IMI Galil

"Galil" redirects here. For other uses, see Galil (disambiguation).

IMI Galil
Galil ARM
TypeAssault rifle, carbine, battle rifle
Place of originIsrael
Service history
In service1972–present[1]
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
DesignerYisrael Galili
Yakov Lior
ManufacturerManufactured by:

Licensed to:

Produced1972–1998
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass
  • SAR: 3.75 kg (8.27 lb)
  • AR: 3.95 kg (8.7 lb)
  • ARM: 4.35 kg (9.6 lb)
Length
  • SAR : 850 mm (33 in) stock extended / 614 mm (24.2 in) stock folded
Barrel length
  • SAR: 332 mm (13.1 in)
  • AR, ARM: 460 mm (18.1 in)
Cartridge
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire
  • 650 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity
  • SAR: 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
  • AR, ARM: 950 m/s (3,116.8 ft/s)
Effective firing range410 meters (Galil ARM)
Feed system
SightsFlip-up rear aperture with protective ears, flip-up tritium night sights, hooded front post

The IMI Galil (Hebrew: גליל) is a family of Israeli-made automatic rifles chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges. Originally designed by Yisrael Galili and Yakov Lior in the late 1960s, the Galil was first produced by the state-owned Israel Military Industries and is now exported by the privatized Israel Weapon Industries.

The first Galil rifle was manufactured using RK 62 receivers.[7] Moreover, the Galil design is largely based on the Finnish rifle RK 62 (a derivative of the AK-47).[8]

The Israeli Army initially deployed the 5.56×45mm NATO Galil in three basic configurations; the automatic rifle machine-gun (ARM),[9] the automatic rifle (AR), and the short automatic rifle (SAR). A modern version of the Galil currently in production in multiple calibers is known as the Galil ACE.

  1. ^ a b c Bishop, Chris (1998). Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc. ISBN 0-7858-0844-2.
  2. ^ Jurado, Carlos Caballero (1990). Central American Wars 1959-89. Men-at-Arms 221. London: Osprey Publishing. p. 44. ISBN 9780850459456.
  3. ^ Montes, Julio A. (May 2000). "Infantry Weapons of the Salvadoran Forces". Small Arms Review. Vol. 3, no. 8.
  4. ^ Small Arms Survey 2003, p. 267.
  5. ^ Peri, Dinakar (4 May 2017). "Punj Lloyd, IWI of Israel make small arms in India". The Hindu.
  6. ^ "Tavor in India: Israeli Assault Rifle's Journey and Prospects in India". 16 December 2017.
  7. ^ Knupp, Jeremiah (December 28, 2017)."Galil ACE: IWI Brings the AK Into the Modern Era". American Rifleman.
  8. ^ "Israeli Made AK47 Varieties". 17 March 2005. Archived from the original on 17 March 2005. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  9. ^ Sweeney, Patrick (2009). The Gun Digest Book of the AK & SKS: A Complete Guide to Guns, Gear and Ammunition. Gun Digest Books. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-89689-678-9.[permanent dead link]