Assault Rifle, 5.56 mm, MA-1 Mk.I | |
---|---|
Type | Assault rifle Battle Rifle |
Place of origin | Myanmar |
Service history | |
In service | 2002–present |
Used by | Tatmadaw |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | Yisrael Galili of Israel Military Industries[1][a] |
Designed | 1990 |
Manufacturer | Ka Pa Sa No. 1 |
Produced | 2002– |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3.95 kg (9 lb) |
Length | 979 mm (39 in) |
Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
Rate of fire | 950 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 950 m/s (3,120 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 500 m (547 yd) |
Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine (Galil-based) |
Sights | Iron sights |
The DI MA-1 is a family of Myanmar-made assault rifles chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge produced by the Myanmar Directorate of Defence Industries. The MA series, which means Myanmar Army,[2] are based on the IMI Galil with some localised modifications produced with assistance from Israel.
The series are sometimes referred to as the EMERK-3.[3] The rifles are manufactured by Myanmar Fritz Werner Industries.[3]
History
A team of engineers from IMI reportedly visited Yangon in 1991, helping with preparing the foundation to manufacture the MA-1s.[4][5]
The MA-series of small arms was first spotted in the early 2000s at numerous national Tatmadaw parades and demonstrations,[6][5] replacing the previous Heckler & Koch G3 rifles that were in service.
By 2009, it was reported that the Tatmadaw was almost fully equipped with the MA series.[7] MA rifles have also been seen usage by the Karen National Liberation Army[8] and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army,[9] captured from Myanmar army forces[8] or from defecting soldiers.[10]
In 2022, MA-1 and MA-3s are used by the PDF in the civil war, captured from Myanma soldiers and police officers.[11]
Design
Serial production started in 2002 after signing an agreement with IMI.[7] The assault rifles were mostly made at Ka Pa Sa No 1 or DI-1, a factory located near Inya Lake.[2][12]
The MA rifles are made with ventilated handguards and horizontal charging handles, unlike the Galil which has a vertical charging handle.[3] MA rifles are compatible with Galil magazines.[3] The rifles can use the MG-2 rifle grenade.[13]
Variants
MA-1
Standard assault rifle with a bayonet lug for the option to have a bayonet mounted.[3]
MA-2
Light machine gun version with a heavy barrel and a bipod mounted.[14] It was originally developed without the idea of using a drum magazine, relying on standard capacity magazines.[15] It's usually seen with the MA-15, a clone of the MG 3.[15]
MA-3
Carbine version with a folding metal buttstock.[16]
MA-4
A version of the MA-1 equipped with an underbarrel grenade launcher,[16] known as the BA-203.[17]
MA-1 Mk II
The Mk. II variant saw the use of polymer, brown or black, to replace the wooden stock of the Mk. I.[13] It was also often equipped with polymer stocks, pistol grips, and fore-ends as standard issue.[18] The new Mk II's magazine is inspired by the 1981 South African polymer Vektor R4's magazine. By the Myanmar Civil War of 2021, all Mk.I variants were replaced by the Mk. II.
MA-S
Known as Myanmar Army Sniper, a designated marksman rifle variant based on the MA-2.[19] It's chambered in 7.62x51 NATO caliber and fires from a 10-round magazine.[19]
The MA-S consist of a Mk. I and Mk. II version. The Mk. I resembles a Dragunov[19] while the Mk. II resembles Zastava-based rifles.[13] The Mk. II has a picatinny rail under the gas block to install a bipod.[13] It comes in two colors; green or black furniture.[13] A version of the Mk. II in a camo finish was on display at the 2019 Defence and Security arms fair.[13]
Notes
- ^ Minor adaptions were made to the original Israeli Galil design.
References
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/11/obituaries/yisrael-galili-weapons-inventor-72.html
- ^ a b "Toys for the Boys". Asia Pacific Solidarity Network. Archived from the original on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
- ^ a b c d e Roodhorst, The Kalashnikov Encyclopedia II: Italy-Russia, Page 1399.
- ^ https://specialadvisorycouncil.org/fatal-business/critical-supplies/
- ^ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20230412025211/https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/216586/1/136_Burma%E2%80%99s_secret_military_partners_%28Canberra_papers_on_strategy_and_defence%29_Andrew_Selth_86p_0731527755.pdf
- ^ Ian McCollum, Rob Stott, Larry Vickers (January 1, 2019). Vickers Guide: Kalashnikov (Volume 2).
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[page needed] - ^ a b "Burmese Army Equipped with New Arms". Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ^ a b "KAREN NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY SITUATION REPORT" (PDF). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Burma Conflict Blog". www.dictatorwatch.org. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Burma Human Rights Handbook" (PDF). 2008. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20240227030049/https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/myanmar-pdfs-getting-the-guns-to-turn-the-war/
- ^ "BURMA'S WMD PROGRAMME AND MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN BURMA AND THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA" (PDF). p. 60. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f https://www.myanmarwitness.org/_files/ugd/06ca64_9dbcff31640547f3bd747fe8c86e6c6c.pdf
- ^ Roodhorst, The Kalashnikov Encyclopedia II: Italy-Russia, Page 1400.
- ^ a b "这款轻机枪在缅甸战争中使用最为广泛 供弹却常用步枪弹匣而不是弹鼓" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
- ^ a b Roodhorst, The Kalashnikov Encyclopedia II: Italy-Russia, Page 1401.
- ^ https://www.myanmarwitness.org/arms/ma-4
- ^ https://smallarmsreview.com/burmese-small-arms-development/
- ^ a b c "不可忽视的战场幽灵 缅甸自制MA-S狙击步枪" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
Bibliography
- Roodhorst, Cor (2015). The Kalashnikov Encyclopedia: Recognition and Weapon Forensic Guide for Kalashnikov Arms and Derivatives II: Italy–Russia. Netherlands: Roodhorst Publications. ISBN 978-90-9027549-9.