Beretta ARX 160

The ARX-160 is a modular assault rifle manufactured by Pietro Beretta S.p.A.. Developed for the Italian armed forces as part of the Soldato Futuro ("Future Soldier" in English) program, the ARX-160 was launched in 2008 as a commercial weapon system independent from the Soldato Futuro ensemble, complete with a companion single-shot 40mm NATO low-velocity grenade launcher, called GLX-160, which can be underslung to the rifle or used with an ad-hoc stock system as a stand-alone weapon.

Design

The ARX-160 departs from the previously issued Beretta 70/90 weapon system on several points. The weapon is composed of upper and lower receiver, both manufactured mostly in polymer, and operates through a short-stroke piston system. Feeding is through STANAG magazines.

The weapon's unique features include ambidextrous safeties, magazine catches and charging handle, the ability to change which side spent casings are ejected, a quick-change barrel which can be removed and replaced in seconds without tools, Picatinny rails, and a foldable telescopic stock.

The lightweight barrel is chrome lined and manufactured by the hammer forging process at the Beretta factory in Gardone Val Trompia, Lombardy. The standard length is 16 in (410 mm), with a 12 in (300 mm) barrel for special operators. A 16-inch heavy barrel with match-grade rifling for marksmen and a 20 in (510 mm) barrel are being tested. The flash hider has 5 radial cuts and 4 smaller cuts to control muzzle climb in automatic firing. Barrels have a 1:7 twist to fire NATO standard ball and tracer rounds. The non-free-floated barrel is easily removed simply by pulling on slide levers and pulling it out. A bayonet lug, designed for Fulcrum Extrema Ratio bayonet is positioned on top of the barrel rather than underneath it.^[2]

The ARX-160 operating system is unique in that the piston moves almost 2 in (50.8 mm), while other systems move fractions of an inch. The piston follows the bolt carrier almost all the way rearward, resulting in low gas pressure levels and a less sudden and more constant push on the carrier group.^[2]

The rifle has the ability to eject shells out of either the left or right for ambidextrous operation. The bolt has seven lugs and an extractor on the left and right, with no ejector. The extractors are spring-loaded and which way cases are ejected is selected by pressing one through a small hole located past the port. It is small and optimized for the tip of a bullet to fit. The ejection port is open on both sides and directs shells at a 45 degree angle from the barrel. The cocking lever is on the bolt carrier and can be positioned on either side by pulling it out, swinging it through the ejection port, and pushing it in to secure it in place.^[2]

Back-up iron sights are standard and made of the same polymer as the gun's receiver. The front sight post is adjustable for windage and elevation and the rear peep sight has six positions to fire in increments from 100–600 meters. The primary optical sight is the Aimpoint ACIES, a domestic version of the M2 close combat optic. Night vision systems, thermal sights, and other accessories will be available through the Soldato Futuro program.^[2]

Different calibers are planned by changing out the barrel, bolt, lower receiver, and magazine. In addition to 5.56 NATO, 7.62×39mm and 6.8mm Remington SPC configurations are planned, as well as the possibility of 5.45×39mm. A prototype heavy version is chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO as a battle rifle.^[2]

History

Developed for the Italian armed forces as part of the Soldato Futuro ("Future Soldier" in English) program, the ARX-160 was launched in 2008 as a commercial weapon system.

Between 2008 and 2014 around 30,000 ARX-160 have been supplied to the Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force and Italian special forces in the specific version A2 and have been since used in several missions including Afghanistan. The current program aims to replace the older Beretta AR 70/90 as standard assault rifle for the Italian Armed Forces.

Foreign interest

The Beretta ARX-160 was a Phase II contender in the United States Army Individual Carbine competition to replace the M4 carbine.^[3] The Individual Carbine competition was cancelled before a winning weapon was chosen.^[4]

In February 2013, the Argentinean Army received an ARX-160 rifle and GLX-160 grenade launcher for evaluation for their special forces.^[5]

The Indian Army tested the ARX-160 as a replacement for the INSAS rifle.^[6] The tender was retracted in June 2015.^[7]

The ARX-160 is one of the 5 finalists of the French Army tender to replace the FAMAS. The winner is expected to be announced in 2017. The initial order will be for 90,000 rifles.^[8]

Users

•  Albania: Special forces.:^[9]
•  Bahrain: Bahrain Defence Force ^[10]
•  Egypt: Egyptian Special Forces^[11][12]
•  Italy: Italian Army,^[9] Italian Navy Delivered 30,000 within 2015
•  Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan Special Forces in 7.62×39mm caliber with grenade-launcher GLX-160^[13][14][15]
•  Mexico: Federal Police.,^[9] Almost 5,687 as November 2014.^[11] Policia Metropolitana de Guadalajara.
•  Pakistan: (SSU Sindh - Special Security Unit) ^[16]
•  Turkmenistan: Military of Turkmenistan.^[17] Ordered 1680 ARX-160 along with 150 GLX-160.^[18]

Gallery

• 

  Beretta ARX 160 assault rifle with Qioptiq VIPIR thermal sight and GLX 160 grenade launcher, stock extended, bolt assembly in full rearward position.

• 

  Beretta ARX 160 assault rifle with ACOG sight and stock folded, bolt assembly in full forward position

• 

  Albanian special forces in Afghanistan 2013.

See also

• CZ-805
• FN SCAR-L/H
• List of assault rifles
• Robinson Armament XCR

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beretta ARX-160.

• Official website
• Beretta Defence ARX 160 brochure
• Beretta ARX 160 assault rifle (Italy)
• Beretta ARX 160 at Berettaweb.com
• patent

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