The Galil ARM automatic rifle, which was in service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) until 2007, was created on the basis of the Soviet AK. This is according to the Kalashnikov Club.
Soviet engineer Mikhail Kalashnikov developed the AK assault rifle (7.62 mm caliber) in 1947. Later, the Finnish company Valmet obtained a license to manufacture the assault rifle. In 1962, it launched the production of the Rk. 62.
In the late sixties, the Israel Defense Forces decided to develop an assault rifle for the 5.45 mm cartridge. Uziel Gal (creator of the Uzi submachine gun) and Israel Galili (formerly Balashnikov) participated in the development of prototypes.
A group of designers led by Galili studied the experience of the Finns. At that time, he was a full-time employee of IMI (Israel Military Industries, the main supplier of weapons for the IDF). As a result, it was decided to produce a variant of the Galili assault rifle.
In 1973, the Galil ARM assault rifle was put into service. It was produced on equipment purchased from Finnish gunsmiths.
AK-74 specifications:
- Weight of loaded rifle — 3.6 kg
- Cartridge — 5.45 mm by 39 mm
- Rate of fire — 650 rounds per minute
- Muzzle velocity — 900 m/s
- Maximum bullet range — 3150 m
- Sight — adjustable open sight, no mount for optics provided
Galil ARM specifications:
- Weight — 2.98 kg
- Cartridge — 5.56 mm by 45 mm
- Rate of fire — up to 750 rounds per minute
- Muzzle velocity — 710 m/s
- Effective range — up to 450 m
- Sight — diopter
Read more on the topic:
Proven Soviet technology: Bulgarian Military declared the superiority of the MiG-29 over the MiG-35
Vietnam plans to purchase supersonic Russian-Indian BrahMos missiles
Bulgarian Military: The Su-57 needs only three actions to hit Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C AWACS aircraft