IMI Galil ARM
Israel Military Industries (IMI) · Assault Rifle · In Production · 1973
Also known as: Galil ARM, Galil Automatic Rifle Machine-gun, R4, Vektor R4
Overview
The IMI Galil ARM is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Israel Military Industries (IMI) since 1973.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3950 g (139.3 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4620 g (163.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 979 mm (38.54") |
| Folded Length | 742 mm (29.21") |
| Barrel Length | 460 mm (18.11") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 35 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 950 m/s (3117 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1814 J (1338 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 630 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56 NATO — also known as .223 Remington, 5.56mm NATO
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector, Hammer Notch
- Features: Chrome Lined Barrel, Rotating Bolt, Select Fire, Folding Stock, Bipod, Carrying Handle, Wire Cutter, Bottle Opener, Tritium Night Sights, Grenade Launcher Compatible
Variants
- Galil AR — Lightweight
- Galil SAR — Compact
- Galil MAR — Micro
- Galatz (Galil Sniper) — Sniper
- Vektor R4 — Foreign Production
Service history
Operators
- Israel Defense Forces · adopted 1973 · as Galil ARM
- South African National Defence Force · adopted 1980 · as R4
- Colombian Armed Forces · adopted 1994 · as Galil ACE
- Estonian Defence Forces · adopted 2000 · as Galil AR
- Guatemalan Armed Forces · adopted 1983 · as Galil
- Honduran Armed Forces · as Galil
Conflicts
- Yom Kippur War (1973)
- 1982 Lebanon War (1982)
- South African Border War (1966-1990)
- Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996)
- Colombian Armed Conflict (1964-present)
Production
Production years: 1973-present
Produced in Israel and under license in South Africa (as Vektor R4). Exact numbers undisclosed but widely exported to Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
Origin
Country of origin: Israel
Designer: Yisrael Galili
Notes
The Galil was developed by studying captured AK-47s from the 1967 war and the Finnish Valmet RK 62. Israel Galili chose the Valmet as the starting point due to its superior machining quality. Despite being officially adopted, the Galil never fully replaced the M16/CAR-15 in IDF service due to its weight disadvantage and the widespread availability of American military aid rifles. The ARM designation indicates the full infantry model with bipod and carrying handle - the AR (Assault Rifle) variant omits these for weight savings, the SAR (Short Assault Rifle) is a carbine, and the MAR (Micro Assault Rifle) is a submachine-gun-sized variant. South Africa produced a licensed version as the Vektor R4 which became that nation's standard service rifle. The Galil was largely superseded by the Galil ACE and later the IWI Tavor family in IDF service. Available in both 5.56mm NATO (standard) and 7.62x51mm NATO (export/DMR) chamberings. The 35-round magazine is the standard infantry capacity, with 50-round magazines available.
Background
The Galil's handguard famously includes a bottle opener -- added after Israeli soldiers began using their magazines to open bottles, damaging the feed lips and causing malfunctions. The wire cutter built into the folding stock bipod was another practical feature born from field experience.