receiver. Instead, all parts are mounted within the high impact-resistant plastic housing, reinforced with steel inserts where appropriate. The access toall the internal parts is controlled by the hinged buttplate, which can be swungdown for internal inspection and disassembly.

Early production TAR-21rifles had no open sights, but this has been fixed with introduction ofthe folded front and rear sights on current production models. Tavor rifles are fitted with the standard Picatinny-type accessory rail on the top of thegun. Early guns had Israeli-made ITLMARS as standard sight, which is a complicated and expensive reflex-type sight with the built-in laser pointer. For the night time operations the MARScould be complemented with the ITL Mini N/SEAS compact night vision device. Current manufacture Tavor rifles (except for Sniper version)are usually fitted with less expensive Meprolight red-dot sight. Snipervarsions usually are fitted with Trijicon ACOG optical sight with 4X magnification.

The TAR-21 utilizes the STANAG-compliant, M16 type magazines, with standard capacity of 30 rounds.

TAR-21 in its basic configuration can be fitted with 40mm M203 underbarrel grenade launcher.

IWI X95 assault rifle / carbine / submachine gun (Israel)

5.56mm IWI X95 assault rifle

5.56mm IWI X95 assault carbine

9mm X95 submachine gun with optional sound suppressor (silencer)

The X95 is a modular weapon, developed by Israeli Weapon Industries (IWI) Ltd primary for use by Special Forces personnel. IWI X95 is based on the already battle-proven Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle, with modifications and upgrades suggested by Israeli Special Forces. Single X95 weapon can be easily configured as an ‘all around’ assault rifle, compact CQB or PDW carbine, or 9mm submachine gun, which can be further silenced for covert operations.

IWI X95 assault rifle is of bullpup layout, with stock made of modern impact-resistant polymer. It features quick detachable barrel system, which allows changing barrel lengths and calibers depending on the upcoming mission profile. 5.56mm version employs conventional gas operated action with rotary bolt locking, based on that of the Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle. 9mm SMG version features simple blowback system. Both versions fire from closed bolt, utilizing same hammer fired trigger system, which permits for single shots and full automatic fire. Both versions also can be configured for right- or left-hand ejection of the spent cartridge cases, depending on the preferences of the operator. Other configurable options include two versions of the pistol grip – one with enlarged “full-hand” trigger guard and another with small “conventional” trigger guard. Ambidextrous controls include Safety / Fire selector switches, located above the pistol grip, and additional magazine release buttons, located above the trigger guard. Charging handle also can be installed on either side of the gun. Feed is from detachable box magazines; 5,56mm version uses STANAG (M16-compatible) magazines, while 9mm version uses UZI magazines, which requires installation of the 9mm magazine adapter into the 5.56mm magazine well. Sighting means are provided by an array of day- and night optics, which can be easily installed onto Picatinny rail which runs atop of the weapon. Most typical primary sighting equipment for X95 weapon is some type of Red Dot sight. Folding iron sights are provided as a back-up. Other accessories may include quick-detachable sound suppressors (silencers) for both calibers (5,56mm and 9mm), rifle slings etc.