IMBEL IA2
Industria de Material Belico do Brasil · Assault Rifle · In Production · 2012
Also known as: Fz IA2, IMBEL IA2 5.56
Overview
The IMBEL IA2 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Industria de Material Belico do Brasil since 2012. This Brazilian-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3600 g (127.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4100 g (144.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 950 mm (37.40") |
| Folded Length | 700 mm (27.56") |
| Barrel Length | 450 mm (17.72") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 900 m/s (2953 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1620 J (1195 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3600 m (3937 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 750 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56mm NATO — also known as 5.56x45mm, 5.56 NATO
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Ambidextrous Safety Selector, Firing Pin Block
- Features: Modular Design, Folding Stock, Picatinny Rail Top, Picatinny Rail Sides, Picatinny Rail Bottom, Select Fire, Stanag Magazine Compatible, Chrome Lined Barrel, Bayonet Mount, Ambidextrous Controls, Short Stroke Gas Piston, Free Floating Barrel
Variants
- IMBEL IA2 Carbine — Compact
- IMBEL IA2 CQB — Compact
- IMBEL IA2 7.62 — Caliber Conversion
- IMBEL IA2 Sniper/DMR — Precision
Service history
Operators
- Brazilian Army · adopted 2013 · as IA2 5.56
- Brazilian Navy · adopted 2013 · as IA2
- Brazilian Air Force · adopted 2013 · as IA2
- Brazilian Federal Police · as IA2
Production
Estimated total produced: 30,000 · Production years: 2012-present
Initial order of 1,500 units in 2012, followed by 20,000 in 2013. Over 30,000 fielded by late 2025. Production ongoing.
Origin
Country of origin: Brazil
Notes
Development began around 2008-2009 with initial prototypes featuring a longer 480mm barrel. The design evolved through multiple iterations before the production model settled on a 450mm barrel for the standard rifle variant. An initial order of 1,500 units was placed in 2012, followed by a major order of 20,000 rifles in December 2013. By late 2025, over 30,000 units had been fielded across the Brazilian Armed Forces. The 7.62x51mm variant is essentially a factory conversion of older FN FAL receivers with IA2 upper components. The rifle accepts standard STANAG magazines and features ambidextrous controls throughout, including the safety selector, bolt release, and magazine release.
Background
The IA2 represents Brazil's first truly indigenous modern assault rifle design, breaking away from decades of FAL-derived platforms. Brazilian soldiers testing early prototypes reportedly praised the ergonomics and modularity compared to the heavier MD-series rifles they had been using since the 1980s.