ArmaLite AR-18

History

With Eugene Stoner's AR-15 rifle design as solid as the M16 in Colt production, his Armalite company turned to designing and producing a similar but simplified version of its AR-15 design, even more so around this version being licensed in third world market production. Since the basic AR-15 has proven difficult to manufacture without the need for a sophisticated production facility (it relies on aluminum forgings in its design), the AR-18 is intended to be a replacement for "budget" assault rifles on the market with 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition Cartridges are as readily available as the 7.62x51mm NATO type.

Similar to its AR-15/M16 cousin in every detail, the aerodynamic AR-18 is built using only steel plastic parts and metal stampings. In addition to this cost reduction method, the general handling of the weapon is kept to a minimum, resulting in a reliable weapon system that is easy to maintain.

The AR-18 is chambered for 5.56x45mm cartridges and has a foldable plastic stock. The magazines are also available in 20, 30 and 40 rounds, and the system reports a cyclic rate of fire of 700-800 rounds per minute.

With the US military already committed to the M-16 (AR-15) as its primary assault rifle, the AR-18 must find success on the global stage. The rifle will find a niche in the market through the UK-based Sterling Armaments Group and will be sold in its first quantitative sales.

Since then, more foreign media have started producing the system in a more localized form to ensure that the AR-18 can be used with various armed forces around the world.

The AR-18 was manufactured from 1969 to 1978. Armalite put the AR-18 back into production in 2002, codenamed AR-180B.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes