IWI Galil

The IWI Galil () 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. Moreover, the Galil design is largely based on the Finnish rifle RK 62 (a derivative of the AK-47).

The Israeli Army initially deployed the 5.56×45mm NATO Galil in three basic configurations; the automatic rifle machine-gun (ARM), the automatic rifle (AR), and the short automatic rifle (SAR). A modernised, redesigned version of the Galil is produced since 2008, known as the Galil ACE.

History

The Belgian FN FAL battle rifle had initially been adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces in the late 1950s (chambered for the 7.62×51mm cartridge). The FAL had its limitations, a common complaint being that the abundant local sand and dust exposure would cause weapon malfunction (later attributed to lack of stringent maintenance). Overall, however, the FN FAL was considered long and bulky. Its length and malfunctions became such consistent issues that during the 1973 Yom Kippur War some soldiers began arming themselves with the much smaller Uzi.

thumb|left|Comparison of the Hungarian [[AMD-65 (top), the American M16A1 with A2 handguard (middle) and the Israeli Galil ARM (bottom)]]

During the Six-Day War the Israelis captured thousands of primarily Egyptian AK-47s. This rifle was proven reliable and controllable. The required maintenance was low enough that conscripted troops had less stringent regulations on the weapon's care.

When the IDF began the process of procuring a new, automatic rifle, the AK-47 was considered, but the difficulty of procurement limited its viability. Hence the IDF specifically sought a weapon that would offer the same benefits as AK-47, such as low maintenance requirements, but would also have the accuracy of the M16 and FN FAL. The would-be standard weapon was originally named the Balashnikov, after the weapon's designer Yisrael Galili, whose last name was coincidentally similar to Kalashnikov before he changed it to the more Hebrew sounding Galili. Several weapons were tendered to the Israeli Army, in response to its specifications for a standard-issue assault rifle. These included the M16A1 and Stoner 63 from the US, and the HK33 (West Germany). An indigenous design was offered by Uziel Gal, creator of the Uzi submachine gun. This was found complex and unreliable.

The successful design was offered by Yisrael Galili and Yakov Lior, based on the 7.62×39mm Valmet RK 62, an AK-47 derivative from Finland. (The first Galils were manufactured with Valmet RK 62 receivers.)

The Israeli army first used the 5.56×45mm NATO caliber Galil in three basic configurations:

The Automatic Rifle Machine-gun (ARM) with bi-pod, wire-cutter and carrying handle; would become the standard service rifle issued to front line infantry troops. Also the version that famously features a bottle opener in the front hand-guard.

By 2000, both the Galil ARM and AR variants were phased out from standard issue and replaced by M4 and M16 variants. The Galil SAR (G'lilon) was kept in use by some rear-line services, including the Knesset Guard

Currently they are only manufactured in Colombia by Indumil, alongside the Galil Ace and the Galil Córdova, the latter of which was designed by Indumil.

400 Galil rifles were purchased through the Antiguan government for the Medelin cartel.

Design details

Operating mechanism

The Galil series of rifles are selective fire weapons operated by a Kalashnikov-pattern gas-driven long-stroke piston system with no regulator. The weapon is locked with a rotary bolt with two locking lugs that lock into recesses milled into the receiver.

When fired, a portion of the propellant gases are evacuated into the gas cylinder through a port, drilled at a 30° angle in the barrel, and a channel in the gas block. The high-pressure gases drive the piston rod (which is attached to the bolt carrier) rearward. During this rearward movement, a cam slot machined into the bolt carrier engages a cam pin on the bolt and rotates the bolt, unlocking the action. The arrangement of parts on the bolt carrier assembly provides for a degree of free travel, allowing gas pressure in the barrel to drop to a safe level before unlocking. To the immediate rear of the chrome-plated piston head is a notched ring which provides a reduced bearing surface and alleviates excess gas build-up. As the bolt carrier travels back, it compresses the return spring guided in a hollowed section of the bolt carrier and the return energy contained in the spring drives the moving assembly back forward, stripping a new round from the magazine and locking the action. The cocking handle is attached to the bolt carrier on the right side of the receiver and reciprocates with each shot; the handle is bent upwards allowing for operation with the left hand while the shooting hand remains on the pistol grip.

The ejection of spent cases from the Galil is sometimes a violent action. Cases can be dented by the ejector and be thrown as much as 40 ft away from the rifle in some cases, depending on position. The rifle's fire selector switch has three positions: S-A-R. The standard AK-47 style selector is retained on the right face of the receiver, and a dual thumb-selector is present on the left face above the pistol grip for easier manipulation. Pushing the left-selector to the rear position "R" (British terminology for "repetition"), provides semi-automatic fire. Pushing it to the middle position "A" produces fully automatic fire. Pushing the lever fully forward to "S" will activate the safety. Some models use a reverse-linkage RAS mechanism that performs the opposite action; pushing forward sets the rifle to Repetition or Automatic, and pulling rearward engages the safety,

The Galil prototypes used a stamped and riveted sheet metal steel receiver, but due to the higher operating pressures of the 5.56×45mm cartridge, this solution was discarded and the designers turned to a heavy milled forging. As a testament to its heritage, early prototypes were fabricated using Valmet Rk 62 receivers manufactured in Finland.

thumb|Ukrainian [[Azov Battalion marksman with a Galatz rifle]]

The precision rifle is a semi-automatic-only rifle with a similar operating system to other Galil variants, but optimised for accuracy. The rifle is fed from a proprietary 25-round box magazine. It uses a heavy-profile match barrel that is heavier than that used on other variants. It is fitted with a multi-functional muzzle device, which acts as both a flash suppressor and a muzzle brake. It can be replaced with a sound suppressor, which requires the use of subsonic ammunition for maximum effectiveness.

The weapon was modified with a two-stage trigger mechanism with an adjustable pull force, a wooden buttstock that folds to the right side of the weapon and a heavy-duty bipod, mounted to the forward base of the receiver housing that folds beneath the handguard when not in use. The buttstock is fully adjustable in length and height and features a variable-height cheek riser. The rifle comes with mechanical iron sights and an adapter used to mount a telescopic day sight (Nimrod 6×40) or a night sight. The mount is quick-detachable and capable of retaining zero after remounting. The precision rifle is stored in a rugged transport case that comes with an optical sight, mount, filters, two slings (for carrying and firing), and a cleaning kit. Recent production models feature synthetic plastic furniture and a skeletonized metal stock.

The Galatz was first introduced in 1983. The SR-99 is a modernized version of the Galatz featuring an adjustable skeleton stock instead of a wooden stock, synthetic handguard, and a synthetic pistol grip. It is somewhat less rugged but more ergonomic.

The Galatz is made under license by Punj Lloyd Raksha Systems

Other variants

Magal: A law enforcement carbine variant of the Galil MAR chambered in .30 carbine. It uses the same 15- and 30-round magazines as the M1 carbine, as well as a dedicated 27-round magazine incorporating a bolt hold-open device. First issued in 1999, the MAGAL was withdrawn from service in 2001 after numerous complaints of malfunctions.
Marksman Assault Rifle Mark 1: 5.56mm designated marksman rifle introduced in 1996. Has a scope and padded stock. The Bernardelli Mod.377 VB-STD assault rifle was an outright clone of the Galil AR/ARM variant.

The Bernardelli Mod.378 VB-SR assault carbine was a modified clone of the Galil SAR with a different magazine well that accepted STANAG magazines, much similar in concept and look to the above-mentioned optional magazine adapter currently available for the Israeli-made models, except that the Bernardelli VB-SR could be manufactured with permanent STANAG magazine well modification on demand.

Both rifles have the A-R-S trigger group (S-E-F; Safe, Semi-Auto, Full-Auto). is a clone of the Galatz, having a M-LOK handguard with an adjustable stock. It was shown to the public in 2024.

: Issued to presidential guard units and the BIR.
: Delivered in 2006.
: Standard issue rifle. Produced under license by Indumil. Also adopted the Galil ACE rifle by the middle of 2010, produced by Indumil. FARC rebels use captured examples against the Colombian armed forces.
: delivered in 1994
: Uses 5.56mm versions of the Galil AR, SAR, ARM, and the 7.62mm Galil Sniper. In 2008, most Galils in service were given upgrades.
: Uses GALATZ sniper and Micro-Galil assault rifles.
: 15,000 Galils
: Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group.
: As of 2009, the Bernardelli Mod.377 VB-STD and the Bernardelli Mod.378 VB-SR are in the inventories of the Italian National Police, and are known to be deployed with the NOCS team.
: Galil Sniper rifle
: The Galil sniper used by the Montenegrin Special Police Unit.
: Made with assistance from Israeli weapon specialists as the MA series.
: 2,000 Galils, used by Special forces and Ranger battalion.
: Indumil-made Galils for the Fuerzas de Operaciones de Policias Especiales (Special Police Operations Forces), SENAD (Drug Enforcement), and main rifle of the Paraguayan Police.
Special Action Force
: Galil sniper used by special forces
: Galil MAR version seen in use by Tanzanian special forces in the Congo.
: Used in small numbers in Department of Corrections
: Used by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), and by the Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB), a division of the Special Forces Command (SFC), all within the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF).
: Ventura County Sheriff's Department.
: Galil Sniper produced under license as Fort-301.
: Uses Galil ACE and Galil Sniper.

Former users

: Reportedly used by the defunct Panama Defense Forces 'UESAT' Anti-terrorism unit.
: 5.56mm AR and ARM versions were used by the Portuguese Army airborne infantry until 2019, when was replaced by FN SCAR.

Non-state actors

: Rajneeshpuram Peace Force.

History

Design details

Operating mechanism

Other variants

Former users

Non-state actors

Notes

References

Further reading

External links