Galatz

The Galil family of automatic rifles was designed in the late 1960s by Yisrael Galili and Yakov Lior to replace the FN FAL in Israeli service. The design is based on the Finnish Valmet RK 62, itself a derivative of the AK-47, with early production models utilizing Finnish-manufactured receivers. The Israel Defense Forces sought a weapon combining the reliability of the AK-47 with the accuracy of the M16 and FN FAL following observations during the Six-Day War. The rifle was originally produced by state-owned Israel Military Industries and was selected for adoption after trials involving the M16A1, Stoner 63, and HK33.

The firearm utilizes a gas-driven long-stroke piston system and a rotating bolt with two locking lugs. While prototypes featured stamped steel, production receivers are milled from solid steel forgings to accommodate operating pressures. External surfaces are phosphated and finished with black enamel. Ergonomic features include a cocking handle bent upwards for manipulation with the non-firing hand and a dual-side fire selector. The rifle is equipped with high-impact plastic furniture and a side-folding tubular aluminum stock. Sighting systems consist of an L-shaped rear aperture and a hooded front post, supplemented by flip-up tritium night sights. The ARM variant incorporates a folding bipod with integrated wire cutters and a bottle opener housed in the front handguard ferrule to prevent damage to magazine lips.

The rifle entered service in 1972 and has been deployed in conflicts including the 1982 Lebanon War and the South African Border War. It was initially issued in three configurations: the ARM for front-line infantry, the AR for support units, and the SAR for vehicle crews. In the Israel Defense Forces, the platform was largely supplanted by M16 and M4 variants due to weight and cost considerations, with standard issue phasing out by 2000. Specialized variants include the MAR (Micro Galil) for special operations and the Galatz, a semi-automatic precision derivative featuring a heavy-profile match barrel and adjustable wooden buttstock. The system has been manufactured under license in several countries, including South Africa as the R4 series, and remains in production in Colombia by Indumil. Other international versions include the Italian Bernardelli clones and Vietnamese Z111 Factory production models.