Colt CAR-15 Commando

The first carbine version of the M16 assault rifle appeared under the name of CAR-15 in 1965, an was intended for US Special Forces who fought in Vietnam. The original M16 was simply shortened by cutting the half of the length of the barrel (from original 20 inches to 10 inches) and by shortening the buttstock by another 3 inches. The butt was plastic and retractable, the handguards were of triangular shape and the flash hider was of original three-prong type. Based on the original CAR-15, Colt quickly developed the CAR-15 Air Force Survival Rifle, intended, as a name implied, to serve to downed airplane and helicopter pilots. This version had tubular handguards and metallic tubular buttstock, and for some reasons the pistol grip was shortened.

Colt CAR-15 - earliest version

Initial combat experience with CAR-15 brought up some problems. First, the carbine was too loud, deafening the firing soldier quite quickly. Second, the muzzle flash was also terrific, blinding the shooter at night and giving away the position of the shooter to the enemies. Colt partially solved this problem by installing a new, longer flash suppressor. This version, known as the Colt model 609 Commando, also carried new handguards of tubular shape. This model was officially adopted by US Army as XM-177E1. This version had M16A1-style receiver with forward assist button. In the mid-1967 Colt slightly upgraded the Commando by lengthening the barrel up to 11.5 inches (292 mm), and this version was adopted as XM-177E2.

Colt Commando (model 733, note M16A2-style brass deflector and forward assist)

Later, with the introduction of the M16A2 and M16A3 (flat-top) models, Colt also changed the design of itys Commando line, adding three-burst options and flat-top receivers with Weaver-style rails.

Current Colt Commando carbines (Colt still called these Submachine-guns) are based on either M16A2 or M16A3 receivers, and had 11.5 inch (292 mm) barrels with M16A2-style flash suppressors, and available in either 3-round bursts or full-auto versions. Colt Commando carbines are used by various US Special Forces and by some foreign forces, including Israeli ISAYERET.

Colt XM-177E1

From the technical point of view, the Colt Commando is similar to contemporary M16 rifle, having same light alloy, two parts receiver, direct gas operated, rotating bolt action, with non-reciprocating charging handle at the rear of the receiver. The telescoping buttstock is made from metallic tube. Due to recoil spring, located inside the butt, the Commando cannot be equipped with side- or underfolding stock without some redesigning. Currently Colt Commando assault carbines are issued with standard M16-type 30 round magazines, but any other M16-compatible magazine can be used, including the 100-rounds Beta-C dual drums.

Caliber: 5.56x45 mm (.223 Remington)
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 680 - 762 mm
Barrel length: 292 mm
Weight: 2.44 kg empty
Rate of fire: 750 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (or any other M16 type magazine)

MILAN ER

MILAN ER (extended response) is a new generation man-portable anti-tank weapon system manufactured by MBDA for the French and Indian armies. It is an extended range variant of the combat-proven MILAN anti-tank missile system which is in service in more than 40 countries.

The Milan ER can be deployed to provide tactical fire support for land combat forces in close combat operations in urban and open terrains.

MILAN ER missile system development

MBDA and Bharat Dynamics signed a memorandum of understanding at Aero India exhibition in Bangalore, India, in February 2005, for the development and production of the MILAN ER.

Initial test of the complete system with ADT (Advanced Technology) firing post and ER missile was performed in October 2006 in Bourges. The system was qualified by the French DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement) in January 2007.

A successful series of evaluation trials was completed in March 2007. A series of three industrial test firings of the system were conducted at the DGA's Etablissement d'Expérimentation Technique de Bourges (ETBS) site in central France in April 2008. The three tests were conducted to verify arming distance to demonstrate accuracy over a range of 150m and to evaluate performance against a moving target at a range of 3km.

The MILAN ER missile system has been available for deliveries since 2011.

MILAN ER features

"The MILAN ER infantry weapon system provides reliable, accurate and flexible tactical operations."

The MILAN ER infantry weapon system provides reliable, accurate and flexible tactical operations. It can be effectively launched against fixed and stationary targets, such as heavily armoured tanks, command posts and fortifications.

The missile system is equipped with new extended response ammunition powered by enhanced propulsion system for high lethality, in-flight manoeuvrability, and maximum operating range. It can also be configured with the next generation technologies to meet the new combat requirements.

The improved anti-jamming capability of the system provides operators with continuous communication without any interference. The system can also be incorporated into future Network Centric Warfare (NCW) systems.

MILAN ER missile

The MILAN ER guided missile was produced by MBDA France. The first test firing was conducted in May 2006. Each missile weighs 13kg including tube, and can engage and destroy targets within the range of 3km.

The missile has an enhanced warhead, which consists of a new dual-mode tandem charge in the front to defeat early and new generation explosive reactive armour with optimal terminal effectiveness.

The warhead can penetrate 1m explosive reactive armour (ERA) or rolled homogenous armour, or over 3m of reinforced concrete.

Firing post

The MILAN ER is launched by MILAN ADT (advanced technology) digital firing post. The firing post supports built-in-test, maintenance, support and geo-positioning tools, and is fully digitalised.

The firing post weighs 34kg, including one MILAN ER missile, and incorporates an azimuth indicator and an integrated thermal imaging system with video inputs/outputs for remote operation and remote vision during all weather conditions. It is compatible with all types of MILAN missiles including the MILAN 2, 3 and ER variants.

WASP turret

The MLAN ER anti-tank missile system can be fired from armoured vehicle platforms using a modified WASP remote-controlled weapon station. The WASP turret can also be mounted with a 7.62mm machine gun. It offers protection for dismounted infantry or for logistic convoy escorts from enemy fire, and increases the responsiveness of the system.

The new turret was introduced by MBDA, Panhard General Defense and Sagem at the Paris International Air Show in 2009.

MILAN ER guidance system

The MILAN ER weapon system is equipped with semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) guidance system. The wire-guided SACLOS offers anti-jamming efficiency in clutter environments. The man-in-the-loop option further ensures accurate identification of targets and permanent control over the mission. It also prevents collateral damage in complex situations.

(Excerpts from: http://www.army-technology.com/projects/milan-er-extended-response-anti-tank-missile-system/)

Prototype Quadrotor with Machine Gun

Z-M LR-300

The LR-300 rifle was manufactured by the small US-based company Z-M Weapons between 2000 and 2007, when all rights for the design were sold to the Para USA, the US-based subsidiary of the Canadian pistol maker Para-Ordnance Ltd. The reworked LR-300 rifle will be sold in USA as Para Tactical Target Rifle, with first sales sheduled to "early 2009".

Z-M Weapons LR-300-ML assault rifle, early (circa 2001) version

Original LR-300 (LR stands for Long Range) rifles were designed by Alan Zitta as an upgrade to the well known and popular M16 / AR-15 rifle. In fact, LR-300 and Para TTR both use standard AR-15-typelower receivers; only upper receivers are different and contain patented modified gas system. The key reason for that modification was to provide AR-15-type weapon with capability to mount side-folding stock rather than partially collapsible M4 carbine-typestock. Z-M Weapons intended its rifles mostly for military and law enforcement personnel, by offering LR-300-ML weapons with short barrels and select-fire capability. Civilian (semi-automatic only) versions also were offered to general public, but at prices well above the average price of AR-15-type rifle. It is not known yet if the new Para Tactical Target Rifles will also be offered in military (select-fire) version or not; current Para USA advertising suggests that only semi-automatic weapons (and upper receiver conversion kits) will be offered, at least initially.

Z-M Weapons LR-300-SR semi-automatic rifle, late production version (circa 2006)

The LR-300 rifle is gas operated, and utilizes modified Stoner-type direct gas system. In this modified system, the gas key is extended forward to form the tube, that protrudes forward from the receiver and into the handguard. The protruding part of the gas key tube is used to host the bolt return spring, which is placed between the front receiver wall and the collar at the front of the gas key tube. The gas tube,which runs rearward from the gas block / front sight base, is strengthened as its rear end floats freely to enter the extended gasket tube when bolt group is in the battery. That way, at least some of the hot gases from inside the gas carrier are expelled outside the receiver and into the inner handguard area, through the extended gasket tube, once it has left the gas tube during the bolt group recoil movement. Additional benefit of this system is that it allows the bolt carrier to be made twice as short compared to the standard AR-15- type bolt carrier. In turn, this results in the fact that there's no need for the recoil buffer tube, which is normally protruding backward from the AR-15-type lower receiver. Because of this feature, most LR-300 rifles are fitted with side-folding shoulder stocks, either skeletonized non-adjustable ones made from metal or polymer ones, adjustable for length of pull. Otherwise the LR-300 is similar to the AR-15-type weapons and has similar trigger / safety arrangements, magazine housing and bolt stop device.

Para USA Tactical Target Rifle, with buttstock open

Para USA Tactical Target Rifle, with buttstock collapsed

Specifications forZ-M Weapons LR-300 rifles

	LR-300-SR	LR-300-14.5	LR-300-ML
Caliber	5.56 x 45 mm / .223 Remington
Action	Gas operated, rotating bolt, direct impingement
Overall length	946 mm / 37.25"	896 mm / 35.25"	820 mm / 32.25"
Barrel length	419 mm / 16.5"	368 mm / 14.5"	293 mm / 11.5"
Weigth	2.95 kg / 6.5 lbs	2.72 kg / 6.0 lbs	2.54 kg / 5.6 lbs
Rate of fire	--	--	950 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	30 rounds

Specificationsfor Para USA Tactical Target Rifle

Caliber	5.56 x 45 mm / .223 Remington
Action	Gas operated, rotating bolt, direct impingement
Overall length, stock open (folded)	838 mm (667 mm) / 33" (26.25")
Barrel length	419 mm / 16.5"
Weigth	3.45 kg / 7.6 lbs
Magazine capacity	30 rounds

 

Bushmaster M-17s

This interesting weapon started its life in around 1982, when a small Australian company Armstech decided to develop a new assault rifle for Australian army trials. Prototype weapons were produced in a very short amount of time, but Australian army eventually selected for adoption an already established foreign weapon, the Austrian-made Steyr AUG. Nevertheless, Armstech kept developing and produced a series of interesting weapons, all in bullpup layout (and some firing caseless ammunition of indigenous design), but neither went past prototype stage. In around 1990 Armstech went belly up, and rights to the rifle that fired conventional ammunition was sold to another Australian company, known as Edenpine. Further development at Edenpine resulted in SAK 30 prototype, but company found that there's no market for such weapon in peaceful Australia. Therefore, in early 1990s Edenpine found an American company, Bushmaster Firearms Inc, which finalized the prototype and put it into production in 1994, just before the infamous "Assault weapons ban". Bushmaster designated new rifle as M17s and produced it in somewhat limited numbers up until 2005, when it was dropped from Bushmaster products line. It must be noted that demise of Bushmaster M17s was caused mostly by general preferences of American gun market, which is rather shy on bullpups; therefore, Bushmaster company decided to concentrate on much better selling rifles, patterned after Ar-15 / M16 or M4.

The M17s is a self-loading rifle, and thus cannot be classified as a true "assault rifle". Nevertheless it could make a very good paramilitary of home defense weapon; it is also good plinker and all-around compact rifle in .223 caliber, combining rifle-length barrel with carbine-style short overall length.

Bushmaster M-17s rifle, right side view, with installed Red Dot sight.

The M17s rifle is gas operated weapon that uses short-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel. Locking is achieved by rotary bolt with seven lugs; bolt is hosted in massive Ar-18-style bolt carrier, which rides on dual guide rods. The charging handle is somewhat unusual as it forms the rear part of the integral carrying handle, and therefore it is fully ambidextrous. The cocking handle slot on the top of receiver is covered by sliding dust cover. The receiver of weapon is a composite affair, consisting of extruded aluminum upper part and polymer lower part. Upper part houses barrel, gas system and bolt group. Lower receiver is made integral with pistol grip and houses trigger unit and magazine housing. Upper and lower receivers are connected by two push-out cross-pins. Ejection port is made on the right side of the weapon only, and there's no provisions for left-hand ejection. Nevertheless, weapon is more or less ambidextrous in regard to controls, as push-button safety (located at the front of triggerguard) and magazine release buttons are made ambidextrous too. M17s will accept all M16 / Ar-15 type magazines. The top of the carrying handle is fitted with Weaver-style accessory rail which will accept any compatible scope mounts, and also hosts a rudimentary backup open sight.

Caliber: 5.56x45 mm (.223 Remington)
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 760 mm
Barrel length: 546 mm
Weight: 3.72 kg empty
Magazine capacity: Accepts all M16/AR15 magazines, standard capacity 30 rounds

Tribute to Mikhail Kalashnikov and the AK-47

Tribute to Mikhail Kalashnikov and the AK-47

Armalite AR-18

The AR-18 rifle had been developed by the Armalite company (USA) by the George Sullivan, Arthur Millerand Charles Dorchester in the early 1960s. This rifle was designed for the international military market as a replacement for the AR-15 project, which had been sold to the Colt in 1959 by the Armalite's parent company, Fairchild Aircraft and Engine Corp. The AR-18 was designed as a competitor to the AR-15, which could be made at much less expenses and on simplified machinery, with the view to sell the manufacturing licenses for AR-18 to the third world countries. The AR-18 was a really successful design from a technical standpoint, but it come out too late to compete with both officially accepted and adopted AR-15/M16 rifle of American origin and already widespread AK-47 rifle of the Soviet origin. The Armalite company by itself made very few specimens of this rifle.The manufacturing license was consequently sold to the British company Sterling Armaments Co and to the Japanese company Howa Machinery co, but all three companies produced hardly over 20 000 rifles total, and the production of the AR-18 was ceased circa 1979 for some 20 years. It was originally available in the military AR-18 (selective fire) and AR-18S (selective fire, with short barrel) versions,and in AR-180 semi-automatic only version. But in the year 2001 the Armalite company resurrected the AR-180 design, in somewhat modified form. New rifle,intended mostly for the civilian and law enforcement markets, featured the same AR-18 layout and action, but discarded the stamped steel lower receiver and replaced it with the plastic lower, with AR-15-compatible magazine housing and AR-15-type trigger unit, which allowed for wider spare parts availability. The original folding buttstock and flash suppressor are replaced with the plastic fixed buttstock of the same shape and the muzzle recoil compensator, to comply with the current US firearms laws. The price of AR-180B is slightly lower than of the similar basic AR-15 type rifle, and the available user reports aboutAR-180B are generally quite positive.

Original AR-18 assault rifle, made by the Sterling Armaments of UK

The most interesting point about the AR-18 is that, while being a commercial failure, it served as a platform for some further development, which took place in various countries. First, the AR-18 design obviously served as a starting point for the ill-fated British SA80/ L85 bull-pup assault rifle, which can be loosely described as a bullpup-ed and weakened AR-18. Second, the AR-18 served as a starting point for the Singapore SAR-80 assault rifle, designed by the Chartered Industries of Singapore with the help of the George Sullivan (who designed the AR-18 itself). And third, the relatively new German Heckler - Koch G-36 assault rifle bears a lot of similarity internally to the AR-18.

Schematic view of the AR-18 (from the original Armalite patent, issued in 1968)

The AR-18 is a gas operated, magazine fed, air cooling selective fire rifle.The gas action features a short piston stroke, rotating bolt locking mechanism.The gas chamber and piston are located above the barrel, and the piston has the cupped head and its own return spring. The square-shaped bolt carrier is mounted inside the receiver on two guide rods, with each rod carrying its own return spring. Both rods are linked by the special end plates so the whole bolt / bolt carrier / return springs / guide rods assembly can be removed from the rifle as a single unit, which greatly simplifies the field maintenance. The rotating bolt is somewhat similar in construction to the AR-15 bolt, and is rotated by the bolt pin, which is engaged in the curved cam track, cut in the bolt carrier. The charging handle is fixed to the right side of the bolt carrier and reciprocates when gun is fired.

The "reincarnated" AR-180B of recent manufacture. Semi-automatic only and with plastic lower receiver with integral pistol grip

The receiver is made from stamped sheet steel and consists of two parts - upper and lower. Both halves of the receiver are hinged one to another at the front of the receiver. The upper and lower parts are interlocked by the rear ends of the bolt carrier guide rods. AR-18 is field stripped by pressing the guide rods forward by the special lever at the rear of the receiver, then by the folding the lower receiver down and forward.

The controls consist of the trigger, safety - fire mode selector at the left side of the receiver (similar to one found on AR-15 / M16 type rifles), and the bolt stop. The available fire modes are single shots and full auto, or only single shots in AR-180 and AR-180B.

The forearm, the pistol grip and the buttstock are made from black plastic. The buttstock folds to the side to save the space,if required, and AR-15 can be fired with butt folded. The sling attachment points are located on the barrel, just ahead of the forearm, and at the butt of the pistol grip, so the sling position is not affected by the position of the foldable buttstock.

The sights consist of the hooded front post and the"L"-shaped flip-up diopter rear, also protected from sides by large"dog ears". Each AR-18 also was fitted with the scope mount at the top of the receiver by standard.

Caliber: 5.56x45 mm (.223 Remington M193)
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 940 mm (738 mm with folded stock)
Barrel length: 464 mm
Weight: 3.09 kg with empty 20 rounds magazine
Magazine capacity: 20, 30 or 40 rounds