IMBEL MD1A
Industria de Material Belico do Brasil · Assault Rifle · Prototype · 1983
Also known as: Fz 5,56 IMBEL MD1, IMBEL MD-1, M989
Overview
The IMBEL MD1A is a Brazilian gas-operated, selective-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, developed by IMBEL at the Fabrica de Itajuba prototype workshop around 1983. Designated Fz 5,56 IMBEL MD1, it retained the fixed synthetic stock and trigger group of the FAL that IMBEL built under licence, but replaced the FAL's tilting breechblock with a gas piston driving a rotary bolt with multiple locking lugs. It fed from a proprietary 20-round magazine and featured a perforated jacket enclosing the gas tube and part of its 464 mm barrel. Certified in April 1989 and cleared for production as the M989, it was never formally adopted, with only small evaluation batches produced.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4200 g (148.2 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4900 g (172.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 995 mm (39.17") |
| Barrel Length | 464 mm (18.27") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 940 m/s (3084 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1767 J (1303 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 700 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56mm NATO — also known as 5.56 NATO, 5.56x45mm, .223 Remington (chamber compatible)
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Fire Selector
- Features: Select Fire, Rotary Bolt, Perforated Handguard, Fixed Synthetic Stock, Optional Folding Bipod
Service history
Operators
- Brazilian Army · as M989 (evaluation only)
Production
Production years: 1983-1989
Only small demonstration and evaluation batches were produced; never placed into mass production
Origin
Country of origin: Brazil
Designer: IMBEL (Fabrica de Itajuba)
Notes
First in IMBEL's MD family of 5.56mm FAL-derived rifles, succeeded by the STANAG-magazine MD-2/MD-3 and later MD-97 series. Cyclic rate is roughly 700 rounds per minute; loaded weight of about 4.9 kg includes a 20-round magazine and optional folding bipod.
Background
Born from IMBEL's early-1980s effort to evolve its licence-built FN FAL into a lighter 5.56mm rifle, the MD1 was the first step in a long Brazilian small-arms development line that would eventually lead to the MD-97 and the modern IA2 service rifle.