IMI Galil assault rifle (Israel)

Galil ARM 5.56mm. The only differences from the Galil AR are the folding bipod and carrying handle

same rifle, with bipods unfolded. Insert shows the left-side fire selector / safety switch with Hebrew markings.

Galil AR 7.62mm. Note the longer barrel and deeper magazine

Galil SAR 5.56mm with shorter barrel (with older type brownish color wooden forearm)

Galil MAR 5.56mm, or Micro-Galil. The most modern Galil derivative.

	Galil AR / ARM	Galil AR / ARM	Galil SAR	Galil MAR
Caliber	7.62x51mm NATO	5.56x45mm NATO
Overall length (stock open / folded)	1050 / 810 mm	979 / 742 mm	840 / 614 mm	690 / 445 mm
Barrel length	535 mm	460 mm	332 mm	195 mm
Weight, empty	4 kg (without bipod an carrying handle)	3.95 kg (4.35 kg ARM)	3.75 kg	2.95 kg
Magazine capacity	25 rounds	35 or 50 rounds		35 rounds
Rate of fire	650 rounds per minute	650 rounds per minute	650 rounds per minute	600 - 750 rounds per minute
Effective range of fire	500 - 600 meters	450 meters	300 meters	150-200 meters

The experience, gained by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during the Six-days war of 1967, showed the deficiencies of the FN FAL rifles, which were the main armament of the IDF infantry. The FAL rifles were too sensitive to fine sand and dust of Arab deserts, and too long and bulky to carry and maneuver. On the other hand, the same war showed the advantages of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles, used by Arab infantry with great success. After the end of this war IDF decided to develop a new assault rifle, which will eventually replace the FN FAL battle rifles and some of the UZI submachine guns. It was also decided that the new assault rifle should be built around the new American low-impulse cartridge, known as 5.56x45mm. During the late 1960s the IDF tested two rival designs, one of the Uziel Gal, and the other of the Israel Galili. The latter design, based on the Finnish Valmet Rk.62 assault rifle (a license-built AK-47 clone), eventually won the competition and was selected as a new IDF assault rifle in the 1973, but its actual adoption was delayed by the next Israeli-Arab Yom Kippur war of the 1973. The machinery and documentation package was bought from Valmet and transferred to the state owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) company. There are some rumors that the first production Galil rifles were built on the Valmet-made receivers. The basic Galil rifle later evolved into several configurations, including the full-size 5.56mm AR and ARM assault rifles, compact 5.56mm SAR rifle for the tank and vehicle crews, 7.62mm NATO AR selective fire and 7.62mm NATO semi-automatic Galatz sniper rifle, 5.56mm MAR subcompact assault rifle, also known as Micro-Galil, and some other modifications, like the unsuccessful .30 Carbine Magal police rifle.