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Military Factory > Infantry Weapons > Armalite AR-18
 
 
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Armalite AR-18

The Armalite AR-18 was a complete redesign of the AR-15, meant for simplified Third World licensed production methods.
By Staff Writer

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With Eugene Stoner's AR-15 rifle design firmly entrenched as the M16 under production by Colt, his Armalite firm turned to the design and production of a similar yet simplified version of their AR-15 design, moreso to license this version out for production in Third World markets. As the base AR-15 proved to be too difficult to manufacturer without the need for complex production practices, the AR-18 was to be the “budget” assault rifle alternative in a market where the 5.56mm cartridge was becoming as highly available as the 7.62mm type.

The AR-18, looking every bit like its M16 cousin, was produced with simplicity in mind, utilizing plastic, casings and steel-stamped components throughout. Along with that 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 5.56mm cartridge and came with a foldable plastic butt. Magazines were also offered in 20-, 30- and 40-round counts with the system achieving a cyclic rate of fire of 700-800 rounds-per-minute.

Though success on the world market eluded the AR-18 for quite some 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.

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Last Updated: 7/10/2009

 

  Specifications for the Armalite AR-18
arrow downOperation:
Action: Gas-Operated; Rotating Bolt
Cartridge: 5.56mm
Feed System: 20- / 30- / 40-round detachable box
Muzzle Velocity: 3,250ft/sec (991m/sec)
Cyclic Rate-of-Fire: 700 rds/min

Sights: Iron; Removable 3x Scope

arrow downDimensions:
Overall Length: 940mm (37.01in)
Barrel Length: 457mm (17.99in)
Empty Weight: 3kg (6.61lbs)


  Pictures of the Armalite AR-18
     
Picture of Armalite AR-18
Picture of the Armalite AR-18
     
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Picture of the Armalite AR-18
Image Courtesy of the United States Department of Defense

flag of United States
1963
Designation: Armalite AR-18
Classification Type: Automatic Rifle
Manufacturer: Armalite - USA / HOWA Machinery Company - Japan / Sterling Armament Company - UK

Country of Origin: United States

Operators: United States; United Kingdom; Japan; Singapore; Australia; Ireland


  Variants
AR-18 - Base Production Model

AR-18S

AR-180 - Semi-Automatic Model

AR-180B - Updated AR-180 model

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.

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