Firearms / Assault rifles / IMBEL MD97
IMBEL MD97
General Facts
- TYPE
Assault rifle - ORIGIN
Brazil
- NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
1990's - DESIGNER
Indústria de Material Bélico do Brasil (IMBEL) - PRODUCTION
1997 - present - PRODUCERS
Brazil - IMBEL
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Rugged design
Limited production costs
Limited weight
Limited barrel life
Difficult to mount accessories
Very high rate of fire
Introduction
The MD97 is an assault rifle of Brazilian origin. It was developed by IMBEL in the 1990's to replace the not very successful MD2. The MD97 is a much modified version of the MD2 assault rifle, which in turn was based on the Belgian FAL battel rifle. The MD97 is usually called the MD97L to indicate that it is much lighter than the MD2 that had as main drawback its excessive weight. The L stands for Leve, which is Portugese for light.
Design
The MD97 uses a mechanism similar to the FAL, although a different form of locking is used. The MD97 uses a short stroke gas piston and has a rotating bolt. Compared to the MD2 it is much lighter due a lighter receiver and much thinner barrel. As a result it heats up faster and the barrel life is only 6.000 rounds. Externally the MD97 looks very similar to the FAL Para since it uses the same handguard, pistol grip and folding stock. Accessory rails are not fitted as standard. Recently an A2 model was presented with new polymer furniture.
Firepower
The MD97 fires the 5.56x45mm NATO round from a 30 round STANAG magazine. It is a select fire rifle with a very high cyclic rate of fire of 850 to 950 rpm. The maximum effective range is 400 meters. The MD97LC carbine fires semi-automatic only out to a maximum range of 300 meters. A M203 grenade launcher can be fitted but it is impossible to launch rifle grenades.
Users
The MD97 is in limited use in Brazil. Several law enforcement and military units use the MD97 alongside a wide variety of other assault rifles. It is deemed unlikely that the MD97 will see widespread service.
MD97LC
The MD97LC is a more compact and semi-automatic only version of the MD97L. It was intended to serve as a police carbine. LC stands for Leve, Curto, which is Portugese for light, short. It is also available with a fixed plastic stock instead of the metal foldable tubular stock.
- Specifications:
- MD97LC
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
Magazine | 20, 30 round detachable box |
Operation | Gas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1 |
Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
Barrel length | 330 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 840 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 850 mm / 600 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 3.33 kg incl empty magazine |
Sights | Iron sights |
Remarks | - |
MD97L
The MD97L is the standard full size version of the MD97. The MD97L differs from the LC model in having a longer barrel and the ability for automatic fire. The L in the name stands for Leve, what translates as light. Although the designation may suggest otherwise there is no standard or heavy version. It is also available with a fixed plastic stock instead of the metal foldable tubular stock. The MD97LM has a Picatinny rail on the receiver for mounting optics.
- Specifications:
- MD97L
Type | Assault rifle |
---|---|
Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
Magazine | 20, 30 round detachable box |
Operation | Gas operated, short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 850 - 950 rpm |
Barrel length | 437 mm |
---|---|
Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
Muzzle velocity | 915 m/s |
Stock | Foldable |
Length | 1.010 mm / 770 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 3.71 kg incl empty magazine |
Sights | Iron sights |
Remarks | - |