ArmaLite AR-18 Automatic Rifle (1963)
The Armalite AR-18 was a complete redesign of the AR-15, meant for simplified Third World licensed production methods.
The gas-operated AR-18, looking every bit like its M16 cousin, was produced with simplicity in mind, utilizing plastic components and steel metal pressings throughout. Along with this cost-cutting approach, general operation of the weapon was kept to minimal expectations resulting in a reliable weapons system that was easy to maintain. The AR-18 was chambered to fire the 5.56x45mm cartridge and came with a foldable plastic butt. Magazines were also offered in 20-, 30- and 40-round counts with the system reporting a cyclic rate of fire of 700-800 rounds-per-minute.
The US government had already settled on the M-16 (AR-15) to become its primary assault rifle, leaving the AR-18 somewhat in limbo. Though success on the world market eluded the AR-18 for a time after its arrival, the automatic rifle would find a market niche with the UK-based Sterling Armaments firm to net its first quantitative sales of note. From then on, more foreign outlets began producing the system in more localized forms ensuring that the AR-18 - though perhaps not by name - would live on in other embodiments with various forces around the world.
AR-18 manufacturing occurred from 1969 to 1978. Armalite brought the AR-18 back into circulation in 2002 under the designation of AR-180B. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
ArmaLite AR-18
Automatic Rifle
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Armalite - USA / HOWA Machinery Company - Japan / Sterling Armament Company - UK
Initial Year of Service: 1963
Overall Length: 940mm (37.01in)
Barrel Length: 457.00mm (17.99in)
Weight (Empty): 6.61lbs (3.00kg)
Cartridge: 5.56mm
Action: Gas-Operated; Rotating Bolt
Feed: 20-, 30- or 40-round detachable box magazine
Muzzle Velocity: 3,250ft/sec (991m/sec)
Rate-of-Fire: 700 rounds per minute
Sights: Iron; Removable 3x Scope
Variants:
AR-18 - Base Production Model
AR-18S
AR-180 - Semi-Automatic Model
AR-180B - Updated AR-180 model appearing in 2002.
SAR-87 - British produced variant.
SAR-80 - Singaporean produced variant.
HOWA Type 89 - Japanese produced variant.
SA-80 - British produced variant; bullpup configuration.
Bushmaster M17S - American produced variant; bullpup configuration.
Operators: Australia; Ireland; Japan; Singapore; United Kingdom
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