Firearms / Assault rifles / AR 70/90
AR 70/90
General Facts
- TYPE
Assault rifle - ORIGIN
Italy - NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
1985 - DESIGNER
Beretta - PRODUCTION
1990 - present? - PRODUCERS Italy - Beretta
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Cheap to manufacture
Introduction
The AR 70/90 is an assault rifle of Italian origin. It is a much improved version of the earlier AR 70/223 and was developed to suit the needs of the Italian army.
Design
The AR 70/90 is based on the AR 70/223 and has a conventional layout. Among its improvements are a strengthened receiver, the use of the 5.56x45mm NATO round, an optional three round burst ability, a bipod and a detachable carrying handle with light source for low light firing. The AR 70/90 retains the same design principle with the stock, forearm and pistol grip are made of plastics and the receiver out of sheet metal. Only some pieces of the internal mechanism need to be made out of quality steel.
Firepower
The AR 70/90 fires the 5.56x45mm NATO round from 30 round STANAG magazines. The cyclic rate of fire of 670 rounds per minute is modest. The effective range is claimed to be 400 meters.
Users
The AR 70/90 was adopted in quantity by the Italian armed forces and it was exported to several nations. In Italian service it is to be replaced by the Beretta ARX160.
SCS 70/90
The SCS 70/90 is the carbine version of the AR 70/90 family. It has a shorter barrel and is fitted with a folding stock. Due to its shorter barrel it is unable to launch rifle grenades. The SCP 70/90 is similar to the SCS 70/90, but is able to mount a screw on barrel extension allowing it to fire rifle grenades.
| Type | Assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 30 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
| Rate of fire | 670 rpm |
| Barrel length | 352 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 876 mm / 647 mm |
| Width | 66 mm |
| Height | 225 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.79 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 30 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
| Rate of fire | 670 rpm |
| Barrel length | 369 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 975 mm / 740 mm |
| Width | 66 mm |
| Height | 225 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.00 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights |
| Remarks | - |
AR 70/90
The AR 70/90 is a full size rifle of the AR 70/90 family and is fitted with a fixed plastic stock. The SC 70/90 is similar to the AR 70/90 but features a folding stock. The AS 70/90 is a light support weapon derived from the AR 70/90. It features a heavier barrel, large metal forearm, a bipod and heavy stock with shoulder plate. It uses standard 30 round STANAG magazines and is unique in its ability to fire rifle grenades.
| Type | Assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 30 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
| Rate of fire | 670 rpm |
| Barrel length | 450 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 920 m/s |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 998 mm |
| Width | 66 mm |
| Height | 225 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.35 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 30 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-3-F |
| Rate of fire | 670 rpm |
| Barrel length | 450 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 920 m/s |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 986 mm / 756 mm |
| Width | 66 mm |
| Height | 225 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.35 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Light support weapon |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 30 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1-F |
| Rate of fire | 800 rpm |
| Barrel length | 465 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 1.000 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.34 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, 300 and 800 m gradations, 555 mm sight radius |
| Remarks | Fixed foldable bipod |
