Balashnikov took the best from Kalashnikov: how the AK became the prototype for the Israeli Galil ARM assault rifle

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 written by the Kalashnikov Club.

Soviet engineer Mikhail Kalashnikov developed the AK assault rifle (caliber 7.62 mm) in 1947. Later, the Finnish company Valmet received a license to manufacture the assault rifle. In 1962, it launched the production of 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 (former surname - Balashnikov) also took part 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 characteristics:

• Weight of equipped — 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, mount for optical is not provided

Galil ARM characteristics:

• 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

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